III Armored Corps, AMC open 42 Bistro, Army’s first campus-style dining venue at Fort Hood

Leadership from Fort Hood, III Armored Corps, Army Materiel Command, Compass Group USA, Inc., and Chef Robert Irvine cut the ribbon for the grand opening of 42 Bistro Feb. 18 at Fort Hood. 42 Bistro is the first of five pilot campus-style dining venues the Army is opening under a contract with Compass Group. (U.S. Army photo by Ayumi Davis, Fort Hood Public Affairs)

By Heather Ashley
Fort Hood Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, Texas – III Armored Corps and Fort Hood marked a milestone in Army food service modernization Feb. 18 with the grand opening of 42 Bistro, the Army’s first campus-style dining venue.

Senior leaders and special guests gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the installation’s newest dining facility. Among those in attendance were Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command; Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of III Armored Corps and Fort Hood; and celebrity chef Robert Irvine. The facility, which is housed in the former Black Jack Dining Facility, opened for full service immediately following the ceremony.

“Today, we celebrate not just the remodeling of a building, but the opening of a new chapter in how we provide food service to our Soldiers and families on this installation,” Admiral said.

Mohan agreed the opening was much more significant than the building itself.

“Today, we are not just opening a building,” he said. “We are making a significant step forward in our commitment to the Army’s most valuable asset, which is our people.”

The initiative aims to transform how the Army feeds its Soldiers by offering a more modern, convenient and nutritious dining experience.

The III Armored Corps said the 42 Bistro name is an appropriate nod to the history of the installation and its service to the nation, while the dining concept represents the future.

“Fort Hood has been at the forefront of our nation’s defense, and it’s fitting that we honor that legacy as we look toward the future,” Admiral said. “As the Army continues to execute Transformation in Contact, the CSDV pilot will be a cornerstone of how we care for our Soldiers and families going forward.”

Led by AMC, the effort leverages private industry expertise to operate installation dining facilities in a model similar to those found on college campuses. The approach directly responds to Soldier feedback requesting greater menu variety, expanded hours and improved dining environments.

“The campus-style dining menu represents a fundamental shift in the way that we view Soldiers’ quality of life,” Mohan said. “It’s about providing our men and women in uniform with the same quality, variety and modern atmosphere that we would find on a college campus or in a vibrant city.”

Compass Group USA, Inc. operates the facility under a contract awarded in August 2025.

Under the supervision of a master chef, 42 Bistro features multiple food stations and offers several service options, including à la carte selections, dine-in seating, takeout and delivery. Extended hours and a contemporary atmosphere are designed to create a space where Soldiers want to dine while maximizing their meal entitlements on post.

Installation leaders said the opening signals a significant step forward in enhancing quality of life for Soldiers and reflects the Army’s continued commitment to innovation and readiness through improved support services.

“It’s a major step in our commitment to connecting our Soldiers to resources, providing them with dining options that are healthy, convenient and affordable,” said U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Hood Commander Col. Mark R. McClellan.