BIStro–the grand renovation

Written by Elena Kim

Have you ever wondered what other students think about the recent (well, no longer as recent) changes to the BISHCMC secondary school restaurant BIStro? Recently, the BIStro was renovated, along with other areas of the school, and many things changed-hopefully for the better. In this article, BIStro 2.0 is reviewed and evaluated based on honest student feedback.

Most of the reviews were overwhelmingly filled with praise, and many of the recent updates brought a much-needed improvement to the BIStro. According to the survey conducted on a form group, student satisfaction mainly focused on the new, more convenient payment system (44.4%) and the increase in the range of food on the menu, including whole new stations and even a breakfast option. With the renovation, the students are now able to recharge their cards by themselves, making it easier for them to buy lunch if they forget. Also, the menu has increased, adding sections that offer different international-themed food, which has helped offer more variety and spread the lunchtime rush. Overall, many students agreed that each change made their lunch more fulfilling.

However, while most reviews from students are positive, some students voice that there are certain drawbacks to the renewal, with the majority (61.1%) stating that the service has become slower. While more food stations were added, some food options require more time to prepare or are more popular than others, making queues longer and the turnover rate slower. Also, some student complaints were about crowding, which may be an issue since it may increase the length of the lines even more, so that area could be improved even more. For many across the campus, some of these problems have transformed the exciting new change into a source of annoyance.

In my personal opinion, the renovation has brought in a lot of positive changes in the BIStro, especially the addition of the international food station, as it encourages students to try out food from different cultures, leading to more cultural understanding. Also, more tables were added, ensuring that every student got a seat, unlike last year where finding a table was almost a fight for survival. However, the endless queues are a bit problematic, and even more problematic when you have a lunch club and have to eat as fast as possible.

This is the chart showing the student’s general opinion about the new BIStro.

As you can see, most of the students thought that the BIStro renewal was a positive change.

To conclude, most of the reviews were positive, especially the ones about the new, improved version of the menu and the convenient payment methods, aligning closely with my experience. Although there are certainly a few bits to adjust with the queue times and service speed in BIStro 2.0, it is well on its way to success– so good luck with the next renewal, BIS!