Fine dining at Garrett’s

By Nicholas Ketchum
Staff Writer

Since coming on to campus last summer, I was curious to try Garrett’s Restaurant, a teaching restaurant staffed by WCC Culinary Arts students.

Compared with other on-campus dining options, Garrett’s offers a refreshing atmosphere with class and elegance.

Garrett’s dining room is spacious and well-furnished, with tables as well as bar seating. The interior design is a sensible contemporary ascetic without being pretentious or affectatious. A high-set row of windows provides some natural light with classical music for the background.

Kesha came to introduce herself as my [student] server. The service was immediate and very responsive. Waitstaff are all culinary students and seem eager to provide good service.

I started with the $3 French Onion soup. It was served with a very large cheese-covered crouton that sits in the soup. Looked great, tasted great.

Next up was the $4 Chicken Liver Pâté. I’ve never tasted liver before. The liver came as spread to be put on small slices of toast, which for me was a new taste.

Ah, the entree! Kesha cleared away my soup bowl and liver toast plate and replaced them with the $9 Whitefish Veronique, and it looked fantastic.

The fish rested on rice pilaf (a rice and almond concoction) along with Green Bean Amadine. The whole thing was covered in a white wine cream sauce and cut grapes.

The fish was encrusted with a semi-light batter and was cooked perfectly. The meat fell apart at a touch of the fork, and was neither dry nor dripping wet.

The sauce was creamy, smooth, and well-seasoned; but not overpowering.

Finally the chocolate cake, which cost only $3.50. It was rich and moist with perfect frosting and sat over a drizzle of raspberry syrup. And they gave a generous serving, too.

Portions were about the right size, which may seem on the smaller side to some. With an appetizer, soup, entree, and dessert, it was the perfect amount.

The total cost was $19.50 before tax. The restaurant also has a no-tipping policy.

Named after Don Garrett, a WCC department chair and chef instructor for 26 years, Garrett’s offers a menu prepared and served by the students enrolled in culinary arts. Reservations for parties of three or fewer aren’t required.

Garrett’s opened on Sept. 25 for the Fall Semester and will be open until Dec. 6. The menu changes depending on the service and the exact day.

The restaurant’s entrance is located along the west side of the Student Center’s first floor lobby, near the main doors.

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