This semester not only brought in a new class to the University of Tampa, but also some new dining options. Amy Truong, resident district manager of dining services, explained some of the changes in dining options.
Renovations were made to Stadium Center, Ultimate Dining and Spartan Club during this past summer. By the end of July, Spar-BQ became a part of UT dining, offering students an authentic barbecue meal with smoked meat and sides such as smoked mac-n-cheese, vegetarian chili and corn-bread.
While Stadium had changes to its dining repertoire, so did Einstein Brother’s Bagels in Vaughn Center. With its new menu options, students are now able to purchase a meal exchange on items such as a bagel pizza, or a frozen drink that was not offered previously, Troung said.
Also for the students’ convenience, namely for those who dine later in the day, hours have been extended at Pandini’s, Einstein Brother’s Bagels and Ultimate Dining.
Truong said that the changes to dining at the University of Tampa occurred simply because dining services strives to keep up with the new trends and feedback from student surveys.
“The local student board of directors, also known as the food committee, also gives feedback to dining services and encourages other students to give feedback,” she said.
This is done so that changes can happen more often to accommodate students. To ensure that these changes occur, a budget is set aside every year just for the renovation projects and menu changes.
Two places on campus that new students might not know about or seem to overlook are The Rathskeller and Panache. The Rathskeller is a deli located in the basement of Plant Hall that serves sandwiches, baked goods and Starbucks coffee.
Student groups can reserve space in the Rathskeller for events and meetings by contacting dining services office at 813-258-7298.
Troung explained that the appeal of Panache is that it is a buffet/made-to-order style restaurant, where students can sit down and enjoy eating up-scale cuisine, “while taking in the atmosphere of a real restaurant with the added hostess service.”
Panache is open from Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Dining services also runs the concession stands during the home sporting events in both the
Martinez Sports Center and near the field, where the students can purchase food ranging from stuffed pretzels and taquitos to soft serve ice cream and cookies.
All the changes have been done in partner with the dining services food provider Sodexo.
Sodexo not only provides service for UT’s dining, but is also opening jobs to students and strongly encouraging them to apply.
For any information on any of the food services listed, visit UT’s Dining Services website at dining.ut.edu.
Shantora Perkins can be reached at shashap2011@gmail.com.