David Grant Medical Center's dining facility to undergo renovations

  • Published
  • 60th Diagnostics & Therapeutics Squadron – Nutritional Medicine Flight
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  David Grant USAF Medical Center’s award-winning dining facility is scheduled to undergo a major $1.4 million two-phase reconstruction project on January 9. The renovation will last approximately six months and lead to improved long-term customer service.

Starting Dec. 26 the Nutritional Medicine Flight at DGMC will begin implementing alternative dining services after their last day of full-service dining, slated for Dec. 25.

“During this period we encourage anyone who is not a patient or DGMC staff member to consider using alternate dining facilities on or off Travis AFB,” stated Lt. Col. Patricia Petnicki, deputy commander of the 60th Diagnostic and Therapeutic Squadron. “However, we will not turn anyone away, and our inpatient feeding will not be affected by these renovations,” Colonel Petnicki stressed.

Phase I of the project will see the DGMC Serving mall undergoing renovation from Jan. 9 through June 20. Phase II of the effort will see the DGMC dining room’s seating area closed from March 1 through June 20.

“During this renovation, our Nutritional Medicine Flight will offer limited food service,” explained Senior Master Sgt. Jeffery Greiner, superintendent of the Nutritional Medicine Flight. “Due to space and electrical power limitations, we cannot offer a normal a la carte (individual items) meal option. All meals will consist of a set of menu items with set prices for each menu choice.”

According to Sergeant Greiner, an example of set menu items would be a sandwich, drink, piece of fruit, or chips. Another example might be a salad, piece of fruit and a drink.
Meal card holders and cash customers will receive meal tickets and present the ticket to servers who then serve the appropriate meal. The Nutritional Medicine flight’s “Grab & Go” meal ticket prices will be different from the regular serving line prices. Therefore, Grab & Go tickets cannot be used for regular serving line meals.

“In addition to our dining room’s Grab & Go service, we are offering an extended Grab & Go service that will be located at the DGMC Auditorium reception counter,” said Maj. Tisha Vorachek, chief of Nutritional Medicine Flight Operations for 60 MDTS. The extended Grab & Go will serve cold sandwiches, salads and beverages.

“Our primary goals are to provide quality food at affordable prices to our patrons; these renovations will improve that process and be more handicapped friendly with an upscale, San Francisco-style Bistro or café look to the place,” said Colonel Petnicki. “This is not your institutional ‘dining hall’ from yesterday’s Air Force. We’re entering into a new 21st century dining experience.”