Restaurants

Restaurant Menus

• Lavu Culinary Kiosk - Carryout Menu

  Lavu, our culinary kiosk on the ground floor of the City Center Campus, is open for carryout orders Monday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., serving items such as:

  • Paninis
  • Salads 
  • Soups
  • Bakery goods 
  • And more!

• Saveur Menu

  To Order Carryout or Make a Reservation: 

  • Please call (815) 280-1200.
  • Open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

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  Saveur Menu 

  Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am-12:45pm - Spring 2025

  Petite Plates 

  Planted al Pastor

  Grilled Cauliflower Adobe + Caramelized Pineapple + Pineapple Curd + House Queso Fresco + Shaved Radish + Cilantro + Spinach Corn Tortilla $6

  Crustacean Ravioli

  Butter Poached Lobster + Herb Lemon Ricotta + Spring Pea Puree + Lobster Bisque Sauce au Poivre $6

  Spring Hen Piccata

  Cornish Hen Meatball + Braised, Mushroom Stuffed Shallot + Parmesan-Semolina Donut + White Wine, Lemon Caper Sauce $6

   

  Soups 

  Spring Solstice

  Creamy White & Green Asparagus + Pickled Shallots + Spring Mushrooms + Toasted Hazelnuts + Hazelnut Oil $5

  Tuscan Chowder

  Yukon Potato + House Italian Sausage + Kale + Shaved Parmesan + Calabrian Chili Foam $5

   

  Salads 

  Blackberry Fields

  Mixed Spring Greens + Blackberry Goat Cheese Terrine+ Pickled Blackberries + Brûléed Orange + Marinated Tomatoes + Blackberry Vinaigrette + Thyme & Lemon Cracker $7

  “In the Manner of Capri”

  Frisee + Compressed Tomato Terrine + Lemon Mascarpone Cream + Pinenut & Basil Pesto + Charred Lemon Vinaigrette $7

   

  Entrees

  Pastrami Rueben Burger

  Fresh Ground Beef + House made Pastrami + Gruyere Cheese + Pickles + House Kraut + Russian Dressing + Toasted Sourdough English Muffin + House Fries $12

  Chicken Focaccia ala Vodka

  Crispy Chicken Scallopini + Whole Milk Mozzarella + Baby Arugula +Tomato Vodka Sauce + Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia + House Fries $12

  “Nero”

  Black Squid Ink Linguine + Charred Octopus + Broccolini + Mushrooms + Parmesan Cream + Crispy Pig Belly + Truffle Oil + Parmesan Crisp $12

  Pork “Vichyssoise”

  Bacon Wrapped, Citrus & Herb Pork Loin + Potato, Leek, Spring Onion Cream + Crispy Potato + Parsley Chive Oil $13

  Branzino

  Charcoal Grilled English Sea Bass + Spring Carrot Puree + Pistachio Chimichurri + Citrus Butter Sauce + Chive Emulsion $13 

   

  Desserts 

  Honey Cake

  Ginger Buttercream + Blueberry Compote + Lemon Sage Ice Cream + Hazelnut Crumble + Ginger Garnish $5

  Strawberry Rhubarb Tart 

  Vanilla Bean Ice Cream + Walnut Poppy Seed Crumble + Vanilla Bean Anglaise + Tuile Garnish $5

  Prix Fixe 

  1 Entrée and any two other courses for $20

• Thrive Menu

  To Order Carryout or Make a Reservation: 

  • Please call (815) 280-1201.
  • Open Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
  • Open Thursdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. 

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  Thrive Lunch Menu

  Wednesdays 11 am - 12:45 pm - Spring 2025

  Small Plates 

  Ancient Grain and Vegetable Salad

  Roasted sweet potatoes/cauliflower/curry/feta

  Farro/quinoa/chickpeas/golden raisin puree/pistachio

  Middle eastern green goddess dressing

  Spiced lentil crisps

  7       V/GF

  Crispy Fried Pickled Chicken

  Honey chili syrup/tomato chutney/peanut hummus/house Pickle/shaved celery

  7

  Chicken Fried Rice

  Soft poached egg/jasmine rice/shiitake/cabbage

  Five spice sesame seeds/pickled ginger mayo

  7    

  Three Cheese Garlic Parmesan Stuffed Brioche

  Ricotta filling/brioche/arugula salad/dried olives

  Smoked tomato sauce/parmesan

  7       V

  Petite Braised Short Rib

  Truffle parmesan heirloom polenta

  Tomato chutney/basil crisp

  White truffle emulsion

  7       GF

  Asparagus Soup

  Brown butter nuts and seeds/herb grissini

  Lemon crème fraiche

  5       V/GF

  Romaine Salad

  Goat cheese and poached pear terrine/crisp phyllo

  Candied hazelnuts/orange pink peppercorn dressing

  5       V

   

  Entrees

  Beef Bourguignon Smash Burger

  Red wine braised onions and mushrooms

  Bacon/comte cheese/brioche bun

  House-cut fries/homemade ketchup

  12

   Char Siu Chicken Sandwich

  Black sesame seed brioche/spicy mayo

  Pickled ginger, onion, and cabbage slaw

  House-cut fries/homemade ketchup

  11

   Sweet Pepper and Spinach Pizza

  Sweet peppers/san marzano tomato sauce

  Fresh mozzarella/balsamic reduction/fresh basil

  12     V

  Meatball and Provolone Calzone

  San Marzano tomato sauce/parmesan

  Ricotta/basil/herb and garlic olive oil

  12    

   Savoy Cabbage Wrapped Walleyed Pike

  Lemon herb mousseline/cauliflower puree

  Asparagus and roasted cauliflower salad

  Green apple brown butter vin blanc

  13     GF

   Sauteed Chicken and Dumplings

  Braised chicken and dumplings/roasted baby carrots

  Shaved carrot and arugula salad

  Chicken jus

  12

   

  Prix Fixe Lunch Options

  2 small plates, 1 entrée

  1 small plate, 1 entrée, 1 dessert

  $20.00

  Thrive Dinner Menu

  Thursdays 6pm-7:30pm - Spring 2025

  Small Plates

  Ancient Grain and Vegetable Salad

  Roasted sweet potatoes/cauliflower/curry/feta

  Farro/quinoa/chickpeas/golden raisin puree/pistachio

  Middle eastern green goddess dressing

  Spiced lentil crisps

  7          V/GF

  Crispy Fried Pickled Chicken

  Honey chili syrup/tomato chutney/peanut Hummus/house pickle/shaved celery

  7          GF

  Chicken Fried Rice

  Soft poached egg/jasmine rice/shiitake/cabbage

  Five spice sesame seeds/pickled ginger mayo

  7          

  Three Cheese Garlic Parmesan Stuffed Brioche

  Ricotta filling/brioche/arugula salad/dried olives

  Smoked tomato sauce/parmesan

  7          V

  Petite Braised Short Rib

  Truffle parmesan heirloom polenta

  Tomato chutney/basil crisp

  White truffle emulsion

  7          GF

  Asparagus Soup

  Brown butter nuts and seeds/herb grissini

  Lemon crème fraiche

  5          V/GF

  Romaine Salad

  Goat cheese and poached pear terrine/crisp phyllo

  Candied hazelnuts/orange pink peppercorn dressing

  5          V

   

  Entrees

  Sweet Pepper and Spinach Pizza

  Sweet peppers/San Marzano tomato sauce

  fresh mozzarella/balsamic reduction/fresh basil

  13        V

  Meatball and Provolone Calzone

  San marzano tomato sauce/parmesan

  Ricotta/basil/herb and garlic olive oil

  13        

  Savoy Cabbage Wrapped Walleyed Pike

  Lemon herb mousseline/cauliflower puree

  Asparagus and roasted cauliflower salad

  Green apple brown butter vin blanc

  20        GF

  Sauteed Chicken and Dumplings

  Braised chicken and dumplings/roasted baby carrots

  Shaved carrot and arugula salad

  Chicken jus

  16

  Grilled Ribeye with Herb Braised Ribeye Cap

  Mascarpone and truffle risotto/sweet and sour Tomato/asparagus/wild mushroom/balsamic garlic jus

  28

  Prix Fixe Dinner Options

  2 small plates, 1 entrée, 1 dessert

  Pizza or Calzone $25

  Chicken $28, Walleyed Pike $32

  Ribeye $38
   

About our Restaurants

Please note that JJC's student restaurants are only open on select days during the fall and spring semesters.

• Saveur

  Fall & Spring Hours

  Tuesdays and Thursdays
  11a.m. to 12:45p.m.

  Reservations are suggested and encouraged. Please call (815) 280-1200.

  Summer Hours

  Closed

  More About Saveur

  One of two restaurants run by the students in the Culinary Arts Program, Saveur features a journey of tastes and textures through contemporary American and International cuisine all prepared from scratch by our talented culinary students.

  Saveur is a full-service restaurant, providing table service with a friendly atmosphere. The restaurant will be open at the City Center Campus located at 235 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL on the second floor. All proceeds go directly to the Culinary Arts Department. 

• Thrive

  Fall & Spring Hours

  Wednesdays 
  11a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
  
  Thursdays
  6 to 7:30 p.m.

  Reservations are suggested and encouraged. Please call (815) 280-1201.

  Summer Hours

  Closed

   

  More About Thrive

  The focus of Thrive is to craft elegant and imaginative cuisine, showcasing fresh ingredients. All pastas are produced in house, as well as cheeses, breads and more to create a menu both classic and approachable that is simple yet flavorful. Thrive is also run by the students in the Culinary Arts Department.

  Thrive Restaurant is located on the first floor of the City Center Campus, facing Chicago Street. 

• Lavu Culinary Cafe (kiosk)

  Monday through Thursday
  9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

  Lavu Culinary Cafe, located on the main floor of the lobby next to Thrive Restaurant, is available for carryout featuring coffee, breakfast items, sandwiches, soups and desserts.