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The Quad Grille reopened for the first time in more than two years, serving a range of menu items from mac and cheese bites to chocolate and vanilla milkshakes.

Located in the Junior Common Room of Pforzheimer House, the Grille has been closed since spring 2023. The popular Quad hangout spot hosted its grand reopening on Dec. 3 for more than 80 students — operating last week through the end of reading period between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Edward H. Gao ’28, co-manager of the Grille, said business has been consistent since the opening.

“We had just a ton of orders back-to-back,” Gao said of opening day.

“Even after that, it’s been pretty consistently like, people are coming every night,” he added. “We almost always have at least a couple orders going at a time.”

Pforzheimer House administrator Alison Welch wrote in an emailed statement that the House took “steps to refine the business model and keep the Grille up to date with college policies and procedures” since the 2023 closure.

The Quad Grille reopening provides students with another avenue of spending their BoardPlus — $65 allocated to undergraduates by the College each semester. The Grille joins the Dunster and Winthrop House grilles as an outlet for students to satisfy their late-night cravings.

“The Quad is so isolated from all the places — all the restaurants at night — once it hits 12, we actually have no place to eat whatsoever,” Nemeira Lal ’27 said.

“Quad Grille opening is like a dream come true, because we finally have so many items on the menu, and we can come in anytime,” Lal added.

Students interested in feasting at the Grille can treat themselves to a constantly evolving menu. Snacks like fries and tater tots can be elevated by “making ’em loaded” — adding toppings ranging from buffalo sauce, to chicken, to bacon bits or bleu cheese. The eatery only accepts cash or BoardPlus as payment.

According to Gao, his interest in reopening the Grille was sparked by a conversation with Welch.

“She mentioned that they were actually looking for people to get it back up and help run it this year, because it hasn’t been open in about three years,” Gao said. “So it just happened to be a perfect time.”

In her email, Welch wrote that while the Grille is “primarily student run” it also receives support from the administration in Pforzheimer House.

“I, along with other College staff, help the student managers and employees navigate

the administrative steps for operating the Grille,” Welch wrote. “Opening, operating, and sustaining the Quad Grille requires a great deal of enthusiasm, time, and commitment from all involved, and I am grateful for the efforts of our Quad Grille student team this semester.”

Gao currently manages the Grille and its seven student workers alongside Rosalie “Rosie” P. Couture ’26. For this semester, they have decided to open the Grille for every day of reading period — a week-long break between the end of classes and the start of final exams — with Tuesday being their last day of operation.

According to Gao, next semester they plan on having a more regular schedule with the opportunity of expanding their hours, based on student interest.

“Next semester, we’ll just start with the typical three nights a week,” Gao said. “And then, depending on what people want in the Quad — and how busy we are — we might add a few days or day or two at least.”

Gao said at the beginning of their discussions surrounding the Grille, he and Couture wanted to bolster connections around the three Quad Houses — Currier, Cabot, and Pforzheimer House.

“The best thing, I think, to come from it is community,” Gao said.

“Previously, there might be a few people there playing pool or playing ping pong, but otherwise, it’s not super busy unless there’s a stein or some other event. But now it really feels like a bunch of people are just chatting and hanging out,” he added.

Residents of the Quad said having this space provides them with a hub for getting together with friends.

“I’m excited for Quad Grille because I think it’s just another way for me to get to hang out with my friends, especially in the Quad,” Leah E. Rodriguez ’28 said. “People always talk about the River being essentially the center of everything, but here, just to have something in the Quad and a place to run into people from the other two Houses outside of Pfoho is real cool.”

“We need a strong Quad community,” Katia M. Anastas ’27 said.

—Staff writer Alexander W. Anoma can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @AnomaAlexander.

—Staff writer Chantel A. De Jesus can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X @c_a_dejesus.