Looking for a bite to eat at the University of Miami Coral Gables Campus? This semester, there is a variety of new places and concepts to check out.
“Annually, we look at all our locations and decide which ones need a refresh or renovation. This year, we had quite a few spaces that we worked on,” said Ana Alvarez, assistant vice president for auxiliary services.
Tacos & Tattoos, the newest on-campus dining addition this fall, provides a fusion of Mexican food with a Caribbean flair. The restaurant, which replaced Lime in the Whitten University Center, offers a mixture of flavors that gives diners the opportunity to build their own bowls, burritos, tacos, salads, and more.
Tacos & Tattoos is a locally owned restaurant chain, something that was important to students surveyed by Alvarez and her team. They wanted food provided by more local eateries that would be easily accessible by being on campus.
“Tacos & Tattoos is a great family-owned business that has been great to work with. We’re excited to bring them to campus,” Alvarez said. “I think students are really going to resonate with the space because they’re very inclusive, urban, and dynamic. The designs in the new space set it aside from anywhere else on campus.”
Moving from The Market in the Hurricane Food Court, the Corner Deli—known for its savory bowls, wraps, and Kosher menu options—has relocated to the Shalala Student Center, next to Starbucks. Part of the reason the Corner Deli was relocated and Tacos & Tattoos was brought to campus, Alvarez noted, was the desire to create spaces with a more efficient speed of service.
Also new to campus, the instamarket provides campus guests with a first-of-its-kind unattended retail service. Located in the Shalala Student Center, next to the Corner Deli’s new location, instamarket offers grab-and-go drinks, coffee, snacks, and frozen and fresh food. Instamarket’s fresh food options are restocked from Icebox Cafe, a locally sourced health-conscious restaurant providing wraps, salads, and sandwiches.
All instamarket options are available for purchase through a cashless, staff-less, self-checkout kiosk. To make a purchase, simply select your items, scan them at the self-checkout kiosk, and pay for your selections—similar to the self-checkout lane at many grocery stores. This is the first-of-its-kind concept by Coca-Cola Florida in South Florida.
The new vending machine and grab-and-go concepts aim to provide quick and efficient dining options for busy patrons. The instamarket location also will be open 24/7 with ’Cane Card swipe access for students, as Alvarez and her team aim to provide more late-night dining alternatives.
Self-service also is the focus for Misha's Cupcakes, a local shop that launched in South Florida in 2004. The dessert maker brings its first-ever cupcake vending machine to the University. Located inside The Market in the Hurricane Food Court, the option is perfect for a quick treat on the go or for a last-minute celebration with a friend.
Over at the Herbert Wellness Center, a new concept with a familiar menu has arrived. The Gym Rat, derived and inspired by The Rathskeller, serves up a health twist on campus favorites.
“We took menu items that we were already doing at the Rathskeller and put a healthy spin on them. So, for example, we took the quesadillas and are now serving them with a whole-wheat tortilla, part-skim mozzarella, and spinach,” said Alex Bulnes, director of the Rathskeller.
Complete with fresh fruit shakes, salads, sandwiches, and more, patrons can expect most of their favorite menu items reimagined with a healthy twist. The new restaurant, like the Rathskeller, is student-run and operated, open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
Nick Rau, executive director of the Student Center Complex, Bulnes, and members of the Herbert Wellness Center and Dining and Auxiliary Services team worked closely to bring the concept to life.
“Alex came up with a healthy menu that speaks to the theme. We wanted it to be healthy, fast, and still that fun food,” said Rau.
In addition to the new spaces, several existing on-campus restaurant menus received updates this summer. New to the Archivist Café, located just outside of the Richter Library, is Peet's Coffee. It offers freshly roasted beans, brewed coffee, espresso beverages, and bottled cold brew. In 2007, Peet's opened the first LEED Gold Certified roastery in the United States and has 100 percent responsibly sourced coffees.
Daybreak, which opened in 2021 in Lakeside Village, added fresh açaí bowls from Sambazon to the menu. The best-selling item originated at the smoothie location inside the Wellness Center and is making its way over to the center of campus for easier access and enjoyment. Peet's Coffee will also be brewing at Daybreak and will feature specialty coffees and cold brew.
Alvarez and her team continue to focus on bringing change to dining options and to offer after-hours high-tech fare. “We’re always looking for new ways to activate and expand our spaces beyond the regular business,” she said. “Students are always looking to find gathering spaces, and we’d like to continue working toward that.”
Visit UMDining for more information on dining options, operation hours, and acceptable forms of payment for each location.
