CH&FS – The Centre for Hospitality and Food Studies

Award Winning Restaurants

Located in our Colchester campus, CI Restaurants offers guests the opportunity to dine in our fantastic Balkerne Restaurant, where every customer that walks through our doors is directly contributing towards the success of the next generation of hospitality staff – both chefs and front of house. The restaurant is open to the public during term time only.

Officially opened by its patron, Gary Rhodes, in October 2002, our multi-million pound purpose-built Centre for Hospitality and Food Studies provides excellent facilities and training for hospitality students and aims to give them a realistic sense of what it is like to work in the hospitality industry.

Menus

Here at the Balkerne Restaurant we endeavour to serve dishes that take seasonal produce and then give them a modern twist by pairing British ingredients with European and Asian flavours, using modern cooking techniques. Try our Wednesday to Friday Lunch and experience the ultimate in modern dining!

Table setting sponsored by Wilkin and Sons Ltd

Kitchen sponsored by Bonnet Hobart

Sample Lunch Menu

Starters

Roasted red pepper and tomato soup with pesto beignets
Pan fried chicken livers and oyster mushrooms served on toasted brioche
Creamy hot smoked salmon with fresh pasta and basil
Glazed duck supreme with stir-fried oriental vegetables

Main Courses

Roasted mediterranean vegetable raviolli with a herb nage sauce
Sauté chicken with chasseur sauce
Pan fried mullet with a fennel and saffron broth served with crispy herbs
Salmon fillet rolled in spinach with a white wine cream sauce

Desserts

Sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce
Eves pudding with sauce Anglaise
Blackcurrant delice
Pear flan Bourdalou

Please ask your server for our selection of teas and coffees

Vegetarian and gluten friendly alternatives are included in our menus. With prior notice, we will endeavour to produce dishes for other dietary requests.

While nuts and other nut derivatives are not used in every recipe, all food is prepared in an environment where cross contamination may occur. Before ordering, please speak to a member of staff if you have a food allergy or intolerance.

All food served may contain trace elements of nuts, we are unable to provide a guarantee that any dish or product is 100% nut free, we will however label products that contain nuts in line with the recipe specification.

Restaurant Bookings

Wednesday to Friday Lunch

Bookings available for 12.00pm or 12.30pm
Last order at 1.00pm and restaurant closes at 2.30pm

£22.00 per person
3 courses inclusive of beautiful breads made from our patisserie and finishing with tea/coffee

£18.00 per person
2 courses inclusive of beautiful breads made from our patisserie and finishing with tea/coffee

New for this year!

We are opening for early dinner on a Tuesday evening, beginning 3rd October.

Bookings available for 6.30pm or 7.00pm.

£22.00 per person
3 courses

£18.00 per person
2 courses

Watch out for ‘Tuesday Pamper Packages‘ where we will be combining a treatment from one of our salons before dinner (prices and dates to be advertised soon).

Thursday Taster Dinners

An opportunity to see our level 3 students showcase their skills

Begins 21st September.

Bookings available for 7.00pm or 7.30pm.

£35.00 per person
Arrival cocktail. 6 courses, tea/coffee petits fours

Please note: All restaurant opening times and prices are subject to change without prior notice.

Booking for this restaurant is essential in order to avoid disappointment.

The restaurant is open to the public during term-time only and is open for bookings from Wednesday 20th September 2023.

Bookings can be made through the ResDiary link below.

For bookings of 6 and above, a deposit of £5 per person is required, and there is a limit to 6 customers per table.

Paying a deposit without having first made a reservation using the online booking platform will not secure a booking.