Proximity

Probably the biggest factor that determines where an individual eats is proximity. A student would be far less likely to traverse across campus to eat at the other dining hall even if they thought it was better. For example, I love pizza and I like Schilletter's Pizza more but I only eat at Schilletter maybe once a week because it is so far away. I live in Holmes Hall which is right next to Harcombe Dining Hall. I prefer Harcombe over Schilletter anyway, but it's proximity also helps me have that opinion. Occasionally someone will suggest that we travel to Schilletter to eat but 99% of the time that suggestion is vetoed because the group does not want to have to go all the way across campus just to eat. Time is limited and we waste enough of it goofing off and we can't afford to spend any more of it trekking far away. Most people would agree that any difference in the quality of food would be negated if they had to spend 15 minutes to eat and then walk 15 minutes back to their dorm. Proximity is definitely one of the major deciding factors of which dining hall people eat at.