Two new dining options have arrived at the University of Miami’s Coral Gables Campus. Located in the new Lakeside Village student housing complex, Smoothie King, a national franchise featuring nourishing smoothies, and Daybreak, an all-day breakfast dining concept, are now open for business.
Ana Alvarez, executive director of dining and auxiliary services, said that UM Dining worked closely with student focus groups in 2019 to capture the ever-changing needs of the campus.
“Students are always actively involved in our process. All of the feedback we got pointed to the idea that we needed more grab-and-go options for them,” Alvarez said. “First, we knew students wanted a more current, relevant smoothie option. Smoothie King has been growing its brand nationwide and its products.”
The franchise, which opened earlier this year, boasts a menu full of nutritious shakes made with whole fruits and vegetables. It also offers meal replacement shakes, which Alvarez said is a popular choice among students. Smoothie King also uses sustainable packaging and food suppliers that are ethically sourced and meet high-quality standards. These were prominent points that helped in UM Dining’s decision to bring them to campus, according to Alvarez.
Julian Nowicki, a senior studying international studies, said Smoothie King has been a great addition to his campus life and ability to maintain a healthy diet while in college.
“I’m really happy about the new Smoothie King on campus,” Nowicki said. “It’s definitely a better option than previous smoothie spots on campus because of the healthier, cleaner options and the menu variety.”
The second dining concept, Daybreak, is an all-day breakfast restaurant with a modern diner feel, created by the UM Dining team. The recently opened restaurant focuses heavily on preparing grab-and-go meals using waffle irons—an idea introduced to the UM Dining team by students. The menu also includes favorites like avocado toast, loaded tater-tots, and handcrafted sodas.
Daniella Montalvo, a sophomore studying biomedical engineering, said the opening of Daybreak on campus offers her quick access to favorite food at an affordable price.
“Daybreak’s opening made me so excited,” Montalvo said. “They have a delicious avocado toast and at a great price. I missed having a place sell avocado toast on campus. Even though it’s already my favorite, the waffle concepts look too amazing to skip out on next time I go.”
With waffle-inspired decor and diner-style seating areas, the new restaurant will have to wait a while longer to open its indoor dining area. Both locations are currently open only for take-out service in accordance with COVID-19 protocols, Alvarez added.
“Our spaces were redesigned for opening with safety in mind. The new concepts will focus on our safety measures that support physical distancing, use of proper protective equipment, and increased sanitation,” she said. “In addition, capacity and indoor seating will be in accordance with county guidelines.”
Anyone can order takeout from these restaurants via the Grubhub app. Students can use Dining Dollars or ’Cane Express for their purchases.
Visit UM Dining for more information.
