Culinary students run Elgin Community College restaurant

Lunch service is open at Spartan Terrace, the upscale restaurant operated by students of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Institute of Elgin at Elgin Community College.

The restaurant serves guests from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 30. The restaurant is inside the Culinary Arts Center, Room CAC 101, on the ECC Spartan Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

At Spartan Terrace, guests become part of the students' learning experience as they perfect their service and culinary skills in preparation for careers in the hospitality industry. The upscale entrees are prepared by student chefs under the direction of chef and professor Mark Bosanac.

The menus, created by the students and instructors, are changed once during the semester to give students the opportunity to prepare and serve a variety of dishes. In addition, they learn how to create presentations for the various dishes with an eye to artistry and taste.

This semester, guests can enjoy lunch fare such as sea scallops and risotto, grilled salmon, steak and frites, and seared tuna salad nicoise. Entree prices range from $7 to $10, with half orders available for many entrees at $5 to $7.

Also returning for spring is Terrace Eatery, an offering from the culinary students that operates simultaneously within Spartan Terrace. This "restaurant within a restaurant," which opens for lunch, offers diners their own quaint seating area; simpler fare prepared by the students, such as appetizers and sandwiches with prices ranging from $4 to $6; and the opportunity for students to learn in another unique atmosphere. This semester Terrace Eatery offers items such as fish tacos, vegetable burritos and pizza "danish."

Reservations are recommended and available by calling (847) 214-7382 or by visiting elgin.edu/spartanterrace. Free parking is available in lots 10 and 11.