On April 17, 2026, Glendale High School held a grand opening of the new Nitro Cafe, which will offer a menu of new foods at our campus cafeteria. These new items include many Mediterranean and Italian options, including some vegetarian vegan options as well!
The Glendale Unified School District’s Nutritional Services team, along with our District Superintendent, Dr. Darneika Watson, was there for the grand opening of the cafe at lunch. This cafe attracted a lot of students, even those who weren’t previously interested in cafeteria food.
This renovation came after District officials had finally listened to student requests and feedback from surveys and student voice panels. Many students voiced that they wanted better food in their cafeteria. When the Nutritional Services team mentioned that they could work on something, GHS principal Dr. Lynette Ohanian gladly accepted and began to work on a menu.
Dr. Ohanian is thrilled about the update to our school cafeteria. “I am super lucky to have this opportunity for our school, because not all schools got this,” she said. “It makes me feel good to know that the [students] are happy about it.”
The chicken parmesan sandwich is one of the many new food items available at the Nitro Cafe. Many students claimed it was their favorite of the new menu options. On the days it is being served, students rush to the cafeteria to grab one before it runs out. It contains a chicken patty, marinara sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, all on a ciabatta.
They also have a vegetarian version of the chicken parmesan sandwich, called the eggplant parmesan. It includes all the same ingredients as the chicken parmesan, but instead of the chicken patty it has a roasted eggplant. It looks and sounds really delicious as a vegan option, or for days where you don’t feel like eating meat.
For a lighter lunch, there is a Mediterranean salad or even a chicken tzatziki wrap. Dr. Ohanian was the one who suggested the Mediterranean food options saying that she “wanted something Mediterranean, too” along with the other options.
For a vegetarian option, there is also a hummus veggie wrap. For fans of Chipotle, there are also burrito bowls, with the choice of carne asada or black beans as the protein.
There are some nutritious and delicious options in the new cafe menu, because many of the new items include a source of protein as well as fiber. This may allow our students to develop healthier eating habits, instead of always eating pizza and burgers. However, we still have those options available for anyone who prefers them.
Speaking of pizza, we also have new pizza options, including a BBQ chicken pizza, as well as a veggie and combo pizza. Instead of just plain pepperoni or cheese, there are delicious toppings, like bell peppers and even turkey Italian sausage.
That being said, there is something for everyone in this new cafe, not leaving out people with vegetarian and vegan diets. The variety will also keep students from getting bored of the same weekly rotation of lunch food.
So far, the reception has been positive and the future looks bright for the Nitro Cafe. Many students have been excited to try the entire menu and are more willing to grab lunch. Go Nitros!
