Food services to be revamped for fall

Many enhancements to the River Campus food service operation will be evident by September, following a rigorous review of operations starting last spring and involving student, faculty, and staff representatives.

Hours will change in some locations, other dining sites will be expanded, and new national-brand and specialty operations will be put in place.

"Students liked the quality of our existing food services, but wanted some additional choices," said Diane Dimitroff, director of auxiliary operations. "We're making new choices available, and improving the general quality throughout our facilities."

In addition, the Faculty Club will be expanded, and recast as a community dining area, rather than a "club," she said.

The new dining program is a competitive proposal from the University's own dining services staff--a proposal that won out over proposals from four nationally recognized vendors.

Incorporating advice from the Residential College Commission, Student Association, and other customer groups, "the dining staff came out with a proposal that will improve dining services on campus on a financially sound basis," Dimitroff said.

In the process, all of the management and supervisory position job descriptions have been rewritten, an executive chef will be added to the management team to improve the menu and help train the culinary staff, and training and marketing staff members will be added to make sure that the dining staff have the necessary expertise and stay in touch with their customers.

Among the changes:

• Wilson Commons Snack Bar will now include Blimpies, the national submarine sandwich brand, as well as a local kosher deli. Both Blimpies and the deli will serve hot and cold food from lunch through the late night.

• Hot breakfasts and calzones will move into the Douglass Center, where the dining area itself will be physically improved to create a friendlier, more intimate space.

• The Faculty Club's lunch seating capacity will be increased from 120 to 220 by moving the Grill Room from the third to fourth floor (where the kitchen is located). The salad bar/buffet line and menu will be enhanced and affordably priced daily specials will be offered. In addition, the entire facility will receive a facelift to address long standing housekeeping and repair issues. The facility will be renamed and more intensively marketed to faculty and staff. The current Grill Room space will be renovated and used for meetings and special events. The current Formal Dining Program will continue.

• The Hillside Restaurant will be dedicated to special events, including student group dinners on the dining plan, with plans to expand the Danforth dining seating into that area in the Fall 1998.

• A new "grab-and-go" service providing pre-packaged sandwiches, bagels, soups, and beverages will be installed on the first floor of Hutchison/Hylan, operating from mid-morning until mid-afternoon.

• A cart serving coffee, bagels, pastries, and fruit will be set up in the Library Road entrance to Rush Rhees Library, just outside CLARC, operating from early morning until late night.

• The all-you-can-eat programs at Danforth and Eastman will enjoy menu and quality improvements. Although hours of operation and general format will remain the same, there will be improvements to the dining area at Danforth.

Renovations to the dining facilities began July 7 and will continue throughout the summer.