Raleigh, N.C. — In tough economic times, culinary arts students at Wake Technical Community College are helping fine dining fit into Triangle residents' budgets.

Flavors Restaurant, on Wake Tech's main campus, is arguably one of the most popular restaurants in the Triangle. Since 1996, students in Wake Tech's two-year culinary arts program have prepared every dish and drink served at Flavors.

"The buzz word around here is passion," said Jeff Hadley, head of Wake Tech's culinary arts department.

At lunchtime, diners are treated to a three-course meal: appetizer, entree and desert. The whole meal costs only $8.

"The food is delicious. It's nice on the pocketbook," diner Deborah Lassiter said.

Flavors hosts lunch three times a week, and the days vary by semester. This fall, the restaurant is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Don't expect to get in right away.

Flavors doesn't take traditional reservations. Instead, customers submit a request for certain dates online. Diners are chosen by a lottery, and the lucky ones are informed of their reservations via email.

Some customers said it took them months to get a seat at Flavors.

"Many, many, many times I've gotten the 'you were not successful response,'" said Lassiter. But after she kept trying, she was one diner seated among many full tables Thursday.

"Cross your fingers, and get in that lottery. That's the thing to do," Hadley said.