The Hottest Hollywood Dine Spot: Universal’s Trendy Studio Cafeteria

Steven Spielberg is among the many 1000’s flocking day by day to feast on the most upscale studio worker cafeteria in current reminiscence, Common‘s the Market. That’s saying lots, contemplating that Spielberg’s Amblin (an NBCU enterprise companion housed on the Common lot) is legendary for using its personal chef for workers’ lunches.

A part of The Commons, which additionally homes state-of-the-art screening rooms, the Market is next-level — and sponsored for workers. Varied meals stations vary from a correct sushi bar (if you happen to’re prepared to attend in line) to consolation meals from a preferred burrito bowl with pork chili verde to a BBQ salmon dish with Cajun rice and crispy brussels sprouts to pepperoni and scorching honey pizzas. 

Designed by Lever and Discipline Operations, the refurbished digs at Common additionally embody a brand new workplace constructing and a paseo with greater than 10,000 sq. ft of inexperienced area, a serene place to sip a customized juice or savor a biscuit that’s the key recipe of chef Jake Holland, government sous chef, NBCUniversal-Bon Appetit (no relation to the journal). Holland says 1,600 to 1,700 meals fly out the door every day and about 20 p.c of gross sales are vegan. “The Market has positively been nice for morale,” says one NBCU staffer.

There’s additionally a brand new government eating room, the Peacock Grill, for which NBCU bigwig Donna Langley personally hunted down peacock-embellished upholstery to outfit the banquettes. 

Studio commissaries, cafeterias and government eating rooms lengthy have been areas to surreptitiously goggle at visiting expertise in addition to locations to be seen with the powers that be for girding one’s place within the company pecking order. Whereas the pandemic put this time-honored custom on pause, now it’s roaring again as employers lure individuals to places of work, as exemplified by the Market at The Commons.

Most Ordered at Different Studio Commissaries

Sony

One of the fashionable orders on the worker eating room is the bao buns, with maitake mushroom, carrots, radish and cucumber topped with unagi sauce. Orange hen is also a cult favourite: Phrase rapidly spreads when it’s on the menu.

Warner Bros.

On the legendary government eating room, the ocean bass swims out the door. It’s served with farroto, English peas, fava beans, sorrel sauce, Parmesan cheese and mint gremolata.

Paramount

Initially the RKO commissary the place Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz met, the studio eating room adjustments its menu each six weeks, and day by day specials are made with seasonal substances. Perennial favourite: the black cod.

Disney

One of many objects onerous to maintain in inventory on the worker commissary on the Disney lot is the Dole Whip, the well-known pineapple delicate frozen deal with that was solely accessible on the market at Disney Parks and and Disney cruise ships till 2023 when hit the retail market. It’s each vegan and gluten free.

A model of this story appeared within the Oct. 30 concern of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.