ENGLEWOOD —The Sikia restaurant opened for lunch earlier this month for the first time during the summer.
The sit-down eatery is operated by students attending the Washburne Culinary & Hospitality Institute, which is part of Kennedy-King College.
Sikia, 740 W. 63rd St., is open from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays until Aug. 8. It will shut down during the city's annual Taste of Chicago event from July 9-11, but will reopen July 14, according to Roxanne Brown, a spokeswoman for the college.
"The restaurant is open this summer because there are enough students available. Usually during the summer, enrollment is down and that's why the restaurant has traditionally been closed for the summer," she said.
The a la carte menu includes salads, ribs, red snapper, chicken breast sandwiches and seasonal desserts all for under $10, Brown said. Visa and MasterCard are accepted and Brown said diners are encouraged to make reservations by calling 773-602-5200.
On Tuesday, Whole Foods Market will break ground for a new store across the street from Sikia at 63rd and Halsted streets and its CEO Walter Robb said he planned to create internship opportunities for Washburne students.
"They are a part of this community and we want to engage the community as much as possible," Robb said.
That's fine with Arshele Stevens, president of Kennedy-King College.
"I love the fact that businesses want to get our students involved. In the short time I have been at Kennedy-King I have quickly learned that Sikia and all our students have made a positive impact in the community," she said.
Washburne students also run the Parrot Cage restaurant at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive, where dinner is available from 5-9 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. For reservations, call 773-602-5333.
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