<p>Anyone can eat in the residential college dining halls, but you need to get someone to swipe you in. (not hard, you just stand outside the courtyard and wait for a student to go in or out, then find the dining hall within that college). </p>
<p>I would recommend Commons for lunch since there is the most options in terms of food and because it is the busiest lunchtime dining hall because of its location. And yes, it is the one at college and grove. I wouldn’t recommend SOM-- undergrads go there if they are already on science hill, and it is good food, but it won’t really give you the college feel. If you want a residential college, Silliman is the closest to where you’ll be and you can enter right from hillhouse. </p>
<p>i don’t think it would be weird to have a parent in tow. When i went on my college tours my parents ate with me in the dining halls, and when they visit me here they eat in the dining halls. But it depends how proactive the prefrosh is. If he/she is comfortable going up to a group of students sitting down, saying that they are a perspective student, and asking to join, then that would be fine. But there is nothing wrong with having a parent in the dining hall.</p>