Cafe Momentum runs as a working restaurant and a workforce program at once. Youth ages 15 to 19 who've been through the justice system rotate through internships covering the kitchen, the dining room, and every station between, gaining industry skills alongside education and employment support meant to carry past the internship itself. The Dallas restaurant, set in the Downtown Historic District, is part of a small network that has expanded to Atlanta, Denver, and Pittsburgh over roughly a decade of operation.
Because the roster of interns turns over, the crew changes constantly, but regulars keep coming back for reasons beyond the mission: the fried chicken has built a real following, service gets consistently singled out for praise, and the restaurant has become a go-to for special-occasion dinners that also feel like good value.
The restaurant picked up a StarChefs Rising Stars nod for the Dallas-Fort Worth market in 2021.
Because the roster of interns turns over, the crew changes constantly, but regulars keep coming back for reasons beyond the mission: the fried chicken has built a real following, service gets consistently singled out for praise, and the restaurant has become a go-to for special-occasion dinners that also feel like good value.
The restaurant picked up a StarChefs Rising Stars nod for the Dallas-Fort Worth market in 2021.