ARAMARK to open fast-casual chain

PHILADELPHIA — ARAMARK Healthcare announced it will open the Soluna Café & Bakery, its first brand of free-standing, fast-casual restaurants, later this year in Houston and early next year in Columbus, Ohio, and San Diego. 

 

According to a news release, the restaurant is strategically developed to meet the needs of physicians, nurses, hospital employees and visitors on large healthcare campuses. Soluna will offer tossed-to-order salads, made-to-order sandwiches and premium, home-style soups in a tranquil atmosphere, where those on the medical campus can relax, refresh and renew. 

 

"Bringing Soluna Café & Bakeries to medical campuses is an important strategic initiative as physicians, nurses and hospital staff often have difficulty finding the time to refuel and relax during the demands of a typical work day," said Bob Carpenter, president of ARAMARK Healthcare. "Our research has indicated that a gap for this type of dining option exists in the healthcare setting, and developing this concept in close proximity to leading healthcare institutions allows us to meet their needs."

 

The first Soluna Café & Bakery will be located at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions, including The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital and Saint Luke's Hospital.

 

According to a news release, the first Soluna Café & Bakery will be a 4,000-square-foot restaurant featuring a 60-seat dining room with an outdoor patio that can accommodate more than 40 guests.

 

Providing meal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Soluna's menu will feature premium items such as:

·        The Southwest Chicken Panini

·        Mozzarella, Plum Tomato & Pesto Sandwich

·        Roast Beef with Sharp Cheddar Wrap

·        Asian Steak Salad

·        Cranberry & Mandarin Orange Salad

·        Quiche-Adilla