Dining Hall Updates: The Changes Coming to Mather, Cave and Bistro

Savannah Brooks ‘26

Editor-in-Chief

As the 2024-25 academic year begins, students should expect changes to Trinity’s three main dining locations that aim to reduce redundancy and increase satisfaction, according to Martin Turcotte, Trinity College Dining Service’s Director of Operations. In Mather Hall, the Halal House will adopt a Cava-style approach to lunch service, with diners able to choose ingredients to make their own grab-and-go style dish. Additionally, the “Studio” station will no longer serve any food—instead, it will act as a preview station for diners to be able to see what is being made for the main line. Mather will also feature a new pizza dough recipe, inspired by New Haven pizza. Matt Bossie, a Sally’s Apizza alumnus, helped develop a rendition of New Haven style pizza, where more attention is paid to the dough and the sauce rather than the toppings. Bevi water machines have been installed, with options for water with different flavors as well as vitamin enhancements, caffeine, from green coffee beans, carbonation and electrolytes.

The Bistro will see a slight reduction in services this year in order to prepare for a larger renovation which will be implemented in time for the 2026-27 academic year. The Bistro will no longer offer retail items such as candy and chips, and will rebrand to a concept called “True Burger,” where diners can order burgers and chicken sandwiches which reflect an Americana concept. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the second day of service, the Bistro re-introduced wraps as an option for sandwiches due to a large amount of student requests. The smoothie and acai bowl station at the Bistro was to be replaced with an ice cream sundae and milkshake bar, due to the previous lack of ice cream options on and near campus. On Thursday, Sept. 4, the third day of service, the Bistro re-introduced a smoothie option due to a lack of interest in the ice cream station. In order to increase ordering efficiency, the Deli station will be replaced with an ordering station, so that diners can order in one spot instead of having ordering split between several stations. The Bistro will also begin to serve Starbucks-branded coffee, rather than Baronet coffee, due to the Baronet coffee’s lack of popularity with diners. A cold-brew nitro self-serve machine will also be added.

The Cave will replace its typical fried food, “greasy spoon” menu with a fried rice station called “Rice and Roll,” where diners can choose their rice type, protein, and toppings. “Rice and Roll” will join the “Taco-Bout-it” Mexican-style menu and the “Pho-nomenal” Vietnamese pho menu. The Cave will also introduce a Botrista machine, an automated machine which offers Boba drinks. The Cave will additionally be the only dining hall on campus to offer sushi.