After the recent Alfredo Reyes Hall (ARH) renovations, Far Eastern University (FEU) soft launched its first-ever in-house restaurant, ‘Alfredo Bistro,’ last January 20, eyed to be fully operational by March. 

The restaurant is located at the former location of Café Alfredo at ARH.

Café Alfredo is now permanently situated at the Nicanor Reyes Hall study area, in front of the Wall of the Brave, after temporarily relocating due to renovations January 29 last year. 

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, Hospitality Management Department Chair and Café Coordinator Dr. John Malonzo detailed the features of Alfredo Bistro, including its menu, location, and upcoming plans. 

“For now, we're still on a soft launching, wherein we are releasing the menu phase by phase,” he explained. 

While still on their soft opening, Alfredo Bistro offers a limited selection of beverages and foods, such as sandwiches and signature blended drinks. 

Unlike Café Alfredo’s focus on beverages and pastries, Alfredo Bistro’s menu will mainly consist of appetizers, rice meals, and pastas. 

The hall was retrofitted into two floors: the ground floor and the mezzanine, with the latter being open only for reservations. 

“If there are some students or other members of the community who would like to conduct their functions there such as meetings or birthdays, they can have it reserved, as long as they will order from the Alfredo Bistro,” the cafe coordinator said. 

Moreover, Malonzo deemed renovations as necessary precautionary measures to ensure safer spaces within the University. 

“If we will be stagnant with the same layout, with the old spaces, ‘di natin alam (we don’t know) if there will be some hazards na, so that is why it is very imperative na from time to time, we check, [and] we renovate our facilities,” he described. 

The department chair also shared that Café Alfredo will soon offer its own in-house products, made by their own personal chefs and students. 

Malonzo noted that the food offered at Alfredo Bistro will be sustainable and healthy, especially for students.

“If there are some people that are really health conscious, dapat sila pumunta sa (they have to go to) Alfredo Bistro. And if they want to experience something new, they have to visit Alfredo Bistro,” he shared.

The café coordinator added that the restaurant will adopt sustainable practices in its processes, operations, and management.

Alfredo Bistro is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. 

- Julliane Nicole B. Labinghisa
(Photos by Thea Danielle Morin/FEU Advocate)