The former Vista Grande Restaurant got a makeover this quarter when Campus Dining overhauled both the restaurant’s interior and the food offerings. The end result is Sage restaurant, an upscale dining establishment where students can come and experience a “different level” of service than what they’re accustomed to at Cal Poly, Campus Dining officials said.
“We’re trying to think of our students as guests and not as customers,” said Tom Welton, Campus Dining director. “We’ve spent time talking to the students, and want them to know that we care about what they eat.”
Those who have been to the Vista Grande restaurant prior to the renovation will notice significant differences, as the atmosphere of the restaurant has been enhanced by hardwood accents, a fountain, new paintings and shrubbery, and flower centerpieces at each table.
The most noticeable differences, however, are in the quality of the food and the manner in which it’s presented.
“We wanted it to be about eating with your eyes first, a real emphasis on presentation,” Welton said. “The good news is that when it comes time to eat, the food is real good, too.”
The new menu offers a vast array of options ranging from chicken wraps, french fry samplers, and kabobs to seared ahi tuna, spicy shrimp dishes, salads, burgers and filet mignon for entrees. The menu also features a number of vegetarian dishes, and will soon offer tofu as a substitute for dishes including meat.
“Everything that we’re serving is made from scratch, and we feel that our menu features a variety of eclectic influences,” Welton said. “We currently feature Asian, Italian and comfort food, and will be offering specials in the very near future. We’re trying to stay ahead of the curve and make appropriate changes so that the students will stay surprised and pleased.”
The differences are appreciated among students employees as well.
“It’s nice to be crowded, and it’s more professional than it used to be, just because it’s busy all the time,” said Alicia Burns, an aerospace engineering senior. “It’s really stunning by comparison.”
“The response has really been great, as we’ve been seeing four times the business,” Welton agreed. “Whereas we used to have about 30 people per night before the construction, now we’re seeing highs of 165, and all through a word-of-mouth process with no advertising.”
The prices on the menu are reasonable, usually comparable or lower than what one would find at a similar restaurant elsewhere in San Luis Obispo. A dessert menu is also available, which features inventive twists on favorites such as crŠme brulee and mousse cake.
Sage restaurant is open daily for lunch and has dinner hours on Monday through Thursday.