If you’ve never set foot inside the Union Pacific building, it’s worth a look. The corporate building is open to the public (or, at least, the atrium is) so anyone can wander into the building and have some fun watching people in business casual clothing scurry from one place to another. I can’t guarantee that someone wouldn’t eventually ask you what you’re doing standing there watching people, but hey, it’s worth a shot.
Walk into the front doors of the building and you’ll undoubtedly spot the Dining Room up on the next level. Take the stairs or the escalator, but look out because everyone there is on their way to something, and whatever that it, they have to be there quickly.
Out of my element
The first thing I noticed about the Dining Room is that it’s open and bright, and I was the only person standing there in jeans. Everyone else had khakis or slacks, with the occasional business casual skirt tossed in for good measure. Everyone else also sported a Union Pacific badge, so I couldn’t help but wonder if I wasn’t supposed to be there. I asked a Dining Room employee if this place was open to the public, and he assured me that it was fine for me to be there, jeans and all.
A quick, efficient bite
The second thing I noticed is that this place ran like a well-oiled machine. Though there were no signs directing people which way to go or where to form lines for food, everyone there moved swiftly and confidently along, grabbing trays, selecting food, paying cheerfully and then scuttling away. Nobody seemed to stick around to eat. I may have missed a dining area, but the only tables I saw were at the end of the line of registers, and people seemed to use those tables to organize their food and then away they went.
I asked the same employee who had assured me that I could eat there to tell me what the very best thing they offered. He didn’t hesitate when he responded that they were well-known for their salad bar. He assured me that everything was fresh and that there was a huge selection of toppings. I love a good salad, so I grabbed a tray and headed over to the salad bar.
The salad bar was indeed impressive. Just about every topping I could hope for was there, and all of it was fresh. Everything was really well-maintained too; there was nothing out of place at all. You pay for salad by weighing it at the register, so my lunch was pretty darn economical at 4 dollars.
I think this is a great place to stop in for a quick bite if you happen to be nearby and want to check it out. If you want to fit in a little better than I did, throw on some khakis and walk with purpose.
The Dining Room at Union Pacific
1400 Douglas Street
402-544-3663
Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM-3:30 PM
Saturday-Sunday: Closed