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Desert Lantern Restaurant

Alice Springs

The Desert Lantern Training Restaurant in Alice Springs is designed to give hospitality and cookery students real-world experience in their industry.

Students will train, learn and offer the community a high-quality food experience while completing their certificate. 

The restaurant is named after a species of plant found in Central Australia called Abutilon Leucopetalum, or 'Desert Lantern'. It gets its name from the bright yellow flowers it sprouts. Growing on hillsides, the Desert Lantern is commonly found at the base of rocks throughout the Red Centre, typically flowering after rain. Western Arrernte people are known to eat the cooked roots.

Training for students

Student in training making colourful cocktails behind the bar

Certificate II and III students

You’ll be supervised by one of our experienced chefs and will learn about a variety of cookery methods, the structure of menus and more. You’ll be serving customers, working behind the bar and undertaking fine dining and silver service.

Certificate IV students

You’ll have the opportunity to develop your management skills by supervising Certificate II and III students in real-life situations during the Desert Lantern’s opening hours.

Dine at the Desert Lantern

You can view the 2023 dates and availability for the restaurant below or download a copy of the brochure.

2023 Desert Lantern Restaurant Brochure

À la carte (3-course dinner)
Choice of entrées, main courses and desserts $45 per person
DatesAvailability
Tuesday 4 AprilNo availability
Wednesday 5 AprilNo availability
Tuesday 9 MayNo availability
Wednesday 10 MayNo availability
Thursday 11 MayNo availability
Wednesday 17 MayNo availability
Thursday 18 MayNo availability
Tuesday 30 MayNo availability
Wednesday 31 MayNo availability
Thursday 1 JuneNo availability
Wednesday 21 JuneNo availability
Thursday 22 JuneNo availability
Wednesday 2 AugustAvailable
Thursday 3 AugustAvailable
Tuesday 22 AugustAvailable
Wednesday 23 AugustAvailable
Thursday 24 AugustAvailable
Wednesday 18 OctoberAvailable
Thursday 19 OctoberAvailable
Tuesday 24 OctoberAvailable
Wednesday 25 OctoberAvailable
Thursday 26 OctoberAvailable
Buffet
$55 per person
DatesAvailability
Wednesday 22 MarchClosed
Thursday 23 MarchClosed
Wednesday 22 NovemberAvailable
Thursday 23 NovemberAvailable

Make a booking

To make a booking, please complete and email the booking form. Phone or walk-in bookings are no longer accepted.

We require 48 hours notice for booking cancellations or rescheduling, subject to availability.
Patrons are responsible for their own booking dates and attending on the night, as courtesy reminder calls have been discontinued.

2023 Desert Lantern Booking Form

E: desert.lantern@cdu.edu.au

Payment

To secure your reservation, all meals must be paid for in advance. Once we have scheduled your booking, we will email you the link for online payment.

Any drink purchases on the night must be paid using EFTPOS, as we no longer accept cash payments.

Location

The Desert Lantern Training Restaurant is located on CDU’s Alice Springs campus. You can get to it via Entrance 2 of the CDU Alice Springs campus off Grevillea Drive.