When Ohio State’s new Ohio Union opened its doors, ballrooms and conference spaces were not the only amenities students and faculty were able to enjoy. The new student union includes everything from a nostalgic diner to a campus tavern.

The first floor of the new union offers visitors four dining options, said Patrick Ionno, director of dining services for the Ohio Union. All give customers a different dining experience and a wide range of food options.

“We cover just about everything,” said Roger Garland, executive chef for the new student union.

Sloopy’s Diner

A scarlet and gray throwback to the 1950s, Sloopy’s Diner serves traditional diner classics and offers breakfast all day.

Garland said the diner is his favorite and believes students will share his opinion.

“It’s a lot of fun, a real neat concept,” he said. “I think late at night, Sloopy’s is going to be the place to eat.”

The diner operates 22 hours a day, open from 6 a.m. to 4 a.m., Ionno said. Like all the dining locations at the Union, it accepts both student meal swipes and cash or credit. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., however, meal swipes are not accepted.

“Most students won’t have time to sit down and have lunch then,” Ionno said. “We wanted to open it up for faculty and staff who might have time to have a sit-down meal.”

In addition to its OSU theme, the diner represents Ohio by selling its food. This is true of all the dining locations, Ionno said.

“We use as many Ohio products as we can,” he said. “But there are only so many [fruits and vegetables] in season at a time in Ohio.”

So he and dining staff are also working heavily with Ohio vendors, he said.

Ionno said the diner is operated by students in OSU’s hospitality management program.

The restaurant is considered a lab for these undergraduate student, and working there will count as credit toward their undergraduate major. The diner also employs about 100 other employees.

Woody’s Tavern

Woody’s is back.

The new Union carries on the tradition of the old Union by hosting the pub, which serves pan-style pizza and Ohio wine and beer.

Ionno said he is most excited about this dining option at the Ohio Union.

“It’s my favorite location because of all the ambiance,” he said. “It’s a very exciting place.”

Woody’s features the hardwood floors of the old Ohio Union Ballroom, according to the Ohio Union’s Web site. Ionno said the tavern has a great atmosphere, complete with wood beaming and a stone fireplace.

Woody’s Tavern will be open 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Student meal plans will be accepted until 6 p.m.

Union Market

The Union Market benefits the on-the-go student looking for a quick bite to eat, Ionno said. The market consists of four separate stations, all offering a different style of food.

Fired Up offers grilled sandwiches, such as hamburgers, chicken and bratwurst, among other grilled favorites, Ionno said. French fries and onion petals are some of the available side options.

At Across the Field, customers will go through a salad line to design their own meal. The salad bar will also feature a soup station.

Dough-I-O offers sandwiches as Fired Up does, but is more like a deli, serving wraps, paninis and common deli sandwiches, Ionno said. Customers can choose from a list of specialty sandwiches or choose to create their own.

Buckeye Passports offers customers location-themed food from as far away as China to as close as Cincinnati.

Every quarter, Buckeye Passports features international food from a different region of the world. It also offers regional-themed food once a week. So far, dining staff have decided to feature Cincinnati,

Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Ionno said.

Garland said he is excited that the station offers such a variety of food.

“We have students from all over this country and from all around the world,” he said.

Garland is glad Buckeye Passports is able to offer students food they are familiar with, he said.

All four stations at the Union Market are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Meal plans are accepted all day.

Espress-OH

This “little Italian coffee place” serves coffee, produces its own gelato, and has a parfait bar, Ionno said. All coffee is from Crimson Cup, a local coffee roaster.

Espress-OH will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Meal plans will be accepted all day.

All together, the Ohio Union employs about 300-400 people for its dining services alone, Ionno said.

Both Garland and Ionno were hired specifically for the new Ohio Union.

“I’m loving every minute of it,” Ionno said.