FREQUENTLY ASKED Questions
GENERAL COMPANY FAQs
What is Parkhurst Dining and how does it stand out from other contract food service providers?
Parkhurst Dining is a family-owned and operated, contract dining division of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, founded in 1996. We distinguish ourselves from other contract food service providers by focusing exclusively on private higher education and corporate dining; we emphasize scratch-made menus, fresh ingredients, and a high-touch partnership model. Unlike larger competitors, we empower on-site chefs and managers to tailor programs to each client’s culture and needs, avoiding standardized corporate menu cycles.
In which regions does Parkhurst Dining operate?
Parkhurst Dining operates in 12 states across the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions.
What industries does Parkhurst Dining serve with its dining solutions?
Parkhurst serves two primary industries: private, residential higher education institutions and corporate headquarters. This focused approach allows us to specialize and deliver tailored dining experiences that best serve our clients’ unique needs.
What types of food service solutions does Parkhurst Dining offer to businesses and institutions?
Parkhurst offers a wide range of food service solutions including resident dining programs, retail dining with branded concepts, catering services for events of all sizes, micro markets, performance fueling stations for athletes, mobile ordering, and more. These services are designed to be flexible, inclusive, and aligned with each of our partner’s goals.
GUEST EXPERIENCE FAQs
What makes Parkhurst Dining’s food quality and preparation unique?
We follow our Culinary Gold Standards, which include cooking from scratch with real ingredients, using fresh cage-free eggs, hand-cut vegetables, and house-made soups and sauces, providing consistent quality across all of our locations. Menus are designed by on-site chefs based on local and seasonal ingredients, ensuring a personalized and high-quality dining experience.
How does Parkhurst Dining accommodate guests with food allergies, dietary restrictions, and wellness needs?
Parkhurst accommodates diverse dietary needs through AllerTrain™ certification for staff, allergen-friendly stations like Inspired Eats and Clean Plate, as well as custom meal plans for guests with severe allergies. It also offers plant-forward, halal, vegan, and gluten-free options at every meal, based on site-specific needs and supported by dietitians and wellness programming.
What local sourcing and sustainability practices does Parkhurst Dining follow?
Our Know Your Source program includes FarmSource® partnerships with local farms and Forged Partners® relationships with small artisan food businesses. We also commit to sourcing over 20% of our food through these partnerships. We also support our clients’ sustainability efforts through various means, such as trayless dining, hydration stations, composting, and collaborations with on-site farms and food pantries.
CAREERS AT PARKHURST FAQs
What career opportunities are available at Parkhurst Dining?
Parkhurst Dining is part of the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group family of brands, offering careers in culinary, hospitality management, catering, retail operations, marketing, and administration. Internships and supported employment programs are also available. Wherever you are on your journey, you can find the right opportunity at Parkhurst Dining and build lifelong relationships.
What makes Parkhurst Dining a best place to work for culinary and hospitality professionals?
We are recognized as a top workplace by Newsweek and the Pittsburgh Business Times, multiple years in a row. We know our people bring the energy that powers our success and through genuine relationships we show up for each other to celebrate moments big and small. We care about our team members and that is why we offer rewards and resources to highlight the important moments our team members experience in their lives, both at work and home.
What training and leadership development programs does Parkhurst Dining provide for employees?
We invest in career advancement at every stage because your growth is part of our growth. As a team member, you can expect coaching and on-the-job training knowing that your growth is part of our growth. As our company evolves, so do our opportunities including development programs to provide our team members with the training needed to continue to grow with us!
How do I apply for a job at Parkhurst Dining?
Job seekers can apply online at https://parkhurstsmiles.com or by texting Parkhurst to 85000. Join a family-owned company where caring for people has been a core value since 1949!
PARTNER WITH PARKHURST FAQs
I’m interested in partnering with Parkhurst Dining. How can we launch a customized food service program at my organization?
Parkhurst begins partnerships with a collaborative planning process that includes vision mapping, stakeholder engagement, site-specific customization, transition support, and ongoing business reviews. If you would like to begin this process, please reach out to us.
How does Parkhurst Dining tailor menus and services to fit each organization’s needs?
Menus are crafted by our on-site chefs using local ingredients and guest feedback. We avoid corporate cycle menus and instead offer seasonal, culturally relevant dishes and guest favorites, along with custom catering menus.
How does Parkhurst Dining engage guests and gather feedback to improve the dining experience?
Dependent upon the site and guest behaviors, feedback is collected through means such as monthly dining committee meetings, comment cards, social media polls, surveys, focus groups, and forums. Feedback is then visibly acted upon to build trust and improve service. Additionally, we elevate the guest experience through engaging offerings, including pop-up events, limited time offers, theme meals, local guest chefs, wellness programming, and more.