Kendall College’s Secret Handshake: January 8 - May 31,

Full disclosure: I use their facilities for meetings.

Kendall College’s Secret Handshake: January 8, 2009-May 31, 2009 (with the exception of our Monday night dining series), you will receive an extra course when you inform your student server that you are a “guest of the Dean.”

Kendall College's The Dining Room is an extraordinary working classroom that provides advanced student chefs with the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a professionally-run fine dining restaurant under the supervision of Kendall's experienced faculty.

Thanks to an outstanding faculty and dedicated students, Kendall College continues to produce recognized and notable chefs, such as Shawn McClain (Green Zebra and Spring), Mindy Segal (Hot Chocolate), Michael Altenberg (Bistro Campagne) and Michael Maddox (Le Titi de Paris). The Dining Room offers diners the opportunity to taste the classroom projects of chefs-in-training before they become famous.

Cuisine

American Contemporary, French, and International Fusion

Specials

Fixed Priced Lunch and Dinner Menu - Choose a First Course, Main Course and Dessert for only $18 at lunch and $29 for dinner (does not include beverages, tax, or gratuities - and is not offered on Friday and Saturday evenings).

Please note that we are temporarily unable to sell alcohol. However, guests are encouraged to BYOB with no corkage fee at lunch or the Monday Night Dining Series and $5 a bottle corkage fee at dinner.

Lunch Days and Hours of Operation
Lunch served from the 8th of January until the 9th of February • 12th of February until the 16th of March
Monday - Friday: Noon-1:30pm
Dinner Days and Hours of Operation

Dinner served from the 9th of January until the 7th of February • 13th of February until the 14th of March
Tuesday - Friday: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Saturday: 6:00-8:00pm

For Dining Room reservations call 312.752.2328 or make your reservations online.

Location

The Dining Room at Kendall College
900 N.North Branch Street
Chicago, IL 60642
[email protected]
Located on the Third Floor.

Thanks for this tidbit. I haven't been back to see my Chefs/classmates in a few months and going to lunch would definitely make it worthwhile.

*now I just need to find someone to go with next week

As promised I stopped in for lunch today with a friend and a bottle of Saracco Moscato.

Amuse:
-Lobster ball? A very light lobster cake mix with red pepper and green onion with lemon on top.
(I'll have to be honest...I didn't pay attention as I usually do at meals because I spent the majority of my time talking with the Chef about the good ole' days. )

To start:
Charred octopus, spicy saffron fregula, mint salad, preserved lemon vinaigrette

Escargot, applewood smoked bacon breadcrumbs, poached garlic puree, salsa verde

*I also was able to try 3 other apps which weren't listed on their website but I enjoyed each one.
-one was a perfectly done crab cake app
-two was a salmon/potato cake with cured red onions
-three was...uh....I dont remember that either but I'm sure it was great because I enjoyed the meal.

Entrees:
Chicken breast saltimbocca, apple parsley root puree, soft white polenta, parmesan brodo, tart apple salad

Pork duo: grilled tenderloin, espresso mustard sauce; Venetian milk and spice poached cheek, olive oil crushed potatoes, roasted fennel

Desserts:
Well...I don't really remember my dessert but it was good.
My friend tried the special which was a bananas foster made tableside....amazing.

Pros - Great food, exceptional service, and amazing value. Bread service.

Cons - The dessert selection. The selection kind of fell flat for me and the desserts ( the two that came to the table other than what I ordered) were below par. Fortunately Chef Ryan let me know that they weren't her doing. The pastry side of Kendall has too many students and has allowed their students to create the menu....eh.

Overall a GREAT lunch for $18/person +tip