The Stable opens at the Barn

The Barn has moved to its next phase of reopening as it began service this week at the Stable dining lounge.

The opening Monday, Nov. 29, was the first opportunity for the UC Riverside campus to experience the Stable, added to the Barn venue during its renovation and expansion project completed last year.

The Stable is open Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. It offers patrons an indoor, upscale alternative to the Patio Bar, which opened last month.

“We’re excited about it,” said David Henry, executive director of Dining and Hospitality Services. “It was important for us to create a couple different environments for people to feel comfortable in.”

Although originally planned as a faculty and staff lounge, the Stable is now open to faculty, staff, students, and community members.

The 4,900-square-foot lounge can seat up to 79 patrons with a mix of high- and low-top tables, lounge chairs, and an outdoor patio area, which is outside a glass wall and features a lattice screen. The bar countertop and four tables are made of repurposed wood from a walnut tree that was on the site and cut down due to termites.

The Stable offers an expanded menu from the Patio Bar with a full bar serving beer, wine, spirits, and signature UCR drinks. A larger variety of appetizers are also available, with items such as soups and bread bowls soon to be added.

Henry said the Stable is meant to provide a more elevated dining experience. Food and drink are served on china, carving boards, and in glassware. A host seats diners and servers take orders at tables.

Staffing shortages continue to be an issue for Dining Services, which is rebuilding its organization comprised of food service professional staff, supervisors, and student workers.

The Stable will expand hours and its menu and eventually reopen the main dining hall as staffing allows, Henry said.

With the opening of the Patio Bar, many members of the campus community have begun visiting the Barn.

“It feels good to hear the noise and the conversations,” Henry said. “People are socializing and having a good time.”