New Dining Opens on Centennial

University Dining has several new dining facilities opening this fall, and the first to be unveiled is On the Oval Culinary Creations, located in Wolf Ridge Apartment Complex on Centennial Campus. It is scheduled to open for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

This much-anticipated collection of dining options with a common seating area will be the first permanent, full-service dining establishment on Centennial Campus since its inception 25 years ago. 

“On the Oval is going to dramatically transform Centennial Campus,” says Dennis Kekas, associate vice chancellor of the Centennial Campus Partnership Office. “It’s another important piece of our overall strategy to make the campus not only an innovation engine, but a true gathering place for people with big ideas and even bigger dreams.”

“Having permanent on-site dining with a wide variety of selections is a critical need for the health and well-being of the students, faculty and staff who spend their days in the engineering buildings on Centennial Campus,” says Jennifer Weston, director of engineering communications for the College of Engineering. “The new Oval Culinary Creations will be a welcome dining option that fulfills that critical need.”

On the Oval, named for its prime spot along the oval green space between the College of Engineering and the new Hunt Library, will  feature four micro restaurants and a diner venue with early-morning and late-night access. The menu will include a wide variety of fresh-made entrees and sides, including comfort, low-fat, vegan and vegetarian options.

More than 400 guests can enjoy the indoor and outdoor seating areas, making it a hot spot for students, faculty, staff, corporate partners and campus visitors to relax and eat.  The seating area has been designed to accommodate groups that want to collaborate over a meal. They can even reserve a private dining area that will seat up to 25 people.

On the Oval will offer the following choices of options:

Cold Fusion will be the place to stop for fresh sandwiches and wraps made with fresh breads, choice meats and cheeses, specialty salads and soups.

Fahrenheit will serve artisan pizza baked in a fire-deck oven, plus an ever-changing menu of rotisserie meats and fish, each served with a complementary side item.

Flash Point will feature authentic regional Asian flavors, including fresh-rolled sushi, noodle bowls with stir-fried meats, vegetables and tofu, customized with your favorite sauces and condiments.

Newton’s Grill and Diner will have a menu of your favorite diner foods, including items hot from the grill menu, breakfast favorites, and more. You can look for Angus beef burgers, hand-cut fries, and signature grill specials.  A separate, intimate seating area (Newton’s Diner) will have a separate entrance that will enable it to operate as its own venue for breakfast, late nights and weekends.

Click here for a video tour of the new location.

The campus can also look forward to a newly renovated McKimmon Corner Cafe, which will brew Starbucks coffee and serve an assortment of sandwiches, wraps, salads and bakery goods. It is scheduled to re-open in late August.

In addition, several new dining options will open in the new Talley Student Center as early as mid-fall. An announcement will be made as soon as an opening date can be confirmed.