Bearcat Dining unveils new concepts, old favorites at campus venues

Exciting updates and tasty meals await the Northwest Missouri State University community this month when students return to the campus and dining venues open for the fall semester.

Northwest began its partnership in May with Elior Collegiate Dining to offer campus dining services. With 40 years of serving higher education, Elior moved in this summer, bringing a refreshed, dynamic campus dining experience to Northwest students, employees and community members.

“We selected Elior because they directly addressed many of the concerns we had heard from students,” Dr. Rose Viau, Northwest’s assistant vice president of student affairs for residential and auxiliary services, said. “They committed to serving high-quality food prepared in small batches, so meals are hot and fresh, providing greater variety throughout the day, and offering allergy-friendly options that are appealing and integrated into the overall dining experience. Their focus on quality, freshness, choice and responsiveness to student feedback made them the right partner for Northwest.”

Elior Collegiate Dining Resident District Manager Al Smith II added, “Elior is thrilled to partner with Northwest, bringing fresh, delicious and energizing dining concepts to the heart of campus. Our dining team not only fuels your daily studies and student life but serves the community as well.”

Elior’s trending concepts and signature brands elevating campus dining experience

Elior’s passion for food is well known and experienced through innovative collaborations, including with Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani, a restaurateur and cookbook author with numerous television appearances, including Bravo’s “Top Chef.” With his culinary company, Fabio Viviani Hospitality (FVH), retail concepts will be available in the J.W. Jones Student Union and The Station.

The dining options across the campus blend long-standing favorites with new culinary concepts and flavors – all designed with the student experience in mind.

Here is what students, employees and visitors will find in dining venues at Northwest.

• Bearcat Commons: Northwest’s traditional dining facility on the lower level of the J.W. Jones Student Union will feature a fresh, student-focused dining program – built around fresh ingredients, scratch cooking and menu variety with a collection of signature brands designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes and dietary preferences. Options will include Classic Kitchen with homestyle and local favorites; The Local Deli, a modern take on the classic delicatessen; Flame Grill with made-to-order grilled favorites; Sauce & Stone handcrafted pizzas and pastas; Street Foods with authentic flavors from around the world; Greens offering fresh, seasonal produce and customizable salads; Seasons Harvest plant-based food; and Elior’s signature Sweet Shop selections that are baked on site.
• Thrive: A full, separate, standalone serving station in the J.W. Jones Student Union omits the top nine allergens, and gluten will be offered to create a safe, inclusive environment.
• The Roost: Enjoy fresh, hand-breaded chicken, brined for flavor, fried for crunch and built to satisfy on a bun or in a basket in The Jones on the second floor of the Student Union.
• Buona Napoli: The new FVH option in The Jones at the Student Union features Roman-style pizza and stuffed calzones.
• Qdoba Mexican Eats: The leading fast-casual Mexican restaurant named “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” by USA Today will continue to serve the campus community in The Jones at the Student Union.
• Good Habit: FVH’s fresh take on the classic American diner will make its debut in The Station.
• Starbucks: The Northwest community can load up on drinks and to-go foods in the B.D. Owens Library, making it another convenient option for students on their way to class.  
• Elior’s BeWell wellness and nutrition platform encourages students to dine healthier, making healthier menu options readily accessible and easily identified.

Additionally, Northwest diners can enjoy opportunities to enhance their nutrition education through live cooking demos and nutritional presentations provided by Elior’s culinary team and Regional Registered Dietitian Kaylie Brand, who provides menu planning support for specialized diets as well as nutrition counseling. 

For more information about dining at Northwest, including menus, hours and locations, visit https://nwmissouri.campus-dining.com/ or follow Bearcat Dining on social media at Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

About Elior Collegiate Dining

Elior Collegiate Dining provides dining and catering services to colleges and universities, partnering with selective higher education institutions across the United States, serving over 32 million meals to students, faculty, staff and campus visitors each year.

Learn more at www.elior-collegiatedining.com.

About Northwest Missouri State University

With an enrollment of about 8,500 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university offering a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs on its campus and online. Northwest is a national model for student success that places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers and build their résumés in nearly every area of study. Furthermore, Northwest offers generous financial assistance, with textbooks and a laptop included in tuition, providing students a more affordable path toward degree completion.