By Bob Romantic
GCU News Bureau
GCU faculty, staff and students will get their first look at the renovated Student Union and its expanded menu options during lunch and dinner on Thursday.
The Union will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30-7 p.m. during this grand reopening, and again on Friday during the same times. Full-day services begin Saturday (hours are listed in the chart below).
Cobrizo's and Mein Bowl in Thunder Alley will also revert to their traditional menu offerings beginning Thursday.
The Student Union, which has been closed this summer during the renovation, now seats 500 (down from original estimates but still more than the 312 of last year) and includes more food islands to accommodate additional students and relieve congestion.
Dining Hours of Operation Location Monday-Friday Saturday-Sunday Student Union 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Canyon Cafe 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Closed Cobrizo's 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mein Bowl 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jazzman's 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Simply To Go 8 a.m.-midnight 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Grill (Cobrizo's) 8:30 p.m.-midnight 7-11 p.m. (Sunday) Zoyo Yogurt 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Arena concessions 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed unless event
“People can expect to see a bright new dining hall with a lot of different options,” said Bob Spaziani, the new executive chef for the Union. “You should be able to eat here seven days a week and never eat the same thing.
“You won’t even have to sit in the same seat. There are a lot of different places to sit. It has a very comfortable ambience.”
GCU Today got a glimpse of the new menu offerings at the Student Union:
360 Grill
This stir-fry station is a new offering at the Union, so expect lines (especially at the outset). But they should move pretty quickly.
Patrons choose noodles and vegetables such as bamboo shoots, peppers, mushrooms, water chestnuts, carrots, baby corn, etc., then hand their bowl to a cook who will add your choice of chicken or tofu (beef will be added later) and stir fry it in about a minute. Chili paste and ginger and garlic sauces can also be added, and rice also is available at the grill.
During breakfast, the 360 Grill will offer self-serve eggs, meats, potatoes and oatmeal. An omelet station is in the works.
Deli/salad bar
Located in the center of the Union, this area offers made-to-order salads, sandwiches and paninis. There also is a fruit station (also open during breakfast), and soups are available.
Slideshow of Student Union For photos of the new dining area, click here
There is a self-serve salad bar, as well as a station offering weekly tossed-to-order salads such as Caesar, cobb or Greek salads.
Sandwiches are made-to-order and can be toasted or made into paninis. A handful of pre-made paninis also will be available.
Yogurt/dessert island
At the southeastern corner (where Student Life and Career Services offices had been located), this dessert station features three new yogurt machines and multiple toppings. Cookies and cakes also will be available here.
Main serving area
The traditional serving area on the east side of the Union will still have beverage machines and cereals as well as a hot-line menu item that changes for each seating. The grill (hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fries, quesadillas, etc.) and pizza station also remain.
One new station will be a self-serve pasta bar that offers spaghetti or other pastas and a choice of sauces.
Dish drop-off
The area to drop off dishes is now located in the southeastern corner (behind the dessert station). Simply place the dishes on a conveyer belt and away they go.
Meal plan
A 40-meal plan is available for $280 for faculty and staff. That’s a discount of $1 per meal off the daily price of $8 for lunch. To purchase a plan, see Kristen Fraley in Campus Operations. The meal plans go into effect on Monday.
Contact Bob Romantic at 639.7611 or [email protected].
