The University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Chartwell’s Higher Education unveiled a multi-million-dollar renovation of the campus’s largest dining venue earlier this month. The Eatery at Pitt Eats now showcases 11 new concepts inspired by the city’s diverse cuisines and cultures.
“By bringing together talented chefs from diverse culinary backgrounds, we've thoughtfully crafted menus tailored to each station's unique experience,” Chartwells Higher Ed Residential District Manager Steve Schurr said in a statement. “Our goal was to create distinct, culturally representative dining options. Despite the variety of cuisines, there's a seamless and inclusive atmosphere as guests move from one station to the next.”
Asian-focused Kokumi offers ramen every Thursday.
The 11 stations or concepts run the gamut from Pan-Asian dishes at Kokumi, to curries at Saffron, Italian-American-style pasta and pizzas at Cucina and tacos and churrasco specialties at Table 33. Deli fans can get their fix at the Briny Pickle and the aptly named “The Delicatessen,” a dedicated Kosher space offering bagels and lox, matzoh ball soup and pastrami sandwiches.
An authentic churrasco grill turns out Latin-style skewered meats.
Students seeking vegetarian and allergen-free menus and comfort food favorites also have appealing options. Farm Stand offers farm-to-table plant-forward meals, while Food Truck has portable, scratch-made favorites like hand-cut french fries, chicken tenders and hot dogs. Flourish is the destination for food-sensitive and allergic students, and Unwind is a cozy coffee café with specialty beverages, breakfast sandwiches, gelato and pastries.
Unwind is a coffee cafe with hand-crafted beverages, pastries and more—plus a spot to hang out.
Rounding out the concepts is the convenient Market at Litchfield Towers; it’s equipped with Amazon Go technology for a grab-and-go experience.
“We put an incredible amount of thought and care into the concepts and the menu items available to students, along with the ways they can gather to experience that cuisine,” Senior Executive Chef Jared Lordon said in a statement. “We listened to students and based the options on their feedback.”
The Eatery is created to be much more than a place where students come for meals. It is designed for hosting events such as teaching kitchens, Sunday brunch and premium dining nights. “We will provide experiences with premium dining nights for a limited number of guests, special brunch menus, weekly limited time offers and more,” Lordon added. “The students are our guests, and we plan to treat them that way.”
To encourage social interaction, The Eatery also includes retractable screens for movie nights and game days, an app-controlled jukebox and a social media wall, among other features.