Duke Dining Services recently announced its intention to possibly add an Asian-themed restaurant to the West Campus student center that will combine healthy upscale dining and a grab-and-go option. If added, a Pacific Rim dining facility would fill the void left by the departure of the Oak Room and will add diversity to campus dining options.
The new Pacific Rim restaurant would enjoy several unique advantages that sit-down dining has lacked in the past. Foremost, dining officials are likely to place the facility in a prominent and accessible position in the new West Campus student center. It will likely feature ample indoor and outdoor seating, with a patio extending out into the plaza. This will create a social atmosphere that the Oak Room lacked, despite several renovation attempts.
The new restaurant will also operate with an Asian menu, which will differentiate it from many of the mainstream dining options that dominate on-campus. Described as a cross between China Bistro and P.F. Chang's, the food will be healthier than most other campus choices, and will provide a welcome change of pace. Sushi and limited Asian selections are available currently at the Great Hall, but the new restaurant will offer a wider selection that will appeal to a multitude of freshman who tire of the Marketplace and upperclassmen who have had their fill of the Loop and the Armadillo Grill.
Further, by integrating sit-down dining and take-out that is made to order, the restaurant will be able to cater to large portion of the student body on a daily basis. The Oak Room suffered because it was known solely as an upscale locale, which deterred individuals who were in a hurry or just wanted a "regular meal." Students are living increasingly fast-paced lives, and often don't have the time for a sit-down dinner. By participating in the campus' "grab-and go" culture, the restaurant will expose students to the restaurant's food, and students will be more likely to come back for a long, upscale meal later. The combination will give the facility a more consistent flow of orders and provide the revenue necessary to survive where the Oak Room eventually failed.
In order to capitalize on these advantages, dining officials should listen carefully to student input and learn from the mistakes of the past. Unlike at the Oak Room, patrons should be able leave tips using food points. In addition, the sit-down area should be clearly differentiated from the take-out area, to avoid cheapening the dining experience.
Although the new restaurant would not open for 18 months to two years, it will add an exciting new dimension to campus dining. Dining services should be applauded for moving quickly to find a viable replacement for the departed Oak Room.
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