The delight of a new dining experience greeted all UNE’s students as they returned from winter break to start the spring semester. The new commons building is almost completely up and running with the top floor dining hall running smoothly and most of the second floor done too.

With Decary hall dining now closed, the commons are the new place to eat on a regular basis. And there was been overwhelming positive feedback on the food quality and general feel of the new dining hall. Many students say that the university has outdone themselves compared to what food at Decary hall used to be. The food tastes and looks fresher and much more appetizing. The options have been expanded and the ambiance of the dining hall is much more modern and relaxing.

Most students have said that the addition of the Mongolian grill has been fantastic. It has been something new, healthy, and delicious. With plenty of options and combinations to customize your bowl, the line each night is an indicator of just how well received the grill has been. What also helps is the ability to now see your food being made from nearly all food stations. You can see it being made from scratch from the beginning to when it is served on your plate. With that, there is noticeable freshness and higher quality in the flavor and texture of the dishes.

The panini station has also been a student favorite with delicious sandwiches made right in front of you and put in a panini press until toasted. The salad bar offers more options that it previously had, giving students more opportunity and incentive to be healthy. It seems like the University made a significant effort to give us more healthy options and the results have been satisfying. The entrée station has had some hits, with a variety of different meat dishes, roasted vegetables, roasted potatoes, pastas, casseroles, and all sorts of delicious options.

The new pizza station offers a different style of toppings each night. An opinion I have gathered from many fellow students is that the pizza tastes so much better with higher quality cheese, sauce, and crust. It is also made out in the open, so you can watch your tasty pizza being made right in front of your eyes.

More beverage options have been installed with the interesting addition of flavor shots. The lemonade with a strawberry shot is a personal favorite but there are so many great combinations to try.

The seating options in the Commons are also something worth mentioning. After filling up your plate with food there are plenty of window seats sit at and look out over the Saco Bay. There are comfortable booths and a variety of different tables sizes and configurations to make your dining experience the best it can be.

Overall, aside from the long wait times of the busiest hours in the commons dining area, the quality, and options of the food at the commons are very well done by the University and Sodexo.