Captain's Table Restaurant
The Captain's Table is a casual-upscale restaurant located on the Orange Coast College campus in Costa Mesa, California. Both the kitchen and dining room are run by students from the Culinary Arts and Food and Beverage Management programs, serving a variety of cuisine types from a rotating weekly menu. We offer a lunch buffet on Tuesdays starting the eighth week of the semester and lunch and dinner every Thursday beginning the third week of the semester. Please see our calendar for details regarding upcoming menus. Reservations are required.
Tuesday Lunch Buffet Price: $20.00
Thursday Lunch/Dinner Price: $25.00
Location & Parking
We are located on the second Floor of the College Center building. Parking is available off Fairview and Pirate Way in Lot A.
Please view our campus map for general directions to and on campus.
Fall Service Information
FALL SEMESTER BUFFET SERVICE (Tuesdays at 11:30 AM)
The students in the advanced Garde Manger class showcase proper techniques in the preparation of canapés, hot and cold hors d'oeuvre, appetizers, salads, cheese and charcuterie, sausage, and other types of forcemeats while demonstrating contemporary styles of presenting food and preparing buffets.
The students in the Buffet Service class prepare the dining room and workstations for buffets and execute buffet service using proper service procedures, equipment, tools, and sanitation practices.
Please note that if you cannot make a reservation via Open Table, it is because we have reached capacity for that day.
Hours:
- 11:30 AM only. Diners will have one hour to enjoy the buffet. Since the service is in a class setting, students must begin cleaning and breaking down stations to prepare for the upcoming classes.
Fall Buffet Schedule:
- October 15th - High Tea
- October 22nd - Hawaiian
- October 29th - Latin America
- November 5th - American BBQ
- November 12th -CLOSED
- November 19th - Coastal
- November 26th - Moroccan/Mediterranean
- December 3rd - Scandinavian
FALL SEMESTER DINNER SERVICE (Thursdays at 5:45 PM)
During the fall semester, we offer a single 5:45 PM seating for dinner service.
The Culinary Principles III class is learning banquet-style cooking serving American Regional Cuisine. The Dining Room Service course introduces students to the principal knowledge and skills necessary for professional restaurant service, including dining room setup and organization, service points, safety and sanitation, and handling guest charges.
We offer a three-course meal with options for the first and second courses. A menu featuring the cuisine of a distinct part of the country is provided each week.
Please note that if you cannot make a reservation via Open Table, it is because we have reached capacity for that day.
We ask that our guests please arrive punctually as service begins promptly at the time listed below.
FALL Hours:
- All Seating 5:45 PM
FALL Schedule:
- Sep 12: New England
- Sep 19: The Mid-Atlantic Region
- Sep 26: The South
- Oct 03: Florida
- Oct 10: Louisiana
- Oct 17: The Great Lakes & The Midwest
- Oct 24: The Great Plains & Rocky Mountains
- Oct 31: Texas
- Nov 07: The Southwest
- Nov 14: The Pacific Northwest
- Nov 21: Hawaii
- Dec 05: California
Spring Service Information
In the Spring we teach the "à la minute" cooking class. The class is one of the last classes students will take before graduation and emphasizes a restaurant style service of World Cuisines with food items being cook to order throughout the meal period. We offer a three-course meal with choices for each course and the menu changes to examine a different country each week. Guests may make reservations at various times throughout the meal period.
Spring Hours:
- Dinner: Reservation times 5:30, 5:45, and 6:00
Spring Schedule:
- February 15th - Germany
- February 29th - Italy
- March 7th - France
- March 14th - Spain
- March 21st - Greece
- April 4th - China
- April 11th - Japan
- April 18th - Thailand
- April 25th - India
- May 2nd- Mexico
- May 9th - Africa
- May 16th - America Regional, Cajun/Creole