Goodbye McDonald’s, hello El Bistro

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 healthy 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 favor El Bistro compared 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 are not available at this time, Fowler estimated the project’s price tag to be at least $100,000. Residential Programs and Services 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 feels the benefits of El Bistro far outweigh the costs.\n“It was well spent, and I think the students will agree,” Fowler said. “I think it will be very popular.”\n- For more coverage see Friday's Indiana Daily Student