'Amazing It's Even Open At All:' Canteen Up And Running At Riverbend Golf Club

LISLE, IL — At the Lisle Park District's last board meeting on June 19, members praised staff's swift turnaround time in reopening the scaled-down Riverbend Golf Club lounge space after the last restaurant, Bella Notte, closed abruptly. The space had also once been home to Wheatstack Restaurant.

Following Bella Notte's closure, park district officials made the call not to reopen the dining space. Instead, the space has become the Canteen, which offers light alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, along with hot dogs, pizza and other quick snacks. The dining hall will be used as a rental space.

During the meeting, staff said the Canteen had been open about a week, welcoming two rentals and a couple golf teams that stuck around for drinks afte playing the course.

Park District Board President Kari Altpeter, said “It’s amazing that it's even open at all," considering the amount of work that needed to be done, just as the park district was kicking off its busy season.

"We have all of our park guys over there working packing up liquor and abandoned… rotten food," Altpeter said. "You have no idea what these guys have seen."

Currently, the Canteen clubouse at Riverbend Golf Course is offering a limited menu of draft and bottled beers, along with canned and housemade cocktails.

Through a partnership with Sammy's Pub & Grill, the clubhouse's food options include such items as salads, wraps and sandwiches.

The park district is working to get the clubhouse staff complete trained and certified for food handling for its catered events.

Staff said more TVs will be added to give the Canteen "more of a sports bar vibe" amid what has been a "total team effort" to transform the space in time for golfers to enjoy it throughout summer.