North Kitsap High School’s student-run restaurant, The Odin Inn, recently reopened for the first time since the COVID pandemic.

The program is run in partnership with Olympic College so NKHS students can earn college along with high school credits, said John Waller, the district’s Career Technology and Education director.

The Odin Inn is a four-year program where students can earn up to 17 college credits. It offers students the opportunity to study, develop and run a publicly accessible food service establishment that meets industry standards and provides a CTE career path. “The community and general student body can access and expect quality services and food provided by our culinary students,” Waller said.

Culinary students help develop the menu, make the food and provide customer service and money management, along with food safety and sanitation to name a few of the areas covered in the curriculum.

Menu items include burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizza, fries/tots, baked goods, soft drinks and milkshakes. Students have to pay for their items, with funds going back into the budget to offset expenses of the program, Waller said. The Odin Inn is the only student-run restaurant in the district.

An added feature is the new point of sale system “that trains our students on real-life money management and credit card sales,” Waller said. “The system also connects the front system of order entries and electronically sends it back to the kitchen for the staff to manage the food orders and get them out in a timely manner.”

The Odin Inn originally opened in 1990. It is open weekdays from 11:10 a.m. to 1:10 p.m., except for Wednesdays when it’s open from 10:25 a.m. to noon because of the shorter school day due to staff duties.

“We are excited to be open and invite the community to come have lunch with us,” Waller said.