FareStart

https://seattle.eater.com/2024/6/19/24181747/farestart-restaurant-reopening-guest-chef-nights-ethan-stowell

Seattle Nonprofit FareStart Is Reopening Its Restaurant - Eater Seattle

"FareStart, a nonprofit, is reopening its Denny Triangle restaurant in early July. The restaurant will serve breakfast and lunch and host Guest Chef Nights featuring renowned chefs from Seattle." - Harry Cheadle

If You Only Have Three Days in Seattle

"This terrific nonprofit trains and employs people who have struggled with poverty, addiction, and incarceration. Topping out with four stars on Charity Navigator, FareStart opens its flagship restaurant downtown for weekday lunches and Guest Chef Night dinners on Thursdays. The menu shifts seasonally, spotlighting flavors like five-spice duck cannelloni with panang curry and stinging nettles. But it also maintains a steady heartbeat of classic dishes like grilled salmon, rosemary turkey, and vegetable polenta topped with marinara sauce and a sunny-side-up egg. Thanks in part to Amazon donations, Farestart has expanded into four other locations: Maslow's, Rise, Café @ 2100 and the Café @ PacTower. Reservations are highly recommended at the main restaurant and can be made online."

The Best Restaurants in Seattle

https://seattle.eater.com/2020/1/15/21067451/nonprofit-farestart-closing-maslows-south-lake-union

FareStart Will Close Its South Lake Union Restaurant Maslow’s This Month - Eater Seattle

"The flagship FareStart Restaurant Downtown on Virginia Street continues to operate as part of FareStart's job training programs." - Gabe Guarente

https://www.theinfatuation.com/seattle/guides/seattles-new-restaurant-openings

Kyle Cooley

Google

I love this place! Great food and a great cause. I came here many times for corporate lunches, so I can't speak much to the price, but the atmosphere was always classy and the service was excellent.

Kira

Google

I've been a fan and supporter of FareStart for years now. I enjoy heading over for lunch, and care about their mission. When I saw they do a fundraising night with visiting chefs, I was super excited to participate. It's a 3 course fixed menu meal for $55 + tax, and I decided to splurge for a nice night out with my partner. The starters were honestly excellent. Top to bottom, loved everything. Then the main course (steak) came out. It's a fixed menu, so they didn't ask how we wanted it cooked, but mine was blackened beyond recognition and well done inside. Additionally, a full quarter of the main was gristle. I was pretty shocked. Needless to say, I've had more than my monthly dose of carcinogens. After finishing the course, we were super hungry and eagerly awaiting the promised chocolate tart with whipped cream and berry compote. Instead, we got what is pictured below. Not only was the tart(ellette) entirely whipped cream with no chocolate, it was two small bites in what seemed to be a store-bought shell. I honestly thought it was an amuse buche until they brought the check! While I appreciate the work FareStart is doing, I'm not sure I'll be back for another Chef Night, and I don't think I'll be patronizing the restaurant of the guest chef.

Yaadhav Raaj

Google

Honestly some of the best food I've had in the city. The herb crusted salmon with salad, vege fritters on a burger bun, and the fresh baked French bread with the compound butter and tomato soup were out of this world. Great pricing too

Philip Ermish

Google

Nothing mind blowing but good food with a great cause! The fish and chips is pretty good! Oh and the fires with carrot-tomato sauce is awesome!

Melissa Chu

Google

I love the ambiance and decor of this place. The tall ceilings combined with glass windows all around at this corner location opens up the place in a unique yet private way. Just to top that off, the food here is delicious. Every dish I ordered came just right as described. The dishes themselves are very common American dishes, but you can see and taste the detailed work that went into each plate.

Sally James

Google

Farestart Guest Chef nights combine 3-course meal with social justice. Listen to a grad share their journey. Sweet taste of community setting a life on new course.

Piali A

Google

Excellent crispy chicken sandwich and fish and chips for lunch today. Super clean establishment with friendly service. Highly recommend!!

Daniel Daly

Google

I just discovered this place a few weeks ago and I have already been in several times. Delicious food, extremely friendly staff and it all goes to a good cause.

Carol C.

Yelp

This is one of my favorite events of the year - Guest Chef Night at FareStart (1/9/25). My company was given the opportunity to volunteer as restaurant servers for the first Guest Chef Night of 2025! We also recently remodeled FareStart's space. It was a fun evening enjoying delicious food alongside my co-workers and dining with new and old friends. Zac Reynolds from Cook Weaver was the guest chef. I thoroughly enjoyed each course and wished the servings were bigger. I think it's good to leave wanting more ...

Alan Z.

Yelp

Came here for lunch and got the caesar salad. It was pretty good, lots of varieties of leaves inside so it's not just a boring lettuce salad. Chicken was a little dry though but the dressing was pretty good. Croutons were crunchy and they go along well with everything else. Order at the front, and bus your own table.

Tony B.

Yelp

GUEST CHEF NIGHT WITH ETHAN STOWELL. I have never been to the FareStart restaurant, but my in-laws arranged this dining event. There were six of us! This is a social enterprise non-profit organization recognized by a James Beard award. They typically serve light fare and coffee drinks. Two or three times a month, a featured guest chef serves a full three-course meal in an evening fundraiser, all for $50.00. Wine and beer are extra. Our first course was a Tavolata Salad with a red wine vinaigrette. It was delicious. For our main course, we had a spicy sausage Rigatoni. The pasta was al dante, and the sausage was spiced to perfection with a little bite. It was so good, and I was filled up too soon, probably because I was eating too fast. No worries; a box was provided for take-home. Dessert was an elevated Ice Cream Sandwich. There was a delicious cookie on the bottom and vanilla gelato on top. Excellent. The wait staff were all volunteers from the firm that remodeled the restaurant space for FareStart. It is decidedly modern, with a full view of the kitchen through a large glass window. There is also a balcony-level dining area. All told we all had a wonderful time, with great food worth far more than we paid, excellent service provided by the volunteers, and a pleasant environment. No need to deduct any stars here. You can be sure I will be back for another guest chef experience! If you've read THIS far, you must have enjoyed my review. So please say so, by clicking one or more of those little Useful Funny or Cool buttons. And while you're at it, go ahead and friend me! I Just moved to the Seattle area last October and I need all the friends I can get. So, go ahead, press that button, and never miss even one of my epic reviews in the Seattle area and beyond. Excelsior!

Oliver G.

Yelp

FareStart is back! Reimagined as a gorgeous cafe with chill music and delicious drinks. The cortado was smooth. My vegetarian breakfast sandwich hit the spot. I decided to work here for a while and enjoy the vibe.

Michael P.

Yelp

Outstanding breakfast, coffee and lunch M-F. Have had most menu items and all are delicious, fresh, made to order and quick! Cool space with lots of windows and great vibe. Best of all, FareStart is a non profit that provides job training to people who have been disadvantaged or struggled so you are helping people and the community when you eat here. Faves are the beet salad, chicken sandwich, soups and all breakfast items. It's all great food.

Yemi ..

Yelp

We went here for a quick breakfast on our last day in Seattle. I wish I had found this restaurant earlier. I love the concept of the restaurant and how it is serving its local community. The food was great and reasonable price as well.

Yegee L.

Yelp

Every time I walk by this restaurant the smell invites me in. I finally got to check the place out this week for lunch. I ordered the steak frites with the steak done medium rare. The steak was okay. A little rarer than I would have liked, but it wasn't bad. The side of kale was surprisingly good. It had a nice flavor and it wasn't bitter. The fries were my favorite. They were potato fries but I thought I tasted a little bit of sweet potatoes? In any case they were delicious and fried to a crisp.

Erik B.

Yelp

Had a great dining experience here. And the history was related to us by our waiter. This restaurant was first started in 1992 by David Lee, a famous chef. He started it by first serving hot meals at the various shelters, but then turning it into a business called common meals. As the business grew, he knew that he could TRAIN them and give them sustainable full-time jobs. The restaurant also has multiple adult and child culinary programs to help sustain the community. Yes; there is actually a social mission for this restaurant. I ordered a salad with Gorgonzola cheese, cherry tomatoes and well seasoned vinaigrette. The main course was a finely cut steak, and an order of vegetarian risotto. Dessert shortly followed- chocolate mousse cake with raspberry syrup. Really nice taste!

Teri T.

Yelp

The restaurant is open for lunch Monday-Friday and then for dinner on Thursday nights. Add the Thursday night dinner to your bucket list and you won't be disappointed. Honestly, you will probably want to become a regular. The Thursday night dinner experience was fantastic! My husband and I went last week and left happy, full and with a heart filled with joy. Every Thursday night a guest chief creates a three course menu which is then executed by members of the farestart program (providing culinary skills to the underprivileged). And get this, you receive this 5 star meal for only 30 dollars per person!! Service is made up of volunteers and no service charge (at least for dinner). Just a spot for a voluntary donation to the program. I love farestart's mission and the work they do. Always happy to support their cause! This experience is just the icing on the cake--fantastic meal, stellar value and it all goes to a great cause! That's one way to not feel guilty for eating dessert! :)

Pam A.

Yelp

This is a review for FareStart's weekend Kitchen Prep volunteer event. I came here recently with a small group to help some of the chef instructors and regular volunteers prep shelter meals in the community kitchen. After checking in everyone watches a short video on kitchen safety. Hair nets, aprons, and gloves are provided for each volunteer. Volunteers are randomly assigned various duties such as assembling sandwiches, packing sack lunches, and washing/prepping vegetables. A typical shift starts at 10am and goes to about 3pm. The time goes by fast when you're in the kitchen because there's always something to do. There is a short break with lunch provided. Lunch for us that day were leftovers made by students in the adult culinary program. After lunch we swept and wiped down the kitchen before heading out. This is a great volunteer opportunity for those looking to give back to the community and to brush up on your kitchen skills! Things to know: * Wear closed toe shoes, pants, and no sleeveless tops * Lockers are provided with combination locks (it's like being in HS again!) * Parking is free on Sundays downtown

Ana M.

Yelp

5 stars for the awesome mission and what they do for the community. Of course I would return because I saw some delicious stuff here! Also 5 stars to the staff that even when they were full, they would keep their best attending, taking orders, etc. I was impressed of the cute simplicity of the place. I liked it :) I would give 4 stars to the process of sitting. It is very easy to get into line because you open the door an the curtain helps you to move to the right place. I found it smart and a nice touch :) So waiting for lunch time WA s 25 minutes which wasn't that bad but what came into my attention were various open tables. They get reservations and of course all restaurants would give 15 mins of tolerance. But people started leaving because of the waiting. At the end, they put me into one of the little tables cause I went by myself and another party left. I think that they would have used those tables and people would have been served. I was there for the Burger Week. So I ordered the one topped with crab. It was salty because of it. Patty was dry. It split in half. Taste was regular. Bread was pressed down :( I liked the little cute pickles.

Eric Y.

Yelp

I'm so glad I came here for Burger Week - the burger here was a clear winner! The burger consisted of 2 beef patties, a super flavorful crispy crab cake, and a delicious aioli that tasted almost like a smooth tartar sauce. I have no idea how they came up with it, but it works! Everything meshed together so well and it was pretty much a perfect burger. The sauce especially was amazing and just brought it to the next level. Really the only knock was that the brioche bun was a touch dry, but the other parts of the burger more than made up for it This place was hoppin' at lunchtime on a Wednesday, and I can definitely see why!

Jeff R.

Yelp

They are closed. Not sure why companies don't update their Yelp so someone like me doesn't walk a mile to be finally greeted with a closed sign. Hopefully this post will limit the amount of unnecessary exercise early in the morning. I walked to Lola's and waited on a list to finally eat.

Mojdeh S.

Yelp

How I heard of this place: It was over a decade ago when I first learned of Farestart, its mission and the reason I often recommend the space to friends and colleagues interested in a lunchtime restaurant suggestion. Type of cuisine: Five star food served in a modern setting and three star prices. Extraordinary and well-known local chefs offer their time and energy to provide training and expertise in crafting beautiful fare for the masses at (more) affordable prices. Ambiance: Chic, spacious and sleek, the tall ceilings, glorious windows casting natural light across the establishment, clean lines and ambient colors make for a truly warm welcome as one enters Farestart. What I ordered: With an ever-changing, seasonal menu, my sister-in-law and I both ordered the Sweet Potato Gnocchi ($14.95 each) with braised Painted Hills beef, lacinato kale demi glaze and horseradish cream. My husband selected a Farestart Favorite, The Farestart Beef Burger ($11.95) for a Painted Hills grass fed beef patty ground in house daily and served on a toasted brioche roll with a side of Caesar Salad. (We shared a side of fries to start!) What I loved: The fries! Perfectly doughy inside, crisp exterior and great until the last bite! Why I loved it: Beautifully prepared and presented meals with rich flavors and a variety of textures enticing the tastebuds at each bite. And a mission worth supporting at every turn. Cost: Average ($10 - $15 per lunchtime entrée)

Suraj S.

Yelp

Team lunches are a quarterly event for my team. For this quarter's team lunch, our team chose FareStart to have the team lunch. I am aware of the positive impact FareStart is having on the community. We arrived on a rainy Wednesday for lunch. I opted to get a red wine and the impossible burger for my lunch with a tomato basil soup. The burger was served with some pickled onions and pickles on the side. The burger itself was juicy and delicious and the chipotle mayo style dressing on the bun was adequate for the size of the burger. The burger is definitely bigger than an 8oz burger and was filling. For dessert we opted for a seasonal mint pie which was a pie in the form of a burger. The ambience of the place is astounding and I will definitely come back or try the other FareStart restaurants in the Seattle area.

Kim M.

Yelp

FareStart gets 5 stars for what it stands for and what it does for those in the community that are trying to build or rebuild their lives. I've been going to FareStart since well before it was known by its current name, when it used to be called Common Meals, back in the very early 1990s. Friends and I would especially dine there often as possible the graduation nights. It was always so awesome to see individuals who had gone through the program of learning culinary skills, gain restaurant business knowledge, and such, to obtain their certificate of completion. They would be given their own personal culinary cooking set too. It was fantastic to know that they were set in a new positive direction.... for many a truly life-changing direction. The food has always been okay. Nothing extraordinary, but decent. The only time I was really disappointed was when their main dinner entree was lentils in a bowl. I've immensely enjoyed dining with friends and colleagues through the years at FareStart. I recommend that you give it a try not just for the food but also for the cause.

Ann K.

Yelp

Ordered the Field Roast sandwich with the soup of the day which was a poblano soup. The sandwich was pretty gross, but I'm also not a fan of fake meat, preferring sandwiches that just accept that they're vegan and don't try to make some congealed mess of flavors as the entree. I didn't really enjoy the soup all too much either, and had to add a decent amount of salt which is something that I never do. The atmosphere was very nice, and the service was friendly, but the food itself was just pretentious and not all that good in my opinion. I'm not a sandwich person so that could be a reason not to come again, but I liked the ambiance so much I may just give this place another try especially since my office is right down the street. Next time, definitely not going for the vegan option though, perhaps I'll try something vegetarian just so that the "meat" part isn't quite so disgusting. Not sure what they put into that hard substance in the center of my sandwich but it was not pleasant. I didn't even like the sauces of the sandwich that much. Why are all the reviews of this sandwich so amazing? Are my taste buds broken? I really am concerned with how little I enjoyed my actual meal here.

Chelsea M.

Yelp

Having been a volunteer regular here for the past 4.5 years I can say that I have seen a lot of their events, met a lot of their staff and board members, got to know many of their students, and have seen the program work. This is one of the best run non-profits I have ever known and really supports a cause and a mission that is not only entirely needed in our community but is helping establish and mentor those in communities around the country. Aside from the positive impact they have on individuals and the community, their food is outstanding. The chefs that attend Guest Chef Night on Thursdays are some of the best in the business. The FareStart students and staff execute a diverse but delicious lunch menu. If you have ever been lucky enough to attend an event at either the FareStart restaurant or the Pacific Tower then you have sampled their catering and that is also some of the best in the city. I try to bring all of my family and friends here while visiting and it is seriously one organization that I just can't help myself from gushing about. I feel lucky to be a volunteer there!

Catie V.

Yelp

Amazing tomato basil soup and bread! I only come to Seattle about once a month for work but this is my favorite place to order lunch from (I've never dined in, only picked up). The first time I ordered the blackened salmon sandwich and a tomato soup. When my coworker and I got back to the office, we realized that they forgot my tomato soup. I called the restaurant and it rang through then went to voicemail, I left a message thinking that they'd probably never call me back to refund the soup. The next day, a really sweet manager named Camry called me back and wanted me to come by for my soup, but I had already returned home to San Diego. My next trip she kept her promise and comped my meal. Great customer service experience! The salmon sandwich is so tasty - I love the aioli. I get the cole slaw as my side but I add it to the sandwich and it's delicious. The tomato basil soup is so thick and flavorful and the bread that comes with it is soft and delicious. As long as I'm visiting Seattle for work I'll be ordering from here!

J S.

Yelp

Very nice not for profit restaurant. Food was good and priced well. Bill may surprise you as the tip is built into the total. It also has a space to add a donation. I had the grilled salmon

Scott S.

Yelp

We went for my birthday to the special guest chef night. If you're not familiar, a chef from another restaurant comes in on Thursday's and provides a 3 course meal (no options other than for vegetarian) at a price of $35. We thought it was all amazing and we were happy to sample a good restaurant in a unique way. Instead of tips they also asked for donations which we liked, as it helps fund their community service programs.

Kyle W.

Yelp

I went here for career related stuff and I really enjoyed this restaurant experience! I got the grilled salmon with the impression that it's just regular salmon like the dining halls back at my university, but it exceeded my expectations! The salmon was cooked perfectly and the vegetables that supplement it were distinctly flavorful. The color of the vegetables along the presentation of the salmon makes it look extremely appetizing! Service was excellent in context of the situation. The waiter was very friendly and brought us water to start, and didn't come to check on us until we finished eating which was professional of him (in context of the situation), since we are having an extended conversation. If I visit Seattle again, I will definitely return to this place.

Danwei W.

Yelp

Came here for Seattle Burger week. Would have to say that this place had the best burger out of all the places tried. The filling including a crabcake, two mini beef patties, and bacon with a lemon aioli sauce. Very good and well thought out. It was awesome that the restaurant participated in Burger week becauase I was able to try out a place that I may have otherwise overlooked on the map.

Andrea K.

Yelp

FareStart is a very clean and well-decorated restaurant. Upon entering, it felt very fancy and up-scale, with two floors of seating and an open kitchen. The restaurant has a great mission and backstory; I think what they do for the community is amazing.The food is a bit pricey, but it's understandable because the money is going toward a good purpose by providing opportunities for those less privileged/disadvantaged. However, the food that we ordered was only okay, but I think it was because I was expecting a bit of a gourmet-style. My friend and I split the FareStart burger and the BBQ pulled pork sandwich with a green bean salad and salmon chowder for sides. The burger wasn't anything out of the ordinary and tasted like your average burger. They had actually messed up our order and forgot to include the cheese, but were more than glad to ensure that we weren't charged extra. The BBQ pork sandwich had a really good BBQ sauce and the pork was tender, but was also not anything extremely unique.

Emily C.

Yelp

My experience eating here was fine, the food just didn't wow me. I sort of had higher expectations maybe from reading other reviews or looking at pictures..but my food was just alright. It wasn't bad, I just didn't feel like it was anything extraordinary.I got a crispy pork sandwich. The soup of the day however was southwest chicken tortilla which is really great! BUT--food aside, the mission of this restaurant is incredible!! They don't serve alcohol in the day, only at night (reason being some of the students here are recovering). I love that this place provides opportunities to those who are disadvantaged & homeless. Their missions is "Great Food. Better Lives." The Guest chef nights seem cool but it's on Thursdays during the week so we missed that. Definitely check it out if you're looking for something different. And all of your tips go to support their organization! Awesome.

Steven U.

Yelp

Good food: check Good atmosphere: check Loads of options: check Friendly staff: check Inspiring story: check Went here with my work team for lunch. This is one of the only restaurants that I've found which can accommodate a team consisting of a vegan, non pork eaters, a carnivore, a low carb diet, and foodies alike. Reservation system makes for a seamless experience getting seated. However wait time for foods can be a little long. Likely a trade off for having such variety on the menu.

Melissa C.

Yelp

Patrick S.

Yelp

Affordable, and quite wonderful food combined with great service makes for a wonderful experience. This was before I knew about the concept behind the restaurant, which is definitely worth a read! Went here for lunch with a friend. When you enter, you get the feeling that this place will be on the rich side. Downtown Seattle, great decorations, nicely set tables. All has the vibe of a $30-$50 plate restaurant. I was happily surprised when I got the menu. All of the lunch items were beyond reasonable, especially for location, and ingredients! Most lunch items range from $9-$15. I ordered the blackened salmon sandwich, with a side of tomato basil soup, at the recommendation of my friend who works just a block away. My friend ordered a full tomato soup, and a side salad. Both of our items came out quite quickly, and in the mean time my water was refilled several times, and my coffee was refilled twice as well. Top notch waiting service. The food came, and the salmon sandwich was wonderfully well prepared. Cooked to have just a bit of black on the outside, but still juicy inside, and not dry. It was well seasoned with just the right amount of herbs and spice. The tomato soup was very delicious as well, tasted fresh, and not something just made from a frozen soup block thrown in a pot of hot water. All of the items were presented nicely as well. Definitely had me thinking the whole time that this could go for a much higher price, and people would still happily eat here! After leaving the restaurant, I checked out their website, and began to read about the company and its mission. This made me appreciate and respect the restaurant even more. They provide job training and experience to local people going through hardship, whether homelessness or unemployment. They are helping the community build its skill to have a better equipped, employable population. When you combine this with the fact that in most aspects it presents itself as a high class restaurant, it is really a remarkable feat that FareStart has accomplished. Go here! Give it a try! See if you are as impressed as I am! Find some tasty well made meals, for a reasonable price, while also helping your community build itself! Definitely going back, and would recommend to all! -Cheers!

Lovely S.

Yelp

I just do not understand why the food depicted here looks so fantastic and yummy, when 5 days a week I see the nastiest looking and tasting slop seriously undercooked rice is a norm, today it was supposed to be"chicken curry" but it was terribly burned , so they just took the skin off so you couldn't see the worst burnt parts. a lot of times the side and the dinner and the vegetable will all just tastes the same . I've had food poisoning from eating the dinn ers the last time it was a so-called shepherd's pie but it was nothing like a shepherd's pie I was very very ill and couldn't go anywhere for 2 days. mystery island joke and it kind of a fun thing for the staff to look at the table and try to identify it sometimes so it was just said that it is "beef, we think" ........ intercom..lol. and when it consistsinsis something with fish or actually when is pork

Gail D.

Yelp

Lunch and supporting a great mission. My husband has the pasta seasonal special with homemade pasta and a robust and tasty sauce. My blackened salmon sandwich with crispy fries was yummy.

Julian G.

Yelp

I've been wanting to try this place for a very long time. My office finally went here for a team lunch event. For some reason i painted this place as a gourmet restaurant. This is not the case... The food is very approachable, sandwiches, burgers, steak, etc... I was expecting something a bit more 'modern'. If you're thinking of going here, lower your expectations a bit and approach it more of a higher end diner then you'll know what you're getting. The food was ok, but nothing memorable. Though the dinner course and menu looked interesting and im very curious to give that a shot.

Joop V.

Yelp

I've been to FareStart for dinner and really like the goal of FareStart to get those that need a second chance/ back on the ground with practical culinary/kitchen skills training. Although I've never been to their lunch sitting, the dinner one was quite good. For dinner, there's a rotating list of local Seattle Chefs who come in to teach individuals on how to prepare 3 course meals. You can either participate at FareStart by helping wait the table or dine a 3-course dinner there to support the cause (for a really reasonable price!). The food is pretty good, but don't expect anything too fancy. You get a choice or two for appetizer / main course. For the price and the cause though, I think the meal is definitely worth it. Dinner you almost always want to make a reservation. The place seems to be booked everytime I try to look into a table for dinner at the last minute. If you've never been to FareStart, check it out! Dine a delicious meal and provide support for your community at the same time!

Kelvin S.

Yelp

Perfect lunch spot I'd say. Good selection of mains and salads and drinks. The staff made us feel completely at home. Though be prepare to wait some fifteen twenty minutes at lunch peak. Generous sized sandwiches and salads. The soups were yummy! Will be back if I'm around again. Love their concept of community kitchen and celebrity chefs :) keep it up guys!

Gordon F.

Yelp

The service was very slow. It took 50 minutes for my food to arrive. This is for a Friday lunch. The food was great. I finished two plates of food. I love the tenderness of the chicken breast on the caesar salads and steak. I would definitely come back again next month for the great food but in a less busy time.

Tiffany T.

Yelp

Atmos: Large, open, offset double decked. Very busy during the lunch hour. Service: Friendly! Tea: Nah. They serve Tazo tea. I wish they would pair up with a local tea maker like Choice or Smacha or someone else in the area. Tazo is meh tea. Vegetarian Food: Great! I've tried everything vegetarian on their menu and it's all great! Today: Roast Beet Salad: Delicious! A great balance of ingredients and a great combination of salty and sweet Fries: Yum! Yum! My favorite fries in town! I think these are battered. They are not overly salty - they are perfect in flavor and texture. I always love what I get here. I hope they start experimenting with new vegetarian options though because it gets a bit boring after a while

Quinn C.

Yelp

I came here with my boss a few weeks ago for the first time. I'm happy I made a reservation because shortly after we arrived the place filled up and the wait was pretty long. Since this was a work thing, I can tell you the water was great. Our server was really great, attentive and overall very sweet. I ordered the grilled salmon and my boss got the fish and chips. Let it be known the fish of the fish and chips is a heavier batter, and less panko/tempura like than anticipated. The grilled salmon was fantastic. It was cooked perfectly, flaky and not dry. It was paired with bell peppers and something else but I can't remember because it was so tasty, I inhaled it. I love the mission of this place and think that it's so awesome to be giving back to the community. It is a little pricey but absolutely worth the splurge when you're in the 'hood.

Deb G.

Yelp

I really like Farestart. The food is really awesome here and they have a great mission. Pictured here is lunch fare: stewed beef with polenta. It was great but a tad bit heavy for my taste! Needless to say, I will be back again soon.

Corey G.

Yelp

Finally made it to Farestart, and I'm really glad I did. I must explain why it took me so long to get here (it's only minus): they're only open M-F & for lunch (except Thurs)---this is only a tiny negative though, because if you ever make it to Farestart you will realize some places are WORTH making an effort to get to. As I entered this establishment, I was greeted warmly by the hostess, and was then seated at a long "community table" in the center of the downstairs dining area (it was a table which could easily seat a couple dozen people--I shared it with only another couple on the opposite end of the table). This was a cool spot for solo diners. Along with the standard lunch menu, I was also given a Weekly Special menu. One item in particular had my tastes buds in a tractor beam: House Made Gnocchi (braised lamb shoulder, seasonal greens, lamb jus). I do love me some gnocchi! Another treat, Dry Soda on the beverage list. I was at a fancy and cool place, so I had to order one (the vanilla bean); it was served in a champagne flute! My server was super nice, and I also met one of the chefs when he walked by and asked how the meal was. The meal was pretty phenomenal. Who doesn't love potato dumplings. The braised lamb was dark and had a strong and tasty flavor. The dish was presented well, and very fan-inducing! Overall, I had an excellent experience at Farestart. The dining area is stylish, the staff is impeccable, the cuisine is top notch, and then there is the story behind Farestart. Farestart is not just a restaurant it's an organization which empowers some of those in the community who may be a bit down on their luck, by giving them top notch training in the culinary arts at all levels. Farestart also helps to feed the homeless in the Seattle area. With goals and work such as this, Farestart offers a vision which all businesses should aspire to. I can't wait until my next visit to Farestart!

Fiona X.

Yelp

I've been here many times for lunch, and have always enjoyed the fresh, tasty food here. The blackened salmon burger, the tomato basil soup, and (even though I'm not a vegetarian) the Field Roast sandwich are all out of this world! I was never inspired to write a review until yesterday. I ordered catering through Farestart for a happy hour for an employee who is getting married. The process was easy - I simply emailed the catering email on their website, and someone immediately got back to me within 3 hours. I asked a few questions, placed my order, and received the Docusign to charge the catering to my card. The Director of catering even checked in with me to make sure I didn't need anything else, and the day before I asked him to provide signs that the catering was for a private event and he happily obliged The day of, the food was delivered by the sweetest young man ever who helped me set it up and even waited for me to come back after I left him with my coworker to grab something to make sure I was satisfied. Couldn't have been more happy with how smooth the process was. The food was fantastic (we got the charcuterie board, the fruit platter, and 3 dozen mini cheesecakes) which more than fed 25 people for each food item. We had roughly 1/3-1/2 of the food leftover at the end. The cost was very very reasonable - roughly $600 after all taxes, tips, etc. Will definitely be ordering Farestart again!!!

Aaryn P.

Yelp

I really love the concept here - community supported rehabilitation, great food, fantastic service, and local eats. I wish that there was something like this in Austin, TX that I could support. Maybe there is...food for thought! Anyways, I was brought in here by a friend who loves this place and wanted to share it with me. We came considerably early for a 1pm reservation and we're eventually accommodated. We were seated downstairs next to one of the many street level windows that provided an excellent people watching vantage point. Our waiter was wonderful and mainly on point. Tipping isn't allowed here, so the service is more genuine. You can provide a tax deductible donation in place of a tip, however. Anyways, my friend had the chicken burger with a side salad, and I had the turkey sandwich with fries. Everything was fantastic - the herbed turkey was moist and all of the veggies were fresh. The battered fries were, of course, a delight and I couldn't help eating ,it's if them. The pricing was decent fir a downtown local food venue that has a bit of class - I was actually pleasantly surprised when I got my bill. Four stars for a great establishment!

Angela B.

Yelp

I had been wanting to come to Farestart, well forever, or at least since I first heard about the program. I work with the homeless, so any place that gives low-income/homeless/down-on-their-luck/people with no training, a place to learn from some really amazing chef's and to gain knowledge and experience, is definitely right up my alley! And this place didn't disappoint! My friend invited to come along to her company work party here at Farestart and boy did I jump at that opportunity. They closed the place down for the company party, and all the food was free so we definitely induldged and tried almost everything. The appetizers were beautifully arranged and superb. The dinner was good, but very few options were served and we found it kind of bad that they didn't label the food. There are so many vegetarians, vegans, people with nut allergies, wheat allergies, etc that now a days you just expect people to label what the food is & if there are any items in it that people may be allergic too. Dessert was again very ellegant and soooo heavenly. The place was very clean & nice, would definitely come back again!!!

Brittney W.

Yelp

This restaurant is awesome! My friend and I made visiting this particular restaurant a priority during our trip to Seattle and we were not disappointed. We were seated early for our lunch reservation and the servers and hosts were incredibly nice. To start we had the shrimp and grits frittata which was very delicious (savory with - sweet drizzling of sauces). For our entree, we both ordered the fish and chips which were amazing - the fish had a crispy outer layer, not soggy, and the fish fell apart and wasn't dry and was served with an amazingly flavorful tartar sauce. The chips are served with carrot ketchup, which is delicious! Would highly recommend!!

Jason P.

Yelp

Pretty good in terms of food and service. We've eaten here multiple times, and had catering done by them. I like their mission, and their service is pretty good. I'm a fan!

Daren D.

Yelp

I've been finding myself wandering into SLU and the D-Tri more often these past several weeks. Ending up here for a lunch was rather nice. Lunch crowd is solid. For 1, the wait was decent and it's great to check out the wall of many different chef portraits in the meanwhile. For what it is, I like the level of design and simplicity; although the tall entry curtain divider is nice! Probably on par with good pricey restaurants, you may or may not leave with a full tummy but the food is really good. I think I had an eggplant small app and the lemongrass meatballs. The eggplant was a tasty bruschetta morsel (not too tough/hard nor too soft - good bruschetta is always awesome!) and while the meatballs didn't radiate lemongrass flavors like I'd wanted, they were still rather tasty in other ways. I asked about the chai, as well, but it's just Tazo - not often my preference. The few staff who came by were rather pleasant but one guy who seemed slightly odd. I'd come back for a PLATE of that bruschetta and trying more hearty dishes.

Sprizee V.

Yelp

Same awesome organization, new awesome setting. The concept is simple. They transform lives by teaching homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and families to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry. They also partner with some of the best, tasty, and fanciest restaurants in town. They're open weekdays for lunch and dinner OR you can go on a special night for a special treat, called Celebrity Guest Chef Night. CGCN happens once a week, every Thursday. You can check out the menus and make reservations here: http://farestart.org/restaurant/guestchef/calendar/index.html And since they've moved into a new location they also provide onsite catering, offsite catering and a great setting just a few blocks north of the downtown shopping district. So pass it on. The food is delicious. The price is right. And you're supporting a great organization. Well, what are you waiting for? Just go!

Rina K.

Yelp

5 stars for the mission of the restaurant. Great way to feel like you are contributing to something with very minimal effort. We came here with reservations at a lunch on a Thursday. It was pretty packed! Most people here seemed to be with their colleagues, so definitely a business lunch vibe. They offer a variety of sandwich options. The chicken salad sandwich I got was quite delicious! The risotto is quite small, I would go for a sandwich option instead.

Cyndi C.

Yelp

Great spot for an semi-upscale lunch that you can feel good about. Farestart quote: "It is the most socially responsible crouton you will ever eat." --I had to try it. I loved the lofty dining room space, the attentive servers and the food.. pretty good, nothing mind blowing. You can tell the ingredients are 'quality' and come on.. the cooks are homeless students, the menu changes often, so I'm sure each meal is different. I promise you will feel really good knowing that your dime is used wisely in a lovely setting. ALL monies go back into the student program, even server tips. I can't wait to try a "Guest chef" night here. The best chef's in the city donate their time to help instruct here. This place is inspiring. I totally recommend it!

Sandie L.

Yelp

From one service nonprofit provider to another - THANK YOU! This is a EXCELLENT organization that teaches people a practical trade AND offers a internship to practice their skills... what a great concept! At times, in my past job, we would have our staff meetings and purchase lunch here. ****GREAT PRICE ****FOOD PREPARED FRESH FOR YOU ****GREAT COMPANY support our community!

Catherine W.

Yelp

Had to give this restaurant a try on my last day in Seattle. The ambiance was bright and modern. We ordered the Kobe Beef Sliders special( it came with sweet potato fries, and aioli for dipping, the meat was good, but not juicy or tender enough like the kobe I had before). We also ordered the Blackend Salmon Sandwich ( the salmon was a bit over cooked, and the buns were cold), I think it would really make a difference if they would've toasted the buns. The Corn Chowder with Chipotle was good. The service was good, but inattentive at times. Over all I think this restaurant has a great mission, and potential for creating great foods consistently, we should all support their efforts in getting people back on their feet!

@infatuation

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https://seattle.eater.com/2024/6/19/24181747/farestart-restaurant-reopening-guest-chef-nights-ethan-stowell

Seattle Nonprofit FareStart Is Reopening Its Restaurant - Eater Seattle

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https://seattle.eater.com/2020/1/15/21067451/nonprofit-farestart-closing-maslows-south-lake-union

FareStart Will Close Its South Lake Union Restaurant Maslow’s This Month - Eater Seattle

"The flagship FareStart Restaurant Downtown on Virginia Street continues to operate as part of FareStart's job training programs." - Gabe Guarente