ISD #1 Diner takes us back in time
By Turkey Times Staff
Published April 12, 2019
The ISD #1 Diner is a student-run restaurant here at Aitkin High School. It has a wide variety of food options like burgers, wraps, sandwiches, salads, and many more. The theme this year is a retro diner with black and white checkerboard, classic cars and Route 66 decor.
The Diner has also included new items on the menu like an Italian Burger, Marlboro Burger, and Chicken Fajita Wrap. They have also added some new soups and specials this year.
“Each year during the planning phase of the restaurant, students are able to choose a concept and design the restaurant around that idea,” head chef Ms. Kelly Bast said. “Since I have been here, we have had ‘Up North’ themes, and last year the patriotic ‘Rustic Flag’ theme. We wanted to do something a little different.”
One big question asked at the school is “Will students ever be able to eat at the school restaurant?” According to Mrs. Bast, “With the Federal guidelines for student lunches, we cannot offer students lunch and it does not look like that that will change any time soon. Sorry! However, if a parent wants to come in and have lunch with their child in our dining room, I am good with that. It is always good to call those orders in ahead of time to make sure that we can have it ready when you arrive.”
Our class was very excited to try the food served at the restaurant and when the day came around we were all ready to try and review the dishes we had picked. In the following reviews, you will read all about what people liked, disliked, and wish to improve about the ISD #1 Diner student restaurant.
The ISD #1 Diner is open from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday until May 17. They are closed on Mondays and any days that school is not in session.
— Kaija Davies
Published April 12, 2019
The ISD #1 Diner is a student-run restaurant here at Aitkin High School. It has a wide variety of food options like burgers, wraps, sandwiches, salads, and many more. The theme this year is a retro diner with black and white checkerboard, classic cars and Route 66 decor.
The Diner has also included new items on the menu like an Italian Burger, Marlboro Burger, and Chicken Fajita Wrap. They have also added some new soups and specials this year.
“Each year during the planning phase of the restaurant, students are able to choose a concept and design the restaurant around that idea,” head chef Ms. Kelly Bast said. “Since I have been here, we have had ‘Up North’ themes, and last year the patriotic ‘Rustic Flag’ theme. We wanted to do something a little different.”
One big question asked at the school is “Will students ever be able to eat at the school restaurant?” According to Mrs. Bast, “With the Federal guidelines for student lunches, we cannot offer students lunch and it does not look like that that will change any time soon. Sorry! However, if a parent wants to come in and have lunch with their child in our dining room, I am good with that. It is always good to call those orders in ahead of time to make sure that we can have it ready when you arrive.”
Our class was very excited to try the food served at the restaurant and when the day came around we were all ready to try and review the dishes we had picked. In the following reviews, you will read all about what people liked, disliked, and wish to improve about the ISD #1 Diner student restaurant.
The ISD #1 Diner is open from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday until May 17. They are closed on Mondays and any days that school is not in session.
— Kaija Davies
California Burger
There was minimal confusion when walking into the school restaurant. There was about 30 students trying to squeeze into a minimal amount of chairs compared to the group. There were already some people in the restaurant enjoying their meals. We were seated very quickly, there was no wait. The restaurant was very clean and there was fantastic lighting, although there was no music like there usually is and the atmosphere was a little awkward. There were the basic condiments on the tables of four, which was good. The employees were very clean and had matching outfits, it was easy to tell who was who and their teamwork was about average to high. They seemed to work by themselves but looked as if they were used to working together.
Food was starting to come out pretty quick. From the sounds and compliments coming from my peers, I knew my California Burger was going to be good. Food was passed out down the list but I hadn’t gotten mine yet. I wasn’t upset but I was wondering if they were still cooking it or not. Out of around 30 students, there had to be at least one student that didn’t get there’s and that happened to be me. Chef Bast and those in the kitchen were very apologetic about not getting my food out on time and missing me on the long list of orders but they were very generous. They gave me my California Burger on the house free of charge and although I felt bad about it, they were very insistent. I was very proud of my fellow peers for coming out of the kitchen to apologize to me without having to be told, it was nice to hear.
By the time I was able to eat my burger, I was starving from the enticing smell coming out of the box. It smelled of crispy bacon and sauce and boy did I want to take a bite. The presentation was very nice but I didn’t take much thought into it. When I took a bite, I was incredibly pleased. Somehow, the burger was still warm and fresh and it tasted so good. The pretzel bun was fantastic as well as the burger and just everything inside of it. It was the perfect mix of chewy and crunchy.
To be honest, I didn’t even mind the wait at this point. I have never been a big fan of burgers, it has never been my first choice, but this burger had to have been the best burger I have ever had in my life. The conclusion? The entire thing was way worth the wait and I couldn’t be happier about it.
— Emily Cauffman
Food was starting to come out pretty quick. From the sounds and compliments coming from my peers, I knew my California Burger was going to be good. Food was passed out down the list but I hadn’t gotten mine yet. I wasn’t upset but I was wondering if they were still cooking it or not. Out of around 30 students, there had to be at least one student that didn’t get there’s and that happened to be me. Chef Bast and those in the kitchen were very apologetic about not getting my food out on time and missing me on the long list of orders but they were very generous. They gave me my California Burger on the house free of charge and although I felt bad about it, they were very insistent. I was very proud of my fellow peers for coming out of the kitchen to apologize to me without having to be told, it was nice to hear.
By the time I was able to eat my burger, I was starving from the enticing smell coming out of the box. It smelled of crispy bacon and sauce and boy did I want to take a bite. The presentation was very nice but I didn’t take much thought into it. When I took a bite, I was incredibly pleased. Somehow, the burger was still warm and fresh and it tasted so good. The pretzel bun was fantastic as well as the burger and just everything inside of it. It was the perfect mix of chewy and crunchy.
To be honest, I didn’t even mind the wait at this point. I have never been a big fan of burgers, it has never been my first choice, but this burger had to have been the best burger I have ever had in my life. The conclusion? The entire thing was way worth the wait and I couldn’t be happier about it.
— Emily Cauffman
Chicken Tender Melt
Looking at this normal-looking sandwich you may just think “Oh, this looks O.K.,” but one bite of the crunchy sourdough bread and the taste of freshly cooked bacon and hot chicken tenders will make you give a double take. The smell of bacon and the subtle hint of swiss or pepperjack cheese can make any stomach hungry for a bite. Although the meal may look plain the taste more than makes up for that. Before I knew we had to take a picture of the meals we got I was already down to the last bite because of it being so dang good!
Along with the main course, the options of having a dessert looked fantastic. The day we went coconut cake was the main option. The ISD #1 Diner was clean cut and gave off the sweet aroma of freshly cooked food. Given the fact of them being in a high school classroom, I felt that they did a good job of keeping the room looking as though you may be in an actual restaurant outside of school. I would definitely go back to the Diner for this meal any day of the week!
— Sami Jacobs
Along with the main course, the options of having a dessert looked fantastic. The day we went coconut cake was the main option. The ISD #1 Diner was clean cut and gave off the sweet aroma of freshly cooked food. Given the fact of them being in a high school classroom, I felt that they did a good job of keeping the room looking as though you may be in an actual restaurant outside of school. I would definitely go back to the Diner for this meal any day of the week!
— Sami Jacobs
Reuben Sandwich
The restaurant at the school has many good things going for it, but there are also some issues. The employees were kind and clean-looking but their attention to detail was a little off. One of my tablemates had to ask for her water when the waitress forgot to fill it up. There were some issues with employees eating with the general public and an incident with some customers.
The restaurant, being so close quarters, was very public with all of these things so that was a slight problem. I ordered the Reuben, which was wonderful. The meat was juicy and the bread was crisp. The whole meal cost $4.50. The only issue that I had with the food was that I didn’t order fries so when I received my food my basket looked very empty.
— Payton Berg
The restaurant, being so close quarters, was very public with all of these things so that was a slight problem. I ordered the Reuben, which was wonderful. The meat was juicy and the bread was crisp. The whole meal cost $4.50. The only issue that I had with the food was that I didn’t order fries so when I received my food my basket looked very empty.
— Payton Berg
Chicken Fajita Wrap
The tables in the restaurant were clean along with the workers’ and their uniforms. After I sat down at the table, I noticed that the silverware was placed neatly on the table and the condiments were placed in a holder along with the napkins. A consistent theme throughout the diner was the checkered black-and-white pattern. It was bright in the diner and the seating was comfortable. One thing I wasn’t content with was the service. I feel like the servers could have been friendlier and used a smile while serving my food. Other than that, I was particularly satisfied with the ISD #1 Diner’s atmosphere and experience.
I ordered the Chicken Fajita Wrap that consisted of grilled chicken, lettuce, pico de gallo, and Mexican ranch sauce. The wrap’s presentation was appealing for the wrap being $5 and it tasted satisfactory. The chicken and the lettuce were notably fresh along with the pico de gallo. I would recommend the Chicken Fajita wrap but one thing I would do differently is to order some chips or fries.
— Alana Huppert
I ordered the Chicken Fajita Wrap that consisted of grilled chicken, lettuce, pico de gallo, and Mexican ranch sauce. The wrap’s presentation was appealing for the wrap being $5 and it tasted satisfactory. The chicken and the lettuce were notably fresh along with the pico de gallo. I would recommend the Chicken Fajita wrap but one thing I would do differently is to order some chips or fries.
— Alana Huppert
Italian Panini
The ISD #1 Diner is a pleasant place with friendly employees. The diner takes you back in time and the atmosphere shows that with the checkered print accessories and vintage cups. The wait staff was very friendly. They are dressed appropriately with aprons and hair pulled back into a ponytail, though they did seem busy and forgetful. They were friendly and nice but forgot important things such as silverware, missing someone’s glass while pouring water, or even mixing up meals. The tables were nicely spaced out but kind of close to each other.
Walking into the room you could instantly smell the delicious food being cooked in the kitchen. I ordered the Italian Panini, which was very good. It was presented very nicely with fries on the side. The panini had a nice little crisp on the top of the bread to add a little crunch to it. It tasted fantastic! The fries looked nice but they had a fishy taste to them. I would definitely order it again, especially for how nicely priced it is. ($6)
— Myah Newton
Walking into the room you could instantly smell the delicious food being cooked in the kitchen. I ordered the Italian Panini, which was very good. It was presented very nicely with fries on the side. The panini had a nice little crisp on the top of the bread to add a little crunch to it. It tasted fantastic! The fries looked nice but they had a fishy taste to them. I would definitely order it again, especially for how nicely priced it is. ($6)
— Myah Newton
Cheeseburger
My food was delivered in a decent amount of time, I wasn’t sitting there for a long amount of time waiting for my food. When I received my cheeseburger, it was placed in a red dish with black and white checkered paper to match the theme of the restaurant. The cheeseburger was impeccable. The sourdough bun added a nice tang to it. The meat patty was nice and juicy while the bun was nice and crispy, making the cheeseburger even better.
The service was good. The servers were nice and offered water refills in a timely manner. The food was brought out in a timely manner in a nice dish that accented the theme of the restaurant.
— Casey Avenall
The service was good. The servers were nice and offered water refills in a timely manner. The food was brought out in a timely manner in a nice dish that accented the theme of the restaurant.
— Casey Avenall
Marlboro BBQ Burger with Fries
I ate the Marlboro BBQ Burger and fries. The burger had a fantastic taste as it was fresh off the grill. It was on a pretzel bun, which was so good. The onions were fried and the sauce was wonderful. The fries, however, tasted fishy and were crunchy, which I wasn't a huge fan of. I would prefer them to be softer and not fishy.
The staff in the kitchen worked very hard to get our orders done fast. The servers could use a little bit of work. They really didn't acknowledge us and It took them a little while to get our drinks. The staffs' outfits and the presentation of the food were very cute. For the price of the food, it was well worth it.
— Cheyenne Baumann
The staff in the kitchen worked very hard to get our orders done fast. The servers could use a little bit of work. They really didn't acknowledge us and It took them a little while to get our drinks. The staffs' outfits and the presentation of the food were very cute. For the price of the food, it was well worth it.
— Cheyenne Baumann
Marlboro BBQ Burger with Curly Fries
When I first walked in it felt warm and it had many people sitting at tables. Looking around in the diner I thought it was a little too white, but I did like the pictures on the walls and the checkered patterns throughout the diner. The pictures were red and had cars on them. The cups and silverware were clean but I did notice food on the floor that hadn't been cleaned up from previous customers. The condiments were all pretty basic. Although we waited quite a while to recieve silverware, the waitresses were nice and thanked us for coming in. I did not see anyone wearing hair nets and I saw workers having lanyards hanging out of their pockets.
I ordered the Marlboro BBQ Burger with Curly Fries. The burger was juicy and I enjoyed the pretzel bun that they toasted as well. It tasted good for such a cheap price ($6). The presentation of the burger was all right. The cooks put the meal on top of checkered paper to match the theme of the diner. The dessert option was coconut cake which I didn’t order because I was so stuffed!
— Holly Paulson
I ordered the Marlboro BBQ Burger with Curly Fries. The burger was juicy and I enjoyed the pretzel bun that they toasted as well. It tasted good for such a cheap price ($6). The presentation of the burger was all right. The cooks put the meal on top of checkered paper to match the theme of the diner. The dessert option was coconut cake which I didn’t order because I was so stuffed!
— Holly Paulson
Potato Chips
The Potato Chips at the ISD #1 Diner were firm, crispy and pleasantly warm, but they were also almost entirely flavorless. If you want something flavorful and exciting you may want to consider something else but, as far monotonously chewing on something while waiting for your other food to come or your dad to finish this is excellent choice. It is better if you salt them.
Aside from the food the overall atmosphere was rather tense and awkward. The servers didn’t work together and there weren’t enough of them for all the people there. The restaurant also ran out of places to seat the people coming in to eat. The glasses were pretty neat, but they ran out and had to serve some people in mason jars.
— Levi Wickstrom
Aside from the food the overall atmosphere was rather tense and awkward. The servers didn’t work together and there weren’t enough of them for all the people there. The restaurant also ran out of places to seat the people coming in to eat. The glasses were pretty neat, but they ran out and had to serve some people in mason jars.
— Levi Wickstrom
Bacon Cheeseburger
The ISD1 Diner has a wide array of food that they can offer. The service to me wasn’t bad for how many kids they had working to how many they had to serve. They kept it pretty clean and the condiments were kept filled. The servers were great at keeping my water filled. I got to enjoy the Bacon Cheeseburger with Fries. The burger was excellent and still warm when served to me. It was cooked enough to be juicy but dry enough to still be an old fashion burger. The bacon was crispy but yet still soft enough to bite through. The fries were good, the only issue I had was that part of the fries were slightly over seasoned. But overall it was a very nice experience and I would eat there again. It was a decent price for a great meal.
— Sam Turner
— Sam Turner
Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap
I had the Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap. The wrap had a fantastic taste, although there was no side, which in my opinion is okay because the wrap was very filling. The staff worked really hard with getting our drinks and food out to us in a fast manner. The staff could use a little work on acknowledging us and it took them awhile to get our silverware to our table as well. The staff’s outfits were a little baggy, but otherwise they were very neat and cute. For the price of the food, it was well worth it.
— Daria Wiberg
— Daria Wiberg
Grilled Chicken Salad
The ISD1 restaurant is a great place to go and get a good lunch. When I walked in everything was very well decorated and clean. The theme was carried on in the restaurant with glasses and food. We happened to go at their busiest time and yet the food still came out in a timely manner.
The chicken was warm and very delicious. There were also assorted greens, onions, cucumbers and tomatoes. On top of the salad was a delicious honey lemon dressing. They made it homemade in the kitchen and you can have it with any salad on their menu.
Overall this was a great experience and I would highly recommend to go visit and support the students who have worked hard to prepare and learn to cook and be in the restaurant industry.
— Sam Hanson
The chicken was warm and very delicious. There were also assorted greens, onions, cucumbers and tomatoes. On top of the salad was a delicious honey lemon dressing. They made it homemade in the kitchen and you can have it with any salad on their menu.
Overall this was a great experience and I would highly recommend to go visit and support the students who have worked hard to prepare and learn to cook and be in the restaurant industry.
— Sam Hanson
Greek Salad with Lemon, Honey & Thyme Dressing
The diner was filled to the brim by guests by the time I sat down. The atmosphere was very friendly, with a nice chatter from the local residents enjoying their meals. The staff were friendly, even with a busy day. The service was slow, but that was due to it being extremely packed. The food was really fresh and had a very local sense of community to it. The idea behind the retro theme was shown throughout the food as well with items like the Marlboro Burger. I chose a greek salad, which came with an in-house lemon honey and thyme dressing. It was delicious, and the proportions were great for the price. I think more people in Aitkin should try the ISD #1 Diner because I think they have done a wonderful job representing local service and Aitkin High School.
— Ashley Dwyer
— Ashley Dwyer
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