FareStart Restaurant Set to Reopen

FareStart, a leading social enterprise nonprofit dedicated to job training and employment to combat poverty, is reopening its restaurant with a fresh new concept. Beginning in mid-July, the FareStart Restaurant will offer a counter service concept for breakfast and lunch, operating weekdays from 7am to 2pm. Diners can look forward to classic comfort food, available for grab-and-go or made-to-order options, perfect for enjoying on-site or taking to go. The menu will include items like fresh pastries, breakfast burritos and sandwiches as well as burgers, soups and salads, fish and chips, and steak frites.

A major highlight of the reopening is the revival of FareStart’s beloved Guest Chef Nights, starting June 27. These special evenings pair premier local chefs with FareStart students, offering guests a unique dining experience with a three-course meal served by volunteers. The lineup for 2024 includes notable chefs like Michela Tartaglia, Brendan McGill, Kristen Watts Schumacher, and Ethan Stowell, among others.

Additionally, the restaurant will be available for private events catered by FareStart, with all revenue supporting the organization’s mission.

FareStart students, as part of the Food Pathways Program, will work alongside professional chefs at the restaurant, gaining 16 weeks of free, on-the-job training in communication skills, technology, job preparedness, and more. The program also provides essential support such as housing, substance use recovery, mental health counseling, and job-search assistance.

The restaurant joins the FareStart Cafés in South Lake Union and Beacon Hill, which are home to the Barista & Customer Service Program for young people aged 15-24. FareStart also offers box lunches for events and a contract meals program supplying nutritious meals to local schools and nonprofits.

Visit farestart.org to learn more about FareStart and find updates about the restaurant opening.