Cal Poly Campus Dining has implemented multiple new on campus facilities and meal concepts for the fall quarter. Students can access a number of elevated services and experiences across campus locations.
The new options include a second location of Julian’s Cafe inside Kennedy Library, Hilltop Grocery, a newly designed grocery store in Poly Canyon Village, and dedicated gluten-free areas in the dining halls. Hilltop Grocery allows only second year students to use dining dollars on food options.
Other additions are Sequel Tea, a Cal Poly alumni creation, and a rotating student-inspired menu called Poly Choice. Even more elevated, a sit down dining experience will be introduced in Vista Grande Express and at 1901 kitchen during the fall quarter.
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“These new additions reflect our commitment to creating dining experiences that are diverse, convenient, and student-focused,” Campus Dining Director Jess Dozier said in a press release. “We want students to feel supported and excited about their options every time they eat on campus.”
Bennett Foreman, a freshman experience industry management major, is pleased with the variety of options on campus. He also appreciates the amount of healthy alternatives that are rotated at Poly Choice.
Foreman shared that the prices seem affordable with portion sizes.
“The places I’ve gone to so far seem pretty reasonable. Especially for the amount you get,” Foreman said.
While some first year students, like Miller and Foreman, choose to visit specific locations over convenience and flavor, upperclassmen are taking advantage of the less busy areas. The library location hosts a quieter audience than the central campus location.
“It’s so nice because I get to avoid all the freshmen at 1901 if I want to get coffee between classes,” said Anna Fineberg, a fourth year business major. “Especially if you want to get some work done, you can grab a coffee while you’re here.”
Dining hall prices
Around lunch time, students enjoying the sushi grade poke bowl at Poly Choice noted the freshness of the ingredients and the quality of flavor. However, Paxton Miller, a freshman living on campus, is critical of the costs compared to those of Vista Grande.
“I have noticed the prices down here are a lot steeper. It’s manageable on the meal plan, but off it, it might be expensive.” Miller said. “If they could lower the price without losing the high quality, that would be good.”
When asked if she would desire anything else from Campus Dining, Shobi Lowenstein shared her frustrations with the costs. “I would want a salad bar that wasn’t thirteen dollars,” the first year said.
“I think the prices are kind of insane.” said Sophie Fioravanti, a student employee at the 1901 Julian’s location. “I would never buy anything with my own money from here.”
Multiple upperclassmen students shared their envy for freshmen on the dining plan. Fioravanti was able to taste options in 1901 with meal vouchers.
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“It was actually good,” she said. “As a first year, I was very disappointed by the food on campus.”
She wishes the changes made to the dining halls could have happened sooner.