Monterey High School has officially opened the highly anticipated Sandwich Shack, a new dining option designed to offer students a modern, college-style food court experience.
The idea for the Sandwich Shack began several years ago when district officials sought to expand food options on campus, offering students a variety of meals that align more closely with the dining experiences they might encounter in college or the workforce.
“We wanted to create an environment where students have multiple food options, similar to what they’d find at a community college or university,” shared MPUSD Nutrition Services Director Micha James.
The Sandwich Shack provides a convenient, on-campus alternative for students who may not always want to visit the cafeteria. Best of all, it is part of the National School Lunch Program, meaning students can enjoy the meals free of charge under the Universal Free Meals initiative.
Students are already praising the new addition.
"I think it's a good idea for people that can't, or don't have enough money to get lunch, or just people who don't like the regular school lunch and they wanna try something different,” said sophomore Lex DiFranco.
The current menu includes a variety of five different sandwiches, from an Italian sub made with freshly baked whole grain sourdough baguettes to a tuna croissant and a spicy veggie panini.
“We’ve really taken the time to think about what the students would enjoy,” said James. “The bread we use is from a Northern California company, and we bake it on-site. It’s like walking into a Subway, but better.”
Students also appreciate the variety.
“It’s really nice that there’s variety, so kind of like everyone can find something," said senior Daphne DeCarlo. "I don’t eat meat, so it was really nice they had a veggie option. It helped me. I was gonna go get a burrito from El Charrito. We were on the way and then I saw this, I was like okay, never mind I think I’m gonna get a sandwich.”
Currently, the Sandwich Shack is in its soft opening phase, offering select items a couple of days a week as staff members work to iron out the logistics. Once fully operational, students will be able to order ahead using a mobile app, with their meals ready for pickup by lunchtime.
The excitement for the Shack has been building for some time.
“I was really excited for this 'cause I've been waiting for it all year last year, and finally it's here,” said junior Xaria Cisneros.
The Shack’s extra choices are already proving popular.
“I think it’s just cool to just have like an extra option,” added sophomore Coleby Niduaza.
Although still in its pilot phase, the district hopes the Sandwich Shack will be successful enough to expand to other high schools in the area, including Marina and Seaside High Schools.
The MPUSD Nutrition Services team behind the Sandwich Shack is eager to see the impact on campus.
"Food is such a personal thing, and we want our students to know we care about what we're serving them," said the director. "We hope they are just as excited as we are."
For now, students can look forward to the Shack opening at least twice a week, with plans to ramp up service after Labor Day.