It was a surprising large group which recently got together for a meet-up in Grand Rapids, MI. Loosely named, the 'Lunch Bunch,' the ladies ranged in age from the late thirties to the mid 70's. I had been asked to join the group for a meal at the Heritage Restaurant in Grand Rapids, MI.
As we piled into cars and mini-vans to wind our way downtown, there was a palpable excitement about the joy of a social outing in the middle of a seemingly interminable Michigan winter.
The Heritage Restaurant is located on the first floor of the Applied Technology Center of the Grand Rapids Community College. We found a parking spot in the underground lot and proceeded up one floor where we were greeted by one of the college culinary instructors and his team of students!
You see, the Heritage Restaurant is a unique experience in fine dining. It's one of the few places on the planet where you can get a five star dining experience for a one star cost. This is because the Heritage Restaurant is staffed by 'Tomorrow's Chefs'...students who are being trained in the fine art of exceptional hospitality at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education.
White linen and fine china covered the tables. The restaurant was quite full on this particular day and it is wise to make a reservation to ensure you are seated. Our wait staff passed out the lunch menu which included a variety of appetizer selections, soups, salads and main entrees. I decided to be adventuresome and ordered the Moroccan Chicken spiced with cumin and cinnamon and paired with sweet potato and a mint sauce. The combination was inventive and scrumptious!
All meals at the Heritage Restaurant are prepared by the students under the watchful eye of professionals chefs and instructors. Our waiter informed us that the second year students were preparing the food and the first year students were serving the guests. On both counts, the service was impeccable!
Lunch at the Heritage can be afforded within a reasonable budget. I had a beverage, main entree and dessert torte for $13. That amount might have simply paid for my appetizer in a more pricey establishment.
And yet, as I looked outside the full length glass wall which provided an expansive view of the city and also highlighted ice carvings created by the students, I couldn't help but think about how lucky we are in Grand Rapids, Michigan to have an establishment like the Heritage Restaurant which serves up such extraordinary Value with a classy, distinctive style!
CURRENT SPECIAL VALUE DEAL: 25% OFF(excluding beer or wine purchases) for you and a guest on Tuesday of Wednesday evening. Treat Yourself!
Heritage Restaurant: Grand Rapids Community College, Secchia Insitute for Culinary Education
Website: www.grcc.edu/Heritage
Address: 151 Fountain Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Reservations: 616-234-3700
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