The hottest place to eat in Hollywood is a studio cafeteria.

Steven Spielberg is among the thousands who flock daily to feast at Universal’s Marketplace, the most upscale studio employee cafeteria in recent memory. That’s saying a lot, considering Spielberg’s Amblin (an NBCU business partner on the Universal lot) is famous for employing its own chef for employee lunches.

Part of The Commons, which also has state-of-the-art screening rooms, the Marketplace is next-level — and subsidized for employees. Various food stations range from a proper sushi bar (if you want to wait in line) to the popular burrito bowl with pulled pork chili verde to a BBQ salmon dish with Cajun rice and crispy Brussels sprouts. From comfort foods to spicy pepperoni and hot honey pizza, there’s plenty to choose from. .

Designed by Lever and Field Operations, the renovated digs at Universal include a new office building and a patio with more than 10,000 square feet of green space, a place to sip a custom juice or savor a biscuit. A quiet place that is Chef Jack’s secret recipe. Holland, executive sous chef, NBCUniversal-Bon Appetit (no relation to the magazine). Holland says 1,600 to 1,700 meals fly out the door every day and about 20 percent of sales are vegan. “Marketplace has definitely been great for morale,” says an NBCU staffer.

There’s also a new executive dining room, the Peacock Grill, for which NBCU bigwig Donna Langley personally hunted down peacock-embellished upholstery to adorn the banquettes.

Studio commissaries, cafeterias, and executive dining rooms are places to sneak glimpses of longtime visiting talent as well as places to be seen with options that lower one’s position in the corporate pecking order. are to do. While the pandemic put the then-honored tradition on pause, it is now roaring as employers lure people into offices, exemplified by the Marketplace in The Commons.

Most ordered among other studio commissaries.

Sony

One of the most popular orders in the employee dining room is the bao buns, topped with maitake mushrooms, carrots, radishes and cucumber with ungi sauce. Orange chicken is also a cult favorite: word spreads fast when it’s on the menu.

Warner Bros

In the legendary executive dining room, the sea bass saunters out the door. It is served with farroto, English peas, fava beans, sorrel sauce, parmesan cheese and mint gremolata.

Paramount

Originally the RKO commissary where Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz met, the Studio Dining Room changes its menu every six weeks, and daily specials are made with seasonal ingredients. Perennial Favorite: Black Code.

Disney

One of the hardest things to keep in stock at the employee commissary on the Disney lot is Doll Whip, the popular pineapple soft-serve frozen treat that was only available for sale at Disney parks and on Disney cruise ships until 2023 when it hit the retail market. It is both vegan and gluten free.

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