After 3 years, the Quad has late-night eats again! 

When I was first "Quad-ed," I was over the moon. I did absolutely no research into which house was best, but I was so ecstatic at the prospect of calling Pforzheimer House (Pfoho) my "pfo-home" for the next 3 years! Over the last two years, I have experienced the best house community on campus. With incredible tutors, study breaks, and people willing to spend hours in the dining hall talking about anything, there has been so much to love about Pfoho's community.

But when talking to students and tutors who have been in Pfoho longer than I have, they have mentioned the absence of one space. A space that promised students food long after the dining hall closed into the late night. That space is the Quad Grille! 

For the first time in 3 years, the Quad Grille is open for all Quad and Harvard residents! After much work to reopen and finalize a menu, Pfoho and the wonderful Quad Grille staff are happy to breathe new life into a space that has been the site of so much community, laughter, and great times. It has only just opened this past week, but I want to take you through our phenomenal opening day!

We could not have imagined just how busy it would get. As soon as we opened our window to take orders, we saw a pretty long line of people waiting to satiate their hunger with delicious midnight food. Smiles and talk of "I can't believe the grille is open again" were as common as water in the ocean. It is hard to put into words how people felt, but the fact that some were in disbelief that the Grille was really open gives you a sense of this momentous occasion. House staff and tutors even popped by and were absolutely ecstatic that such a cornerstone of the house was finally up and running. 

Students ordered all of their favorite late-night snacks. Anything from mozzarella sticks, mac and cheese bites, loaded fries/tater tots, and the sweetest tasting milkshakes! And there I was behind the counter, frying it up in the kitchen like a local deli owner. Wearing my favorite apron, I was just happy to see my housemate's excitement as I whipped up their orders. And the orders just kept streaming for 2 hours. I was nonstop frying and grilling that first night, but I was perfectly happy to be working nonstop. Not because I intrinsically like to work in food preparation, but because you're not just serving up food in this job. You're also serving up smiles!

The enjoyment didn't just stop at students getting their food. They sat in the common space where the Grille resides and talked for hours into the night, played pool, and met new housemates that they wouldn't have otherwise met. Even I met people who I didn't know, and I thought I was somewhat acquainted with people in the house. No matter the situation, I love meeting new people, and double points if I am of service to them, like when I am making them food. I now understand the valid praise that previous Pfohomies and tutors gave the Grille. This spot has been the missing piece toward making Pfoho feel even more homely.

That really is the point of the Quad Grille. We want it to be a neighborly "establishment" that is different than just going to another restaurant. It's not like going to a McDonald's (although I can frequent it for a 10-piece McNugget meal). The Grille should give off a local bodega or deli vibe where you know the staff personally because they are your peers and housemates. It is a cultural institution that calls the entire Quad community to enjoy each other's company over some late-night food.

And the best part? With Harvard's BoardPlus, which grants students $65 to spend at HUDS cafes and House grilles, you can purchase food as a perk of your unlimited meal plan! Make sure to save your money and only spend it at Quad Grille. :)

At the moment, we plan to regularly open for the spring semester. With the reopening in the spring, new menu items may also appear to keep residents on their toes! But we cannot disclose what those menu items may be, you'll just have to stay tuned, and perhaps visit us. So before I graduate in the spring, if you find yourself in the Quad, pop by the Quad Grille, and I'll be happy to serve you!