YuLin Zhen, Photography Editor

On Nov. 28, Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis and the Council of Heads of College will host a Thanksgiving dinner buffet at the Omni Hotel. 

The buffet will take place from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to any Yale College student who is staying on campus during the holiday. While the meal is free of charge, seating is limited to 500 students according to Yale Connect. Attendees can register in advance through Yale Connect. 

“[The meal’s goal is] to bring together Yale College undergraduate students and college residents on campus over Thanksgiving Day,” wrote Marisa Figueira, director of operations for the Yale College Dean’s Office. “We know that a portion of our students remain on campus, and we want to be able to share a meal in the spirit of gratitude as a residential campus community.”

This is the fourth year that the Heads of College have hosted the Thanksgiving meal, which is catered by the Omni Hotel. The tradition began in 2021 when students returned to campus after COVID-19 restrictions. 

While the event has remained relatively consistent, the menu has been tweaked over the years to better accommodate dietary restrictions. Past menus have featured Thanksgiving staples, such as roasted turkey and gravy, stuffing, smashed potatoes and apple pie. According to Figueira, this large-scale event is planned in advance, and the menu is usually finalized over the summer. 

Mary Kim ’27, originally from Anchorage, Alaska, went home during her first-year November recess. This year she will remain on-campus and plans to attend the feast with her suitemate. 

“I have heard the Omni Hotel is nice, and I hope they have yummy, actually tasty, food,” Kim said, “I hope it is not just something thrown together or something ‘dining hall-esque.’”

While the dinner is marketed as a “Thanksgiving dinner,” it occurs during lunchtime. 

Sebastian Reyes ’27, who attended the meal last year and plans to go again this year, said he  appreciated the midday timing as it allows him to eat, go “into a food coma for a bit” and still have time afterward to be productive. 

“I think [the timing is] understandable because no one wants to spend Thanksgiving dinner working. I will just enjoy the Thanksgiving lunch,” said Kim, describing the convenience of an early meal.

Matthew Stocks ’28, originally from Liverpool, England, has never celebrated Thanksgiving before. Stocks, who is planning to attend the feast, is looking forward to what he hopes is “a pretty nice meal.” Stocks said that he is particularly excited to try biscuits and gravy. 

Reyes also shared a highlight from last year’s meal: the desserts, particularly little layered cakes that were served in small cups. 

Kim hopes that the Omni’s food is more “homey” than the typical dining hall fare. 

Dining halls will remain open through most of the break, closing only from Nov. 28-30. On these days, eligible first-generation or low-income students will receive a $40 UberEats voucher — a $10 daily increase over last year — due to a Yale College Council Proposal passed in September. 

November recess begins on Nov. 22 at 5 p.m.