Jordan Plowman
Multimedia Editor
As the sight of frost peeks around the corner, Butler offers something new on campus. After the long overdue construction comes to a fold, Butler invites Great Western Dining to run the new Butler Bistro in Andover’s 5000 building.
“The Butler Bistro is open 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays,” Mitchell, head chef of the Butler Bistro, said. “We look to meet our students ‘needs and wants while having a good variety with a quick grab-and-go option for those who are running to class.”
Excited to try out a new place, I grabbed a Burger Combo the first Thursday it opened. Let me just say it did not give the best first impression. My meal did come out in a timely manner, but my burger had too much butter oil on the bun, and my fries were limp with grease. The service was great, but my meal just too greasy for my stomach.
I forgot to pack my lunch two weeks later, so I gave it another go. This time I ordered the Pizza Slice Combo, with a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino and a slice of Pumpkin Pie for a total of about $15.
The Pizza Combo meal came with one freshly prepared slice of pizza, a small cookie of choice and a small fountain drink. Again, everything came out in a timely manner. The pizza was good with no sogginess at all. The size of the slice equaled about a quarter of a medium pizza, which would equal out to be two slices in a normal pizza. Even though they sadly did not have banana peppers, all of the toppings I picked from their list were distributed evenly. At checkout, you pick from either a Snicker Doodle or Chocolate Chip cookie from in-house made small cookie basket; of course, I chose Chocolate Chip. My Chocolate Chip cookie was perfect with crispy edges and a soft center. To top off the combo, my pop had the right ice to pop ratio; I asked for little ice and lots of carbonated goodness.
The in-house made Pumpkin Pie slice was, I dare to say, better than my mother’s–don’t tell her. The pie had a good jelly like texture that definitely has a lot more cream and cinnamon in it rather than a solid pumpkin base, but it really works and then adding the whipped topping on top makes for a wonderful seasonal dessert.
Not being a Starbucks connoisseur myself, I could not tell you if Butler Bistro’s Starbucks set-up can hold its own against a Starbucks store’s drink, but I would give mine a big thumbs up. Before I drank any of mine, I had Amy Chastain, the only person I know who thinks she could live off Starbucks try some. Although it turns out she does not like Pumpkin Spice, she also gave a thumbs up.
Overall, I am so happy Butler’s main Andover campus has a new hang-out spot for those I forgot ‘lunch times’, or I need ‘caffeine, moments’. I give Butler Bistro 9 out of 10 pumpkins.