>> PHOTOS: Get a first look inside the new restaurants opening in UD
The new restaurants are part of a broader $7 million renovation to the dining areas of Kennedy Union, ensuring that it will offer the university community “expanded food choices, longer hours, hot breakfasts and significantly increased seating,” UD officials announced last year.
>> RELATED: UD to spend $7M to upgrade dining at Kennedy Union (April 2016)
And these new choices come just a week after UD’s existing food-service program was ranked No. 19 in the country among the Princeton Review’s “The Best 382 Colleges” — and it was the only Ohio college or university to make the top 20 list.
>> LAST WEEK: UD students are eating way better than their counterparts, survey says
Today, Aug. 17, will be the first full day of the new Kennedy Union Crossing and its three restaurants: Spice, Toss and ‘Que.
Here are details of the three new dining destinations, as provided by a UD spokeswoman:
• TOSS "offers the perfect mix of fresh, made-to-order salads, pizzas and popular sandwich choices. TOSS also features a Mediterranean hummus bar with fresh hot pita bread."
• SPICE is a "market where east meets west with chef-created dishes from around the globe. The menu will change periodically to offer a selection of international flavors."
• QUE is, of course, short for barbeque and will offer "made-to-order favorites. Chargrilled, smoked-to-perfection and juicy rotisserie-style cooking will be offered daily, along with home-style sides. Breakfast items will also be served."
>> RELATED: Au Bon Pain on schedule to open on UD’s Campus
An Au Bon Pain cafe is scheduled to open at 7 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 21. UD officials say it will offer "breakfast with fresh-baked pastries, gourmet coffee and hot items. Pastries, breads and cookies are baked fresh daily onsite. Lunch options include soup, sandwiches, mac & cheese and made-to-order salads."
>> RELATED: Glo Juice Bar & Cafe joining UD strip
The Boston-based restaurant chain will look for other potential locations in the Dayton region, focusing on hospitals and perhaps other local college campuses. “There are other good opportunities in the region,” Au Bon Pain Chief Development Officer Ed McGraw told this news outlet in February 2017.
Au Bon Pain’s closest locations are in Christ Hospital in Cincinnati and in the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus.
UD’s off-campus dining choices along Brown Street also have expanded this year, with the openings of R Taco and Thge Gyro Room. A Glo Juice Bar & Cafe, a second venture from the owners of the Butter Café, also is in the works.
>> RELATED: R Taco restaurant opening today on Brown Street near UD (March 2017)
>> RELATED: What to eat at the new Gyro Room restaurant near UD (May 2017)
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