2025 to bring new dining experience to Cougar Woods

 cougar woods

UH Dining Services will unveil a revamped dining experience at Cougar Woods Dining Commons starting in spring semester, giving it more than just a facelift. Along with changes to the look, the Cougar Woods refresher will feature an enhanced feel, updated stations, and plenty of flavors to create a new dining experience. 

During the fall semester’s Finals Mania event, students got a much-needed break from studying to enjoy breakfast for dinner, while getting a peek at the upcoming features of the new Cougar Woods set to debut Jan. 16. 

Dining Services sets up for success 

“We love Cougar Woods,” said Alexcis Mendoza, district marketing manager for UH Dining Services. 

“In fact, it’s one of my favorite places to dine on campus. But we recognized that with Cougar Woods open for 24/7 service, that we wanted to bring something fresh, something new, because we know we wanted to break up the monotony.” 

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The first phase of the renovation will address station and flavor changes: 

  • Italian cuisine will become a permanent station due to popular student demand. 
  • La Mesa station and its authentic flavors will receive an upgrade and become a permanent fixture. 
  • Other new stations include: 
  • Garden Bar 
  • Sugar Rush 
  • Bold Bistro 
  • World Table 
  • Pit Stop 
  • Ciao Chow 
  • Delicious Without 
  • Each station will be opened to feel like a unique, singular concept versus a buffet. 

“You’ll see flavors that students know and love — but done differently — along with new wall graphics, paints, and colors,” Mendoza said. “It’ll be a new vibe!” 

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Student feedback brings more to the table 

UH Dining Services relies on many sources of feedback, which includes focus groups, ad hoc surveys, @uhfoodie on Instagram, and table touches where team members meet with diners as they eat. 

“Everything we do at UH Dining Services is driven by the voice of the campus community,” Mendoza said. “And as it is huge part of the community, we don’t make moves without hearing from the student population first.” 

Mendoza adds that students are looking for something cool, different and new and the Cougar Woods refresher will address those wants. 

“We’re here for the students and want to keep engaging with them, to keep them coming back,” said Mendoza.