Mike L.
Yelp
You probably have heard of the concept. They're a restaurant that hires those who have been incarcerated and/or affected by the criminal justice system. Yes, that is all stellar, but your obvious question of, "but is the food good?", is why I'm writing this review.
You should have already visited and I'm angry at myself that I have not eaten here more often. It's that good.
We ordered the Jerk and the normal 4-cheese sandwiches, both ordered fries, ordered each soup of Tomato and Chicken Tortilla, and a pair of sodas. For around $30 that may feel like a lot, but what I didn't know is that you get a free little side salad situation. For a really good date lunch, that you also feel good about supporting, I don't understand why we haven't been there more often.
Jerk: best jerk sandwich I've had in Minnesota. Normally, jerk sandwiches are a chicken breast with jerk sauce on it, then random accompaniments. This though. This isn't the dryest part of the bird that Kowalski lovers wish to rave about. The chicken is shredded, and you can tell it's been well spiced for a number of hours. It's slightly sweet in some bites with the guava jam, but it isn't a lazy pineapple piece on there that your "southern" family member says is how you do it. My mouth felt the slow spice, and I loved it. I ate everything around it and had my final 1/4 of sandwich to close out my meal.
My wife's 4-cheese, she had this to say. "It was good, and I highly recommend the tomato soup with it." I tried it and it was like two atoms smashing together make fusion power. It's fine with one, sure, but when together, it's Magical Christmas Land in your mouth. You want that all year.
Fries were crispy and spiced. Remember curly fries as a child at the Uptown Arbys? (RIP) That wonderful mix of crust, potato, and flavor? These fries are that, except you're an adult and you have self-respect to not eat at Arbys anymore.
Salad comes free with the sandwich and had a balsamic dressing with fresh farmers market looking greens. Great way to clear a palate, very smart move.
Tortilla soup was good, but at the point, it was extra. We didn't need the extra food. Comfort food is in Rome, when it be, you get all things.
The meal is gourmet, the bread and how it's fried is fantastic and we will be returning with friends who are attorneys that sit on socially conscious boards. They'll love this place. It makes me curious why this isn't franchised across the state and country. It's such a simple concept, but with nonprofit help as they do, this could be made anywhere as it is obviously a need everywhere.