The Gastronome

Honestly, unless you live on campus and don’t have any other choice then don’t eat here. Sure, it’s buffet style, but in general the food is very bland. All attempts at ethnic food (ex. Indian, mexican) is shameful. The salad station is okay but the fruits often have flies if they’re left out too long. The waffle station is also okay except that it constantly gets stuck to the waffle iron. If you just want toast, the toaster oven takes a while and doesn’t really toast it. They don’t abide by cross contamination rules so if you want peanut butter or cream cheese or jelly on your toast and have an allergy then be very careful because there’s no surety that the utensils have not been used for multiple stations. I go here often because I can’t live on campus without signing up for a meal plan. The main problem with the gastronome is that its food provider is Aramark (very, very, VERY poor global provider of food, facilities & uniforms). The only good part about the gastronome are the student workers. If they aren’t students then often they are pretty rude. So good luck, Unilocalers. I’d try other places around the school. Even the awful TSU.

Pros and Cons
Pros
1. Friendly staff
2. lots of choices
3. plenty of seating
4. all-​you-​can-​eat
Cons
1. expensive, very expensive
2. subpar food
The Gastronome is a cafeteria located on the CSUF campus. For non-​dorm students, it costs $ 10.25 for lunch, ayce. The staff is nice and friendly. However, the food tastes mediocre at best. For $ 10.25, you can get much better food across the street and its cheaper too. The food just does not taste good. It’s a step above high school food but barely. For the price, it is just not worth it. I will only eat here if I am too lazy to walk across the street to the Habit or Waba Grill.

The food at the Gastronome tastes like garbage and the place smells like garbage. Variety doesn’t matter because everything tastes like crap. Don’t spend your money here, rent an apartment and cook your own food, save yourself from starvation.

I love this cafeteria because I used to eat and work there every day. I still remember the first time I was there. It looked like a five-​star restaurant to me. The building was so big and new. For those of you who haven’t been there, it works like a buffet restaurant. You pay first, then, you can stay as long as you want and eat as much as you can. I used to live on campus and eat at The Gastronome during my first semester at Cal State Fullerton. I got seven-​day meal plan (it means that I was able to go to The Gastronome anytime I wanted, seven days a week). The food was so good at first since they had different menu every day, but I got bored after a while. The menu just repeated itself weekly. Having said that, I still love this place because for students who lived on campus like me, The Gastronome was not only a place for us to stuff our stomach, but also a place to hang out and make friends. I loved The Gastronome so much that I applied to work there during my second semester.
If you’ve never been to The Gastronome and live in or around Orange County, I highly recommend it. You won’t be disappointed. Well, you may if you plan to eat there every day (you can totally do this by purchasing meal plans). If you only want to try this cafeteria out, I’m sure you will enjoy the food. Make sure you plan your visit on week days because they offer a lot of delicious dishes. They don’t cook much on weekends as most of the students go home, so they just make enough food to serve those who remain on campus.

It is nicknamed the «The Asstronome» for a reason. You never know what they are going to give you, and if you come on the weekends they won’t even open up half of the food stations.

Although this is mainly the dining hall for the dorms, staffs can dine here, also. Came here with my coworkers on a Friday because we heard that it’s $ 7 for lunch on Fridays with your CSUF staff I.D. The food is okay. There are different food stations that are scattered around. I guess you need to walk far to get your food since it’s buffet style and you need to lose the weight while you’re there. They have a few stations where they cook your food by order.

The Gastronome SUCKS! I don’t understand why anybody besides students that live on campus would EVER go here! I PROMISE I am trying to save you money, time, and your taste buds.

I think Cal State Fullerton knows that they can charge their resident students whatever they want and serve shitty food. Shame on them.

UPDATE:
I found a rock (almost 2 cm long) in my brownie a couple of weeks ago. I am not sure I will be returning unless I have to.
Working on campus, I have had a lot of experience eating at the Gastronome.
There are sometimes great quality meals, but it is hit and miss. Also, be aware that during the summer and holiday breaks, there can be a dramatic reduction in options. It’s fairly quick to pay, get your food and get seated, which is excellent.
It’s a large place, with a variety of different sections. For lunch/​dinner, there are two soup options — these are my favorite. Unfortunately, they are often times too spicy or too salty, but sometimes they are perfect!
The salad bar is full of fresh options, and fruits, which is great.
The hot food options change frequently; there is no monotony. There are often vegetarian options too.
Unfortunately, brown rice and other whole grains only occasionally make the scene. Some vegetables are frozen and soaked in whatever refined oil these use. But there are instances of fresh vegetable being prepared. Just wish they had butter or sesame oil, besides whatever oil they are using.
The dessert section is abundant, and good on the taste buds, so you need to work hard to limit yourself.
The staff are courteous and friendly.

When you want a restaurant/​space (almost) all to yourself on the weekend, there is no better place than the Gastronome. Sure there are a few handfuls of students strolling in and out of the joint, but clearly it’s capacity outweighs the consumers on the weekend.
A buffet of cereal dispensers, fountain beverages and juices, omelette station, burgers/​hot dogs/​pizza section, pour your/​create your own waffle area, salad bar, breakfast meat and lunch or dinner entrée zone; we made our rounds through this carnival of food options.
Free parking (on weekends), a reasonable dining fee and it’s around the corner from home.
Thanks to my awesome Unilocaler pal Richard for the easy directions!
Coming here often will most likely become a pattern for me;)

The food is average quality sometimes but other times, I have REALLY enjoyed my food here. Plenty to eat too as you get with a buffet style, and Carrie is so sweet and does a wonderful job here. I added another star to my rating just because of her. Also the frozen yogurt is usually really good.

As a Titan, I always enjoy eating at the gastronome. There’s so much variety from making your own waffles, burgers, and every kind of cuisine imaginable. Highlights include buffalo chicken sliders, brownies, cookies, and really anything else you could want. The price is a little steep, around $ 10 for lunch and a little more for dinner, but it’s definitely worth it. I also really enjoy the icee machines. The pizza and the grill station will be your best friends here.

I won’t say which University dining commons/​hall/​cafeteria I’m comparing the Gastronome to, but as far as buffets go, I’ve definitely eaten better. Perhaps it was my choice of entrée– Rotisserie chicken with sides of roasted potatoes and veggies, a platter of meats and cheeses, and for dessert, half a white chocolate cranberry scone and a flaky pastry, or perhaps it was the fact that today was move-​in day so menu options had to be easily dished and served, but the food was mediocre at best.
However, I will say that I did love the ambience and the floor-​to-​ceiling windows. There was plenty of seating and it seemed to be the perfect place to grab a bite in between classes and/​or while slaving away on homework.
I was also surprised (and slightly envious) of their icee and ice cream machines and I can honestly say there was a variety of options offered so I hope my little cousin, who is now officially a Titan, will never tire of school food.
Nevertheless, what made the Gastronome worthy of three stars as opposed to two is the fact that my meal was free (hehe)! If you don’t have a meal plan, I would def recommend making friends with those who do. I’ve heard breakfast at the Gastronome is great and if someone’s willing to swipe you in, I don’t see why anyone would turn down free food!

Honestly, csuf campus residents are super lucky with the gastronome. I lived on campus last year and i really miss having the convenience of gastronome and late night now i live off campus. (They gave out FREE HAAGAN DAZS before)
First of all is buffet style, and the foods can be super delicious.
Some foods are there daily, like the pizza and anything from the grill station (except the daily specials) is always delicious.
The waffle maker is really good, and works all day. Although i dont wake up on time for breakfast much, everytime i had lunch in the gastronome ive always had a good experience! Scramble eggs and tapatio omg…
Salad bar has enough choices. Tey their asian dressing whatever is called. Helped me through my dieting period haha.
Oh the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies is soo good
The world station could be a hit or miss. But whenever the food is not that great i just head to the grill station. Build ur own burger or chicken sandwich ayeee

They have waffle makers. And I liked their peanut noodles. and turkey lettuce wrap. The healthier options are surprising not that bad. But my chicken melt was burnt. Soup seemed like it had been sitting for a while.
Eh.Probably won’t be back here too often as their low health rating…

I go here for breakfast because I love breakfast. It was 7 $ a person and I ate like two plates of eggs, sausages, bacon and tater tots. I also went for a custom made omelette which was heavenly! I also ate some waffles (they have waffle makers). I saw people make breakfast burritos and more stuff but to be honest… I just couldn’t find these stations. The gastronome is a very big and spacious place but I kind of dislike how the eggs, sausages, bacon and other items were not self serve. It makes me feel weird having to have someone scoop the food for me, I’d really just rather do it myself. And I didn’t like how all the stations were confusing, in different corners and areas. I couldn’t find a lot of stations and I honestly felt like a noob. But still, the food was good and I would come again for breakfast.
The location IS hard to find. It’s basically next to the dorms and the nicer more architectural area of CSUF.

HOLY CRAP… this place is bomb! If you take it for what it is…
It’s dorm food.
I’m a 4^th year at Cal Poly Pomona and I’ve tried out their dorm food buffet twice and was absolutely disgusted. That place is complete garbage. Don’t ever waste your money there.
My girlfriend and I decided to visit her cousin who goes to CSUF and got to swipe us in.
Anyways, about the Gastronome. It’s pretty bomb!
They have freaking waffle makers!!! That alone made my day. Ate two of those bad boys.
Burgers, sandwiches and pizza is all pretty mediocre/​solid.
The side where they have this almost mongolian/​asian grill section was complete garbage but hey, that’s too be expected!
To the right of that, they have a couple of chicken dishes which hit the spot.
Salad and ice cream sections were the areas I didn’t try just because I was so fascinated by the waffle maker that I stuffed my face with that. I did try a couple of desserts from their bakery section which wasn’t very good.
All in all though. I took it for what it was. Way above average dorm food in my opinion.
I’d come back for sureeeee

Truth be told — «She doesn’t even go here!!» — I really don’t. Hahaha. Little cousin took me in when I came to visit her!
Very spacious and the tables aren’t super cramped up together. Everything on the left side of the cashier/​door when you walk in is just average food. Burgers, fries, sandwiches, salad/​soup bar. But everything on the right is the RIGHT way to go! LOVE the waffle makers. Blueberry waffles mmmmm :) should have a couple more machines though since there’s only two … and they ran out of whip cream, NOOOOOOO. Almost had to roll out the door cause I was so full!

Why couldn’t you have come sooner when I was a student, Gastronome???
Came here for the first time since I graduated in 2009 a couple of Saturdays ago to enjoy a brunch after Saturday morning basketball. The benefits of coming on the weekend is that there are less students and FREE parking. Yes, FREE PARKING! Trust me on this one (interned for the CSUF Parking and Transportation Department). It’s free! Only timed zone areas, red yellow areas, special permit, and no parking areas are enforced.
My whole body was stunned. What used to be a parking lot turned into a huge cafeteria with a huge dorming/​housing few hundred feet away. I was impressed with the modern architecture and how it’s Eco friendly with utilizing the countless windows to light the whole Gastronome foundation.
Admission to this buffet was only $ 5.39 (with tax). Some kind of finals week promotion, so it was definitely a bargain. Regular prices, for general entry, breakfast is $ 6.50, lunch $ 9.00, dinner $ 11.50.
When you come here, think of an upgraded Home Town Buffet. There was a salad station, waffle station, omelette station, burger/​hot dog/​sandwich station, cereal station, pizza/​pasta station, soft serve ice cream, and soft drink/​juice/​slush station. I couldn’t get enough! It was like a kid and a candy store experience!
The only down side was that the omelette station took close to 15 minutes due to the amount of people in line, but you know what made it better? The ALL YOU CAN EAT, grilled to perfection, crisp, wonderful, delightful, smoked, salty, and savory bacon right after you receive the omelette! Tell the person how many you want. Ask and you shall receive!
Put your empty dishes in a conveyor belt type system near the back and move on to your next dish you choose to eat.
Very family friendly, good for groups, visitors/​non-​students, and hungry people! I give a lot of props to the culinary chef/​director/​mastermind who operates and manages this facility. Only if he/​she came 4 years sooner!

Location is hard to find! The Gastronome is next to parking lot E, behind the college of engineering and computer science, and it’s at the dorms. That being said, this is the nicest part of the CSUF campus.
Going on right now till May 19^th I believe, all day is $ 5 (pre-tax)all you can eat buffet!!! Doesn’t matter what time: lunch, breakfast, or dinner. I’ve never been here before today, and I think the food is awesome.
Pork tender loins with roasted potatoes: D so good!!! You just cannot beat that price and the quality of food. So many selections, you can make your own waffles, fruits, coffee, cereal, salad bar (the greens tasted funky), hamburgers. etc.
I’ve only been to the UCLA dorms, and the food there is great. CSUF is pretty up there, less of a selection, but the quality is comparable.
Overall
— come eat now before the $ 5 deal is over
— regular prices
$ 7 breakfast – lunch don’t know — $ 12 ish dinner
— not your microwave crap
–buffet style
— next to Lot E