Café Momentum Pittsburgh

Have been wanting to visit Cafe Momentum for some time & restaurant week seemed like a perfect time and it was! Great selections for the prix fixe. They were all so tempting it was hard to choose! My daughter & I had the fondue & flatbread and the steak & pesto sardine linguine and dessert the panna cotta & brownie/crème brûlée duo of decadence! My son ordered off the regular menu & was pleased with the mahi mahi. Everything tasted fantastic & was efficiently delivered & beautifully presented. Calm atmosphere lended a relaxing feel to our dining experience and we really enjoyed the evening. We will definitely be back.

This is a great place to enjoy creative and delicious fine dining. At the same time, you can feel good to know that you are contributing to a great cause. Our selections were: Charcuterie Board, Mahi Mahi, Jerky Pork Chop, and Creme Brulee. Also, shout-out to Café Momentum staff for the attentive service and Chef Peter Henry for taking a few minutes to chat with us! This place is definitely worth it!

This is a rare occurrence where I'm giving a 5-star review despite not loving the food. I just think the people here, the mission of the establishment, the ambiance, and the quality of ingredients is top notch. If you don't know, this is a non profit with a mission to help kids get into sustainable work and teach them life lessons through cooking. They source local ingredients and make things from scratch for learning purposes. The folks who run the place are great. As far as food, we only had dessert, and we were the last to be served. There were aspects of the dessert that were fun and different, but generally it was overly sweet and had a combination of flavors we just didn't love. I will update my review later once we go back for a proper dinner (hopefully soon!).

This is a lovely place. The atmosphere was refined and upscale but not stuffy. The food was wonderful and a good variety of flavors in each dish. We will be back. Also, prices were very good for the location and quality. Definitely a date night spot we will return to.

UPDATE: Went back again - started with the pickle and hummus board with foccacia again because I remembered it was delicious! Then had the Hen of the Woods (crispy mushrooms with other veggies on a bed of quinoa) for my entree, which knocked my socks off! Finished the meal with a decadent Peanut S'more chia pudding and an espresso. I forgot to take photos on this visit, but trust me it was so good! ORIGINAL REVIEW: Be sure to go hungry! Flavorful, satisfying, and beautifully presented. I'm vegan and thoroughly enjoyed the hummus and pickled vegetable board with focaccia (all made in-house), the drunken noodles (rich, and the smoked mushrooms and marcona almonds were great contrasting elements), and - get this - vegan chocolate panna cotta with toasted aquafaba meringue and two berry sauces...say WHAT? My dining partner is not vegan and especially loved the butter board and cheese board, as well as his tomahawk with buttered popcorn grits. (I can't remember what he got for dessert but he was happy!) All this on top of a great mission - so delicious you almost forget you're also helping change lives. What a great bonus! Thanks to all the great staff and interns for a yummy night out in Pittsburgh!

We were looking for a great dinner out in Pittsburgh, and Cafe Momentum delivered!! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. Things to know before you go: 1. The food is absolutely FANTASTIC!! So flavorful and beautiful. There are some dishes that stay on the menu and others that change based on what the chefs find that week. My husband had the smoked fried chicken and he enjoyed the unique combination. I had the pork chop with buttered popcorn grits and I had to restrain myself from licking the plate! 2. The servers are interns, young men and women learning new skills, so if you go in with the right expectation, you'll have an enjoyable evening. I suggest reading up on CM's mission on their website! 3. The restaurant is BYOB (the interns can't serve alcohol) and I don't think they have soft drinks. They do have still, sparkling, or bottled water, and the adult staff can serve you whatever you bring along. Overall I enjoyed Cafe Momentum so much - the warm lovely atmosphere, divinely delicious food, and wonderful mission it's based on are spectacular.

Cafe Momentum employs young interns who were in the criminal justice system. The interns are provided with a variety of educational and health services. My husband and I ate dinner here. The interns were learning how to use the computer for seating, to take orders, to bring out foods and beverages, etcetera. I felt happy to see both meat and non-meat dishes on the menu. We ordered the Butter Board with breads, the Veggie Flatbread, the Beet Salad, and the Smoked Fried Chicken. My husband did not enjoy the taste of his chicken. My favorite food was the Beet Salad, which also contained arugula, ricotta, walnuts, carrots, and dressing.

Truly excellent food with a purpose! Everything was wonderful and their mission is inspiring. Definitely looking forward to going back!

We had dinner here last night and the food was phenomenal. I love a crispy flatbread and these were absolutely perfect. We were shocked at the size of the "side" of Brussels sprouts and they were amazing. The soup of the day was pumpkin bisque and was also delicious. Our friends enjoyed the risotto and one of the salads as well. Not only was the food great, but we got wonderful service as well and I love the mission of Cafe Momentum. We will definitely be back!

If you haven't been to Café Momentum located in downtown Pittsburgh yet, then you're missing out! I've been wanting to go back since last fall because I've been dreaming about their butter board so I made reservations for yesterday night. Café Momentum is part restaurant and part culinary training facility. It's their mission to equip Pittsburgh's justice-involved youth with life skills, education, and employment opportunities - an amazing mission that will make you feel good about dining there. The food itself was incredible. The butter board was just as good as I remembered! I also really loved the duck spaetzle and NY strip entrees as well as the two desserts we got. I thought everything was really reasonably priced and the portions huge. It's also BYOB. Multiple members of the staff stopped by during the meal to see how we were doing and to chat and they were so lovely. I can't say enough good things about this place! One thing to note is that a lot of the staff there is in training so be patient; your patience will definitely pay off.

We had a great dinner here on a Saturday night. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. We made a reservation in advance, but it looked like they had plenty of space for walk-ins. The concept of Cafe Momentum is really cool. Many of the employees are youth that have been involved with the justice system that are there as part of a paid internship. They also provide counseling and other services to the youth while they are in the program. Very cool! There are only 3 in the US - Dallas, Nashville, and PITTSBURGH!! We're so lucky to be one of the 3 cities! They accept donations to their program in lieu of tips. The receipt shows this. They are BYOB.

I made reservations for a Wednesday evening as Cafe Momentum had been on my list for a while to try. We were seated in a cozy booth and found the space large and welcoming. The open kitchen had us looking at the beautiful oven. It's BYOB and the corkage fee is $5/person. We love the mission of the place, helping to equip young people with new skills. The staff was pleasant and helpful. Food wise, hubs really wanted the pickled plate. We shared that and found some interesting pickled veggies. The broccolini was my favorite, more lighter on the fermented flavors. The tomato was very acidic. It was a fun way to start the meal. I had the smoked fried chicken for the main. The hint of smoke was a nice touch. It also comes with a flaky biscuit, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. Yes, it's heavy but lovely. Hubs ordered not your grandmother's gnocchi. It was very rich and quite flavorful. The mix of meats used for the meatballs intrigued us both. We were really full and didn't try dessert. Hopefully next time!

This was my first time here and I will definitely be back. All of the staff were extremely friendly and kind! We ordered: Butter board: This board was no joke! Three house made butters accompanied with focaccia and biscuits hit the spot. 'The cure' Flatbread: This flatbread was delicious. It had cured meats, whipped goat, lemon vinaigrette, and balsamic. All my favorites Fried Brussel Sprouts: These were the best brussel sprouts of my whole life!!! If you love brussel sprouts you NEED to come here and order them. Not only do they have great food, but they are serving a greater purpose. They work with Pittsburgh's justice-involved youth and teach them life skills while also aiding them with employment opportunities.

Cafe Momentum has a few restaurants across the United States, and its unique mission is to provide support for youth who are coming out of the criminal justice system. Youths participate in a paid internship to learn about the restaurant industry, and they also receive mental health services, financial education, etcetera. I first heard many months ago that this restaurant would soon open, and I felt excited to try it out. I made my reservation on OpenTable's website. On the day of my reservation, my table was ready on time. Here are my reviews for the food and the service: Service - 4 stars - I understand that these youths are developing their social skills personally and professionally, and overall they did complete their jobs. When my husband and I entered the restaurant, the intern did not smile or say hello, and a manager helped him to use the computer to figure out our seating. Later, when we were departing the restaurant, the intern wished us a good night. Our waitress promptly took our order, and a manager had to tell her to take back our menus. When interns brought out our foods, they did not say the names of the foods or otherwise talk much. The waitress did check in with us a few times to see if we were OK. We asked for more water, and she poured more water for us. At the end of our meal, we waited a long time for our check. Food - 4 stars - The menu listed several appetizers (e.g., cheese board, meat board, and chef salad), several entrees (e.g., swordfish, ribeye, drunken noodles, and pork chop), and some sides (e.g., mushrooms, collard greens, smoked vegetables, and popcorn grits). I was still fasting for Lent, so I felt happy to see vegetarian and vegan options. The Butter board ($9) had three butters--honey, smoked onion, and plum-blueberry--as well as focaccia and sourdough breads. The Veggie Flatbread ($15) had a thin, crispy crust and was topped with ricotta cheese, microgreens, and other vegetables. The Beet Salad ($13) contained mostly arugula but also a good amount of beets, ricotta, walnuts, carrots, and balsamic dressing. The Smoked Fried Chicken ($27) contained fried chicken as well as mashed potatoes, gravy, and a buttermilk biscuit. My favorite food was the Beet Salad. My husband did not like the flavor of his fried chicken. The other foods were good.

Cafe Momentum is definitely an experience you will never forget. I'll start with the mission of the establishment being geared towards helping our youth become responsible citizens. The youth are your servers during your visit. The atmosphere is inviting, intimate, and relaxing. It's everything you think of when you envision a 5 star restaurant. The food is nothing shy of a chef's kiss; just absolutely incredible. You don't have to add or take away anything during the course of your meal. Literally everything from start to finish was exceptional. The space can definitely hold a family gathering while providing intimacy for a date night. So when you think of fine dining include Momentum to your list!

"Eat, drink, change lives" For food and service this place gets all fives A warm, cozy atmosphere that can't be beat, Salad, flatbread and gnocchi, we did eat. An appletart for dessert made in their gorgeous kitchen, Transforming young lives is this restaurant's mission. Tucked away in market square, what a hidden gem, Stop in and show the crew that you believe in them. - AM

Café Momentum pairs an amazing mission with amazing food offerings, it's an all around feel good experience. Our group split several appetizers, entrees, sides, and a dessert (not pictured). My favorites were the butter board, brussel sprouts (with what tasted like honey), and drunken noodles, however the tofu was overly salty. When answering a question about the ingredients in the panna cotta, Chef Peter also explained how the restaurant operates sustainably by converting apple peels into jam for example. Remain open minded and gracious when it comes to the service. Overall, the only potential barrier that I see to the restaurant not attracting more business as part of the downtown landscape is the absence of a drink menu. I personally don't consider that an essential feature however given the immediate proximity of cocktail bars.

Had an extraordinary meal at Café Momentum last night. Challenging dishes done perfectly with great balance and nuances of flavors. All four of us agreed that our meals were fantastic. They source everything locally. Their appetizer of three breads and flavored butters (all made in the kitchen) were phenomenal. I had Jerky Spiced pork chop over popcorn grits (yup ) with corn and shishito peppers. Flavors were excellent with just the perfect touch of heat from the shishitos. The restaurant is BYOB, which is another plus. Now the best part!!!!! They are a non-profit organization providing paid internships to troubled youths ages 15-17, where they learn life skills and front and back operations. Executive Chef Peter Henry is VERY talented and a great mentor and has a very interesting background. At age 26, he was working with Alice Waters (of Chez Panisse fame) when he had some serious health problems. After much difficulty, he came out the other side and wanted to give back, so he is working with Café Momentum in Pittsburgh. We spoke with several of the interns and they have very rough stories but are working through Café Momentum to get their lives together and headed in the right direction. Alex was working the grill and cooked my pork chop to my exact specification of doneness. The restaurant is on Forbes Ave by Market Square and there is parking at the Hilton Garden Inn garage two doors down from the restaurant. Do yourself a favor and sample this excellent food while also contributing to a great cause!

My colleagues and I were here on a work trip looking to sample the local food in Pittsburgh and we were so glad that we found Café momentum. The staff took care to make sure it was an incredible experience for us and made us feel very welcome. Our server also explained to us the mission of Café momentum, which gives opportunities to youth who have been swept up into the juvenile justice system to become high-end culinary interns and break the cycle of incarceration. Knowing this made the experience that much sweeter! The service was a 10, the food was a 10, and the experience was a 10. Highly recommend.

Excellent service! The Butters starter was really tasty. Three butters: a spicy one with habernero was my favorite, an herb butter was second and third I can't remember that was also good. The biscuits that came along with the focaccia were the best I've had since I moved from the south! I had the smoked fried chicken with ham hock collard greens, mashed potatoes, more biscuits and a black pepper gravy. Unfortunately, the chicken was very dry although it had good flavor. The collards and potatoes were very good. I only had a small taste of the gravy and I've already said the biscuits were fantastic. I would love for Cafe Momentum to be open for lunch. The mission is awesome and I love the commitment of the employees!

We had a wonderful Tuesday snack before an event. Pricing is very reasonable for downtown, the dining room is lovely, and there are good menu choices. The flavors of the food are solid and their sourcing is awesome. They have delicious sparkling water and soda, coffee options. BYO at very reasonable price is an added plus. The best part about this place is the mission, which was executed with pride by the people who work here.

How many reviews have you read that start with, "I really wanted to like this place, but..."? Well, look no further to brush aside the disappointment of over hyped restaurants. Cafe Momentum does not disappoint with their service, menu, flavors and mission. There were plenty of vegetarian options and we order quite a few tapas style. The brussel sprouts were delicious, as was the trio of butters. The Baked PA Mushroom was the oddest, but strangely satisfying appetizer. The mushrooms were crispy, charred, almost burnt, but somehow not bitter; it was a savory bomb. We had no room for dessert, but we'll be back. Chef John from the Dallas cafe was in town and shared some hatch chili chutney in a jar that we got to spice up the flatbread. Great mission to match the tasty food in a very nice location. Highly recommended for foodies, and anyone who wants to feel good about contributing to the cause.

Our experience was great! The concept, the atmosphere, the food, all great. The owner/chef introduced himself and many of the trainees as well. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and the timing of food delivery was perfect for a relaxing night out dining and catching up with friends. One thing they did exactly right in my book was that they did NOT clear anyone's plates before EVERYONE was finished eating, so no one felt rushed. This is my pet peeve in most American eating establishment. And no one brought us the bill and asked us if we were planning ahead to have dessert while we were still eating our main courses, so hats off to the management for knowing how to properly pace a meal! Lovely dinner out! I highly recommend.

My wife has wanted to go here for awhile. We finally did. I have eaten in a lot of top level restaurants around the world. I was blown away. One would think the product/service would be challenged with the wonderful mission of this restaurant. NOT ONE BIT. The flavors were magnificent! Whether it was the appetizer, starter, main course or dessert, we ate each like it was our last meal! I hesitate to discuss the specifics of the items as the menu changes depending on the local sourcing of ingredients and chef's creativity. Suffice to say unless we just hit the menu jackpot that one night...it is all good! Service was warm and attentive with a personal visit from the chef! I can't recommend giving this a try enough. I plan to be back...often.

We had dinner at Cafe Momentum and had a wonderful experience. The Brie and fig flatbread app was delicious and the steak dinner fantastic and perfectly cooked.

Was visiting Pittsburgh for the first time and was intrigued by the chalkboard display in the storefront when we walked by as it mentioned the restaurant supports justice-impacted youth. Coming from SF, I was intrigued since we have a similar restaurant named Delancey Street Restaurant for adults (founded by an ex-felon). I immediately grabbed a reservation on OpenTable for 5:45 PM, however, realized that it was a bit too close to happy hour and called back to see if they could move this later, which they were happy to accommodate a 7:30 PM spot. We were hanging out around the neighborhood as we arrived early to stop by SPACE the art gallery (highly recommend). At around 7:30 PM, we got a courtesy text that our table was ready--which we truly appreciated since it was so easy to get immersed in the gallery. Our time at Cafe Momentum felt like the "younger sibling" version of what we experienced back home at Delancey St. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with booth and table seating. Chris had been our host to seat us at our booth and made sure to wish me a happy birthday (the special event noted in our reservation). We were then greeted by our waiter, Daniel, and the manager Gene even stopped by to say hello (a nice touch since the restaurant had just opened on Mar 1st). Since it was a Friday during Lent, it was nice to see seafood and vegetarian options on their seasonal menu. We ordered apps first, which were brought out, then ordered sides & mains following. The Food: - Butter Board - 5/5 You MUST get this spread of delicately crafted compound butters accompanied by fluffy biscuits and crunchy focaccia slices. It was so good, we had to stop ourselves from filling up on bread. - Baked PA Mushroom - 3/5 I hadn't expected this to be another bread spread, so we had definitely over-ordered on apps--whoops. The mushrooms tasted great, but my husband and I definitely preferred the butter board way more. We'd give this a skip next time around but would recommend it to anyone who prefers goat cheese over butter. - Beet Salad - 4/5 Generous portions of rainbow carrots and perfectly cooked golden and red beets, with goat cheese and a balsamic drizzle. Delicious and refreshing after a long trip. - Ahi Tuna - 4.5/5 Sesame crusted ahi tuna on top of a citrusy soy noodle bed. The citrus soy noodles was a fresh take and an appreciated twist on the dish, and the portion of tuna, like all the other dishes, was quite generous--much more than what we usually expect coming from the Bay Area. We unfortunately had no space left for dessert after this and packed our apps to bring back to the hotel. We were also pleasantly surprised by their no tipping policy--in lieu of tips, the restaurant takes donations instead to fund their nonprofit mission. We grabbed a T-shirt on the way out as well (note: they're running low on inventory so grab one while you can before the next restock!) Tldr;; A great restaurant with good atmosphere, delicious food, and an amazing cause--definitely worth a stop in Pittsburgh to dine with purpose.

Highly recommend the pork chop, the smoked fried chicken, and the cured meat flatbread!

Pleasant and clean atmosphere; attentive and friendly service. The cookie board for dessert was the best! The server described the cookies, which was nice. The ice cream that came with the cookie board was absolutely devine!!

Wow, what a fabulous experience at Cafe Momentum Pittsburgh. From the moment we walked in, we were treated with enthusiasm and professionalism! Four of us for dinner and everything was spot on delicious! The Butter Board is to die for --- three different kinds of butter (which was produced locally) and breads that were fresh and so flavorful. Salads: Asparagus Salad and Beet Salad (Yum). Dinners were: Linguine w/sardines; Smoked Fried Chicken w/mashed potatoes; Braised Rabbit and the Jerky Pork Chop. Everything was absolutely DELICIOUS and prepared to perfection. The flavors blended so well together. The chef came out to talk to us about the ingredients and most is locally produced, even some by their own gardens. Heard stories of the waiters and staff and just was such a personalized dinner. Absolutely loved their mission and seeing how this incredible restaurant is making a difference in the lives of young people. Will definitely go back -- you won't be disappointed and, oh yes, it's BYOB!!

Amazing time! The food was great! Thee kids are great.. the greens were to die for! Please visit them and give this place a chance!!

The food was delicious, beautiful, and high quality ( hyper-locally sourced). The restaurant is newly renovated and lovely with an open view of the kitchen. The service was friendly and responsive. The mission is incredible--training justice involved to cook and serve in a fine dining establishment.

What a great experience!! The food was great and plentiful. The service was great! The atmosphere was warm. Keep up the good work young people. We will be returning!! Yum

This was our second visit to Cafe Momentum. The first was very good with some rocky service moments. This experience was nearly perfect. From the mission, to the food, service, ambiance, menu options, BYOB option, our entire night was a delight. The changing menu is attentive to all dietary needs. The portions are voluminous (I would share a salad), seasoned appropriately and frankly delicious. We sampled the appetizers, pasta, seafood, and vegetarian options. All were exquisitely prepared and portions significant. The mission is unparalleled and it is evident in speaking with the staff that it is highly effective. We will certainly return and continue to recommend this restaurant to all.

I heard about Cafe Momentum in an unusual way - Chef Chad Houser who founded the original concept in Dallas was on a podcast and mentioned that they were expanding to Pgh. What? Why hadn't I heard about it? (It's still quite new.) So I made it a point to get there for dinner next chance I got. It's a very convenient location just a block from Market Square and next to a parking garage with $5 evening parking. It wasn't busy (yet), they are still working on getting a liquor license so for now it's BYOB. The food was amazing, for apps our group had the butter board, meat board, and Baked PA mushroom, it was hard to choose a favorite. I had a beet salad - loaded with beets! - and the hubby had the Pappardelle Bolognese which he raved about. The staff was friendly and attentive (without hovering), they did a nice job and you could tell they wanted to be there. (I think we've all been to restaurants with miserable over-worked staff, this was the complete opposite.) So here's the deal - I can get a delicious locally-sourced meal at many establishments - but where can you get that same quality of food with a dose of social justice, serving a higher cause? This is your place!

This place is nothing less than fantastic. The food and the service are all top notch. Our small group had a couple appetizers which were delicious. I had the Pappardelle Bolognese, which was phenomenal. Our only issue was there was so much delicious food we couldn't eat it all. When in the area - stop in. Great place to eat before a show.