Flame offers grilled-to-order burgers and hot dogs, plus halal chicken and various fries and sauces. (Image courtesy of Jennifer Roop)
This fall, the new academic year brought new food options for DePaul diners. In addition to changes in the meal plan structure, DePaul rolled out expanded food choices at the main Lincoln Park Campus dining hall.
The meal plan program now includes a combination of an All-You-Care-To-Eat meal swipe environment and declining balance dollars. The model, which is common at colleges and universities across the country, affords plan holders greater value and creates more dining flexibility for anyone eating on campus.
“We are very excited to bring this new dining concept to the students, faculty and staff at DePaul,” says Rick Moreci, director of Housing and Student Centers.
Meals are open to the DePaul community and guests with or without meal plans. Anyone can enter the All-You-Care-to-Eat hall - Create, on the second floor of the Lincoln Park Student Center - by using a meal swipe or paying the entrance price with declining balance (Flex dollars), Demon Express, cash or credit. Meals also are available “to-go” by asking the cashier for a container.
Create’s food options rotate and change, moving from breakfast to lunch to dinner. Diners can mix and match as they please from various stations:
- A breakfast nook features juice, bagels and waffles, cereal and dairy and alternative milks all day. Around the corner, an “avoiding gluten” station includes a dedicated toaster and waffle iron along with gluten-free breads and bagels
- Homestyle serves comfort food, while 500 Degrees highlights pizza and pasta
- The Fresh52 salad bar features 40 fresh ingredients, while Rooted hosts vegetarian and vegan options. That area also includes rotating soup and grain options plus a sandwich bar
- Flame offers grilled-to-order burgers and hot dogs, plus halal chicken and various fries and sauces
Outside of Create, several food spots on the Lincoln Park Student Center’s second floor offer individual items. Platforms include Cluck, featuring grilled and crispy chicken; Revolution Noodle, with Asian-inspired cuisine prepared to order; Saboroso, for Latin American cuisine and build-your-own burritos and rice bowls; and 312 Diner, emphasizing burgers and all-day breakfast. For a full list of campus dining locations, including those in academic buildings, click here.
Between the All-You-Care-To-Eat area and the specialized platforms, there are plenty of choices - though DePaul Dining Services also is open to hearing new ideas.
“I like to ask diners, what else would you like? Because if you have something in mind, we can probably do it,” says Laura Henning, marketing manager for Chartwells, DePaul’s dining vendor.
There are high-tech ways to stay updated about food offerings and to provide feedback. Diners can download the DineOnCampus app to see operating hours, daily menus and nutritional details, including vegetarian, vegan and balanced options (under 500 calories). They can also use Dining Services’ Text2Solve line at (773) 888-0438 for requests, questions or comments, and can provide
further feedback online.
“By increasing the available options, both in food and hours of operation, our hope is to maximize DePaul’s dining experience,” says James Lee, resident district manager for Chartwells.