Provision Community Restaurant

Not only is the food good but the people are amazing with the biggest hearts. This 'pay what you can' cafe is not only dedicated to helping those in need by feeding a homeless shelter but they are also committed to building community connections and reducing food waste. A meal for the soul.

The food was delicious, atmosphere cozy and the conversation was fun. I wasn't sure what to expect from a sustainable community restaurant, but I will be back! While they don't take reservations, they seem to always have seating available, so don't let that deter you. Most meals are vegetarian, but absolutely delicious. Suggested minimum donation is $20 to cover your meal and pay it forward for someone else if you are able.

We came here with some friends a few weeks ago and the food and service was outstanding! Some of the best food I've had in a while. It's so cool to see a place like this pop up, please go check it out and take your friends for a cool experience!

Felt like I was at my own table, eating with friends and family. The food as the center, a welcome starter to any good conversation. As this idea blossoms, this community will be blessed by new relationships, where status has no place, just all similar in taste. ❤️❤️❤️

Nice place, food was good, hard to park on street, but had parking in the back. Attended an event here

Owner is absolutely amazing. Fantastic vision with repurposing and great family style dining

So welcoming and friendly and the meal was tasty

Terrific!!! Amazing food and womderful service.

This place was amazingly cool. You could go for a big, all you can eat, breakfast at a community table with great food that was rescued from various local markets and restaurants. Is there a way to re-constitute this place?

This is a very special place! One of the few pay-as-you-can restaurants in the US, and the only one that I know of in the Twin Cities, Provision also uses reclaimed foods and 90% of food is donated by a local grocers, restaurants, and farms. The first time I came in, we were welcomed for Thanksgiving dinner. The usual Thursday volunteers still came in and made a huge (and I mean, really huge!) dinner for us. Everyone managed to fit around one table, and it was a wonderful night. The second time I came to Provision was for a regular Friday night seating at 7pm. It was busy - almost the whole restaurant was full! I was very glad to see that. Nearly all of the people we sat with (4 men and one of the cooks) are in the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, and one spouse of a member. Everyone in our group was so friendly and interesting! We had a wonderful time, and it was fun to get to know new people who I may not have had the chance to meet, otherwise. I think this is a great concept for a restaurant. The food is amazing, and the host, Anna, is very friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be coming back often, and hopefully, bringing lots of people with me!

This is a great idea: a restaurant where you pay-it-forward. It's a bit different than other restaurants, with set seating times, and first come, first serve. You take a demographic survey when you arrive (anonymized). When they're ready for you, you are seated. It's a very nice space, with nice lighting and fresh paint. Tables are communal or family style, to encourage community and conversation. We decided to eat here for Thanksgiving and we were pleasantly surprised that everything except the turkey and one of the gravies was vegetarian, so we could eat the stuffing and the green beans didn't have scraps of bacon in it, etc. It made for a much easier and less stressful meal. There was a ridiculous amount of food, and all of it was delicious, maybe the best Thanksgiving meal that I've ever had. This meal was served family style, but also with style and friendliness. What I really liked was that the chefs and others who made the meal eventually sat down and ate with us, so we could ask what was in this, how they made that, or how they decided upon the menu, for example. It's nice to be able to thank the people who make the meal what it is, rather than the usual distance that you'd find in a typical restaurant. Donations are by cash or credit card. The advantage to paying by card is that the amounts are suggested, which was helpful. I hope that Provision succeeds and that it brings everyone to the table, from donors to those in need. It is fairly new and it is a necessary part of the community. They need you to make it happen.

This place is a hidden gem. The concept of a pay-what-you-can restaurant isn't new, but rarely has it been executed this well. We've been here a few times now and we already feel like regulars. The owner, Anna, is a very gracious and personable host. The quality of the food is comparable to what you'd find at most casual restaurants, and for a business that relies entirely on paying-it-forward, who could complain? The first time we went for Saturday brunch they had French toast, and a delicious breakfast buffet that had oatmeal, orange juice, and a variety of granola and cereals. The second time we went for dinner, the chef made fried rice, a strawberry and dragonfruit mixed greens salad, cheesy jalapeño bread, and freshly baked sugar cookies for dessert. The chefs make everything from scratch that night, and have no idea what food they will be cooking until the night of, so you will never be served the same thing twice! Everything is served and shared family style, as is the table seating. So, whether you're new to town, or have been living in the neighborhood for years, this is a great place to get to know your neighbors and share a meal with them. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, it feels more like you're at a friend's dinner party than a restaurant. The whole vibe is great, and there's no pressure to finish your meal and get going or feeling like you're asking for a handout. Both times we've been, the chef and the volunteers working there sat down and ate with us and we had great conversation. We look forward to frequenting this place and hope you do, too!