The Overlook sign with a UNR logo next to it

Noah Scott/Nevada Sagebrush
The overlook sign in the southern end of campus on Sept. 7. The Overlook reopened and Panera Bread launched on campus following COVID-19 delays.

The University of Nevada, Reno recently opened two new dining options on campus: The Eatery at Overlook and Panera Bread. 

The Eatery at Overlook has been under construction for the past year and reopened in the Jot Travis Building on Sept. 15. Panera Bread, a popular bakery and cafe chain, opened on Sept. 20 in the Fitzgerald Student Services building.

Inside The Overlook, students will find four new vendors: Absurd Bird, Wild Pie, Peet’s Coffee, and Paper Lantern. A fifth vendor, Baja Fresh, is set to open within the next few weeks. 

“It looks like a whole new place, it is really open with a lot more seating,” said Heidi Rich, the Nevada Dining marketing director. “One of the biggest changes is that students will be able to pay at each vendor’s station. Instead, they will only have one line, and not one line to order and one line to pay.” 

The opening of Panera Bread comes after over two years of anticipation from students. 

Construction on Panera started in November of 2019, but the restaurant’s September opening has been slated for more than one year after it’s promised opening date of Spring 2020. 

“The biggest delay with the opening of Panera was COVID,” said Rich. “Panera’s corporate training team was unable to travel to Reno to train our employees.”

This will be the first Panera in Northern Nevada, with a few more slated to open later this year in Carson City and Sparks. Panera will be taking the place of The Works, which housed two previous UNR dining options: Smoked and Forklift Burrito and Bowls.

Starship Delivery Services will be available for both The Overlook and Panera Bread to deliver to students across campus. The delivery option for Panera will be available shortly, but delivery for The Overlook is currently available. 

“We are excited to be open and offer more of a variety to students,” said Rich. “We are excited to get in there and start serving students.”

Emerson Drewes can be reached via email at andrewmendez@sagebrush.unr.edu or via Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.