Students Split on Cafeteria Revamp

Students are conflicted with the cafeteria renovations. Some enjoy the many options, while others feel crowded. Photo by Samantha Battersby/The Minaret

With a new school year comes new renovations to the University of Tampa campus. One is the new all-you-can-eat Ultimate Dining cafeteria in Vaughn Center.Equipped with not only new tables, chairs, plates and utensils; Ultimate Dining now has
10 stations that guests can choose from when deciding what to eat. Some were kept the
same such as Classics and International, but a few new stations are PastAmore and
Balanced Way.

PastAmore has self-serve and cooked-to-order pasta, with multiple sauces to choose
from. Balanced Way has healthy alternatives to the Classics menu, with dairy-free foods
and meals fit for a vegetarian. The Deluxe Grill now serves steak daily as well as
grilled chicken, the usual burgers, grilled cheese and fries.

Senior psychology major Krista Harty enjoys the upgraded menu. “I think it’s a lot better
than it was. I like the salad bar, it has more options than before.”

The staff can now cook for more students at a time at International, with
round, hot stone blocks that can fit four to five pans each. Food can also be cooked directly
on them.

Junior accounting major Nikki Mandl says the new look of the cafeteria is a positive change. “I think it’s very picturesque and modern-looking. It’s hip in the architecture and styles.”

Junior exercise science major Matt Walmsley agrees. “It’s a nice upgrade. It suits the
Tampa Metro style, and it has more seating for students.”

But with that seating seems to come less room, since the cafeteria is still the same size as
it was before.

“It’s not the most functional setup,” junior mathematics/education major Lauren
McKeown said. “The beams are right where you’re supposed to be walking. We have too
many people for such a small area.”

Maybe it’s just because students are still becoming accustomed to the new space. “I
think everyone isn’t used to it, you don’t know where everything is,” Mandl said.

Walmsley added, “It’s kind of crowded and there aren’t enough drink machines. But I
like the booth seating.”

The new booths can be found spread out among the cafeteria in the back corner near
Vaughn courtyard, along the wall by PastAmore and also next to the dish carousel. Mandl says it provides a more intimate dining experience.  “It’s a good place for a cheap date, or business transactions.”

With the new setup is another change that may please or disappoint students: the
dessert area, Sweet Shop, over by the cereal section.

“I like how the dessert isn’t right by the exit so it can’t tease me on my way out,”
Walmsley said.

Though the new renovations to the UT cafeteria are either pleasing or disappointing, they’re changes that we’ll all have to get used to.