A: This new state-of-the-art dining destination will be serving delicious food in a fun and inviting atmosphere – all designed especially for the UAB campus community. Here’s a taste of what you’ll enjoy at the new Commons:

• En Vogue – healthy, trendy fare
• Classics – home-style favorites
• International – authentic cuisines from around the world
• Grill – sizzling American masterpieces
• Pizza – and a variety of Italian delights
• Soup and Salad – to start a meal with, or just as satisfying on their own
• Deli – the best cold cuts & accompaniments
• Desserts – a delectable selection too good to be a sin
• Beverages – if you drink it, we have it
• Weekend Brunch: sleep in and come enjoy all you care to eat of your brunch favorites
• Diner - Also located in the new Commons, on the upper level, serving diner specialties—burgers, omelets, sandwiches and more!
• Quick Zone C-Store - Pick up a bottled beverage, toiletries, or any of the many other miscellaneous convenience store items available at this convenient location which is adjacent to The Diner on the upper level.

A: Below is a sample one-week menu to give you a taste of some of the foods you will find at The Commons. EnVogue’s menu will be prepared especially for UAB students by the on-campus chef based on feedback from students regarding dietary requests and needs. This menu will be presented closer to the opening of The Commons.

A: For special dietary needs, such as food allergies, contact the Campus Restaurants office at 205-934-8025, and we will discuss with you how we can best accommodate your needs.

A: YES! Anyone can come and enjoy the Commons and check out the variety of delicious cuisines being served anytime. The Commons also accepts cash, credit cards as well as Dining Dollars, Blazer Bucks, Block Meals and Flex Dollars.

A: All-you-care-to-eat dining periods are during dinners (4 PM – 8 PM Monday – Friday, 5 PM – 8 PM Saturdays and Sundays) and weekend brunch from 10:30 AM – 2 PM. Breakfasts and lunches from Monday – Friday are priced a la carte – which means you pay only for what you want to eat, like at a food court.

A: Food may not be taken out of the dining area during all-you-care-to-eat dining periods. However, you can purchase to-go food items at The Diner, Quick Zone or any of our other Campus Restaurants locations.

A: Meals/food items may be carried out during breakfast and lunch, Monday – Friday. You may take food out of the UAB Diner and Quick Zone.

A: Dinners and weekend brunch are all-you-care-to-eat dining periods, so you pay one price at the door and eat away. With the Block meal plans, one swipe of your card deducts one Block Meal from your plan as payment to enter the servery area during all-you-care-to-eat dining periods.

During weekday breakfast and lunch, food is priced a la carte – which means you pay for what you pick to eat, like at a mall food court. You can still use a Block Meal, which also carries a cash value of $6.00 per Block Meal.

A: Yes! You can use Block Meals off your plan to pay for your guests (one Block Meal will be deducted from your plan per person). Or you can use your Flex Dollars, Dining Dollars, Blazer Bucks, credit card or cash to pay for your guest.

A: Yes! Blazer Bucks are declining balance funds which can be used at Campus Restaurant locations and other campus services locations, such as the Blazer Bookstore.

A: Yes! You can use any declining dollar accounts in Campus Restaurants.

A: Block meals available on your plan (i.e. if you bought the 225 Block Plan, you have 225 Block Meals to use), Flex Dollars, Dining Dollars and Blazer Bucks can be used at UAB Campus Restaurant locations anytime!

A: The Block Plans give you a selected number of meals per semester for all-you-care-to-eat dining periods at the new Commons – dinner seven days a week and weekend brunches – or to use the Block Meal’s cash value. You can use the cash value option on your Block Meal Plan to purchase food a la carte, which means pay just for what you choose to eat (like at a mall food court). One Block Meal is equal to $6.00. With food purchases over $6.00, the difference can be paid with Flex Dollars, Dining Dollars, Blazer Bucks or cash.

For example, if you purchase a “225 Block Plan”, you get 225 swipes to use anytime to purchase food (and don’t forget the Flex Dollars that come with your meal plan that can be used anytime, anywhere on a dollar-for-dollar basis to supplement your Block Meal’s cash value or to use by itself.)

A: To break it down, Flex Dollars come with the Block Plans. Dining Dollars is a separate account without blocks. Both function as a declining balance you can use at all Campus Restaurant dining locations.

Flex Dollars have been added to Block Plans for additional flexibility and convenience for meal plan holders. With Flex Dollars, meal plan holders don’t have to worry about having cash on hand when making food purchases outside the all-you-care-to-eat meal periods or at the retail Campus Restaurants locations. For example, if you purchase a meal at Chick-fil-A and your total comes to $7.00, you can use your Block Meal’s cash value of $6.00 and $1.00 from your Flex Dollars account. Or, pay for the whole $7.00 using your Flex Dollars.

A: For all-you-care-to-eat dinners and weekend brunches at the Commons, use a Block Meal to pay your entrance fee. For all other food purchases, here’s the simple equation to keep in mind:

• Purchase is $6 or greater = use Block Meal and cover difference with Flex Dollars or Dining Dollars. Or, if you’re running low on available Block Meals, use all Flex or Dining Dollars.
• Purchase is less than $6 = use Flex or Dining Dollars.

A: Meal plans are required for each fall and spring semester. The choices are as follows:

A: To ensure the new Commons on the Green is going to be a cutting-edge dining facility that meets all of UAB students’ expectations, the University had to be sure enough funds would be available to bring the best in dining services for students. This new dining destination was designed with the UAB student in mind, using student feedback we’ve received along with the experts’ touch in creating an atmosphere and developing a menu that would appeal to the UAB community.

We are confident that you will be thrilled with the new Commons and will enjoy the convenience a meal plan provides to you. With several dining options available on campus at almost anytime of the day, you’ll find you won’t have to worry about using up your plan before it expires.

We’ve created several options for you to choose from. If you’re a resident student required to purchase a 225, 185 or 155 Block Plan, figure out about how many meals and snacks you eat per day, and that will help you decide which plan is best for you. Remember that you can use the Block Meal’s cash value towards your food, beverage and snack purchases at Campus Restaurant locations.

For students required to purchase at least $225 Dining Dollars, you’ll find those funds being used up quickly. For example, let’s say you’re on campus about 3 - 4 days a week. That comes to about $4 - $5 to spend per day. Anywhere you go, that buys you a bottle of water, a coffee and maybe a small sandwich and some chips. But if you run out of Dining Dollars, it’s easy to add. Just visit the CampusCard office or visit at www.uab.edu/campuscard to add funds via a credit card.

A: You change your existing meal plan at the CampusCard office through the last day to add a class each semester. The CampusCard office is located in the Hill University Center, next to Blazer Café. The Meal Plan can also be activated by credit card at www.uab.edu/campuscard.

A: You can call the Campus Restaurants office at 205-934-8025 or the CampusCard office at 205-996-6273 for more questions. A brochure is available at the CampusCard and Campus Restaurant offices with information about the new Commons and meal plans. You can also download the brochure here.