Dining Makes Adjustments, Adds New Eating Options and Maintains Safety Practices

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Duquesne Dining has developed a new dining plan and introduced convenient accommodations to keep diners safe while remaining focused on quality and nutrition. Dining Services is following the Pennsylvania Department of Health safety mandates in implementing these changes, which will improve the fall dining experience.

A dining team staff member will attend all “self-service” areas such as salad bars, yogurt bars, waffle stations and on-the-go coolers. Condiments will be individually portioned. Although seating within dining halls will be limited, more seating options both indoors and outdoors will be added. The new al fresco dining concepts and additional seating arrangements, in tents and various indoor locations throughout campus, will allow for more variety and space to convene while maintaining social-distancing practices.

All dining team members have been trained on self-health monitoring and will wear personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves. Sanitation practices and food safety guidelines at all dining locations have been expanded, with a heavy focus on “high-touch” points. Additionally, service areas will look different. Plexiglas barriers have been added to cashier stations and points of service, and multiple sanitizer stations will be readily available throughout all dining locations. Guests are required to wear masks at all dining locations while ordering and picking up their food.

All staple dining locations on campus will reopen this semester in addition to two new outdoor concepts. Coffee Tree Roasters in the law school will remain closed. In phase one of reopening, Dining Services will focus on de-densifying University dining locations, especially during peak times. Diners can avoid lines by visiting locations during non-peak hours. The peak hours/busiest times are from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during lunch and from 5 to 6 p.m. during dinner.

Dining Services also has made changes to alleviate congestion at some of the campus community’s resounding favorites. A Chick-fil-A Express will open on Mellon Patio, featuring Chick-fil-A’s classic chicken sandwich. Bowls to Go, a contemporary comfort-food concept, will open on A-Walk and offer a versatile menu such as mashed potato bowls, buffalo mac ‘n cheese, cheesy chorizo and eggs, and much more. The Incline Food Court, which is undergoing a makeover to maximize traffic flow, will launch Salads By Design, a build-your-own salad concept in the location previously occupied by the pizza station. Moving forward, the pizza station will continue to offer Italian fare in the Hogan Dining Center.

The Red Ring Bar & Grille will transition to carry-out-only service. Expect a grab-and-go experience, featuring upscale prepared hot foods and campus favorites like the Red Ring’s signature wings, the arugula pear salad, General Tso’s chicken and buffalo mac ‘n cheese. Daily sandwich, salad and entree features also will be conveniently packaged for safe pick-up.

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