El Bistro serves up its 1st dishes in Read

The sweet and spicy smell of burritos, waffles and deli sandwiches filled the place once occupied by the greasy and salty smell of hamburgers and french fries.\nEl Bistro, which replaced McDonald’s in Read Center, welcomed students to its grand opening Thursday, and many people are happy with the change from fast food to healthier options. \n“We have a lot of healthier options than McDonald’s had,” said Sandra Fowler, Residential Programs and Services’ director of dining. “And there is more of a variety of foods.”\nThe menu includes an assortment of foods from breakfast items and Mexican cuisine to deli sandwiches and baked goods. Each of the four individual serving stations, Break-An-Egg, Midwest-Mex, Stacks on Fire, and Cream and Crimson Creations have many options with healthier foods, two reasons most students interviewed favor El Bistro in comparison to McDonald’s.\n“I think it is a good move by the RPS because it deters students from fast food, which is the primary reason for obesity in schools,” sophomore Briana Bertram said.\nWhile the official figures of the restaurant’s total cost of construction were not available at press time, Fowler estimated the project’s price tag to be at least $100,000. RPS sponsored the facility, using money from a general fund. The fund is typically used for renovations, such as repairing roofs and replacing equipment, and is part of the RPS annual budget. However, RPS felt the benefits of El Bistro far outweigh the costs, Fowler said.\n“It was well spent, and I think the students will agree,” Fowler said. “I think it will be very popular.”\nStudents had a large hand in the project by deciding the name of the restaurant, voting on what food items it would serve and even taste-testing the menu before El Bistro opened. \n“It’s a different atmosphere as far as the other cafeterias go,” Bertram said. “It’s so much brighter.”\nBut not everyone prefers the change to El Bistro from McDonald’s, or even the healthier menu choices. Sophomore Len Newton said he would rather have McDonald’s any day.\n“I have nothing against El Bistro,” Newton said, “but I liked my high-fat and highly-enjoyed meals from \nMcDonald’s.”\nAnother complaint made by several diners was the lack of space and tables.\n“The area is small,” sophomore Patricia Walker said. “Other than that, it is really nice.”\nThe restaurant was originally set to open in August, but RPS found this goal to be too ambitious.\n“McDonald’s didn’t get out until the last part of May, so we didn’t get in there until later than anticipated,” Fowler said. “With the demolitions and other projects we did during the summer, four months is pretty quick.”\nFrom the constantly-filled tables and lines, along with the positive feedback, El Bistro is proving to be a very popular place to eat for students across campus.\n“I’ve only been here once,” Walker, a resident of Forest, said, “but I plan on coming back tonight.”