The new Wisconsin Union restaurant Capital Cafe is now open in Grainger Hall.

The restaurant will hold a grand opening the week of Sept. 22, when students, faculty and staff members can sample menu items and coffee, tea and espresso drinks from Peet’s Coffee & Tea.

At the opening, students can participate in a contest for a $200 gift card to the Apple Store, two $50 WisCard deposits, a pair of Wisconsin Union Theater tickets and a $50 gift certificate for a Wisconsin Union Mini Course.

According to Union Restaurant Division Manager Jim Long, the café features baked goods from Clausen’s European Bakery, pints of Babcock Ice Cream, Wisconsin cheeses and other fresh ingredients served on reusable dishware with biodegradable carry-out plates.

Along with expanded services at the Engineering Eatery and ICU Deli, Capital Cafe will serve customers who had relied on Union South for food. Union South will be torn down and renovated beginning in February 2009 as a part of the Student Union Initiative. The building will be rebuilt and is scheduled to reopen in Spring 2011. The cafe opened in Grainger Hall this semester as a final piece of the business school’s renovation.

It is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Students can order sandwiches and salads to go from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For a detailed menu of Capital Café, visit http://www.union.wisc.edu/food/capitalcafe.html.