Bon appétit: Student-run restaurant open with new items on the menu

FIU Bistro, the award-winning student-run restaurant at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, is open for lunch and dinner this semester, with plenty of new items on the menu. Polenta, rum raisin ice cream with snickerdoodle cookies made in house, and a new vegetarian option, sweet potato tacos — are just some of the new dishes available. 

Also on the menu for the first time is coffee. From flavored lattes to foamy cappuccinos, to a shot of espresso, the signature coffee beverages are being offered by volunteers — like graduate student Zara Rudolph —from the FIU Coffee Guild, a student club for java lovers.

"It’s going to be a very warm and welcoming atmosphere with very great service from very great students who are willing to learn," said Rudolph, as she attempted a heart-shaped foam design on a cappuccino. 

For $10, diners get a three-course meal — appetizer, main entree and dessert — along with unlimited mocktails. In May, Miami New Times named FIU Bistro the Best Inexpensive restaurant.

The restaurant is open on Wednesdays and run by students in the Advanced Food and Beverage Operations class taught by Professors John Noble Masi, Patricia Falcon and Cristina Moguel. 

Diners have the option of making reservations on Wednesdays for lunch at 11:30 a.m. or dinner at 6:15 p.m. Nancy Matos and her 9-year-old son Xavier Flores popped in for lunch. 

"The students were good about checking in to see what we needed. We loved the food and our favorite was dessert. It was a great experience," said Matos, as her son sipped on a spritzer and added: "the warm cookie was my favorite part. If it was a scale of 1-10, we give it a 12!"

Reservations are required and lunches and dinners do sell out. Please visit https://shop.fiuhospitality.com/product/diningevent/ for more information and to make a reservation.