Bama Dining expanded on-campus eating this fall with two new eating places and a gaming and leisure space in Lakeside Dining.
Social Bites opened upstairs in Lakeside Dining Hall, changing Sola, on Aug. 14, with a grand opening set for Sept. 18, and Choolaah, a “fast-casual” Indian eating idea, will open Sept. 3 within the Student Center within the former Wendy’s location.
“Social Bites is an innovative food hub concept that reimagines the traditional food hall experience,” Bama Dining stated in an Instagram publish. “This concept aims to create a vibrant, social dining atmosphere while providing elevated yet affordable meals.”
The kiosk-style venue options 4 bite-size manufacturers: The Original Hot Chicken, INKED Tacos, Flametown Burgers and Pinsa Pizza. The choices are accessible with meal-plan swipes and open every day from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., giving college students a late-night choice.
“The variety sounds cool, but sola did one thing perfectly, and that was tacos,” stated Chase Tucker, a senior majoring in finance.
Choolaah will have fun its opening Sept. 3 with free meals and giveaways from midday to 2 p.m. The restaurant serves tandoor-style dishes with vegetarian and Halal choices.
“Choolah replacing Wendy’s is for the better because it adds a variety to the student center,” stated Nicavian Curry, a junior majoring in kinesiology. “I have been to the Wendy’s at the student center, the food was decent but the Chick-fil-A was better.”
The University stated in a news release that the Lakeside mezzanine can even home a brand new gaming and leisure space with “arcade games, video games, a pool table, a self-playing piano and numerous other entertainment options.” Proceeds from recreation leases and gameplay will help the Student Care & Well-Being meals pantry.
Payton Fuller, a junior majoring in advertising and operations administration, stated she thinks the brand new gaming and leisure space can be widespread.
“There are already a lot of people in the area and I think it would attract more,” she stated. “It could be a great spot for people to unwind around classtime.”
The identical launch additionally famous different updates, together with renovations to the Raising Cane’s location in Paty Hall, which reopened this fall with a brand new look. It additionally introduced two new government cooks. Stanley Harris, who will oversee Lakeside Dining, and Darvin McDaniel, who’s chargeable for all of Bama Dining.