The Dining Lab At Monroe College

Really good experience, solid well-​plated food at a bargain. It’s great to see the kids working hard, and the instructor who is tough on them, but a very good teacher.
The food is very good, and always plated beautifully.
Tough to get a reservation for a large group, but fairly easily 1 – 2 days in advance for a small table.
BYOB also with no corkerage fee, which is always a big plus
Will definitely return, and props to Monroe College for this program

I’m writing this because i’m someone who relies on reviews but rarely writes them. so i thought it was necessary to write an honest one since my experience was so different from all the reviews posted. .we chose this restaurant after reading the amazing reviews and our food was barely better than a diner. 5 of us had 3 courses and we tasted each others and nothing was delicious… most things were just fine and a few bites were really unpleasant. I am definitely a foodie and like to cook so when I go out I like to taste things that I wouldnt make easily or better at home and sadly that was not the case at The Dining Lab. Yes, its a good value but I’d rather go to a pricier place and get one or two well prepared, delicious courses for what I paid for 3 courses of average to below average food. most of the food didnt have much flavor or was prepared clumsily… for example the «flatbread» appetizer was a very puffy frozen pizza tasting thingy, my husbands roast vegetable risotto tasted like white rice with pureed butter squash… fine but no herbs to taste or enjoy… even the homemade bread placed on the table was lacking in salt and flavor and easy to resist, my striped bass was bland and again, fine. even the desserts… were described beautifully but nothing met the mouth watering descriptions on the menu and the egg nog ice cream tasted like a shot of rum held together with a little cream… the alchohol should be a subtly detected flavor in my opinion. I’ve been to the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park and Le Cordon Bleu in Vegas… both cooking school type restaurants and sadly both of them were far superior to the experience at The Dining Lab. I really wanted to like it… I was not even impressed by the service. The waiter got my appetizer wrong. There was nobody to greet us/​hostess when we came in and there were long waits between courses. I know they’re learning but we were all disappointed and would not go back. I’m wondering if all the other reviews were honest or maybe we just hit a bad night.

Overall the service wasn’t bad actually. Read comments on each picture I posted. My waitress was nice. I was surprised at how busy the place was as small as it is. Good job

Great experience. You get to help these kids grow professionally and you get a great meal for the value.
Overall it’s a fun experience, it’s BYOB so that helps also. No corking fees
Would definitely go again.

This is without a doubt one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at. For $ 21 you get an appetizer, entrée, and a dessert. Everything that I tired was absolutely amazing. They also gave me Arancini with my appetizer and cookies along with my ordered dessert, which were nice surprises. Apart from the amazing food it’s nice to be able to participate in the students learning experience. The students’ instructor seems to be omnipresent and ensures that the students are performing up to the highest standards of fine dining. Overall, amazing.

Awesome experience! I had never heard of this concept before but it makes sense… same thing as getting a haircut from students in cosmetic school I guess. The culinary students at Monroe College host a «restaurant» every Tues, Wed, and Thurs. We paid $ 21/​person for apps, entrée, and dessert. I wasn’t really expecting much, so when I had the food, I was blown away! Each dish was beautifully prepared and presented. The flavors were fresh and delicious. The meals/​sides were seasonal. I had the pasta dish, the pork mignon with cornbread stuffing and sweet potato hash, and the raspberry mousse/​gelee with spice cake. All was delicious! My friend’s dishes were good as well. They also have a pastry cake with yummy looking things that you can buy to take home. The students do the serving, ordering, and pouring also. They are all nice and knowledgeable. It’s a BYO place, so we brought beer and wine. Only downside is that they poured the beer incorrectly so it was mostly foam on top, but whatever. Small dice. Can’t wait to come again!

Completely fantastic food. The service was awesome, and it was such an added pleasure getting to speak with the students. Mr. Hayes, the floor manager and professor treated us like gold. I will be going back once a trimester if i can.

I went with my husband and friends not knowing what to expect. This was a fun experience and the food was very good! It is a real Resturaunt but also a class for all the people working there. Most importantly the food was really good and very reasonable. It is also BYOB which was nice because we brought 2 bottles of nice wine. Would recommend for sure. The manager/​professor Patrick could not have been more hospitable as well! Will definitely go back!

Terrific experience! We were a table of six so we each ordered an app– salmon rigatoni and risotto were our favorites. Had the flank steak– super tender, tostones were crunchy and chimichurri sauce was perfectly balanced. Dessert was divine– wonderfully imaginative combinations that were also a feast for the eyes. Service was excellent– everyone so friendly and attentive. They even called ahead to the complimentary valet service for our car when we were leaving which was a very thoughtful detail on such a cold night! Cannot wait to come back next month for the new menu. Thank you for an outstanding experience!!!

We came here for a girls night out on a Wednesday night. The food, the service, the price, what can I say? Every thing that we ate was fabulous. Presentation of the food was beautiful, wait staff acted the way waiters and waitresses are supposed to be. Every single college student working and learning in this program was courteous, helpful, and polite. Good job. We will be back.

We went this past Friday. The food was incredible and there was a variety of dishes to choose from. The culinary program is teaching the students well… from the kitchen to the servers, all of them were exceptional. Very friendly and professional not to mention very affordable! We’ll be there again in the Spring when they start the new semester.

I was taken there this past spring, and I was quite impressed at the combination of stellar cuisine and affordable pricing. I will definitely return!

A wonderfully delicious dining experience. Great service and a price that can’t be beat. As a gastronome I am always looking for quality meals at a great price… this is not to be missed. Go and treat yourself, bring a few friends. I recommend the milk chocolate soufflé for dessert and everything else on the menu. The students are doing a fab job and they should be supported. Don’t walk, Run to the Dining Lab.

LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!! My husband and I went there for our anniversary. My husband is a serious foodie and I am a vegetarian and an adventurer always looking for new experiences. We were both more than satisfied. The food was fabulous (even my risotto to which the chef added tofu), the ambiance was novel, and the whole experience was interesting and meaningful. It felt so good to be able to help students learn while savoring a meal and then having a tour of the kitchen. The price was unbeatable and I’d love to go there way more often but have to remember to call first as it has limited hours (unfortunately). Would recommend to anyone– I already have!

Great little gem where you can get a 3 course dinner that is fresh and delicious while being served by our future restaurant chefs and servers. Patrick watches over all while making sure the diners have the best dining experience. A true gem.

I had the very great pleasure of visiting The DIning Lab when I was at Monroe College on business. Don’t let the idea that the restaurant is run by students in their Culinary Arts program mislead you into thinking you’ll have anything other than an exceptional dining experience. From the quality of the ingredients to the taste of the food to the way it is plated and served, everything about The DIning Lab is top-​notch. It’s hard to believe that the folks involved are all still learning their craft!
Go – you won’t be disappointed.

Went back for a second visit tonight. It continues to be the all time bargain for «great» food and «great» service at an incredible price. «Who Needs Restaurant Week» when you can go to the Dining Lab. We already have made our 3^rd and 4^th reservations.
Do something good for your community «go to the Dining Lab» & be sure to «leave a BIG tip» since the money you tip goes to their scholarship fund.

Awesome, awesome, awesome, the food there is awesome! The menu changes every semester but the selections so far have been good. The best items I’ve had so far was the Lobster Bisque and the Almond Financier Cake with Prosecco Sorbet. The students of Monroe College are fantastic with their service and the price for a three course meal is $ 18.00 which is contributed toward the students scholarship fund. I’ve been there twice and I look forward to visiting again in the future.

Not only is the food at The Dining Lab delicious, but it is wonderful to be part of the learning experience for Monroe College’s Culinary and Hospitality students. If you’re looking for an affordable meal that tastes like a million bucks, I highly recommend visiting!

The Dining Lab presents a unique dining experience in New Rochelle that is also a real bargain. The food is prepared and served by culinary students. For the price and quality it is a great choice! $ 18.00 for three courses.