The Barn at UC Riverside is now open for lunch.

The expanded hours – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday – are another step in the dining and entertainment venue’s return to full operations. The Barn restaurant had a soft opening Oct. 17 and began promoting its lunch options to the campus this week.

Much of fall quarter has been spent training staff members for the expanded hours and service, said Moses Preciado, a senior manager with Dining Services.

“Now we’re at the point where we’re able to showcase the Grill options at the Barn,” he said.

The Grill is one of four dining counters at the renovated and expanded facility, which was completed in April 2020. The station serves up made-to-order burgers, chicken sandwiches, Barn fries, and other specialty sandwiches including vegan options for most dishes.

The other three platforms – deli, salads, and hot table stations – will open in phases through the rest of fall quarter, Preciado said. Preciado said the Grill is able to capture the core of the Barn’s menu but the additional stations “offer a whole new dynamic above and beyond what we did before.”

The Barn has had to gradually reopen since the project was completed due to the pandemic and staffing shortages. Over the past two years, it opened its outdoor Patio Bar, the Stable dining lounge, and began hosting happy hour concerts on its new outdoor stage.

Many campus diners are beginning to discover the Barn since it opened for lunch, Preciado said.

“We’ve got a ton of great feedback about the food,” he said. “Everyone loves the building, the atmosphere.”

For more information on The Barn’s hours and upcoming events check out its website and follow its Instagram account.