1899 Dining Hall Gets 2015 Makeover

Azusa Pacific University’s 1899 Dining Hall underwent an extensive remodel and menu update this summer. Diners will experience a fresh take on convenient, made-to-order meals in a modern, customer-friendly environment.

“College students today want healthy eating choices, and they care about where their food comes from,” said James Cacciatore, assistant director of dining services. “Students are concerned about artificial and processed foods. Our goal is to provide quality, nutritious foods that taste great and contribute to our campus community’s wellbeing.”

Diners at 1899 Dining Hall now can enjoy a greater variety of healthy options with special attention paid to dietary restrictions and food allergies. A Japanese-inspired wok station offers entirely gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly stir-fry items, including an assortment of locally grown vegetables, lean meats, brown rice, and noodles.

Other additions include an expanded salad bar, a panini station where students can create their own grilled sandwiches on bread made by APU’s bakery, and a dinner area featuring all-natural rotisserie chicken and side dishes such as roasted vegetables and macaroni and cheese. Breakfast selections range from a custom omelet bar to a buffet-style serving area with pancakes, potatoes, and scrambled eggs.

To empower diners to make the best choices for their individual dietary needs, foods are clearly labeled with allergy information and menu cards are on site and online, prepared by a university dietician, that list all ingredients and nutritional data.

Complementing the new menu, the dining hall boasts an updated appearance with an open floor plan that helps with traffic flow and accommodates additional seating. “The new layout reflects our customer-centered focus,” said Cacciatore. “Diners will move easily through the stations, select what they want to eat, and see their food prepared right in front of them.”

These changes have resulted in a positive response from the APU community, according to Cacciatore, including an uptick in enthusiastic comments and likes on Facebook. In August, the Human Resources team hosted Taste of APU an event that drew faculty and staff to the dining hall to sample dishes and see the newly designed space. Plans are underway to host a similar open house for students.

The One Card Office, located inside the APU Bookstore on West Campus, loads dining points on APU ID cards for students, faculty, and staff and assists with any questions regarding student and employee dining plans. Register for meal plans online. The weekly menu, nutritional information, and hours of operation are available on the APU website and on the APU Mobile app.