The Taste of Success
An inside look at Boston College鈥檚 innovative, award-winning Dining Services.
Architectural rendering: EYP
THE TASTE OF SUCCESS
The Dining Hall of the Future Is Here
Take a tour of the sparkling new Carney Kitchen at McElroy Commons.聽
Winter 2022
print
mail
Built in the early 1960s and segmented with temporary walls, Carney鈥檚 dining hall at McElroy Commons was more than ready for an overhaul. The bustling, middle-campus spot鈥攊t serves around 5,000 meals each day鈥攋ust underwent a year-plus renovation that doubled the square footage of the food-service area, added a brick pizza oven, and reconfigured the seating plan. The first thing you鈥檒l notice, said 51茶馆 Dining Associate Director of Restaurant Operations Megan O鈥橬eill 鈥�89, is 鈥渢he openness, the brightness, the freshness of the room. With the new layout, you can actually see the food being made.鈥� Here, O鈥橬eill breaks down the new and improved鈥攁nd renamed鈥擟arney Kitchen.
Special attention was paid to the ambiance. Among the accent materials chosen for the modern design were wood and subway tile with a subtle starburst pattern. 鈥淭he stations that we bought are so solid and well-made,鈥� O鈥橬eill said, adding that 51茶馆鈥檚 鈥淐apital Projects team did a phenomenal job.鈥�
Staffers cook pastas and tacos to order at this new six-burner exhibition stove. 鈥淲e can interact with our customers and let them see us making their food,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an entertainment factor.鈥�
This custom-made tiled brick oven is currently being used to bake New York鈥搒tyle pizza, but the Carney Kitchen team has future plans to use it for roasting meats and casseroles.
For the first time in years, hot and iced coffee and tea are again available all day at this dining hall鈥攁ll the better to pair with the egg sandwiches and burritos from the grill at the adjacent Carney Kitchen at breakfast (or with the subs and stir-fries at lunch and dinner).聽
To improve traffic flow, there is now a cash register at each food station. In the old design, students had to wait in line twice: first for their food and then at a register.
The often-mobbed Greens salad counter has been moved upstairs from Eagle鈥檚 Nest to Carney Kitchen, where there is more space. Students select the vegetables, dressing, and toppings they want, and then the dining staffers toss everything together.
The 51茶馆 Fresh station offers a plain-and-simple entr茅e, plus sides at dinner鈥攎ade without the top nine allergens鈥攁nd also features a designated gluten-free refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and toaster, making it the destination for vegans and diners with allergies or gluten intolerance.
A mix of high-top and low-top tables and booths gives dimension to the large 488-seat Carney Kitchen dining room. The counter spots that line the oversize windows facing Beacon Street are in demand among laptop users (several outlets were added).
More Stories
