Hey, did you hear? There is a new place on campus to hang out. Centennial Halls dining hall and the Sidelines Pub both received facelifts to become more accommodating for students this year.

Halls dining room now has a lounge complete with leather chairs and flat screen televisions and is open to students 24 hours seven days a week. The Sidelines Pub was redecorated and now has a new menu.

“The food’s good and I watch football in the cafeteria lounge on Sundays,” said Zach Ashcraft, a resident in Centennial Halls.

“The whole place looked old,” explained Sodexho general manager, Nori Yamashita about Halls dining room. So, Sodexho staff collaborated with Mark Rodgers, campus architect, and planned for big changes. The changes visible this year include: the new lounge area complete with two flat screens televisions, new seating, new tiling for the floors, and even some new equipment in the kitchen.

“I like having TV’s here and watching during meals. Watching the news down here is helpful,” said Michael Annarelli about his use of the Halls Dining Room.

Originally, the plan was to update the seating area only but as the plan evolved, there were changes for the food and presentation as well, said Yamashita. The plan began a couple of years ago to update the space and all changes were complete on August 27, 2007. The official opening was September 4, 2007.

So, are students noticing the changes?

“The change in the dining hall is fantastic. It’s like a whole different world from last year,” said Janice Friddle, a second-year student.

“New students don’t know it’s new,” said Yamashita, but he has received positive feedback from returning students.

“The main thing I want to do is hear what students are saying and what they are looking for,” said Yamashita, “If they are looking for a particular item we are willing to consider it.” This kind of feedback is also welcome about the changes at the Pub.

The Sidelines Pub did not undergo as extensive renovations as Centennial Halls but did get new decorations, paint, staff uniforms, and menu. Last year the Pub offered quick-serve items like burgers, chicken fingers, and fries.

This year, Sodexho modeled the menu after “an Applebee’s type of menu,” said Yamashita, and serves items like pork chops, specialty sandwiches but still offers the burgers and fries that students enjoy. The employees at the Pub now wear referee jerseys and the focus is more on DU athletics.

The Pub did not have a ‘pub’ atmosphere, said Yamashita, and so the motivation for the changes came from wanting to improve the atmosphere and offer menu items that appealed to students.

However, the menu tiles are interchangeable and were made that way so that it can easily change based on student feedback, said Yamashita.

Another big change Sodexho has made this year is Grill on the Greens. This was an entirely new concept and is located on the patio just outside The Commons in Driscoll.

Grill on the Greens is a seasonal dining option that serves burgers and other grilled items. Like other places on campus, meal plan cash can be used. There is now wireless service on the patio.

Comment boards are available to give feedback and suggestions to Sodexho, or visit the Sodexho website at www.du.edu/foodservice/.