West Islip’s seniors now have a special space to eat lunch, the Bistro Café, replete with exciting new meal options. Previously called “Cafeteria C,” it was once a lunch spot for freshmen. Plans for the impressive renovation – a collaborative effort between the district’s buildings and grounds and food service departments – were set in motion a year ago, with the upgrade of the space completed in February.

Available for use solely by seniors, the Bistro Café offers a dining experience that is more consistent with the fast-casual restaurant environments that today’s students are accustomed to. New high-top tables and booth seating options create a social and relaxing atmosphere for the seniors. A grab-and-go food stand was also built to offer them fresh, healthy meals on the go, with fewer lines and shorter wait times. The “Bistro Box” lunch delivers a well-balanced meal that includes a full cup or more of fresh vegetables and fruit. Other choices include a variety of fresh sandwiches and salads as well as less traditional lunches such as the “Yogurt Parfait Bistro Box,” featuring yogurt, granola and strawberries, and the “Vegetarian Snacks Bistro Box,” offering string cheese and pretzels with hummus.  

“Our goal continues to be providing our students with access to healthy and appetizing meals that meet the strict standards of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010,” said Christine Kearney, West Islip’s director of school food programs. “We are thrilled with the positive feedback that we have been receiving about the new menu options in the Bistro Café, and we will continue to expand these offerings with new food and beverages that students will love.”