Looking for somewhere new to grab lunch on your break from work? Then be sure to check out The Tutored Chef at The Art Institute of Tampa. It is a student run restaurant by a class of some of their talented culinary students. Almost all of their delicious creations are made from scratch and each week the students rotate cooking stations and take turns serving patrons.
Their menu features simple classics, as well as diverse ethnic dishes: Thai beef salad, French onion soup, "Torta di Angelo"- jumbo lump crab and angel hair pasta, housemade Italian sausage sandwich, and grilled shrimp and scallops with ginger-coconut rice, to name just a few. Vegetarian options are also offered, like their falafel platter, which includes falafel, tabbouleh, hummus and grilled pita. And don't forget dessert! The Sans Rival is the winning dessert from their last Top Chef competition that's featured on the menu, made up of layers of crispy meringue and toasted almonds. If you're a die-hard chocolate fan, I highly recommend the decadent flourless chocolate torte with raspberry sauce.
Don't worry, these gourmet delights won't hurt your wallet either: sandwiches and entrees range from $5-$7, and that includes sides.
The Tutored Chef is located on the second floor of The Art Institute of Tampa at 4401 N. Himes Ave. in Tampa (use the entrance on the south side of the building, on the northeast corner of Himes and MLK Blvd.) They serve from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Help support these chefs-in-training and get a gourmet meal at a great price, it's definitely worth the trip!
In a hurry? Order your lunch to go! Call: 813-393-5395. (They also take reservations, which I recommend if you have a group of 6 or more.)
