The Barn Stable held a grand opening celebration Wednesday, Jan. 31, to mark a successful launch of its lunch service.

The UC Riverside dining lounge at the Barn had a soft launch for its full-service sit-down restaurant experience last fall. The venue also began hosting happy hour events including a weekly trivia night.

The soft opening allowed Dining Services to test out new menu items and train staff while building a regular crowd of customers, said Moses Preciado, general manager with Dining and Hospitality Services. 

“We’re ready to broadcast to all of the UCR community that we’re here to serve them, whether they’re staff, faculty, students, or the public,” he said.

The venue is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch with menu items such as smoked brisket grinder, grilled tri-tip, and bourbon-glazed bread pudding. During their “Distractions” hours, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., an assortment of appetizers, finger foods, and cocktails are available. The drink menu also includes non-alcoholic mocktails, which feature campus grown citrus and other fresh fruits.

The weekly trivia night began drawing packed houses and will continue again this quarter along with Boards and Brews, a regular themed evening offering discounted draft beers and board and card games, Preciado said.

The Stable was added to the Barn as part of the 2020 renovation and expansion project. It had previously been open during the afternoon and evening for drinks and appetizers. 

More information including the menu and dining hours are available at the Stable website.