The Centerpointe Dining Commons is Cal Poly Pomona’s newest hidden gem. Nestled between the new residence halls and the Student Service Building, the new dining hall offers a fresh menu with a dining experience like no other.
Centerpointe is managed by Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization that operates as a recognized auxiliary of the California State University. The new dining hall gives diners a buffet experience with a mellow atmosphere and a low-chatter noise level.
Keeping up with Cal Poly Pomona’s new modern look, Centerpointe enhances the new aesthetic with a contrast of gray walls and white tables, complementing the bright orange seating and yellow backdrop toward the entrance. The 35,000-square-foot building is lined with floor-to-wall windows showcasing the outdoors, and has enough seating for 680 customers.
As for the food, Centerpointe offers eight dining platforms, all serving delicious and nutritious food options, including vegan, vegetarian, allergen-free and gluten-free options. The platforms consist of Between Two Slices, Firehouse, Fusion Bar, Gone Global, Charred, Sweet Spot, a sushi bar and salad bars with Cal Poly locally grown greens.
(Julissa Sanchez | The Poly Post)
Having previous bad experiences with buffet-style sushi did make me hesitant to give the sushi bar a try, but I was quickly convinced that the meals here are no joke and well worth the 10-minute wait time. I opted for a simple veggie roll, which I anticipated to consist of common ingredients like cucumber, avocado, seaweed and white sticky rice, but instead was presented with a new delicious version. The four rolls consisted of mushroom, sweet red bell pepper and bean sprouts, rolled in white sticky rice and covered in seaweed, with a drizzle of soy sauce and Sriracha chili sauce.
I was left hungry for more, and decided to give the Gone Global menu a try.
I went for a plate of orange chicken and another of stir fried rice, bok choy and shiitake mushroom. Reminding me of Panda Express minus the long wait, the orange chicken was sweetly sauced and had a nice crunch to it as it was fresh off the stove. As for the stir fry, it was a new experience to my taste buds and was well worth the choice. I felt the plate was well-portioned and a great combination with the mushrooms.
(Julissa Sanchez | The Poly Post)
I soon decided I was thirsty after a great meal. Luckily, Centerpointe has a wide variety of beverage options to quench the thirst, including Dole brand juices, Bubly sparkling water flavors, Pepsi soft drinks and Lipton iced teas.
I do have to add that although all the silverware and dishes are reusable and cleaned in the dishwashing section located away from the food court, watch out, as some mugs hang onto coffee stains at times.
Meal services and pricing do vary depending on the time of the day. For those who wish to enjoy a meal at Centerpointe and are not current members of the meal plan: do not worry, as there is a meal option for commuters.
Monday through Friday, breakfast costs $8 and is from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by $10 lunch that is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m..
$12 dinner service is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Dinner is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Late night is $8 service from 9 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday.
Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
Centerpointe accepts all debit and credit cards as methods of payment.
Centerpointe also houses two new retail outlets — Lollicup Fresh and Jones Coffee Roasters — that offer coffee beverages, flavored milk tea, fruit tea, grab-and-go items, slushies and smoothies.
As a side note, to enter the dining hall, use the middle double doors, as the set of first doors to the right of the building leads to Lollicup.
Overall, I would give Centerpointe a five-star rating and say it is well worth the money.
If you have the time to walk down to the dining hall and wish to grab a bite and study, this should definitely be a go-to spot.