Full disclosure: My daughter is currently in the culinary program at SRJC. She was our server today. My review: The restaurant serves as a real-world experience for those who are in the program. The reservations for the restaurant fills up very quickly. It's only open at this time of year and in the spring for about 6 weeks (2 times per week). We had a table of six so we got to try a lot of different things. I ordered the Ancho Chile-braised Pork. The meat was very tender and flavorful. My mother ordered the Pan Roasted Atlantic Salmon. She said it was one the best salmon dishes she's ever had and it was cooked perfectly. I tried bites from everyone else's orders and all the other dishes were tasty. We tried the soups and appetizers also. I especially liked the desserts we tried. I also tried the espresso. They used organic coffee from Wolf Coffee Co. in Sonoma County. It was a dark roast which I prefer. If you can, give this restaurant a try. I was impressed. I will be back. My daughter wants to be a chef ultimately, but was working as a server today. Did I mention that our server was extraordinary? read more

See all

The food is exquisite but it is not available to the general public only to a select group. No way to build community. I will remember that when they agitate for a parcel tax. read more

Delicious food. Table cloth service. Fun experience to watch the students do their best

This was my birthday lunch, and Really disappointing. The hostess, an older woman seating us, might have been one of the teachers of the program, and she seemed very angry and abrupt. That is odd behavior for a "hospitality" teaching course. Later she blamed my friend for "needling them ever since he walked in the door" to his face, when he was being friendly and conversing. Also, her perspective was that "only the students mattered, not the customer" she said that to my friend when we mentioned that we would like to give the server the tip and not the school scholarship program (all the tips go towards that). Her demeanor every encounter was very unprofessional. Regarding food: The bread was fabulous! The salmon was perfectly cooked! The roasted potatoes underneath salmon were cold, no flavor to the aioli sauce. My cauliflower soup was fabulous, the pear fennel hazelnut salad had so much salt on it I felt sick on the way home. I didn't think to return to the salad to have it redone. It's a school, after all, and I knew I would be sharing my experience here and with the staff of SRJC. Right now, I have decided to cancel my 3 other reservations. I thought this was going to be an amazing experience, it was not. I do not recommend this place for lunch. read more

If you want training in the culinary arts from a dozen different aspects this is a good place to be. Students are cooking and serving and we benefit from creative food at a great price. Open for lunch Wednesday through Friday with a reservation. A one page menu with lots of choices and where else can you get a half glass of wine for $3? Had a shiitake mushroom spinach dish with goat cheese and a corn sauce that was excellent. Where they excel though is with their desserts. They are truly a thing of beauty. Spectacular in taste and stunning to look at. Service was slow but with a group of friends or family it was a real treat and good to support. Total bill with tax and tip $86 for four with wine and desserts. Affordable and fun. read more

See all

One of the guys who works for me told me that his wife went here for lunch, and so I said...let's go, i'll take you guys for my birthday!!....lemme just say that i was amazingly impressed....its a little different in that they only do lunch and you need reservations....it helps if you are "nicely dressed" as it will get you better seating in the front of the house...the hostess (the only rude one) sat us in the back room i think due in part to our appearance (none of us were wearing sport coats or ties).... our waitress was great and is a student!! i should mention that there are cameras and microphones to record how the wait staff present and do their work....i really hope they didn't catch all my conversation!!...they have an excellent menu and a variety of choices to cover all eating preferences... we were brought a lovely basket of artisan bread (multigrain) and shone farms olive oil...which was a fab opener! i also ordered, since it was my bday, 3 half glasses of wine...all from shone farms...a sauv blanc, pinot and syrah...$3 each...nice short pours and excellent wines at that price point...my fave was the syrah!! ok, to the food, two of us had the stew which a coconut pork stew w lemongrass, chilis and ginger over basmati rice ($10.5)...mmmm savory goodness and a great comfort foot items!...we also had a greek chicken souvlaki w marinated veggies, rice pilaf and tzatziki ($12.5), which was also excellent....but the dessert capped our meal in fine fashion....we had rocky road profiteroles w caramel creme anglais and fudge sauce ($6)...omg, so tasty!! i'm attaching the menu and some photos...most of the clientele are retired seniors but don't let that stop you from trying this restaurant which should be supported as it is training our future food purveyors!! read more

See all

These guys really try. As expected a well managed front of house. The food is very good but obviously prepared by learners. their old space on 7th St. is nice and bright and I look forward to their new space. I had the Lingcod my first meal and was very happy with the lemony fish I was served my companion had an exceelent piece of duck althought the veg was a bit overdone. my second meal was at the last day of the spring '11 semester and I must say I wished for the previous days duck. Overall this place is a great deal for the price and the baked goods seem to really ambitious and near-the-mark in terms of quality and freshness. read more

This cafe is an asset to the community. As a program of Santa Rosa Junior College , it provides top notch quality education at a reasonable tuition. The cafe is well appointed. Modern but not stark. Bountifully lit by large windows and quality ceiling fixtures. Tableware is decent. Linens are good, too. Service and food quality can be hit and miss. And when it is a miss, it's not far off target. My meal of pork loin was extremely overcooked. But the starches and vegetables were perfect. The bread basket variety was chewy fun. Bambie had a pizza. She said it was marvelous. Service was sincere but occasionally inept. My waiter tried to swipe my entree plate before I was done, but left the olive oil bread plates on the table well after dessert and coffee. Take into consideration that this is the teaching laboratory for future cooks, bakers, restaurant owners & managers. The student that serves you may be a brand new freshman who is at the bottom of the learning curve. Also consider that a 3 meal course of good quality food will run you about $13. That's why there is a lot of blue & white hair sitting in the dining room. Senior citizens always know where the bargains are. Wine on Friday only. Reservations highly recommended. Walk-ins may not get seated. read more

I arrived a few minutes after they began service. I am a JC student. The faculty host made it clear that they serve older folks and faculty, she didn't want to serve me in her dining area. She recommended that I step out of the dining area and order from the cafe side. I went ahead and did so. The penne pasta with duck confit was given to me in a black paper box. It was runny, the onions were raw, it tasted bland. 0/5 for the service. 2/5 for the food. I do not recommend this place. It is a schmoozy corner for faculty and older people, it is not a place for hospitality, nor students to engage with each other, as a community. Not classy read more

Great vegan pizza. I"m waiting for more vegan desserts and entrees. Pretty pls. I've been going here once a week. I'll pounce on anything vegan! Too bad there's no discount whatsoever for students. It would be a nice gesture to offer 10% on baked goods or something. This will encourage more business but also expose fellow students to the program. The SF City College Culinary program also does not have discounts for students. read more

OK, so upfront I will tell you I teach at the college (but not in the culinary dept.) To the person who wrote "the menu was too big and they should stick to a few things"...that's not the point. You have many different types of classes coming together to cook in the kitchen. They are all learning to cook many different things. Could you imagine having 30 people in the kitchen all cooking 3 same three things? Again, not the point. These students are brand new, and this is the safe environment where they can learn. The tradeoff? You get an exceptional meal for half the price (or better) than any other restaurant serving the same food. The other day I was in and had duck for $9. Where else in SoCo can you get that?! Like someone else said, feedback is important. Last week we had a brand new server who was SO nervous that he was shaking. My lunch companion and colleague took him aside and told him that he's doing fine, but his nerves are getting the better of him. These kids are trying hard, wanting to do their best, and they have environment where they can do that. Just go, enjoy, and appreciate this community gem. read more

I was excited to try the culinary cafe, after seeing the beautiful building go up in no time. Even with cutting the students some slack, this was one of my worst dining experiences in Sonoma ever! Starting with the hostess, though there were spaces available, it took entirely too long to be seated, mostly due to what seemed to be a lack of organization. After 10 mins, we were seated, and I was still excited to try the food. I asked about two dishes, and was assured the ribs were the better of the choices. After 25 mins, way too long for the lunch crowd, our food showed up. My ribs were hard, cold and not even heated up right. The mac and cheese was bland and flavorless. Ditto for the greens. The cornbread was a crime against southern grandmas ... hard as a rock and salty, I guess to make up for the rest of the dish having no salt. Though one person with us swore they had a good experience a few months earlier, I doubt I'll give them another chance. I have never considered giving a place a 1 star until now. SRJC Culinary Cafe gets a failing grade! Maybe I'll give the bakery a chance. read more

Best "everything" bagel I've had in a long time! So tasty!! I've only been to the bakery in the mornings.

Best. Bread. Ever!!!!! Also had lunch there, and lunch was very good. A particular standout, in my opinion, was the eggplant parmesan sandwich. I also really enjoyed the tomato basil soup and the pear and greens salad. I plan to go back very soon. read more

In reference to Steph A... And her observant and analytical review. I can assure you the dining room is very organized, and I will inform you all of the servers are students, most of whom have never served tables. If you waited for "10 minutes" it was probably because one of the STUDENTS was not ready for another table and the hostess (teacher) didn't want to overwhelm them. If you have the gumption to write a one star review you should have the gumption to politely send your food back if it was not up to your standards. read more

I have to admit, I'm a little biased. My partner and I both went to school here. I took the Front House class (the people that serve you), and he took both that and the Cafe class (the people that cook). That said, we've returned here to eat many times after we got our culinary certificates. The food is almost always spectacular. The menu changes almost every week, so there's always something new to try. The ingredients are always fresh and of good quality. They also always have vegetarian and vegan options! The atmosphere is more formal than other "cafes," with cloth napkins, tablecloths, and nice uniforms. This is very important to me. I hate paper napkins and places where the servers wear t-shirts or button-covered vests. I always feel comfortable eating here. My five star rating does come with a little warning, though. As this is a cafe run by students, there can be some mishaps. The servers and cooks are all still learning, so there's bound to be a mistake or two. However, after working in "real" restaurants, I'd say the mistakes are no more frequent than at other restaurants. You will get the occasional unprofessional server, and your order may be screwed up. However, the instructors there are fantastic, and they are more than happy to help fix anything they can. read more

Had lunch here today with a friend. We ordered the Dim Sum and it was excellent! We had dessert as well, citrus cream puffs that were delicious and then we stopped at the bakery on the way out. After tasting several items we know we will be back. The prices are a bargain, the service attentive and the food first rate. read more

I have not sat down here for lunch in years but I remember it being delicious. HOWEVER: The bakery is amazing. They can do no wrong. It is wonderful. A coworker described the focaccia as a "rosemary donut" and though it sounds strange it is the perfect description. I have had savory galettes several times that have been simply wonderful. I am not really into sweets, but their pastries look lovely. read more

I go every semester either alone or with friends. They serve Shone Farm wine on Fridays and ask to be placed in the main room to watch the food preparation. Remember to get chocolates and sweets to go! Also ask to be placed on their mailing list to be notified of when they open each semester. read more

My husband and I decided to eat here after attending the "Artistry in Wood" exhibit at the museum. The food was very well prepared and our server excellent. We will definitely try them again when we are in the area. I had the South Indian Style Egg Curry with Spicy Stewed Tomatoes. Wow, the "spicy" was actually spicy for a change. Usually when I see that, the dish is a bit geriatric. Not here I'm glad to say. My husband had the Fettuccine with Coppa, Prosciutto, Smoked Ham, Tomatoes, Fennel, Garlic, White Wine and Cream. The dish was "hammy" but not so salty you dry up and blow away. It was flavorful. We had ice tea as a beverage. They do not serve wine, which is a shame. The portions were just right. We were able to finish, however we did not have room for dessert. Another trip. The total for our meal was $21.70. read more

This place is well worth the adventure and timing when they are open. They are only open during SRJC school calendar. Check website for actual dates. Spring semester ends May 20th: Bakery: 8a-2p W-F Café: 11a-2p W-F read more

I love to have lunch here. The menu changes at least monthly. Lots of variety! Soups with a new flare! Salads even I could love. Entrees with new twists. Desserts that NEVER disappoint. I never leave without bringing home a little something special from the bakery. read more

This review is on service. I always like to support the kids when i am up this area. I have attended theater arts in the jc. Have tried their cafe 1-2x. They only open 3 days a week when school's in session, so check the hours or call ahead. This time i called to see what the hours area. The lady who answered (instructor) informed me if there isn't reservations there is currently no table available for the day (still 2 hours til closing for lunch). She said you could still come and when you arrive she'll know for sure and if no table is available you can just order take-out and eat out of the box in their bakery. I asked if she could take down my number and she refused, citing that "she's too busy". I was quite taken aback. So as i drove another hour to arrive to SR, I was deciding where to eat someplace else. I, then, decided still to go to the cafe and buy some pastries. Upon arrival, was shocked to see that 1/2 of the restaurant empty, so this means only about 1/2 were occupied. So i went up to the lady and asked if there is availability (this is at 1:05 or 1:10pm). She stated no, no table availability, that they're all reserved, clearly there were 1/2 of the tables empty. So, she again suggested buying take-out, which is what i did. First of all, if you are a culinary arts pgm trying to train students, it's abit absurd to turn away revenue and business when clearly 1/2 the restaurant tables are free. If you want to operate a restaurant at 1/2 occupancy, that's absurd. Don't students need to be in a laboratory restaurant that simulates a real restaurant setting, where there are slow periods as well as busier times. I find this incredibly poor hospitality mgmt. But what disturbs me even greater is that after 10 minutes i receive my take-out order, an older couple goes into the restaurant and she asks if they had a reservation. They replied no, and she had asked them to wait 10 minutes for a table!! What was that all about? Is this age discrimination? Do you have to be a senior to be able to support this lab restaurant?? Quite disturbing. I spent $30 on pastries and food here, despite the poor "reception". read more

You can have a three course meal here for next to nothing! The food is great, and the students are eager to please. It does seem to be popular with the early bird senior crowd, so be sure to make a reservation because it will book up quickly. Overall, if you're looking for a good meal for cheap and wanna do something a little quirky, SRJC is a great spot to check out. read more

There are so many choices for lunch in Sonoma County that I never think of the JC Clinary Cafe. What a mistake. I treated my sister and niece and had a 4 star lunch for 1 star prices and then got a senior discount! At least that is something good about getting old. I had duck confit - tender and delicious. My sister had a burger made with their own beef - she said it was very good. My niece had chicken with coconut rice - also very happy., A nice surprise was their wine soda - a non alcoholic beverage. I'm a soda drinker but this was a very refreshing change. Alas, no room for one of their wonderful deserts. All this for $42!! Can't beat that - at least not this quality. Allow time since service is slow but the waiter was charming and friendly. The cafe itself is modern and pretty - you don't feel like you are in a classroom. It is a shame to not try this cafe - besides you are supporting the students too. read more

We have learned that for a good meal at good prices culinary schools often have restaurants associated with their schools so their students can practice cooking and serving to real customers! Because these are students in the process of learning their trade you have to go in realizing the students are a work in progress, so need to cut them some slack. They may not hit the mark every time, but you will usually get to try some interesting and creative dishes for substantially less than you would pay at a "gourmet" restaurant. So, if you are a "Foodie" these are fun places to check-out! We had not been to the Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary Cafe in a few years, but always remembered the great meal we had when we first visited. We had tried to return on previous trips to Santa Rosa, but they are not open for dinner and have limited hours during the weekdays. This time we found ourselves unexpectedly in the area on a day and time when they were open so we made reservations -- Usually a good thing to do since due to their limited hours and seating they are often fully booked. We discovered that the Cafe had just this year moved from their downtown location to a brand new Culinary Arts building directly across the street from the SRJC main campus. Entering the building we passed by the bakery and saw many interesting bakery treats on display in refrigerated glass cases. Students were lined up to get a bakery goodie and a freshly made coffee drink. We were seated promptly in the dining room by the woman professor who runs the restaurant. The airy, high-ceilinged room is about 50 feet square, with floor to ceiling glass on the outside wall. On one side of the room is a modern stainless steel and tile open kitchen, with a wood-fired pizza oven, where student chefs, dressed in their white coats and chefs' hats are busy cooking and preparing their culinary features for the day. The dining room contains about 15+ tables for four. The students here work on both sides of the counter. The chefs cooking for you one day are waiters the next. We were attended to by a waiter who took our order and delivered our food and wait staff who efficiently kept our water glasses filled. The menu changes every week and features soups, salads, sandwiches, small plates, entrées and desserts. With all the interesting items to sample we tend to try things in as many categories as our stomachs will accommodate. We ordered: - Curried Sweet Potato Soup with Coconut Milk - Salad of LIttle Gem Lettuce, Golden Nectar Farm Apples & Asian Pears with a Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese Dressing - Pizza with Black Mission Figs, Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese and Prosciutto - Pork Stew with Fresh Tomatoes, Jimmy Nardelelo Peppers, Garlic, Herbs, and White Wine served with Mashed Sweet Potatoes Our waiter was a friendly, jovial guy named, Danté. As a waiter he was not ready for Prime Time. He forgot things and was distracted, but in mid-September school has just started and he could have just started as a waiter today, so we didn't hold it against him. If it was the end of the school year and not the beginning, we would have expected better service. The soup was very good! Thick and creamy and garnished with swirls of sour cream and sprigs of cilantro. The soup was lightly curried so it did not over power the coconut milk. It was just a touch to thick and heavy for us, but it tasted great! The salad had the sweetness of the apples and pears and the tanginess of the blue cheese dressing. We thought it could have been improved with the additional of slivered almonds to add some crunchiness, but it was very good, too! The pizza was hand-formed and cooked in the kitchen's wood-fired pizza oven. The pizza crust had been rubbed with garlic and drizzled with virgin olive oil. It was cooked attentively so the center wasn't soft and doughy. It was very good, but the toppings were sparse. The Pork Stew was a large portion. It was served in a bowl ladled over a mound of mashed sweet potatoes. This was very good, too! The pork was tender and the tomatoes, peppers, wine and spices all melded together to create a nice rich stewy sauce. After stuffing ourselves we decided to top it off with a dessert of mixed berry ricotta strudel with Grand Marnier Cream! This was divine! I can't think of a way they could have made this any better other than giving us a bigger piece! We had a great time here not only eating the student's creations, but watching them bustling in the kitchen. As we waddled out of the restaurant we couldn't pass by the bakery without getting a huge almond cookie for the road...which we ate walking out to the car! Good thing we don't live nearby...we would have to change our wardrobe! read more

We were seated right near the pass , so it was interesting to watch the students cadence cooking . I almost fell asleep waiting for my entree but the thought of Gordon Ramsey running to the pass and yelling "It's raw" kept me laughingly awake . Our server was happy go lucky and our meal was delightful - A-OK read more

Several times over the past several years I've enjoyed my meals at the cafe with good food at a reasonable price. The Cafe was closed this semester until early April, and I was happy to see that it had finally reopened. Our party of four arrived for our 12:30 reservation, and we had to wait about 15 minutes before our order was taken. However, it was another hour before our food arrived! The server informed us that the order had been "lost in the system". Our individual orders were served sporadically, and the final order to arrive, a chicken dish, was under cooked and inedible. The other dishes were OK, but we did not have time to enjoy them. After 1.5 hours one person left hungry since he didn't have time to wait for another meal attempt. I don't know where the snafu was. The server seemed very competent, and she kept us supplied with bread and apologies. The staff was quick to point out that we had not been charged for the inedible meal. read more

What a gorgeous building and I am so glad that it is open! This is exactly what Santa Rosa needs and makes perfect sense in this food and wine mecca we call home. Even though this is a cooking school and they are not professionals, I expected more. First off, the pasta was pre-packaged. I don't think they should offer pasta, unless it is homemade. Second, too many offerings on the menu. Make a set menu, and knock it out of the park. Third, raise the prices! People should be willing to pay, since it is going to a great cause, the school. I would rather pay higher prices there than down the street. Fourth, OH MY GOSH! Who chose the waiters outfits, the table cloths and the menu font and paper? People, please! These students are working their butts off. Have the front of the house looking classy, not like a cafeteria!!! It needs some class! I most definitely would go again and again, to support the school, but I really hope that whoever they hire to be chef instructor raises the bar! Everyone should go and see this place for yourself and support the students!! read more

Truthfully, I should give it 5 stars all things considered. Yes, they are students.yes, the food ranges from good to great. Portions from too little to too much. Yes the service is not ready for prime time....but that's the point. It's a teaching kitchen. Everyone is learning and if you want to get a good deal ( very good food at very reasonable prices) you just can't go wrong. The pizza was great and only about to get better when then install the new outdoor wood oven. This is a gem in Santa Rosa...all at our JC and funded by taxes...as it should be. We are creating a strong service workforce here ! Way to go SRJC..I'll be back often. read more

No big deal...kinda like food for seniors, pretty bland and overcooked. The bakery items looked delish though....service was good.

Food was good. Price is great. Service fussy. Nothing really wrong, just not comfortable. Stopped back for the morning pastry on a Tuesday but open Wed.... Jees, I'm supposed to remember this? And remember when school's not in sessions. I'm just not that thoughtful. read more

This is a great place to get lunch for a reasonable price! Also, the bakery has gluten- free options! (YAY!) The food was delicious and the service was dependable and accommodating. I hope to try this place again soon. read more

I know cooking nowadays, opening a restaurant, is quite different than it was a hundred years ago. And so I'm writing to update you about the way things work in the America I live in. I went to the cafe for lunch, had a piece of lamb (though someone had called it "pork chop") that was tough and difficult to finish, and tried to give some feedback at the end and had multiple responses that involved "did you try to ...?" as though it were my responsibility to get good service. You may have thought that people will go anywhere just to eat, and a few hundred years ago that was true. If you didn't know how to cook, or didn't want to cook, you probably had one choice in your town in the West. Food didn't have to be good. Service didn't have to be pleasant. You just went there cause you had to eat. And yes, it is still true nowadays that some places have notorious service and people still flock there. The epitome is "The Soup Nazi" as portrayed in Seinfeld. But your food wasn't good. Your service was barely acceptable. And any goodwill I had towards the cafe by the fact you were "training students" disappeared when the hostess so rudely responded to my suggestions for improvement. People don't tolerate tough meat anymore. You eat that in college, when you think leaner means better and buy London broil instead of chuck steak. You don't go to restaurants to get meat that takes twenty bites to make soft and small enough to swallow, and sometimes ends up a ball of sinews requiring liquid to wash it down (as a child, that liquid would be milk. On that day, it was the fruit beer I had in a wine glass). I know the waitress asked if I really knew what "lamb shoulder" meant, but when I said yes I referred to my prior experiences at real restaurants, not at a learning cafe. When I suggested the waitress didn't know how to set the table, and always expected me to clear space for the next entree, and didn't even bring a knife for the meat until I asked, I didn't expect a response "so, she did bring a knife after you asked her? Good." I expect slightly more of waiters than to do what you ask them. I don't want to come in and have to ask to be seated, have to ask for someone to bring me a menu, have to ask for someone to take my order, have to ask for someone to clear the plate when I'm done, have to ask for a refill of water, have to ask for the check, have to ask for my credit card to be swiped, have to ask for a pen to come with the receipt (oh yeah, I forgot. I'd have to ask for the receipt and the return of my credit card). Do you really think that is acceptable? In California, we don't expect someone to fill up our car when we pull into the gas station. In Oregon, you do. Because by law you cannot fill up your own car. But when you pull in, a guy will come running up and fill up your car. You don't have to ask him. In the restaurant business, I didn't know we still had a difference between "full-service" and "half-service". It is ok if you don't want to improve. If your staff and students don't want to take feedback. But if so, I don't know why you call yourself a school. What are you learning? How do you learn? If all the tests you turn in the teacher never grades, how do you know what to improve on? And trust me, you need improvement. read more

I have eaten at the cafe about 4 times and I am going tomorrow with a friend. I think the food is great, the service was good and the selection was great. The price is reasonable and the presentation was excellent. The bakery goods were out of this world. read more

People, mind this is a training kitchen for students. Most have never worked in a public restaurant or have done wait staff duties. These students undergo a brief but intense program in Culinary Arts before they reach Cafe. Chefs rotate fairly often and bring there own twist and influence to the menu, not the students. You can walk out of their spending $13-$16 a person where if you ate the same multi course meal elsewhere you would be down $35 a person. The food can be a hit and miss but in general is amazing and there is a reason why its usually booked solid. This is your way of supporting the community and the small band of students who need this experience to work in the industry. Be patient and open minded, this is by no means and never pretends to be a world class eatery. Enjoy yourself, give the students feedback if your unhappy, they need to hear it or they may never know they did something wrong. I love everything about this place, bring some friends and enjoy a good lunch or stop by the bakery which could compete with the top bakeries around the area. I know I do. read more

I didn't actually have lunch at the Cafe. I happened to go to a movie night put on by the culinary program that my boyfriend is apart of. At the movie night (we watched the documentary Genetic Roulette, which basically talks about the horrors of GMOs) we were fed by some of the chefs from the culinary cafe for this special event. They made the most amazing, buttery, melt in your mouth empanadas I have ever had (and I have been to South America). They were amazing, and gave us two options, chicken or veggie, I had the chicken as well as my boyfriend. They paired the empanadas with a fresh tomato and cilantro salsa, sour cream, lettuce, and the most amazing watermelon juice. The watermelon juice was to die for, literally, I drank so much of it because I had never had watermelon juice that was so amazing. Once the movie got started the cafe presented the viewers with what else, popcorn! But this was not your ordinary popcorn, it was organic, GMO free freshly made on the stove. There were three different kinds but I chose the one with caramel drizzled on top. This event is free but they suggest you giving a $5.00 donation that goes to the culinary department. Amazing food, experience, and I learned many a new things about GMOs and clean eating. Hope to come again one day! read more

Wow, excellent food, attentive service and at a fantastic price. I would actually give the SRJC Culinary Cafe 4.5 stars if I could. There is always a little room for improvement as these students are learning. I'll be back for certain and I'll be telling all my friends about this wonderful place. p.s. The bread was to die for! read more

What an exceptional resource this has become in our little town. Not only are students becoming expert chefs but the results are provided to the public. The atmosphere of the dining area actually has a bit of a classroom feel to it, but it is open to the kitchen area which is quite impressive with the white uniforms and stainless. I have eaten here at least once a month in the last 15 years or so, currently in its beautiful new Santa Rosa campus building but also in its previous downtown Santa Rosa "BrickYard" location and even before that in the vintage SRJC Garcia building where culinary instruction started. My favorite meals have been the Shone Farm grass-fed burger variations or whatever changed-weekly entrée sections I've tried. See, they're all my favorites: consistently great table bread variety and salads from local organic produce. Fresh ocean fish when offered is my particular favorite. Multiple main entrée choices usually offer beef, pork, chicken, seafood, vegetarian and Mediterranean influenced dishes, so everyone in your dining party should have an option. Upon your exit from the main dining room, select from the bakery pastries, desserts, savory pies and gallettes or bread offerings. So many folks come in to purchase bakery items between the early morning opening until afternoon closing hours because reservations are often needed to sit down at a dining room table. Fair warning - your favorites may have already sold out. They're all uniformly excellent baked goods. read more