What do fish pizziola and frozen yogurt have to do with each other?

When the dining halls serve one, the 11 House grills serve more of the other.

The student-run House grills operate independently from the Harvard dining halls, but many grill owners and other students agree that a bad night at the dining hall is one of the important factors in determining the level of success in the grills.

"On nights the dining services have a bad meal, we do incredible business," says Danny Ramos '91, co-owner of the Kirkland House grill. "The whole house comes down."

And Carlos J. Menendez '91, one of the Quincy grill owners, agrees, "If dinner's really bad, the nights are really good."

But the quality of Harvard's dining hall fare is only one of the many things which the House grill owners say make the difference between a big night at a House grill and four lonely hours behind a counter.

Students say that the location of the grills makes a noticeable difference in the nightly attendance.

The Quincy grill, for example, is in a central location while the Lowell and Winthrop grills are tucked away in the basements.

According to owner estimates, Quincy serves about 70 people each night, but the grills in Lowell and Winthrop only serve 25-40 people on any given night.

"The location is the problem," says Larry Leathers '91, manager of the Lowell grill. "The food is really good, but the location impedes the progress it might make."

And when a grill is in a central location in a House which is out of the way--like North House--location can be even more important. According to its owners, North House serves 100-150 people on an average night--more than any other House grill.

"There's no other place to get food and hang out unless you want to walk to the Square," says Megan Todd '91, a Quad resident. "Having a grill is great."

Atmosphere is also very important to the success of the grill, students say, adding that if a grill has a good atmosphere it will attract people who just want to come socialize.

"I come here a lot," say Alex Fiks '92, a resident of North House. "They have good food and a comfortable atmosphere."

But the Eliot House grill, on the other hand, "leaks gas," grill customer John Stanley '90 says. "This is not a good atmosphere--it is not conducive to eating."