After a two-year closure due to the pandemic, the UClub Bistro finally reopened its in-person dining on Sept. 26. The New University was invited to sample its menu free of charge.
The full-service restaurant offers a wide range of dishes including classic hamburgers, jerk chicken flatbreads and traditional cobb salads. Located right next to Donald Bren Hall, the UClub Bistro is in the heart of the University Club and a perfect pick-me-up for undergraduate students and faculty members alike.
UClub Bistro staff (left to right):. Outgoing General Manager Kevin Jones, Lisa Richcreek, Chef Filipe Venegas, Incoming General Manager Michael Arceo. Photo by Elaine Cha / Staff
Kevin Jones, the outgoing General Manager, shared his excitement regarding the reopening of the restaurant.
“We started with a soft opening with the whole school. We set [up] a sign to get the staff ready to go with the right service. Then, we sent out an email blast every day saying that we’re open for lunch Monday through Thursday,” Jones said. “We’re starting to pick up, and it’s been good.”
The New University sent a member of their team out to sample the options that are offerred by the restaurant. Elaine Cha’s take on the food is below.
Red Pepper Hummus
As someone who loves Mediterranean food and recommends Cava to everyone, I was excited to try the red pepper hummus appetizer. The house-made pita chips paired well with the hummus. This is a solid appetizer to share with friends or anyone who is willing to eat all the celery sticks for me.
Rating: 8/10
Apple Cider Salad
Y’all better come up here and get one of these … it’s a chicken salad. I wouldn’t say that I’m a picky eater but I still cannot get myself to enjoy blue cheese. Like, isn’t it just mold? Other than that, the diced apples and candied pecans in the salad were a good combination that reminded me of fall.
Rating: 6/10
Pesto Flatbread
This grilled flatbread with chicken, pesto and melted mozzarella cheese is easy to like. I mean, who doesn’t love cheese and carbs? Chef Filipe really outdid himself with the plating of this dish. The little sprig of basil on top added the perfect touch. I air fried the leftovers for dinner and it tasted just as good as it did fresh.
Rating: 8/10
Grilled Portobello Sandwich
This sandwich is a fun guy. For all the vegetarian baddies out there, the UClub Bistro also provides a good amount of vegetarian options. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of mushrooms, but the balsamic glaze marinated portobello might have changed my mind about mushrooms. The fries that came on the side were well-seasoned and crunchy (also, curly fries are the superior form of french fries).
Rating: 7.5/10
French Dip
This hits so differently on a cold and rainy day. I didn’t plan on ordering this until Lisa recommended it to me, which was a good call. The dip paired with the cheesy sandwich felt like a warm hug — super comforting and rich in flavor. If you try anything on the menu, you have to get the French Dip. It’s truly perfection in a sandwich.
Rating: 10/10
In terms of service, the entire staff at the UClub Bistro was extremely friendly and hospitable. They made sure I didn’t leave without being satisfied and full to the point where I got a food coma. The staff made the entire experience memorable.
Lisa and Kevin both recommended the Loaded Quesadilla, which comes with fresh salsa and guacamole.
Again, the UClub Bistro is located inside the University Club. In-person dining hours are from Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their menu can be found here.
Elaine Cha is a Campus News Intern for the fall 2022 quarter. She can be reached at emcha@uci.edu.