Campus Dining offers classic favorites and new options for spring semester

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the spring semester, students, faculty and staff at Penn State University Park have lots of options when it comes to dining on campus. From long-time favorites to new offerings, and from mobile ordering to in-person dining, retail and residential operations are making campus dining safe, convenient and delicious — whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick snack.

Residential dining

“Throughout the pandemic, and going into spring semester, our teams have done an outstanding job with maximizing seating in our spaces while also ensuring that seating areas are appropriately distanced and monitored to maintain safety standards,” said Jamie Robinson, senior assistant director, Residential Dining. “We’ve gradually increased seating, and guests still have many options through our grab-and-go format.”

Open for business are a new bowls station at South Food District; pizza by the slice during lunch in East, South and West Food Districts; an expanded menu at Fresco y Caliente in South District; and fountain beverage and condiment areas in all dining commons.

Louie’s and Sisu markets are open for in-person shopping, as well as mobile ordering. Shoppers can grab Penn State Bakery favorites at both markets as well as hot breakfast sandwiches at Sisu.

Traditional spring-semester favorites are also back, including a special limited-time menu for THON recovery, a St. Patrick’s Day menu featuring favorites like potato, bacon and cheddar soup; corned beef with cabbage; and celebrations of loved food holidays such as National Grilled Cheese Day on April 12.

“Although THON is virtual this year, Penn State Dining and Housing and Food Services have donated $5 vouchers for students to use over the weekend,” said Robinson. ”West Food District will also offer foods focused on THON recovery on Monday, Feb. 22, and Tuesday, Feb. 23 — including smoked salmon penne with cream sauce and strawberry banana and peanut butter chocolate smoothies.”

Residential Dining is also participating in special menu features and programming for University Wellness Days, which were created as non-instructional days with a range of programs for all members of the Penn State community. The next Wellness Day, coming up on March 11, will focus on intellectual and spiritual wellness. Dining options will include “fuel for thought” menu items such as multigrain tuna avocado toast and orange teriyaki salmon.

The following Wellness Day, slated for April 7, will feature a physical and environmental wellness theme. Residential Dining will hold a virtual chef demo featuring local products from the Penn State Student Farm to promote sustainable dining and living, and menu options will feature local ingredients such as Pennsylvania mushrooms.

“With a semester under our belts and listening to feedback from our students, we looked at different ways to offer more to our guests this spring,” said Jim Meinecke, associate director of Residential Dining. “Whether it’s more variety like new stations at North and South, in-person shopping at our smaller convenience stores, or reopening some self-serve areas like beverage stations, we’re always looking to offer more to our guests while still maintaining the highest safety standards given the ongoing pandemic.”

Retail dining

Favorite locations at the HUB-Robeson Center are back, with lots of options for mobile ordering as well as in-person ordering.

“Customers can rest assured that we’re taking safety measures in all our Retail Dining operations, making sure to limit orders and limiting capacity throughout the HUB,” said Pam Watters, interim associate director for Campus Retail Dining.

Jamba is open for mobile ordering, and Burger King is taking mobile as well as in-person orders. McAlister’s Deli has added favorite salads and sandwiches to their mobile ordering options, and Starbucks has expanded its mobile ordering menu to include a variety of beverages, snacks and merchandise. Sbarro is offering an all-day mobile ordering special: Buy one whole NY pizza at the regular price and get any second whole NY pizza for $9.99.

Customers looking for Penn State Bakery favorites such as cookies, brookies and brownies can find them at Sbarro, Café Laura, and Soup & Garden in the HUB. The Food Court’s fountain beverage area is also open.

Campus Dining social media accounts include all the latest updates on campus dining, and Penn State Eats features a wide variety of mobile ordering options.