As the 2026-27 school year began, University of Redlands students returned to campus to a new dining service provider: Chartwells Higher Ed. Chartwells operates dining programs at universities across the nation and has taken over Irvine Commons, The Den and 1907 Grill (formerly known as The Launch). Students have seen several changes take place, including new dishes, layout changes, and boba making an appearance in The Den.
The university’s farewell to its previous dining provider, Harvest Table, was quick and unexpected to many when the change was announced on July 30. Chartwells moved in promptly, creating the school’s Bulldog Eats program which officially started Aug. 1. As students started moving in, as early as Aug. 12, the changes were subtle but apparent.
Notably, Bulldog Eats expanded dining hours at Irvine Commons, with lunch now served until 2 p.m., and dinner being open until 8 p.m. The market in the 1907 Grill was relocated to the Den, and menu items were changed. Chartwells is currently working on two expansions to their current offerings: the company is working to reopen the Bulldog Market in Armacost Library for the first time since its 2020 closure and are also making an effort to bring sushi to the Den once permits are cleared.
Another discernable shift for students is the opportunity to find work with Chartwells. Harvest Table did not offer jobs with student employment, so this adjustment could create more student job opportunities.
Now, nearing the end of its first semester as the university’s dining provider, Bulldog Eats is working to tackle two main concerns: allergen cross-contamination and wait times.
“Employees complete Allergen 101 training, equipment is cleaned and sanitized between uses, and dedicated fryers are used for select products.” Bulldog Eats stated. “We are also working with the university to expand our inventory of dedicated cooking equipment, and a dietitian recently joined our team to provide additional guidance and support for students with food allergies and other dietary needs.”
However, because kitchens are shared environments, Bulldog Eats has stated that they cannot guarantee an allergy-free dining experience. While Irvine Commons is entirely nut-free, other allergens may be present.
Bulldog Eats has recommended that students consult dining team members regarding allergen inquiries. For students with food allergies, this transition may involve additional precautions and adjustment.
Another chief concern is long wait times for lunch. Bulldog Eats shared that 90% of lunch traffic comes between 11:45 a.m and 12:45 pm, with over an average of 620 swipes during that hour.
“We are working with the university to identify opportunities to improve flow and reduce wait times during this peak period,” the organization said.
The lunchtime rush highlights a challenge for Bulldog Eats, showing that extended hours do not necessarily spread out demand. With most of the lunch rush concentrated into a singular hour, reducing wait times will be a separate task from extending dining hours.
Throughout all of this, students are encouraged to give their feedback to the Bulldog Eats team directly through their text-to-chat option. Feedback can also be delivered through the annual Voice to Vision survey that launched on Oct. 1 for students to fill out opinions on food options, dining hours and grab-and-go options.
This feedback channel provides students an opportunity to weigh in on services, as Bulldog Eats continues to settle in. Allergies, lunch wait times and The Den meal options are a few of the opinions students may address in proposed feedback.
Hazel Gleckman is a junior majoring in Media & Communications and minoring in Business Administration. She is a reporter for the newspaper and enjoys hiking, sewing and reading in her free time.
