Exciting news for the WashU community! Bear’s Den is piloting an innovative All You Care To Eat Dining Program designed to enhance your on-campus dining experience. This program, extended throughout the academic year, aims to offer students, faculty, staff, and visitors a flexible and satisfying dining option while promoting community engagement and mindful consumption. Starting October 21st and running Monday through Friday from 5 PM to 9 PM, the all you care to eat concept at Bear’s Den invites you to explore a diverse range of menu choices across multiple stations. This initiative encourages everyone to sample various dishes, reduce food waste by taking only what they need, and enjoy the social atmosphere of in-person dining.
Learn more about how you can participate in this exciting all you care to eat dining program pilot, including the objectives, step-by-step procedures, how to provide feedback, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Pilot Program Objectives
The all you care to eat dining program pilot at Bear’s Den has specific objectives focused on understanding feasibility and gathering valuable feedback from participants. The primary goals are to assess the viability of an all you care to eat model within the Bear’s Den setting and to understand student preferences and expectations regarding this dining style.
Key objectives of this pilot program include:
- Gathering Student Preferences: Collecting data on what students appreciate and dislike about the all you care to eat dining program format.
- Menu Optimization: Identifying menu preferences to tailor future all you care to eat offerings to student tastes.
- Satisfaction Assessment: Measuring satisfaction levels related to menu variety, pricing, and overall value of the all you care to eat dining program.
- Feasibility Analysis: Analyzing sales and participation data to determine the long-term feasibility and sustainability of the all you care to eat concept at Bear’s Den.
How to Participate in the All You Care to Eat Program
Participation in the all you care to eat dining program is open to all members of the WashU community and visitors. We encourage everyone to experience and enjoy the benefits of this pilot program.
For Dine-In Guests:
- Entry and Payment: Upon entering Bear’s Den, simply swipe your WashU ID or use a credit card at the cashier. The entry fee for the all you care to eat dining program is $12.95 per person.
- Receipt for Re-entry: After payment, you will receive a receipt. This receipt grants you access for one re-entry into the dining area.
- First Entry – Unlimited Choices: With your initial entry, you are welcome to select as many menu items as you wish from any of the open stations.
- Dine-In Area: Please enjoy your selected food items within the designated dining areas inside Bear’s Den.
- Re-entry for More: To re-enter for a second round of delicious options, present your receipt to the cashier. The cashier will collect the receipt upon your re-entry.
- Second Entry – Enjoy Again: Upon your second entry, you can again choose from any of the available menu items, enjoying as much as you care to eat.
- Dine-In Area (Again): Please return to the dining area to enjoy your selections.
- Share Your Feedback: After you’ve finished dining, we highly encourage you to complete our satisfaction survey to help us improve the program.
New To-Go Option (Starting January 2025):
- Entry and Payment for To-Go: Enter Bear’s Den and inform the cashier that you would like the to-go option for the all you care to eat dining program. Pay the discounted price of $10.95 using your WashU ID or credit card.
- To-Go Box Provided: You will receive a to-go box. Please note, no receipt is issued for the to-go option, as it is a single-entry offer.
- Fill Your To-Go Box: Fill your to-go box with your preferred menu items from any open station. For health and safety, please ensure the to-go box closes completely.
- Enjoy Anywhere: You are welcome to take your to-go box and enjoy your meal at any location you choose outside of the dining hall.
- No Re-entry for To-Go: The to-go option is for a single entry only and does not include re-entry.
- Provide Your Feedback: Even with the to-go option, your feedback is valuable. Please complete the satisfaction survey after your meal.
Important Note on Grubhub: Grubhub service will be limited at Bear’s Den between 5 PM and 9 PM on weekdays during the all you care to eat dining program pilot. The exception is Simple Servings Express, which will still be available for Grubhub orders. Please speak to a cashier or manager for Simple Servings Express Grubhub pickups. Simple Servings Express is not part of the all you care to eat pilot.
Your Feedback is Important to Us
Your opinions and experiences are crucial to the success of the all you care to eat dining program pilot. We kindly request that you take a few moments to complete the Satisfaction Survey after each time you participate in the program at Bear’s Den. Your thoughtful feedback will help us refine and improve the all you care to eat dining program for the future. The survey will be available from October 21st through the end of the academic year.
Click here to share your feedback on the pilot program
Frequently Asked Questions about the All You Care to Eat Dining Program
Program Hours and Grubhub Availability
What are the operating hours for the pilot program? How does this affect Grubhub service?
The all you care to eat dining program pilot operates Monday through Friday, from 5 PM to 9 PM at Bear’s Den, from October 21st through the end of the academic year.
- Bear’s Den operates under normal hours until 4 PM.
- Bear’s Den will be temporarily closed from 4 PM to 5 PM to prepare for the pilot program each day.
- The all you care to eat dining program is open from 5 PM to 9 PM.
- Bear’s Den will close again from 9 PM to 9:30 PM for preparation for late-night reopening.
- The Grill Station at Bear’s Den reopens for late-night service from 9:30 PM to 12 AM.
Grubhub Service:
Grubhub will be available at Bear’s Den between 7 AM and 4 PM and again from 9:30 PM to 12 AM on weekdays during the all you care to eat dining program pilot. Normal Grubhub hours will apply on weekends.
Grubhub service is unavailable between 5 PM and 9 PM on weekdays, with the exception of Simple Servings Express orders.
Participation and Payment
Who can participate in the All You Care to Eat Pilot Program?
The all you care to eat dining program pilot is open to all WashU students, faculty, staff, and visitors, including parents and families.
What payment methods are accepted for participation?
Guests can pay for the all you care to eat dining program using Meal Points, Bear Bucks, Credit Cards, or Debit Cards.
How many times can I re-enter Bear’s Den for more food?
With the dine-in option, you are allowed two entries into Bear’s Den per purchase during the all you care to eat dining program. Please see the “How to Participate” section for detailed steps. The two-entry system is designed to simulate the traditional all you care to eat experience in Bear’s Den’s unique layout, ensuring efficient service and preventing overcrowding while still offering a fulfilling dining experience.
Can I share my meal with someone else?
No, meal sharing is not permitted within the all you care to eat dining program. Each entry fee covers dining for one individual only.
Menu and Station Availability
Which stations at Bear’s Den will be open during the Pilot Program?
All stations at Bear’s Den will be open during the all you care to eat dining program, offering a wide variety of choices:
- Season’s (Salad Bar)
- Spoonful (Soup)
- Showcase (Rotating Global Cuisine, Halal Menu Items)
- L’Chaim (Kosher Menu Items)
- Twist (Pasta Station)
- Stacked (Pre-Made Sandwiches)
- Slices (Pizza Station)
- Simple Servings (Allergen-Friendly Options)
- Savory (Proteins, Vegetables, & Starches)
- Sizzle (Grill Station)
- Bliss (Dessert Bar)
- Hydration Station
Will Kosher options be available during the pilot?
Yes, L’Chaim station, offering Kosher menu items, will be open for in-person ordering during the all you care to eat dining program pilot.
Additional Information about the Program Name and Alternatives
Why is it called “All You Care to Eat”?
The name “all you care to eat” is widely used in universities for unlimited dining options, emphasizing variety and flexibility. This program allows you to choose what and how much you want, catering to individual preferences while also promoting sustainable practices by encouraging diners to take only what they can consume. The to-go option further supports sustainability by allowing single-entry access with reusable containers.
What other dining options are available if I choose not to participate in the pilot program?
Several other dining locations on campus remain open during the all you care to eat dining program hours:
- Cherry Tree Deli (Open until 9pm)
- DUC Dining (Open until 7pm)
- Ibby’s Bistro (Open until 9pm)
- The Village (Open until 9pm)
- Corner 17 (Open until 8PM)
- Subway (Open until 8PM)
- LaJoys (Open until 6PM)
- The Fattened Caf. (Open until 6PM)
Are other locations on campus piloting an All You Care to Eat concept?
Currently, only Bear’s Den is hosting the all you care to eat dining program pilot. Bear’s Den was chosen due to its diverse food options, seating arrangements, and ability to accommodate special dietary needs, making it ideal for testing this dining approach. The focus is currently on ensuring the success of this pilot program at Bear’s Den.
