I believe our city is truly privileged to be home to a restaurant like Cafe 1600! This is the only place in Bakersfield where you can go eat gourmet food and feel like a VIP guest every time you go, no matter who you are. The restaurant is operated by the Bakersfield Adult School and trains students in the preparation, cooking and the serving of gourmet and banquet dinning. It is opened when the Bakersfield school district is in session. In the morning, they always have hot coffee, tea, pastries and giant cookies to buy. The pastries are all baked on site and are just as good as any Parisian bakery could offer (I know since I've eaten plenty of croissants, pastries and bread while in Paris). These are the best pastries you can get in a 200 mile radius of Bakersfield! The menu is procured by the chef every week. Sometimes the food service is slow but it's okay since it is a teaching restaurant and the foods always make up for the service. Erin the host is always so warm to you and makes you feel welcomed and special. The location isn't the best and out of the way, but you are really doing yourself a disservice if you haven't been there. I will always be there when they offer their Rack of Lamb ($15.00!) on their lunch menu. On Tuesdays they do Grab and Go Service. You can always email them ahead of time to arrange for pick up too. Go to the Bakersfield Adult School website to more information. read more

Café 1600 - Rack of Lamb - Cooking Schools Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We visited the cafe 1600 for the first time today! We arrived early and we're treated like special guests, our server was Liz, she was lovely, she took great care and time to ensure we were well taken care of. We both ordered steak salad (name doesn't do it justice) it was a whole steak cooked perfectly med rare, like I requested and served alongside a beautiful salad of mixed greens and heirloom tomatoes, with a light balsamic dressing. The meal was exceptional, they are really doing a great job all around. Of course you don't want to skip dessert! We chose the chocolate cake, it was served on chocolate ganache and filled with a layer of cream, something special to finish off a five star dinner. Thanks to Liz and all the culinary class, we will definitely be back! read more

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I love that the menu changes monthly. So much great food to try. Bring your friends and play Food Roulette/ Pass the Plate. You will want to try all your friends food, all for an amazing low price. read more

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Not bad for students! I've had the garlic fries : nice and garlicky. Mmmmm. Today I ordered 3 rockin tacos, since it's International Taco Day & all. The flavors are pretty tasty and the accompanying salsa is yum. The prices are pretty fair and the staff are very friendly. Update: The Cafe opened for business again on Sept.8th and I couldn't be happier. There are upgrades and some changes (and more desserts!) Their salads are bomb. Fully loaded and amazing. I'm currently chowing down on a Cobb Salad that I ordered to go before they closed shop for the day and I'm so super happy. It has alllllll the fixins. I'll probably be back..like, everyday, since I work in the building. read more

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"Fine dining for $10-$20 a plate" is what a friend told me about Café 1600. I was amazed that I was able to order pan seared rib-eye aged beef (medium rare) for $20 dollars!!!!! It was cooked perfectly and my glass was always filled. This is not only a recommending review but an inside, secret destination to fine dining that is cheaper than a combo at Carl's Jr. Also the menu changes bi-weekly. If you decide to go take a friend you want to impress. It's that good. read more

Their Avocado BLT is excellent! I love their garlic fries too! Tons of garlic, which I love. Super great prices too. I got the sandwich, fries, soda, and cake for $12. I would love to see some vegetarian options. I got the BLT with out bacon. They are some what hidden and there's no signs. read more

Here's what you need to know about Cafe 1600. It's comprised of student chefs lead and direct by their teachers. They are polite, professional & talented! The food, due to being prepared fresh daily by students in training, can vary day to day in quality and flavor. This is not a bad thing! The prices are extremely reasonable and the staff is 100% accepting of constructive feedback. They offer a To Go ordering window (which did take me and many others a few tries to understand) and seated dining where they come to your table to take your order. At the To Go window, you USED to order, then wait, then pickup, then pay. The new procedure is to order at the window, then pay at the register, THEN pickup. This is a great partnership that helps student chefs gain experience in a restaurant setting that they can then use to obtain full time employment. read more

Café 1600 - Daily special: lasagna and salad - Cooking Schools Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Spinach wrapped salmonChef Robert has his crew cranking I love spinach and they delivered! These students are so talented read more

Café 1600 - Spinach wrapped salmon salad! Off the hook! Chef knows a love spinach! So he delivers! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Worst thing first: they didnt have a highchair for my 11 month old so eating wasn't easy. That was annoying but I wouldn't take a star away because it was a great experience over all. The staff is learning and they have it posted in a couple different places so keep in mind they are not completely experienced. My waitress did take an order ahead of mine when they came in after me so I had to stop her to get my order. Shes learning and I get it. The staff: The woman running the show is Erin and what a wonderful person she is! She was attentive, so kind and also full of information. Erin asked me how I was doing and I felt since it was a learning experience I told her about an issue with the waitress taking orders ahead of mine and also not giving me the option of chicken or beef in my taco salad ( I wanted chicken but was willing to eat whatever). I hope she didnt think I was complaining because I was just trying to help. She immediately brought us pastries on the house and checked on our food and when ready brought it over herself. My waitress was so sweet and they were all just gawking over my little girl. She ate it all up lol. The food: Amazing!!! No seriously those extra exclamations are needed. I cant express enough how delicious it was. I ordered two meals so I can taste a couple of there dishes. Taco salad was big and super flavorful. The beef was so tender it just falls apart. The dressing was light and creamy and just blended all the flavors perfectly. Way to go on that one guys! Last but not least the burger I ordered was probably the best burger I have ever eaten and I can cook. I ordered it medium and it was cooked to perfection. The flavor of the Harris Ranch Beef really shined through and it was juicy enough to satisfy but not so much that it wet the bread. The bacon, aioli, and bleu cheese really took it to a whole other level. I would have gladly paid 20 bucks for that burger. Seriously, it's that good. I paid $14.50 for those two items and a soda. Please remember they only take cash tips. I found out the hard was but I was able to pull 10 bucks off at the near by dollar general and I just ran it in. Everyone was dressed and ready for the day so dont go in looking like I did. Wearing my Uggs, leggings and a old t-shirt with no makeup lol. read more

Café 1600 - Cooking Schools Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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I had lunch here yesterday; what a treat! Keep in mind that this is a teaching facility, but the proof is in the food. The staff was very friendly. I had the Philly cheesesteak; the beef was cooked perfectly and they didn't skimp on the cheese. My lunch partner had the spinach encrusted salmon with potato patty on a bed of fresh spinach. The sauce on the salmon was AMAZING; creamy, garlicky, smooth. The prices were so reasonable, too! Will definitely eat there again. We didn't have time to take pics... the food was too appetizing to stop and snap pictures :) read more

Cafe 1600 is an amazing culinary program that I enjoyed and I guarantee that once you start you're gonna wanna finish.. It's a great environment the food is great, the people are great, and the staff or what I call the instructors at Cafe 1600 are all truly amazing... ‍‍‍ read more

Café 1600 - Some people cook because they have to.... But doesn't mean they want to... I cook because I love to...‍ - Cooking Schools Near Me - Bakersfield, California

This was our first time. It won't be our last time. It's so good to see our community involved in training folks for culinary work. The food is good and very reasonable. If you haven't tried it you should for nothing else than to support the community effort. Keep up the good work café 1600. read more

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Food was amazing but what I loved about this place was the customer service. They were in the middle of transitioning menus and I needed one so my coworkers and I could prepare for a lunch in. Because of their hours it was difficult for me to get out their and grab a Menu. I emailed the owner and they responded quickly saying someone from their team would be emailing me a menu. I received it the next day early morning. They were on it and I really appreciated the fast response. I'll be back for sure. read more

What a gem I just found! So glad this place exists. Friendly staff, delicious food, and a wonderful program and community offering. Keep it up! read more

If your looking for value in a good meal, this place is it! This is not your fine dining experience, it's a bunch of culinary students making and serving meals. However, it looks like they have great teachers there because the food does come out pretty consistent. As consistent as most restaurants that have different chefs working day by day, so if there is a difference it is so minimal that most won't catch. Everything I've tried here is super and the price blows and place for lunch out of the water. Hope they continue doing a great job, because I will continue to support them! Great food, super prices and truth be told, the coordinator or person in charge really goes out of her way to thank everyone and engages with everyone, so an extra star for that. read more

Great food Great Customer Service. First day back after graduating from this class and the food is amazing.

WOW!!! I just discovered this local gem last week by accident. Students... cooking my food...really? Really what an awesome experience! When I arrived I wasn't really sure how this would go down. Immediately the staff made me feel very comfortable and asked that I take a seat wherever I wanted so I did. A young ( very serious ) man handed me a menu and told me he would be back in a moment to take my order. It didn't take me long to decide what I wanted and BAM, this same young man was asking to take my order. I ordered the Bakersfield Burger with the garlic fries and a coke. My drink was brought to me within a couple of minutes which was very much appreciated to say the least. I might have waited ten minutes and this beautiful burger was delivered to my table. Hot, juicy and delicious! The burger was made with a very fresh huge patty with melting cheese, bacon, avocado and lettuce. The best part was the very fresh Pyrenees hamburger roll... I love the fact that they go the extra mile to impress their customers! As for my garlic fries I prefer them to be more cooked but next time I know to add a request to do so. My check was promptly brought to my table which was great and something that a lot of local restaurants drag out forever and is really annoying. People now days have so much going on that waiting fifteen minutes to receive the check is oh so wrong. Please note that they accept credit cards however you are not able to tip via your card so on my first visit I was disappointed as I had no cash to leave these awesome students. I promise I will have a serious tip for you' all on my next visit. I am not sure who is main Teacher/Instructor for this program but you are a ROCK STAR!! I am very hard to impress... no, like really hard to impress and you and your team of students have done just that. Thank you and I can't wait for my next feast! read more

I have to give Café 1600 a 5 stars rating. I've been to this restaurant, unfortunately, only once last year. As a customer, I'll never forget the shocking new that was being shared at the lunch table. Students making my food! Being adventurous, when it comes to food, I figured why not. While watching the waiters in action & the cooks so focused, I couldn't believe my eyes & nose. There was no difference in their service then the service that you'd get from Buck Owens' Crystal Palace or The Palms. When lunch was served, let me tell you, I was disappointed that I didn't get the Fish Tacos. It looked mouth watering. The fish amazingly fluffy, crispy, & golden brown to perfection and smelled absolutely fresh. But my order, The Try-tip Sub, was also phenomenal. Loaded ontop of a toasted french roll was smoked prime cut beef & smothered with just the right amount of cheese served along with hand cut fries & a 24oz drink, need I say more? And the price, mind blowing! Now that it has been a year since, I find myself in this life changing program. Just as the students before me. I have to give an around of applause to our leaders for their most positive attitude & patients. They make me feel safe & confident in every step I take. As a student, I'm delighted to share with you all, coming from the inside of Café 1600, we are all honored & super ecstatic to do our best in serving our customers. P.S. Must try the Wyatt Melt!!! read more

I stumbled on this eatery while looking for something other than fast food on the east side. Everything flowing out of that kitchen looked good. I only had the soup of the day but it was pretty fantastic. The prices are unbelievably low for the quality and quantity of food received. I'm not sure about the relationship, but there is some affiliation with the BC culinary program.If my patronage helps support a program benefiting students and I get tasty, low-priced food in return I'll be there 2-3 times a week. To everyone responsible for the restaurant/program keep up the excellent work!!! read more

This restaurant is a must dine in for lunch In Bakersfield. It has an exceptional menu and the service is outstanding. The food is amazing.j

I absolutely love this place! Such big portions and cheap prices. The food tastes amazing and I also respect and love the fact that the employees here have such touching stories. I spoke with Luke who took my order and his story was heart wrenching. I love that they have still kept pushing with their dreams despite their ugly pasts. Awesome place! read more

This place is awesome, if you work on the east side stop by here for lunch. Food is incredible, service is outstanding and everything on the menu is $3-5. I've had the burger and the tri tip sandwich so far and I can't wait to try all the other stuff they offer, their cake is as good as jakes tex mex. Can't wait to come back! read more

Went here hesitant after my last experience with a student run establishment Renegade room at BC that really left a bad taste in my mouth food wise & price wise that I did review recently so going here I had zero expectations so as to not get let down. You can't be let down if you have no expectations imo. First let's say this is a classy joint walking in you Notice how nice the tables have been set so as to Not seem too crowded but still had that clean fresh look. Service was 5 star. Really attentive polite servers who made sure you were taken care off. Food: ordered the fish tacos. 3 huge fish tacos came with a chipotle style salsa & lime wedges. Small nugget size pieces of cod lightly battered and fried. Nice clean taste with that perfect crunch one expects. Cilantro or some kind of citrus based aioli type deal that really brought out the flavors. Cabbage had a nice crunch to it as well. Worth the $5. Let me just say for $3 you get a HUGE bowl of soup that I had to take to go as I could not finish. Tomato soup was on point. Simply amazing. They roast the tomatoes on fire then blend them in with spices and stuff. This was sooo damn good. I can't believe it was only $3. Two people could split and have a proper lunch on the cheap. Very very tasty. And to think I paid over $8 at Panera for something the size of a tiny cup. Never again. This soup blew my mind. Friend had the Bakersfield burger with fries and was very impressed. Especially with the fries. Nice chunks of garlic and herbs. Something you would pay 4 times the amount for at Red Robin. I did taste the fries and they were very good. Fresh out of the fryer and well seasoned. Burger was HUGE! Nothing was left of it. Def worth it. Peach tea was good. Ur standard tea tbh. Nothing too special or fancy. You're paying $1.50 for a large sized cup with unlimited refills. How can you beat that. Came with crushed ice! I wish they were open later. They close around 1pm. Last few times I've tried to go here they were closed due to some equipment issues or something or the other but I'm glad we made it here. I'll be back that's for damn sure! read more

Love this place, wish it were closer to my job! I had the fish tacos on my first visit: great quality fish, great tortilla, fresh veggie toppings and the home made tortilla chips are the best. On my second visit I vowed to try something new, but I ordered the fish tacos again because they are just that good. My friend and I ate two orders of fish tacos, a side of garlic fries (highly recommend), one beverage, one slice of cheese cake and 4 killer large peanut butter cup cookies (to go) for only $22.50. Amazing value. read more

Cafe 1600 was a fantastic experience. I really liked the environment; the kitchen sounds and audible instructions from the chef spiced it up. The food was great. I ordered the 1600 Blue Stuff burger which was perfect and the three chicken tacos which could have been seasoned with more salt. I'm a man of textures, so the bacon in the burger and cabbage in the lettuce really pleased me. The experience was topped off with great service from Julio. If I could offer one tip, it would be to place signs to indicate that people need to be seated before they can order; I waited in line at the register for a few minutes before I was informed. read more

I've been a customer since their doors opened. I love this place. I'm lucky to be in the same building, so I order all the time. I really enjoy the to-go sandwiches as it comes with chips and a cookie for $5. It's a large cookie too. Homemade. The sandwiches are double-stacked with meat and the bread is always fresh. I can't complain. I tend to add a drink for $2 and a homemade dessert. I really love the chocolate cake, but they run out fast and you must get there early to snag you one. If I don't get the cake, I get their homemade cheesecake. The slices are huge and I often have to save it for later. The only thing I could recommend is a faster check out. Often times I would have to wait in a long line to pay for my food. Only one cashier. The food is always ready before the cashier. Lol But it's not a too painful of a wait. I tend to schedule my lunch when the crowd dies down as I can pay for it quicker. Oh, Chef Brandon is amazing. He always comes out and greets the guests and ask questions. Erin (House Manager/Director) is the sweetest lady you will ever meet. She is very attentive and works well with the students. They have a great team and a great culinary program. I highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about restaurant operation. It's a certificate program. read more

They are students but they're doing a great job. Ingredients are top notch and if there is an issue they work very hard to resolve it. So they're not just teaching food, they're teaching customer service as well. read more

There is nothing, absolutely nothing like Café 1600. It is more than a lunch, it is an experience. With due respect to all of our local restaurateurs, you gotta try this place out for yourself foodies before the school Summer break. Won't open again until September when the Fall semester begins. read more

Three of us had lunch at Café 1600 yesterday. Two of us had the Bakersfield burger and the other had the Taco Salad. The burger was so fresh with a non-common Brioche bun. A huge patty, tomato and butter lettuce made it pretty special. The fries need a bit of work to make them crispy like Woolgrowers or In-N-Out, but the garlic flavor was a plus. The Taco Salad had a good review. Dessert was the chocolate cake with creamy frosting and the daily special of a "Ding Dong" cake. Both cakes, yes I bought both to take home, were so good, with the Ding Dong made with dark chocolate. We definitely will return in the fall when they return from summer vacation bringing a new menu. read more

Outstanding food cooked by great people trying to learn a skill! Thank you guys! You can't beat the prices!

The program itself is enough to keep me coming back, the taste of the food is great but would be even greater if it was served HOT! It takes a very long time to get your food and i imagine it just sits there getting cold while the students stand around and chit chat. They need better direction from the staff and the chef. Also please stop changing the way some dishes are prepared from day to day and ease up on the garlic and onions PLEASE! read more

Great Cafe, Chef creates very flavorful entrees! I was fortunate enough to taste the great food last weekend with my wife! The taste is evident and cost is very reasonable! I highly recommend the 1600 Cafe. Pre-order for lunch pick up service. Lupe Sanchez read more

CAFE 1600 is my new discovery. Sandwiches on sourdough bread and burgers on grilled brioche buns come with choice of hand cut French fries, salad, soup, or chips. Burgers $5, stuffed burgers $6. Tri-tip sandwiches on French baguette with smoked gouda, papilla chile, pickled red onions, roasted red peppers, and mayonnaise for $5, avocado B.L.T. sandwiches for $5. They also have chopped salad, romaine salad, or taco salad for $4, bowls of soup for $3, and three chicken or steak tacos for $3 are some of the examples of menu items prepared and some designed by students at CAFE 1600 at Career Service Center Adult School Culinary Division at 1600 East Belle Terrace just east of Cottonwood Road. They are open 11:00 to 1:30 during the school year. I was pleasantly surprised how well seasoned and how well presented the gourmet sit down lunch was at such a steal of a price. Will I come back? Absolutely I will and I will bring my friends to this treasure of a place. read more

Tried the steak bites and romaine salad today. The steak bites were delicious and the Caesar dressing on the salad was scratch made and garlicky as it should be! With the great food and prices, I'll be back to try the rest of the menu! read more

I thoroughly enjoyed the Beef Brisket served on a well presented Ciabatta bun. The garlic fries were well seasoned and delicious. The staff is very friendly and nice. I will definitely be coming back to try the other items on the menu. read more