Broadmoor Bistro @ The Center for Academic Achievement — Restaurant in Overland Park

How do you have a quality meal experience while helping students learn the elements of restaurant management and a potential career as a chef? By visiting the Broadmoor Bistro of course! The atmosphere is like any other restaurant with industrial chic. But the food offered is outstanding. You will have multiple offerings of each course in a three course meal. The choices range from interesting to wonderful. We had the beets salad and the Hot Chicken as the first course. The flavors for each were savory without being rich. The second courses of Walleye Almondine and the Birria stew were just the right amount. The third courses were a Banofee and mine was a skillet style Apple Crisp. Just the right temperature and flavor. Presentation was outstanding on all courses. Plus we were offered a cauliflower bisque sample at the beginning and a chocolate chip cookie as a final touch to take with us. Service was slightly uneven, but as good as what we have experienced at much higher priced establishments. The Broadmoor is only are available on Wednesdays during the school year. And the menu varies from Fall to Spring. Covid protective measures are in place to assure comfort. As a final note, be sure to check out the bakery/pastry selection as you leave. You may discover one more item to purchase. Price (12/21) is $35/3 course meal. This is an outstanding bargain when you consider the quality, variety as well as assisting in a learning process. Gratuity is like any other restaurant. Bottom line, If you want a great cuisine experience on a Wednesday, try the...

Note This is not a standard restaurant. This is part of the Vo-Tec program at Shawnee Mission School District. The Bistro is only open for certain times of the year and typically serves dinner only on Wednesday nights. Reservations are required almost all of the time and may be placed online through Open Table.

The Bistro is run by several Exec Chefs and staffed entirely by SMSD students. Since it is a learning environment, the menu rotates frequently. The menu choices are limited to a handful of options (around 6 each, for all three courses), but every meal we have had here was delicious; with well selected food combinations, perfectly prepared and excellently plated. The chefs in charge do a fantastic job of making sure that the dining experience is top notch. Also, there are usually desserts (and maybe other items) available for purchase to go in the display near the cashier.

Since students staff all aspects of operations, expect your maitre d, servers and bus staff to still be learning the trade, and adjust your behavior accordingly. If you like to be critical of service personnel, take your business elsewhere, as these kids are working their tails off to do the best job possible. But, if you want a 5-star dining experience while helping young men and women master a trade, you would do well to...

I've eaten here several times and consistently enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. To be sure, the experience is a bit unusual. The restaurant is part of the Shawnee Mission School District's culinary arts training program, which means that the food is prepared and served by students under the supervision of a professional chef. The restaurant is generally only open on Wednesday night, and the menu changes twice a semester.

However, the food is consistently good. The menu is three-course prix fixe with several options for each course. On my most recent visit, I had an excellent short rib arancini appetizer. The blackened walleye was less impressive, but the white chocolate and berries were one of the best desserts I've ever had.

As a teacher, I enjoy the opportunity to work with young people who are learning new skills. But if you tend to lose patience with servers who are learning on the job, this place is...