YSU unveils dining hall upgrades
The renovated dining hall serves the public as well as dorm residents.
YOUNGSTOWN — A new sports bar area with big-screen TVs, an upgraded entrance area and made–to–order entrées are among the highlights of the improved Christman Dining Commons at Youngstown State University.
A ribbon–cutting ceremony for the renovated student dining hall is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday. The cost of the three–phase renovation project amounts to $275,000. The dining hall is adjacent to Lyden and Cafaro house residence halls on the north side of the YSU campus.
Jack Fahey, YSU executive director of student services, said Christman Dining Commons was built in 1993 to serve the needs of the growing number of residential students on campus. This year, about 800 students live in university housing. Although the dining hall primarily serves housing residents, it also is open to the public, serving four meals daily: breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night. The hall is open from 9 a.m. to midnight weekdays.
What’s new
The renovation includes installation of a new station in the serving area called The Red Hot Chef, a display cooking concept in which chefs prepare entrées such as linguine with shrimp scampi, Hunan chicken with jasmine rice and veal cutlet with tortellini in blush sauce.
The entrance to the dining hall was refurbished to include video screens highlighting menu items and informing students about upcoming campus events. The convenience store in the building also was rebuilt.
The dining room was transformed from a cafeteria to a restaurant style including booths, stools and comfortable chairs. A sports bar area was created complete with big-screen TVs. A stage was built for performances and programs.