The Commons Dining Center may be a mile away, but for many it is worth the walk.

Despite its location on the Peabody campus, The Food Gallery served an average 800 people for lunch and dinner and around 200 for breakfast every day in its first week.

“The response has been very positive, and people are definitely in here checking it out,” said Executive Chef Camp Howard.

Lunch and dinner have been the most popular times of day for the dining hall, and the pizza station in particular has students coming back for more.

Numbers should also increase with the opening of three more food stations in about a month. In addition to Brick Oven, The Grill, Chef’s Table and Center Island, the dining center will feature a deli and wok station. The dining team also will look to add a saute station at the salad bar and expand the grill station.

Most customers have been sophomores and juniors who live on Peabody and have a short walk over.

Sophomore Katie Cummings said she likes having a dining center close to her dorm.

“The Commons food is a great deal for your Meal Plan account,” she said.

But the new dining center is not just for upperclassmen. Freshman Eric Wormsbaker said he eats at The Commons every day because of its convenient location to his classes on Peabody.