‘Where are we gonna eat now?’ UK Dining announces the closing of Intermezzo Cafe and Rising Roll
Rising Roll Cafe, located in the Ralph G. Anderson Engineering Building at the University of Kentucky, is permanently closed. Photo by Travis Fannon | Staff
January 12, 2023
Two UK dining locations – Intermezzo Cafe, located in the Patterson Office Tower, and Rising Roll, located in the College of Engineering – closed at the end of the fall 2022 semester.UK Dining announced the news in an Instagram post on Dec. 16, 2022, and the comments provided a sense of disapproval.
“What a huge disappointment. Rising roll is the best place on campus to eat,” Instagram user @thecormancrew said in a comment on the post. “I think this is a huge mistake. That place is packed every day.”
The Instagram post did not announce a plan for what will be replacing the business.
The Kernel reached out to UK Dining’s management team for the reasoning behind the removal and future plans for the spaces and received no response.
Students and faculty members described on campus dining locations as places of gathering that form fond memories.
“Intermezzo was my go-to from 2012-2016. So so so many memories – even where I fell in love,” Instagram user @hadiwhoo said in a comment on the post. “Sad to see it go.”
With positive reviews of the establishments, questions arose about what the future of on-campus dining will look like.
“Where are we gonna eat now? I’m so sad,” Instagram user @thecormancrew said in a comment on the post.
Even with the closing of Intermezzo Cafe and Rising Roll, there are multiple on-campus dining hotspots for Wildcats to try in the spring 2023 semester.
A popular spot for a quick bite to eat or drink is PJ’s Coffee. It’s located in the Gatton College of Business and Economics next to an assortment of student study spaces. Their menu offers coffee, drinks, pastries, sandwiches, beignets and grab & go items.
Megan Axium, a junior marketing and management student, said she goes to PJ’s Coffee at least once a week when school is in session.
“I like the variety of different things. They have frozen, and then they have the peach palmer and how they bring in the New Orlean’s twist,” Axium said.
Another dining location popular among the campus crowd is Einstein Bros. Bagels, located in the Chemistry-Physics Building. They serve a variety of different types of bagels, coffee, tea and grab & go items as well.
Despite alternative dining options, Intermezzo Cafe and Rising Roll set the bar high and left the public in dismay as reflected in their reactions.
Rebekah Epps • Jan 13, 2023 at 3:48 pm
At least there options. The College of Ag, Food, and Environment has an overpriced, over-processed, Wildcat Pantry. They can’t tell you the price of things before they ring you up. $4 for a small lunch-able is ridiculous. And there are no other options if you don’t bring your own lunch. Would be nice if we had a Kernel delivered on this side of campus as well.
Erin • Jan 13, 2023 at 11:05 am
Petition to make the two best cafes on campus come back