Warrior Grille specializes in customer service

It’s almost that time of year again when residents are in for a special treat at the Warrior Grille located at Fallbrook High School. Regional Occupational Program (ROP) students enrolled in the Restaurant Occupations course will soon be creating exceptional dishes for their 2007 fall dinner menu. Repeat customers will notice that the charming restaurant has been transformed with an attractive nautical theme.

Larry Koch, the restaurant occupational instructor, affirms that more mouthwatering entrees, appetizers and deserts are on the way. Though the students will be creating the menu, he did reveal they will undoubtedly be serving succulent tri-tip steaks this year.

One of the desserts the Warrior Grille will be offering is their famous delectable mudd pie made with mocha almond fudge ice cream and Oreo cookies. “This dessert will be served with hot fudge topping and whipped cream,” said Koch.

The prices at the Warrior Grille are unbelievably reasonable. A dinner entree can range anywhere from $3.50 to $7. The food offered is fresh and high in quality. Diners sometimes forget that the Warrior Grille is based in a learning environment because the ambiance is fantastic, the food scrumptious and the service impeccable.

The students are tidy in appearance and the kitchen is immaculate. This specific class casts a positive light on Fallbrook High School.

“We are integrating academics with real life work,” explained Koch.

According to Koch, this ROP class is an ideal place for students to learn about all aspects of the food and beverage industry, including sanitation and safety. “We are trying to give the students a real life experience for working in a restaurant, and we also try to keep up with industry standards,” he said. A food and beverage touch-screen computer system was recently added to the Warrior Grille facility to expedite orders and bring students up to speed in the industry.

Koch pointed out that this ROP class teaches kids to be responsible and think on their feet. It also offers an education in people skills.

“Nowadays, customer service is huge and you really notice it when you don’t get it,” shared Koch.

Regardless of whether or not Koch’s students stay in this particular field, they still have to know the fundamentals of good customer service. Customer service remains high on Koch’s curriculum hierarchy. “I tell my students that anywhere they go in business, they will have contact with people. You have to know how to handle people.”

Students taking this class are in very capable hands. Koch has been in the food and beverage industry since he was 12. His father, in fact, owned a restaurant. Throughout his career in this industry, Koch was a chef, and climbed his way up into management at Jolly Rogers Incorporated.

At the end of this ROP course, students who pass the Restaurant Occupations class receive a certification of competency.

By mid-October, the doors at the Warrior Grille will be opened. Reservations can be made at (760) 723-6300, ext. 3704. The restaurant is open from 4:30 to 6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.