Cafe 91

Went earlier this time at 11:30. Everything on the menu was available except soups. Lobster roll was fantastic and the bread was soft inside and just the right crunch on the outside. They didn't skimp on the lobster at all! Cesar Salad was fresh and perfectly dressed. Also tried the ceviche appetizer and the pork sandwich. Order both! Pasta dish was a bit bland. Strawberry lemonade was perfect and garnished beautifully. Students were very attentive and service was better than ever! Please be patient AND kind to these students. They are learning and doing their best.

3.5-4 starsTake the rating lightly because we had dined in the second week since they were officially opened. Cafe 91 is only open Wednesdays through Fridays, so it was probably only their sixth day of official opening. Cafe 91 is a student-run restaurant at Mt. SAC and it is called Cafe 91 because of the course that they are taking, Culinary 91 (student work experience course/restaurant). I love the concept of a student-run restaurant and having a place where students can learn and apply what they have learned to a real world experience. Money tips are not allowed but you can give verbal tips on how they can improve, which I think is a fantastic idea. Where else would one learn if no one is able to let them know? Great learning environment! If you have special dietary restrictions, it may be best to call first before making a reservation to dine. One in our party was vegan and gluten free but the server did not really know if any of the items on the menu were gluten free. They suggested the Ancient Grain Bowl. My friend did end up ordering the Ancient Grain Bowl, but after looking up the ingredients with her phone, one of the items had gluten in it and so she couldn't finish her meal. She ended up having it packed for to-go. The menu features American dishes, along with Asian Fusion. They were out of the Soup du Jour and also the Pho when we were dining there. For the Starters, all the items are only 1-serving size, which is a bit pricey...If you are to dine here, most definitely give yourself a bit more than an hour because the students are learning and so patience is needed to fully experience Cafe 91. Or maybe as the semester goes on, they'll find their groove.Cappuccino came out frothy and taste was okay. Currently, they do not have a coffee shop set-up for people who just want to come in and order coffee drinks.Pork Belly BLThouse smoke pork belly, lettuce, tomato confit, roasted garlic aioli on a brioche bun w/ choice of house-made chips or friesThe pork belly was basically bacon and my sandwich was not served on a brioche bun, instead it was a very oily/greasy toasted white bread. The sandwich was very flat and ingredients were falling out everywhere. The taste of the sandwich was also quite salty. The best part of the sandwich was actually the house-made fries.

Cafe 91 is a recently opened, student run restaurant part of Mt. Sac's hospitality program. All aspects of the restaurant are run by students, from the front of the house services, to cooking and kitchen duties. All revenue from the restaurant goes back to support student programs. Just some things to keep in mind before your visit:-Reservations are REQUIRED for the restaurant and you can access the reservation system from the school's website or call: (909) 274-6243. -The cafe is open Wednesday-Fridays from 11AM-12:45PM. -They accept credit card only (no American Express or Discover) and they do NOT accept tips. -Day parking passes and meter passes are available if you do not have a student or staff parking pass (or you can take one of the buses that stop in front of the school). From start to finish we were kindly welcomed in, attended to, checked on, and asked for our feedback. Jackson was a great host to us and made sure to answer all of our questions regarding ingredients since one of us had a nut allergy. We got the: 1) Tomato Crostini:-It looks super fancy. -The bed of veggies is also a nice addition to the crostini since it was plentiful and served as a sort of side salad. -The sliced prosciutto was not too salty and the goat cheese went really well with the acidity of the balsamic vinegar. -The dish was so fancy, that the two of us had it crumbling everywhere as we ate it.-Definitely enough to split amongst 2 people.2) Cafe 91 Signature Burger with Fries:-A pretty sizable burger. -The roasted garlic aioli on the brioche bun was the winner of this dish. The texture of the bun with the shape taste of the garlic mixed with the creaminess of the aioli paired really well with how tender and moist the burger was. -There is also a good amount of veggies to add a nice crunch.3) Fish and Chips: -The fish was super moist and soft. Cooked to perfection. -The tempura batter was soft, but was still crispy. You can tell that it was nicely layered. Goes divinely with the tartar sauce. -I know fish and chips isn't really a dish to write home about, but probably the best that I've had.For both dishes, the fries were alright. Not terrible, but nothing stellar either.4) Flan (this was not on the menu, but it was for my friend's birthday):-While taking our orders for dessert, I casually tried nudging my friend to get something since it was his birthday and upon hearing this, Jackson offered to see if there was anything special that he can do.-We were able to order a special birthday flan. It had a candle and a "Happy Birthday" message on the side of the plate.-The flan had an abundant amount of caramel sauce and went really well with the chocolate from the message. It was also topped with a fresh raspberry and a dried strawberry. -A delightful way to end our meal. It did take around 20 minutes for our food to come out, but that was because we asked for everything to come out at once. Currently they are offering their fall menu, so I would assume that it changes quarterly.Honestly, it may be a bit "pricier" say than what you can get around the area, but in comparison to, say going somewhere like Applebee's, you're paying the same amount, but for higher quality, fancier food and you're contributing to student education and programs. Definitely worth the trip in my book!

Happy to support the program and students. The burger and salad was delicious. My friend's grilled veg sandwich looked so good, I want to try that next time.

I had an opportunity to make a reservation during Cafe 91 soft opening. The experience was very positive. All the staff that you come in contact with are students. From the hostess, servers, and kitchen staff. I was greeted by a friendly hostess whose name escapes me at the moment but it starts with an "M" could be Miriam. The hostess took me to my table and seated me. I was then introduced to my server Yvonne who provided me with the menu. There were a lot of great options and I was pleasantly surprised by the sophistication of the dishes. They had pork belly sandwiches, chicken satay, tempura-battered fish, high-quality burgers, several dessert options, etc. While there were a lot of interesting dishes, the menu was not overwhelming at all. It was the perfect number of options. I ordered the chicken satay starter, fish and chips entree, pot de creme dessert, and an iced coffee. The chicken satay came with a delicious savory peanut sauce. The tempura-battered fish was light and flaky. Truly cooked to perfection by my student chef Amy. The fries were also deliciously crisp. The pot de creme was decadent and rich. The chocolate used seemed to me to be of very high quality and the dessert was topped by seasonal dried fruits and nuts from Amy's garden.A great experience all around. I also had a chance to meet Jackson who worked at Disney. I highly recommend dining here when they have their grand opening.

Literally so cute:) Everyone is so nice and the drinks are delicious! Food looks great too, a great spot to relax between classes! Paublo made my mocha perfect!

I really enjoyed eating here. It was a really lovely dining experience. Before I start let me just tell you now that this restaurant correlates with the Culinary program as a working kitchen experience *internship* in a classroom setting. Now, let me tell you about my server, Jackson. He's a lovely person who made sure I enjoyed my dining experience, and was very quick to rectify any mistake that was made. My experience was a very filling one because I decided to have 2 desserts that day. Jackson upsold me on a cookie I would literally die for. It was amazing, and now I'm craving it.. 1st course was winter brussels and arroz caldo (Filipino rice porridge). The brussels had a lot of flavor and I thought the balsamic glaze was a nice touch. The arroz caldo? *chef's kiss* perfection. I mean you can't get more authentic than actual Filipinos in the kitchen. 2nd course was the 91 burger, which I am in love with, and we are to wed in a fortnight. Just kidding.. It was delicious though. The patty itself was cooked so perfectly that it stayed juicy even when I reheated the leftovers later that night, and that bun is so soft and fluffy. I really loved it. And the big piece of heirloom tomato is a nice touch. The fries were delicious, crunchy, and hot. 3rd course was the peppermint pot de creme, which was amazing, but I struggled eating it because I was getting so dang full, and I ate that heaven in a form of a cookie a la mode right before it.

Amazing environment and such a friendly staff. The drinks were delicious and the food was filling. Come support if you have the means.

This student run cafe is absolutely a wonderful idea! I ordered the farro grain plate with chicken and avocado plus the apple crisp! Yummmy! The server Andrea was polite and so sweet! A shout out to Anabel and Jason for suggesting I come check this place out! I'll be back! Love it!

Great food and service! Not only does the food taste great , the prices are extremely low and affordable. I don't think anything was above $8. This is the best place on campus and around Walnut. Recommend to anyone and everyone.