University of Nevada, Reno transforms campus dining experience for 2023-24

Nevada Dining, the campus dining program operated by Chartwells Higher Education at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) has been revamped for the 2023-24 academic year to give students and guests a more tailored dining experience through updates such as expanded hours, all-day breakfast, international meal concepts and grab-and-go vending units offering meals made from scratch to streamline the meal trade program. These upgrades join a program that already features state-of-the-art dining facilities, autonomous delivery robots and made-from-scratch meal offerings.

“We’re inspired by the passion our students and campus community have for the University’s dining program,” offers Chartwells Resident District Manager Gabe Lewis. “They spoke, we listened, and we’ve made upgrades, big and small, that we think will create a much-improved dining experience for students. We’re excited to see the students’ reactions when they come to campus, and we hope these changes will not only add to the excitement of a new school year but fuel their growth throughout it.”

Some of the changes UNR students can expect to see include…

• Expanded Hours: After hearing requests for more breakfast and late-night options, Nevada Dining has extended its dining hours by 43% with three restaurants and three vending units open for breakfast starting on or before 7:30 a.m.  In addition, seven restaurants will operate beyond 7 p.m., with three continuing to serve until 11 p.m.

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• New Culinary Offerings: On August 25, three new dining concepts launched on campus: Mongolian Grill, BRKFT & Co., and Grab Goodness, the latter a grab-and-go concept featuring fresh foods made in-house. In addition, Thrive, a meal station that avoids the nine major food allergens, and Create and Wild Pie are getting menu refreshes.

• Vending Units Serving In-House Meals: Starting this semester, most grab-and-go foods will be prepared on campus to offer fresher, higher-quality meals through the new Grab Goodness concept available at the three new vending units at locations across north, mid, and south campuses soon, as well as in select restaurants.

• Meal Trade Program Enhancements: In direct response to feedback from students, the meal trade program has been revamped with all meal plan holders now having access to premium locations such as Panera Bread and Habit Burger.

• Catering Excellence: Nevada Dining has launched a new catering program with diverse, budget-friendly menus specifically designed for student groups.

“The updates we’ve made to the dining program are a labor of love, aimed at creating an unforgettable culinary journey right here on campus,” says Senior Campus Executive Chef Jon Buchholtz. “We can't wait for students to savor the new flavors and feel the fresh ambiance and look forward to their feedback so we can continue to innovate the program together for years to come.”

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