Social Bites, a late-night restaurant and arcade inside Lakeside Dining Hall, held its grand opening on Thursday after opening at the beginning of this semester.
Social Bites replaced Sola, a Mexican restaurant that previously occupied the space.
The venue offered free samples of its most popular items, pizza, burgers, tacos and hot chicken, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Students could play any of the nearly 20 arcade games available at the restaurant, as well as pinball and pool tables.
Joe Cavalieri, director of operations for Experiential Brands, the company that created Social Bites, said this location is the second of its kind, the first being in Atlanta.
“It’s focused around quality brands, quality food, and a place where people come together and socialize,” Cavalieri said.
Bama Dining’s resident manager, Bruce McVeagh, said the location was chosen because about 9,500 students live in the Lakeside area, making it the densest residential area on campus. The standard hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. every day, but on home football game days, Social Bites opens at 11 a.m.
“We took information from student surveys, and we wanted to have a late-night place for students,” McVeagh said. “So far, student feedback has been the most positive we’ve seen since we opened Starbucks. It’s positive because it’s open later, and because they really like the burger, which seems to be the home run.”
McVeagh added that expansion plans aren’t finished yet and that social bites aims to add 100-inch drop-down screens for television and video games.
Students must pay to play in the arcade, and proceeds benefit UA’s food pantry, a program that provides food to students in need at the University.
Social Bites takes credit/debit cards, Dining Dollars and Bama Cash as payment. Students can also use meal plan swipes and VIP swipes to purchase select items.
Students expressed excitement about the new venue.
“I don’t really come to Lakeside at all, but this place looks like it’s going to be very good,” said Luke Johnson, a junior majoring in criminology and criminal justice.
Freshmen nursing majors Eva Shealy and Elyssa Henderberg said the crowds haven’t diminished their experience.
“I really like it a lot. It really is Social Bites — like everyone comes here to get with their friends and talk,” Shealy said. “The wait can sometimes be long, but it’s because there are so many people coming and getting with their friends, so it’s never a problem.”
Henderberg agreed with Shealy.
“It’s kind of like a different spin on Lakeside. It feels more like a restaurant,” Henderberg said. “Sometimes we wait a while, but it makes it worth it when you get it.”
Gabby Spencer, a dietetic intern with UA dining services, said the turnout has been great with students.
“We’re trying to make sure that the students are being provided with meals that they would like,” Spencer said. “Social Bites has been doing amazing with the students. They’re packed every single night, and that’s really good to see that the students actually enjoy it and they want to be at our dining facilities.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated Sept. 22 to correctly state Cavalieri’s position title and the company he works for. He is the director of operations for the company that created Social Bites, Experiential Brands, and does not oversee experiential operations for Aramark.
