What You Need to Know in Fall 2023: Dining Services
Updates Feature Increased Late-Night Options and Specialty Dishes
Jala Mair '26, part of the Res Life Terp Welcome Crew, checks out the makeup selection at the new North Campus Market (located in the former Diner space in the Ellicott Community), which features a convenience store, coffee and bubble tea shop and grill with numerous late-night food options.
Photos by Stephanie S. Cordle
Terps hoping to break out of their burger rut or grab some grub after evening classes are in luck this year. The University of Maryland’s Dining Services is expanding its hours as well as its selections across dining halls and cafés, giving its chefs a chance to show off their skills.
“I hope students come in open-minded and ready to experiment with food,” says Senior Executive Chef John Gray, who oversees all three dining halls—Yahentamisi, South Campus and 251 North—and catering services. New signature dishes will start rolling out in mid-September, giving each dining hall its own distinct feel.
Those are just a few of the changes Dining Services is serving up this semester. Here’s what you need to know:
Launch of North Campus Market
Get your late-night cheesesteak and chicken “tendies” fix at the new North Campus Market, now open in Ellicott Community Center (former site of the Diner). The market features a convenience store with snacks, beverages and candy that’s open until 1 a.m.; a grill with burgers, fries and more, open until midnight; and a coffee shop featuring Starbucks espresso drinks and bubble tea, open until 8 p.m.
This new market takes the place of the smaller 251 Shop and Cambridge Community Shop, both now closed. “We’re offering more services in one larger location,” said Bart Hipple, assistant director of marketing and communication for Dining Services.
Later Hours at 251
251 North will now be open until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, in part to meet the demand of students in Freshman Connection classes, which don’t end until 8:45. Friday through Sunday, 251 will now close at 7 p.m.; Yahentamisi and South Campus will continue to close at 9 p.m. daily.
New Chefs, New Specialties
Dining Services now boasts an executive chef at the helm of each dining hall, supported by a team of sous chefs with advanced training. They’re launching new specialties this fall, including a pho and ramen bar at the made-to-order wok station in Yahentamisi; soul food and Bayou takeovers at South Campus Dining Hall; and a halal station with a dedicated grill at 251 North. Gray is particularly excited that 251 will offer more student favorites, like poke bowls and jollof rice, and that the popular Mongolian Grill at South Campus is adding seasoned rice options, shrimp as a daily offering, as well as blistered shishito peppers and edamame.
In addition, the 10 cafés across campus will serve signature food items, available only at that location. For example, Rudy’s in Van Munching Hall will offer butter chicken with biryani rice; Applause Café in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center will have build-your-own salads; and IDEA Central in the IDEA Factory will sell Greek gyro bowls and lamb burgers.
Dining Services will track sales to see if the specials increase visits, and customers can give feedback via QR codes posted at the cafés.
Songs for Your Supper
251 North now has a stage, giving Dining Services a chance to host more social events like karaoke nights or World Cup watch parties—as well as performers. If you’re interested in putting on a show, email umfood@umd.edu for the chance to play or sing for your peers.
Cheer On—and Chow Down—at Terps Home Football Games
With a whopping four games at SECU Stadium in September, the Dining Services crew is gearing up for an unusually busy start to the year.
Grab bites of fried pickles and a hot dog topped with mac and cheese and bacon between pumping your fists to the Maryland Fight Song and cheering the Terps on to victory.
Stay Tuned at Stamp
Yes, Panera’s still coming! And after Roy Rogers rode off into the sunset, a replacement will be on its way. Keep an eye out for announcements later in the year.
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