4. Restaurants

FareStart

700 Virginia St, Seattle, WA, 98101
  • (206) 267-7601
  • Store is closed

FareStart Menu

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  • Ashley K.

    I don't write reviews, but I think FareStart is definitely worth it. The idea behind FareStart and their mission/cause is AMAZING, but even if that is not tempting enough for you to go, then their food and service should be. I have had their steak frites, and Pork Sandwich and Tomato Basil soup and it so absolutely mouth watering. They have great dishes and a free cookie for kids, so definitely kid friendly and it is a great and fancy atmosphere. The meals are very generous portion sizes but please save room for dessert - I had the Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream. I can't wait to go back!!!

    (5)

  • Jenny T.

    I made reservation of lunch when my husband was in conference. My goal was to support the program which help those homeless and disable people. The waitress was very friendly lead me to the seat and give me a clear recommendation of their dish. Although I was not hungry but I still ordered smoke salmon with pita as appetizer and smoke code salad. The portion was big and it was so... tasty. I actually ate everything which I had to skip my dinner ( too full).

    (5)

  • Jen T.

    This place has a perfect lunch menu! EVERYTIME I walk past this place its ALWAYS packed-can you blame them? It's delicious! Been here a couple times and I have to say there isnt much to complain about. Food for a good cause...you honestly cannot beat that. My top three dishes. - tomato soup is a must! - cobb salad, i know your thinking...its just a cobb salad- but its so fresh and simple; yet it hits all the right flavors! -Polenta...genius! and hearty! I definitely want to check out one of their guest chef nights! BUMMED! I missed Robyn from Crave/top chef!!!

    (5)

  • Nicole J.

    When was the last time you ate at a restaurant and felt like you had done something good for society? This place is just....wow. Not only for the fact that there lunch fare is phenomenal, but that they are providing food service training to homeless and other disadvantaged people. I had a hard time deciding what to order -- it all sounded so good -- but in the end I got the blackened salmon sandwich with a side of tomato basil soup. Also got two thyme goat cheese, with roasted red pepper jam crostini. Everything was spectacular. The salmon sandwich came with lemon caper aioli and you know I'm not hating on that. I slathered my lightly toasted bun with that sh*t while grinning from ear to ear. The soup was slightly creamy, piping hot (nice on a cold Seattle day), and satisfying. The crostini was beautiful -- twas the pepper jam that really made it sing. All in all a delightful meal...and for an entirely applaudable cause. Wish we had something like this in LA.

    (4)

  • Sandie L.

    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!

    (5)

  • Hannah L.

    And here is when I have to ask...Farestart, where were you all my life? Or more appropriately, where the f**k have I been?! In the wrong place, apparently. I'm remedying that, by going to the right one. My first night at Farestart, inspired by Mike Easton from Lecosho (my new haunt), was just lovely. It is the rare evening where you can indulge in beautifully plated and prepared food and, at the same time, support not only the local economy but the autonomy and independence of our fellow citizens learning a meaningful trade. By meaningful, I mean "one I cannot survive without." These guys are good.... A slew of smiling volunteers provide the evening's service: the menu is set by the chef (might want to call ahead if you want the vegetarian option), which helps minimize order-taking. Nevertheless, if you want the best service in Seattle (meaning smiles, genuine care), go here. These people might not be pros, but they're great! And not having a menu from which to choose is a plus: at our table, the consensus was a love of being told what to do...culinarily speaking. The decisions made for us were perfect: goat cheese topped with piquillo peppers, pork chop drizzled with caper-rich salsa verde nested on a garlicky bed of creamy polenta, and a square of bittersweet chocolate torte with a touch of huckleberry and vanilla cream that left two of us eagerly swooping in for an extra bite. Mmm. We already have future excursions planned for Guest Chef night. For three courses, this is an amazing value for the food inspiration, and you're actively involved in supporting the vibrant food scene in Seattle by helping to usher in a next echelon of chefs. Lots of local restaurants hire Farestart grads, and I'm excited that one might be in whatever kitchen I go to this weekend. There's no better way to not only put your money, but some phenomenal food, where your mouth is....

    (5)

  • Elisa Y.

    Lunch is amazing! Super delishes for the price and great service! I would totally come here again!

    (5)

  • Nick C.

    Guest Chef night with Chef Luigi DeNunzio from Luigi's Little Italy. Bruschetta started a bit too hard on the edges, but still managed to be some of the best I ever had. Fantastic and fresh zucchini and peppers on top! This paired beautifully with the wine (The Magician from the Columbia valley of course). Pasta and Fagioli was even better than Olive Gardens (a joke of course). Seriously the noodles were melt in your mouth delicious. The seasoning on the pork loin was perfect. Although I will say the eggplant parmesan was even better. A bit jealous at the moment of the vegetarians. The dessert that was like opening up a present on Christmas morning with layers of delightful flavors. The fact that their was no sense of entitlement from the volunteer waitstaff was very refreshing. And feel good because Farestart has helped transform over 2000 peoples lives to get a fresh start.

    (5)

  • Jane W.

    Went to lunch early with the kids. Aside from being a great program and an important lesson for my kids, it was a fantastic meal, all around. The greens with the steak frites were perfect. My vegetarian "field roast" sandwich was great. Everything was fresh and nicely prepared.

    (5)

  • Sumrall H.

    First of all, I appreciate that this place exists and I think the mission is very noble and worthwhile. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that the food was up to par. I went here solely based on the Yelp reviews which I feel may be skewed by this worthy cause. As a social institution, FareStart should have a solid 4-5 star rating. However, as a restaurant, the food quality is very mediocre. I went with a friend who ordered the Crispy Pork Sandwich and the Tomato Soup and I had the Field Roast Sandwich and salad. Our waitress was very friendly and our food did arrive quickly so two stars for that, but the food was not what we were hoping for. The pork sandwich was basically two slabs of bland pork katsu smashed between two limp pieces of bread and smothered in a tasteless mayonnaise. The soup was flavorless and watery and needed a good amount of salt and pepper to be palatable. My Field Roast Sandwich was a little better, though it was really just a fried veggie burger on the same limp bread. The fig sauce was the best part. As I said, I really really appreciate what they are trying to do here...it's a great idea and I feel like they have a lot of strong community support. Unfortunately, there is something lacking in the execution.

    (2)

  • Kord T.

    Went there. Tasted great. Service was awesome. The 2 guys I had lunch with there dug it as well. I will go back. cheers, -- kT

    (5)

  • Diana C.

    I've only been there for charity events, but I love the idea. The food is delicious, the servers were professional and the space was really nice. It felt cozy but had an open floor plan, the huge windows were also a plus. I really enjoy FareStart, now I have to make it in for a lunch!

    (4)

  • Terry C.

    Fare Start is so good in so many ways. The food and the mission are great. The way it serves the community and puts people in need to work is my favorite thing. I like coming in to do a lunch or even dinner. Yet to see anyone I locked away working so that's good!

    (5)

  • Kuishinbo E.

    Let me preclude my review by informing you that they do not serve beer or wine here, but for a very good reason. Farestart aims to provide good food with good service from individuals that in some capacity come from troubled backgrounds and are striving to turn their lives around. Great place with good people in a modern and comfortable setting. I ordered the crispy chicken sandwich, ala tonkatsu, with french fries for $9.95. The pork was tender and the meal was very satisfying. Other members of my party ordered the blackened salmon sandwich and the burger, but their reviews were just okay. If I came back here, I would try the vegan options.

    (4)

  • Ata N.

    I was there for lunch and ordered a pork sandwich. OMG it was the best pork sandwich ever - super crispy pork, grilled bread and very tasty marinated onions inside! The sandwich comes with a Caesar salad or you can replace it for a house salad with a balsamic vinegar dressing for 4 $.50

    (4)

  • Angela B.

    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!!!

    (4)

  • Luca T.

    I'm giving 3 stars to be fair. I like the initiative to help student to build a dream, but at the same time I must be honest with my review, otherwise what' the sense of this community? Expensive? well consider that everything you pay goes towards donation, so there is no price for that. Food quality? Arguable. They are students and are there to learn, so it's practically impossible to judge them for what they served... Bottom line If you want to have a dinner to eat some good food, that's not the place to go, if you go there to enjoy the experience and help these kids, it's fine, you can still have a great night

    (3)

  • Chad H.

    Their Tuna Nicoise salad may sound pretentious, but your taste buds won't be velvet roped. Come on in! Fantastic! A rare tuna snobs equally rare treat. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • A.J. S.

    My girlfriend and I went to Farestart, the guest chef was Peter Birk. The entire point of farestart is to help people who are down on their luck out. The service is mostly done by volunteers. Ambiance - I really liked it here, the acoustics were right that it felt cosy but not so much that you couldn't talk. We felt that we were among other people , but we didn't feel exposed. The plates were set in such a way you didn't have to spend forever thinking about which fork to use, but classy in a way that you felt you were somewhere special. Service - As mentioned above the service was done by volunteers. However, strangely enough our server "linda" was actually better that some I have at 5 star high end restaurants. She was attentive, and was really pleasant. Food - The food on this night was superb, the salad was great, and I especially loved the was it was plated. The main course we had was the vegetarian option, we had to order this in advance so beware of that. However, risotto cakes with a mint chutney was fabulous, I really liked it. Desert - Candied fruits on a lemon pie? It was different from anything I have ever had before, and I loved it!! In total 55 dollars for 2 3 course meals, especially from a place which uses all of it's proceeds to help people the way they do here, is an amazing deal. I really felt genuinely good eating here, and was very happy.

    (5)

  • Lucy L.

    Yay! I'm a fan. Of their philosophy and of their food. I treated myself to the goat cheese crostini because I was concerned that my steak would take forever and I needed something to silence my stomach rumbles. Pros: Both the steak and the crostini were delicious Cons: The crostini came out at the same time, so I still had to wait for it. Oh well. Definitely want to come back for a chef's dinner.

    (4)

  • Claire O.

    I have been meaning to try Farestart for about a year, since I moved to Seattle, basically,.. Finally i went for a Guest Chef night (Guest Chef from Il Fornaio) and I am SOLD. I can't recommend this place highly enough. Not only are you doing good for the homeless, but you're also doing good for yourself, because the food is GREAT and super reasonably priced at $25 for 3 courses. The service is also much more upbeat than most restaurants because all the servers are volunteers who actually WANT to be there. All gratuities are fed back into the program, so go ahead, be generous :).

    (5)

  • Jitin J.

    Nice place to dine.

    (3)

  • Brice B.

    So wait a minute... you're telling me I get to help a great cause AND eat a macaroni and cheese with lamb sausage sandwich? You've gotta be shitting me. Is there some kind of catch? Perhaps they'll try to sell me magazines or something? I guess not. And that was one ridiculous sandwich. On the plus side, the social justice thing pretty well erases any guilt I felt about committing such an awful assault on my circulatory system. Way to go, Farestart!

    (4)

  • Allison A.

    Food is great, service was outstanding, setting was lovely, and it's for a great cause. How do I not eat here EVERY DAY?!?

    (5)

  • Mike A.

    If your a yuppie that wants to get patted on the back for going out for 3 course meals and ordering $40 bottles of wine in the name of "charity" head to farestart on a Thursday night and sit through their 10 minuet "graduation" ceremony. I have the utmost respect for the wait staff, who are all volunteers. I donate every opportunity I get. I love charity. I'm all about helping out the unfortunate, but do it anonymously. its just tacky. The food was good. The service was good. The intentions are good. The patrons made me want to puke.

    (1)

  • Crystal L.

    I've always been a fan of Farestart. I've used their catering services in a previous life. I've even been hosted to lunch by them, and it was lovely. Who can argue with their commitment to the community? I went for lunch around 1:20. Note that the place was fairly empty, with only 2 other tables. One would except speedy service for weekday lunch, especially when busy couldn't be an excuse? It took us over an hour to get our food, and it was cold when we got it. Lucky we got an app or I would have been gnawing on the napkins. I'm not sure if it was super new trainee day or what, but definitely not acceptable. I'll have to to try again for the Guest Chef night. I know they can do better!

    (2)

  • Candice S.

    I was lucky enough to have my wedding reception at FareStart, and we couldn't be happier with the entire process and the excellent party they made possible. The space is beautiful and the perfect size for a smaller wedding. Our decorations were minimal since the space was already so nicely set up and elegantly decorated. We received so many compliments on the space from our guests! It really was just so beautiful. We also received a bunch of comments on how great the food was. Being the Bride and Groom, we were eating under this adrenaline, hyped-up state that only allowed us small portions. However, what we did eat was fantastic! All of it was cooked perfectly and spiced nicely! Our guests loved the food! I must say that one of my favorite parts of working with FareStart for this event was the people that we got to work with. Everyone we worked with a FareStart was an absolute joy to work with. Big props to Alexis for being a great point of contact for all of my questions/concerns and for keeping me calm throughout the process by offering time saving ideas that really made a huge difference in the days leading up to the wedding. Alexis took care of big items like renting a PA system and a dance floor for us, and really went above and beyond by allowing us to drop off stuff at the location at various times during the days before the wedding. She was flat out fantastic! Also, I would like to thank the staff that was headed up by Nina on the night of the reception. Everyone we spoke with was so kind and helpful. They were such a great team to work with! Finally, FareStart as an organization is wonderful! They are doing such great things for Seattle communities, and we were so happy to support this great organization! We highly recommend FareStart as a place to host your next event. Everything about this place is wonderful!

    (5)

  • check p.

    Just saw it from a distance, and knew it was worth trying out. Beautiful room, and great sounding menu. Service was good, friendly (it was raining outside and this room was nice and warm, with great windows to the world). Nice vibe in the room, I think, because you could just feel, that it was more purposeful than just eating lunch. We had tomato soup, pork loin sandwich (the pork was crispy panko fried, but the bread was very soggy), veggie polenta (very tasty, large portion), and salmon cakes (not my favorite, too salty) and sweet potato puffs (too expensive, considering everything else). We finished with an unusual dessert of pomegrante sorbet and lemon tart (nicely sour curd, fine pastry, somewhat bitter sorbet- I liked the strength of the fruit). This is a training restaurant, but you would never know it... I would come back.

    (4)

  • Rich S.

    You can appreciate FareStart not only for its food, but for the mission of the restaurant and organization: to give individuals in need of a leg up a head start in the restaurant industry. The lunch menu has a great mix of options with fresh ingredients reflecting great regular options and delicious-looking specials. I went for the crisp pork sandwich and caesar salad, and I raided my fellow diner's crisp skinny fries. Satisfying meals, tasteful decor, roomy dining room good for larger groups, and wonderful service.

    (4)

  • Aubrey A.

    clam chowder. yum. flavorful. blackened salmon sandwich. double yum. salmon cooked just right. aioli on the side flavorful and not too heavy either. very good bun. very clean and spacious dining area. good decor. good atmosphere. attentive server. worth future visits for lunches and try out their guest chef nights.

    (5)

  • Jenny B.

    Hate to write a bad review amongst all the good ones but I had to do it. My coworkers and I came here for lunch today. We were all looking forward to eating here as this place has gotten such great reviews and the menu looked good. 2 of my coworkers ordered the crispy pork sandwich with fries, 1 ordered the burger and caesar salad and I ordered the turkey/bacon sandwich with the caesar salad. Food came out fairly quickly and those of us that ordered sandwiches realized almost immediately that the bread is WAY too flimsy and soft for the sandwich toppings. My bread was slathered in some kind of aioli and tomato paste making it extremely hard to eat and my fingers were getting covered in sauce. My coworkers who ordered the pork sandwich had to take the well done/flavorless pork out of the bread just to be able to eat it. As for the caesar salad.. had to be the worst caesar I've ever had. Dressing was completely mayonnaise and lettuce was limp. The only thing worth eating was the french fries and even they weren't awesome. Not sure if we just came on an off day, or if the dinner is alot better??

    (2)

  • Brad S.

    I work nearby and love to go here for lunch. Great food and I think it's great that this restaurant serves the community and helps people. I recommend the salmon sandwich, very tasty!

    (4)

  • Eva Y.

    Great food, great cause, great venue, and overall, it's a excellent dining experience. This place provides not only a meal but an overall good Samaritan feeling when eating there. The price was super reasonable and eating here definitely supports local folks who are in transition.

    (4)

  • Melinda C.

    Here's another one of those situations where I wish I could have separate rating categories. Concept's do-gooder-ness: 5 - Essentially the restaurant provides training and job placement assistance to program participants who are homeless or otherwise disadvantaged. Why does this rock and remind me of NYC's Ready Willing and Able program because they are looking to solve the problem not manage or hide the issue. Restaurant's food: Good, not great. The menu is interesting. The end taste is pleasing, but the execution should continue to be refined--and/or the expediter should consider slightly higher standards before sending food out of the kitchen. Entrees were a bit too oily or proteins too dry. The dessert (strawberry shortcake) was pleasant but the biscuit/cake item was a bit hard. I'm a fan of the restaurant layout and decor. Open viewing kitchens are fun. Standout item: The tomato basil soup.

    (3)

  • Margaret Y.

    It's hard for me to give them such stars 'cause everybody else' reviews were so great..... Also, they do good deed in this community. Actually, that was my primary reason; wanted to participate in this wonderful cause. Few but quick points I want to make.... 1. However, my reservation was not on the book when I checked in. Embarrassing... fortunately, it was not big deal since there were lots of tables immediately available. 2. I had an impression of the waitress either she was already having a bad day (it was 11:15 am) or she didn't want to talk to us at all:( I almost wanted to ask her if my friend or I did anything to make her upset...... 3. Food was good, not excellent as some other reviewers commented. Tomato soup was somewhat average that we can make at home with good direction. Hamburger was also a little plus side of "good" 4. Best comment about this place was the interior; simple, modern and natural settings.

    (2)

  • Richard T.

    I would feel like a REAL jerk if I offered anything other than 5 stars for Farestart! So here's how I see it....the menu is above average, quality of food beats my expectations each and every time I eat here & the people are fantastic. But that's only the surface of why I believe Farestart TRULY deserves this five star review! PURPOSE. Farestart does the whole restaurant thing with everyone in mind. I'd be deeply remiss to not put in in Farestart's own words: "Restaurant designer Darren Medina, an executive from Starbucks, volunteered his time and talent to this project. The focal point of the restaurant is the handsome community table fashioned from two wooden beams that were rescued from the demolition process at the outset of construction. The table is beautifully rough-hewn and representative of three key elements of the FareStart program. First, it represents the community FareStart strives to foster, especially for its students, who have either lost that connection, or never had one in the first place. Secondly, it represents permanence, also a desired quality for formerly homeless men and women. And finally, it represents a second chance: breathing new life into something once considered not useful." So, back to my words....this place ROCKS! Great food, above average service, amazing ambiance & a HUGE social cause! Five solid stars for Farestart!!

    (5)

  • Stephanie O.

    Wonderful service they are providing to the community. Great food, great service and great people. Beautiful building inside and you can watch the kitchen through windows on the street. There is a lot of seating, upstairs and downstairs, but it fills up fast, even at lunch. Have a reservation anytime. Listen to all the other great reviews and get over there as soon as you can. Try to go on a guest chef night too. Very fun and delish!

    (5)

  • Joyce J.

    I went on "Guest Chef Night" with chef from Ponti Seafood Grill and the wait staff were volunteers from Boeing. The food was alright but watching 8 graduates completing the program and getting applauded by the guests was pretty fun. For $24, the food quality was just about right, but the fact that it was for a good cause made it worthwhile.

    (3)

  • Linda C.

    Schneiky. It's refreshing when a place actually holds up to the rave reviews that it gets. Was here for a private event, so can't comment directly on the regular dinners, but the food was quite amazing for a buffet style event. Multiple veggie dishes that were all fantastically flavored and presented... Cozy dining space, and good service. Street parking is pretty easy after 6pm... Thumbs up!

    (4)

  • Libby C.

    I can't say enough about my love for FareStart. I just had my birthday dinner here last night, and it was lovely to share with my friends what I already knew to be a kick ass place. I was a case manager intern here several years back, and it was one of the most positive, upbeat, SUCCESSFUL non profits I've ever seen. And the food? Flipping delicious.

    (5)

  • Sonia C.

    I think the food is only worth 4 stars, but the worthy concept and the low prices bring it up to 5. I felt a little smug coming here because I felt like I was helping homeless people out - very effective marketing scheme. I ordered the field roast sandwich and my companion had the tuna blt (one of the daily specials). My sandwich was tasty - very similar to a lentil veggie burger. It was deep-fried too. The tuna blt was even better - a filet of seared tuna with thick-cut bacon and fried green tomatoes. I liked how they served all dressings and mayo on the side so we could add as much (or little) as we wanted. Though full, I opted for the seasonal fruit crumble (pear & cranberry) a la mode. The crumble was slightly disappointing, as it was not warm enough and the filling was too tart. The ice cream was a good way to end the meal though! Unfortunately this place is only open for lunch on weekdays and for dinner on Thursdays which makes it a little difficult for me to come again - but I definitely would if I could.

    (5)

  • Stef M.

    I had been wanting to go here for quite some time and was finally lured in by the Jerry Traunfeld guest chef night (he used to work at the Herbfarm and now runs Poppy in Seattle). I am really glad I came! We got a prime spot looking into the kitchen to watch our meals being plated - yum. Our server seemed a little nervous/hover-y but I know that the premise of the restaurant is that a lot of people are being trained, so it wasn't a huge deal. And the 3-course dinner was only $25! I think this is always the case for guest chef night. GREAT DEAL. Appetizer, entree, and dessert for what you might pay just for the entree at a lot of restaurants. Drinks are extra. Appetizer: "Carrot Soup with Star Anise and Cinnamon and Dilled Celery, Hazelnut and Asian Pear Salad" Really great bread was served when we sat down, and the starter salad was amazing - a tart, fruity dressing with pear matchsticks and celery (ew, not a fan, but i just skipped these bits) and delicious crunchy hazelnuts. Served alongside this was a carrot soup that was very good. Perfect fall food. Entree was "Lavender Rubbed Duck Leg with Huckleberry Sauce and Butternut Squash with Fenugreek and Ginger". This duck was literally falling off the bone - so tender and delicious. The skin was not as crispy as I would have liked, but crisping it up might have messed up the lavender rub. The duck went very well with the huckleberry sauce. Dessert was "Hot Date Cake with Banana Ice Cream, Pecans, and Butterscotch". This definitely stole the show - kind of reminded me of sticky toffee pudding! I will definitely be back here to check out other guest chef nights, or even lunch.

    (4)

  • Fatima G.

    I work right by Farestart so I've had the opportunity to hit up their lunch menu a few times. Let me start with the obligatory kudos, I love their mission! They just won the 2011 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Award and they're so deserving! The food however isn't mind blowing. I've had just about everything on the lunch menu and while it's all palatable and worth the great lunch prices I never find myself craving anything on their menu...

    (3)

  • EJ L.

    Disclosure - I've never given a 5 stars. (still saving for that place that blows my mind away) So 4 stars is as good as it gets. I always look for a place to eat on yelp when I'm in a foreign town. If I'm going to spend money, I might as well check out locals' favs. In town for conference and was looking for a lunch spot and came across FareStart. While FareStart seems to be doing very well on lunch, their Thursday guest chef night seemed special and I wanted to take adv of it for one Thursday night I was in town. I also recognized that the chef for the evening when I wanted to go is a chef from Capital Grille where I passed by on my way to my conference. I'm so glad that I came here for dinner. The 3 course meal prepared by one of Seattle's best chefs for $30 is not a bad deal at all. Our 3 course meal was arugula salad, steak, and infamous Capital Grille's cheese cake for dessert. Arugula salad was fresh and light. My steak was a perfect medium rare. Then, the cheesecake.. Aww, I loved it. It was light and so yummy, which is dangerous cuz I forget the calories factor and swallow the whole piece eventually unlike my initial intentions to taste just a tiny piece. Tim who is a regular volunteer here (who also has a full time job at a tech company) was so kind and friendly to spare time to talk with us on the history, background, great cause and results that the restaurant is able to create. Most of waiting staff are volunteers who's been on the waiting list for a long time except for a few who are regular like Tim. When you decide to go for dinner (only Thursdays), say hi to Tim. He will be happy to give you the insight of the restaurant. It's a definitely restaurant that leaves a good feeling about the money you just spent. :)

    (4)

  • Suzy K.

    What is not to like? Excellent food with something on the menu for everyone, beautiful atmosphere, prompt and friendly service. Proceeds go to a fantastic cause, a win for all!

    (5)

  • Catherine W.

    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!

    (3)

  • Anony M.

    Great ambiance, and awesome idea. We got the beef burger and lentil patty. The latter was a little dry and plain, and the burger was a little flat in flavor. Not a great selection of toppings in terms of lettuce, tomatoes, etc. Tomato soup was good. Love the mission and idea, but the food wasn't great. Would come back to support though!

    (4)

  • Steph C.

    I LOVE Farestart. I love their mission: "culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals" and really appreciate how great their food is. We had: Rockfish over Spring Pea Risotto - AMAZING. This is how risotto should be cooked. Al dente, with the spring peas giving it a fresh and sweet flavor and lightly dusted with fresh peppercorn grindings. The Rockfish was tender and was served with a yellow tangy spicy sauce (tumeric) that paired well with the fish and the risotto. SO GOOD. And that wasn't even my dish! I had the Crispy Pork Sandwich. YUM! There were two huge cutlets of pork, lightly breaded and fried with a lemon cilantro aioli and toasted sweet onions. SO GOOD. A bit hard to eat cause it was so big, but worth it! I actually ate half and ate the other half later with relish. (as in enjoyment, not the condiment) Their Fish and Chips are good too. So are their fries.

    (5)

  • Rick F.

    This is a lunch for a good cause. Hard to review the cuisine when the goal is so worthy. The restaurant is beautifully designed and the wait staff is courteous and professional. I ordered the Rosemary turkey on marble rye and my vegetarian daughter ordered the veggie reuben. She was unhappy with her sandwich, not enough sauerkraut and the field roasted tomato was dry, yet there was a good deal of grease dripping out of the center of the sandwich. Of course, that concerned her a great deal. I had the Rosemary Turkey sandwich and I felt there wasn't enough turkey in the sandwich to balance the strong rye and tomato-based spread. For a more through review of Farestart and their noble mission, check out our website at helloseattle.us

    (3)

  • Steven - Lorilei S.

    As a St. Johns #9 Mason I have to say this 152nd Anniversary experiance was one of our finest celabration evenings. Thank-you to the fine staff of Chefs, Servers, Music Makers and Housepitality Ambassadors. We all enjoyed the best of the best times available. I'm sure we will return in the future. The mission easilly benifits all who employ these hardworking Grads. Seattle has an opportunity to share something special with the world, like the pebble dropped into the pond.

    (5)

  • Brian R.

    Meeting my wife here for lunch, we shared the grilled salmon and flat iron steak. At $11.25 each, the presentation and quality were what I would expect paying upwards of twenty dollars for elsewhere. The steak was cooked well; medium-rare on the rare side atop a bed of mustard greens in a cream sauce topped with onion rings. My wife enjoyed the salmon which was in a citrus sauce also atop mustard greens with orange slices. If I were to offer a piece of advice, as odd as it sounds, be wary if wearing black. The particular napkin I had was extremely linty and much of that lint was transferred to my pants.

    (4)

  • Amandeep K.

    I was visiting Seattle last week and had lunch at Farestart with a couple of friends. We had the Salmon Cake for appetizers and they were good. I had the Blackened Salmon Sandwich, which was very good. The food was fresh and tasty, had just the right amount of oil (so not extra fatty) and spices. The serving size was just appropriate too. And everything was reasonable priced. I'm not very familiar with their mission but my friend who stays in Seattle told me a little bit about it and it seemed noble. Overall: Recommended

    (4)

  • Vivian R.

    The choices are aplenty for good food in this city, my friend Sonali told me as she drove Baby1's and my jet-lagged travel-worn selves to our hotel around the corner from this place. And while she rattled off a litany of excellent choices for dinner our first evening here in Seattle to my hazy plane-weary mind, when by chance she spotted this FareStart and told me its story, it rang as clear in my head as a small-town church bell in the dead of the night - and got me revved back up to step out of the comfort of our cozy (and dry) hotel room and into the Seattle rain for dinner, Baby1's and my first in this city. The menu for the evening was prix fixe, with a feature chef Christine Keff from Flying Fish. Start of pumpkin gnocchi with sage, main of pan-seared cod with side of green beans and potato gratin, finish of individual apple pies with cheddar ice cream. Hell, even just typing this (and this is post-dinner 1 day later mind you) is making my mouth water. The food was just delectable. The pumpkin gnocchi, while a bit heavy, was excellent - with deep-fried sage (oh crunchy decadence!). Cod was perfectly pan-seared with a crisp breading crust on top; beans were accompanied by a balsamic-sauteed mushroom; and the potato gratin was buttery-melty good. The apple pie was fantastic, and the cheddar ice cream was an interesting savory accompaniment to the sweet flavors of the pie. Baby1 was still adjusting to all the new environment and the time shift, and was not caring for a touch of dinner - but the three things that really got me when we were here was this: 1. Prix fixe dinner for $25 a head, and it was phenomenal. 2. They have high chairs. But the restaurant was luxe-cool. Likey. 3. Seeing how she was squirming around in her seat (she was so entirely worn-out exhausted from our long day, and even told us so herself), one of the volunteer servers came to our table and asked me if Baby1 might like to have something to color. She was the only child in the restaurant, and they took the time to address her needs. And, the assortment of crayons they brought her was every shade of everything between the standard-issue 4- or 3-crayon pack in most "family-friendly" restaurants. All these factors play huge in this mom's book. Now I'm not saying that I'm going to go dragging my kids into any and every 4-star restaurant wherever I go, but knowing that we could step into this dinner featuring a renowned chef with a phenomenal prix fixe menu and still be able to make sure that my little one is welcomed - well, that's like saying that I could have my cake and eat it too. Except that this is beyond just cake. Exclusivity on either side of the line was gone last night, and maybe that's just it at this restaurant: that there is no exclusivity or pretense to making sure that everyone has a chance, whether it's a chance at making a life or a chance at savoring good food from day one. This place made chance possible - and I feel honored to have been able to be a part of their process.

    (5)

  • Jeremy M.

    This place saved my life. the food is great the people are the bestest

    (5)

  • J K.

    I really hate to give this place a bad review. Can I give it 5 stars for its social consciousness, but 2 stars for its lunch food? I had the pork sandwich. The bread was soggy and the pork was hard. Not good. Now I feel guilty. The service was great. I like the balcony seats. I hear they have spectacular guest chefs.

    (2)

  • P C.

    Seriously, tonight can be described as an exceptional dinner experience. It started off with a heartwarming graduation ceremony for one of the student chefs - no gowns or hats, just some nice words and a presentation of great graduation gifts for the new chef who already have a new job lined up. The servers are volunteers but they've done better than some servers that get paid. The kitchen crew are all students, while the head chef is a guest chef from another restaurant visiting just for one night. The concept is ingenious and generous. But what impressed me is that the restaurant is nothing short of a fine dining restaurant. The decor is warm yet modern; the location is right downtown within view of the Space Needle; the table is set with white linens with the essential items like salt and pepper grinder, candle, and olive oil. The server was courteous and checked with us before bringing the entree and dessert respectively. Onto the food. After all, this is the essence of dining, right? The set menu has 3 courses with a vegetarian option, but we are omnivores so we were happy to have our meat. The beet and pistachio salad was delicious, and they used some spice (probably cumin) in the chutney (or couscous-ish mix) which certainly made the drizzly/rainy night more exciting. The entree was a braised pork cheek with chick peas-- both ingredients were not your standard fare but were prepared well. Pork cheek was very tender and no knife was needed. The only missing piece was some kind of carbs, but the bread they brought before our dinner started was a perfect solution. As for dessert, it was an apple tartin with cinnamon anglaise sauce. The sweetness was just right and the cinnamon was there but not over the top. I had expected it to be warm, which it wasn't, but honestly /I don't know if the anglaise sauce will fare well in the tartin's warmth and that could have been a deliberate decision on the chef's part. It was still a good dessert. So, all this for just $24.95 + tax + tips! And I forgot to mention, tonight's chef was from Bastille, in the Ballard area. Every Thursday night is a different chef so you will never get the same menu. Isn't Farestart worth your try and support? Street parking is free after 6pm too. Sorry, but I'll have to upgrade tonight from "exceptional " to "awesome"! :D

    (5)

  • Ryan C.

    This is such an amazing restaurant, with such reasonable prices as well. Our waiter was soft-spoken and friendly, and not at all pushy. We got the goat cheese crostini ($4), which was 2 crostini, some delicious fig jam, and some unnecessary leaves. This was probably the least remarkable dish. The beet soup with horseradish cream was tasty, fresh, and wonderful. The salmon chowder was likewise. The FareStart sandwich, which is a lentil "burger", has got to be one of the best things I've ever eaten, and all vegetarian too! I would eat this all the time. The polenta, with generous toppings of spinach, tomatoes, onions, etc., and a poached egg, was creamy, warm, and delicious. They were so fast on the water refills and everyone was so friendly. Everything was so good, the prices are so reasonable, and on top of that all, this restaurant is helping the community and society! What a combo.

    (5)

  • L H.

    Last week was my first time here, but I'll definitely be back. We were here for guest chef night, and the food was DELICIOUS. Note: it is a set menu on these nights. The polenta was fantastic, and I only wish I had more room in my stomach. The mission is one I can definitely get behind. All the staff members were friendly and there are windows that you can look through to watch the kitchen at work.

    (5)

  • Alana H.

    While in Seattle at a conference, my co-worker and I came here for lunch. The place is pretty cool looking on the inside, I kept staring at the wall with the different decorated plates for those individuals and corporations that have donated money to this organization. I got the fish and chips, and they were really tasty. The fish was not not overly greasy and the batter was good. The chips were addictive and I couldn't stop eating them. My co-worker had the flat iron steak which had a nice flavor to it. Service was good and we were able to get out of there in time to catch our next workshop session. As someone who works with students and cares a lot about social justice, the overall mission of this restaurant to provide training programs and empower disadvantaged students is admirable and I would never hesitate spending my money supporting a restaurant with such a wonderful mission.

    (4)

  • Mydao H.

    I am very pleased with my experience here. Great service, great presentation and great tasting food. The atmosphere was also very clean and relaxing. They were really busy at lunch time. The food was perfectly portioned and all very good. Had the fried tofu appetizer, the salmon sandwich with the tomato basil soup. All was very good and reasonably priced. I will definitely come back with some friends. Not only is the food great, it supports a great program. Reservations are recommended.

    (5)

  • Stephanie T.

    Service, concept and pleasantness of dining experience get five stars unquestionably. If you can get here, you definitely should! There are two reasons why this restaurant didn't get my five star rating, however: one, It kind of bugs me when restaurants are only open for lunch, and not on the weekends, and two, while everything was very good, I didn't think it the food on its own was exceptional. A couple of friends and I found Fare Start after reading about it in the Seattle Times a couple of weeks ago and I was very impressed. The menu, while not extensive, has a number of solid lunch offerings (sandwiches, salads, soups and entrees) nicely presented that are extremely reasonably priced. So, Farestart, open yourself up on weekends and/or for dinner (you can bet I will be trying a Thursday evening dinner soon)! I'd love to be able to come in again.

    (4)

  • Adam V.

    I love this place so much I had my wedding there! Everything about it is beyond wonderful. The veggie rueben sandwich is one of the best meals I have ever ate and there service in unmatched both on levels of friendliness but also on attention to each patrons likes/dislikes. Anyone I know who comes to Seattle I say must eat lunch here at some point.

    (5)

  • Scott K.

    How's that old saying go? Teach a man to fish and he'll make you a masterful salmon dinner! Well, not quite, but I've never been one for rote anyway. For those of you that don't know, FareStart is an intensive training program assisting homeless and disadvantaged men and women prepare and find jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry! Combining hands-on food-service training, classroom instruction, individual case management and job placement services, FareStart is a solid gold success story if I've ever seen one! Thanks to my fellow Yelpatonian Bernadette E. who organized a dinner for a group of us, I finally made it down for a dinner and was not disappointed! Forget about helping people helping themselves... this place rocks! The food was beautiful, the staff were actually, REALLY smiling! It was like going to a restaurant where people actually WANT to be at work! To say that this place had a positive vibe would be a gross understatement! Forget about full spectrum lighting this winter! Just go down for lunch or dinner and soak up some of those good vibes! A completely pleasurable dining experience from the second I walked in the doors until Ana B. secretly pinched my butt on the way out!

    (5)

  • Lou P.

    Knowing nothing of their reputation ( it was close by) we ran in here for a quick lunch. Wow! Awesome food, artful presentation, wonderful waitstaff; what more could you want? Oh, yeah...a great setting, with tables spaced reasonably apart. This was an incredible lunch, one of a few dining surprises in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Alix H.

    I love the whole concept of helping people bettering their lives and getting to eat really good food at the same time. I had their famous tomato soup and it was absolutely delicious (no wonder it is famous). Their beet salad was also yummers. To top it off, I had the creme brulee -- heavenly! The atmosphere is light and simple (tasteful), and the wait staff is super friendly. Definitely a restaurant I will go back to over and over. :)

    (4)

  • Tyler L.

    Yeah this is sweet. SUPER nice people, excellent service, and I could not believe how good the prices were - considering what the menu offers. This is a great place to come for lunch if you're just feeling something delicious or want to impress friends/family with your intimate knowledge of Seattle. The soup was especially delicious, and I also enjoyed a blackened salmon sandwich and several bites of the Founders "Field Roast." Plus the entire idea is cool and you feel like you are contributing to more than just waistline expansion. Hope to try the dinner soon!

    (5)

  • Ninja S.

    Farestart is a cool idea. I'm basing this review on their catering offerings. They make alright average-style food, but having the ability to get people in transition or crisis into a career that is always in need of motivated and hard working people is a noble and brilliant undertaking. If they had Zombie Mother Teresa serving tables and the hand of the divine parting the clouds and pouring wine, I'd give it a five star rating. As it is, I'll just say that they're pretty super cool and be done with it.

    (4)

  • Kelly V.

    Well, I've driven past this place every day for years now and always have seen the place filled ... and so I finally decided that it was time to go try the food! Well, to start of with this is a place you want to support because they truly are doing some amazing things for others. So regardless of how my food or experience was, I plan on returning simply for what they are doing. The "Yippees" 1) Staff are uber-friendly 2) Prices are CHEAP for Seattle 3) Amount of food you get is great 4) Water glass was always kept full 5) Waitress was helpful but not pestering - good thing 6) The split pea and ham soup was fantastic 7) They are quick! (quick in, quick with the food, and quick with the return of the check). The "Ehh"s 1) I got the crusted pork sandwich with potato bread and aeoli (sp?) and it really wasn't anything to shake a stick at (however, I think it's fair to say that my co-worker got the same sancwich and she loved it). There was some good flavoring there but the pork was just tasteless. It had a good panko style crust but there was no flavoring on th epork. I was disappointed. Overall - I'll go back because there are some other things that I wanted to try and my food wasn't terrible...so maybe I just need to find something that they are really good at.

    (3)

  • Ben B.

    Great visit, and quick lunch. Loved the presentation, and the hostess was especially friendly and even remembered my name as I left.

    (4)

  • Cy K.

    Stopped by for lunch. A very good meal at a reasonable price. The dining area is beautifully open and well decorated - a great place to bring clients. My steak was only $12 which about matches the quality. Not spectacular, but I was certainly happy to eat it. The eating experience on its own was a-ok with an added bonus for having an good social mission.

    (4)

  • Jon K.

    Guest chef night. Great concept. Beautiful space. Jason Wilson from Crush was in the spotlight. Beet salad with blue cheese and watercress. Stuffed chicken breast with wonderful au jus. Followed by a large "spoonful" of chocolate mousse. Tasted superb. I do have to say that the portion size wasn't consistent. Sat on the community table. The people next to us portion sizes were significantly bigger on their starters and entrees. For example, we got what could have been called 2/3 of a chicken breast. They had the complete breast. That was my only true criticism. Such a shame! Service was a bit spotty. Chef Students from a local high school were volunteering and they are not really front of the house trained. The person working the espresso machine does need to understand what is lukewarm and what is hot. I'll be going again for sure. Remember be generous with the tip. It goes for a great cause!

    (4)

  • George L.

    concept is laudable but food was meh

    (3)

  • Jen P.

    Now THIS is how I'd like to do community service! We attended the guest chef night with Chef Kerry Sear from the ART Restaurant, Four Seasons. I would list all of the elements on each plate and rave about every single thing, but since the food changes every time, I'll just say we got more than our money's worth and it was beautiful, flavorful, inventive food. The servers were volunteers from a group in a local large software company, and it was fun to chat with them about their experience and the food itself. It was great to be able to watch the folks in the kitchen prepping plates, as well as chat with fellow diners about our food. I hope to someday volunteer as a server and check out the other side of the operation. Highly recommend as a feel-good, feel-full night out.

    (5)

  • Felipe L.

    Great value for the price. Food is very good and a bit more sophisticated than what you expect for this price. Certainly the type of place you want to go many times.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    A dinner at FareStart is one of THE most special dining experiences you will have in Seattle. This is an incredible nonprofit organization that provides homeless and marginalized individuals with culinary and life skills to help them succeed, and also supplies meals to many area daycares and shelters. The highlight of the Thursday night Guest Chef dinners is the "graduation" ceremony for FareStart clients who have completed the 16-week program and are ready to face a bright future. Moving words from both the client and trainers make it a dinner out like no other. My most recent visit to FareStart was just last night, when friends and I partook in dinner led by Guest Chef Jason Sturm from Alligator Soul in Everett. The meal was an incredible feast of Cajun/Creole inspired creations...not to mention an unreal deal at $24.95, the fixed per person price for Guest Chef dinner. FareStart offers a variety of beverages (including DRY soda and wines) for an additional charge. The waitstaff last night were volunteers from GE and our server was just lovely and really quite adept at managing our plates. As the Guest Chef changes weekly, the kitchen staff fluctuates as clients pass in and out of the program, and the servers are volunteers, not every dish may come to your table at the perfect temperature or at the precise moment you expected it. The people sitting next to us last night were actually grousing that parts of their meal were too cool, and it was all I could do to restrain myself from calling out their jackassery. Given the unique and amazing circumstances of dinner at FareStart, this was one of the best dinners I'll ever have.

    (5)

  • Olivia R.

    FareStart made my belly, my conscience, and my wallet feel good today. The decor was clean, open, and modern. The service was friendly and prompt. The concept/mission was appealing. Everything we ordered was delicious (Blackened Salmon Sandwich with Caesar's salad, Founder's "Field Roast" Sandwich with crispy, battered fries). To top it off, our total bill was just over $20. We walked out feeling great about the entire experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this place if you're in the area.

    (5)

  • Sprizee V.

    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: farestart.org/restaurant… 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!

    (5)

  • Kyle K.

    Came here twice, got the blackened salmon sandwich both times, and while the first time it was excellent, the second time it was just okay. The first time I got it, it came with some sort of aoili, but the second time it did not come with it, and so it ended up being pretty dry. Don't know what happened, but I wish I could give it 3.5 stars.

    (4)

  • Lisa L.

    One of a kind. The food here is well developed conceptually, well presented on the plate, uses top notch ingredients and most importantly, tastes amazing. I've had several lunches and a few dinners here and I've never been left wanting. Dinners get booked up in advance, so make reservations. The prices for the lunches in particular are a steal. I still think about the amazing scallop risotto and incredible mac and cheese I devoured here. But wait! There's more! If you call now, with no extra cost to you, you contribute to an awesome program that provides hands on training to the underprivileged. But seriously, I hope that this model expands to other cities, I love that such a great idea has been so perfectly executed. Come for the food and so much more.

    (5)

  • Priscilla R.

    Excellent food & service in a beautiful atmosphere.

    (5)

  • a. f.

    Really awesome program and cause; food was ok.

    (3)

  • Edward C.

    I stumbled upon Farestart while looking up volunteer opportunities for my company, and I was quickly intrigued by the concept. So I decided to make a reservation for guest chef night last Thursday and took my sister out to dinner. I'm not sure how fair it is to judge the food of Farestart based on one of the dinners because they alternate the guest chef, but the dinner that I had was merely okay. The food was fine, but it all seemed a bit amateurish, and I wasn't blown away by anything. That being said, I love the idea of Farestart. I would eat there again in a heartbeat.

    (4)

  • Steve B.

    I was guest chef at Farestart twice, once in '98 and once in 2000. The experience, from the kitchen side, was the most satisfying thing I've ever done in the food trade. You have these people who are there - as opposed to most commercial kitchens - because they really NEED to learn something, anything, that will let them turn their lives around. Even if the food sucked, it would still be worth a trip there but the food, while not even remotely consistent (How could it be? The kitchen staff and guest chefs shift daily, like beach sand.), it is frequently brilliant, especially on guest chef night. After my first evening, I talked three chef pals into doing it and all of them said what I said. We all remembered, for that intense five hours, why we loved cooking in the first place. The daily menu changes frequently, as they find different foods from their vendors going on or off special, but the core of it is as solid as a rock and it doesn't strain the abilities of the wildly different skill levels that the students carry with them. As a food value, it's as good as any restaurant in town and on chef's night, you'll frequently find entrees and sides that you couldn't even touch for less than $50 a plate at any other Seattle restaurant. One thing most people don't know is that the guest chefs are asked to get their vendors to donate as much of the foodstuffs as possible. The second time I did it, I paid for the food out of my own pocket. We fed 140 people Jamaican pork tenderloin roast, polenta with Balsamic vinegar reduction, and apple-fennel slaw, with a triple chocolate semifreddo for dessert, for $345.33. I remember that figure exactly, nine years later. One thing I remember, that I have never mentioned because he asked that I not, is that our dishwasher on both my nights was John Curley, host of Evening Magazine on KING 5. As we talked, back by the dish line, he said it gave him great satisfaction to come there and do something that really helps people in a direct and tangible way. He doesn't tell people he does it and, if I've outed him now, I can only say that he was a guy whom I thought of as just another TV clown but now have a totally different opinion of. Experiences like Farestart can help you reevaluate a lot of things. After dinner, the guest chef is asked to say a few words to the patrons. Old advertising copywriter that I am, I came up with a tag line: "You can go to any restaurant and feed your belly. At Farestart, you can also feed your soul". They use that sometimes, I've heard. I'm glad. Because it's absolutely true.

    (5)

  • Heather L.

    The food is better than I expected based on the back story. I had the linguine w/ beef ragu and it was good but not to die for. I mostly like the concept of helping homeless get back on their feet.

    (3)

  • erica r.

    I have been wanting to go here for so long, but I don't work close enough to go for lunch on a workday and it looks like their Thursday night dinners don't offer vegan options. I finally made it in for lunch. I had the founder's vegan sandwich and it was delicious. It was pretty simple -- a fieldroast pattie with tomoato and mustard, but I thought the mustard and bread were both very good, and all the flavors and textures went well together. And both of their soups were vegan, so I was able to have soup, too. The carrot-ginger was yummy. My friend had a turkey sandwich with fries that she really enjoyed. The atmosphere was nice, the service was good, and the food was yummy. I would love to go back, but I'm guessing it will be a long time before I can make it again.

    (4)

  • Bill K.

    FareStart is a great organization, with a very wonderful mission. My wife and I had FareStart cater our wedding last year, and they just blew us away. We received excellent support and feedback while we were making arrangements prior to the wedding, and when the day actually came, the crew at FareStart did an astounding job. They were personable with all of our guests, and most importantly, demonstrated immense care and detail with their culinary craft. We felt great supporting an organization that completely gives back to their community by putting all of the money they receive directly back to their culinary program. I strongly recommend supporting FareStart if you are looking for a caterer for an event, and even going to their restaurant on 700 Virginia St. for lunch or dinner. You will be very impressed. Thanks FareStart for all you did for us!

    (5)

  • Cyndi C.

    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!

    (5)

  • Reesa T.

    Farestart... you've been a thorn in my side for so long. For nearly 2 years I wanted to enjoy a meal with you and you were never open. Limited lunch hours that never worked to my schedule, fewer dinners. It was so sad... until, finally, February 25th you lured me in at last. Service, is volunteers. Ours was friendly and attentive (way attentive) with no serving experience whatsoever. Maybe not everyone gets so lucky, but I think it says something about folks who have bee serving too long and get some attitude... It made for a pleasant evening. Low lighting, open air ceiling, long swaths of fabric added to the luxury feel that made this a great date. Also the acoustics are nice, sometimes in crowded restaurants it is hard to hear you date, and conversation suffers, this was happily not the case at Farestart. Also there is the part where Farestart is an amazingly cool and charitable program designed to support the community and enrich peoples lives and open new opportunities for them. Community based, giving back to the community.... all pure win! I really respect the principles behind the program and the final product is totally worthwhile. I want to go to another guest chef night, I want to take people with and make them experience such a great program. oh- right... and the food was rather exceptional as well. :D

    (4)

  • Suzanne N.

    Nice experience. I met a friend for lunch and tried the veggie rueben with field roast. I thought they could have done with a little less field roast and more of the other goodies, it was a bit too "meaty" if you can believe that! My friend got the beet salad and said that was really good too. The restaurant has a good energy and the waitress was super nice!

    (4)

  • Bryan M.

    Nice place, short wait for a table for two. Ended up sitting at a bar like thing for lunch. The food was pretty good. Vegetarian options, the field roast sandwich had a little too many spreads on it which made the bread a little soggy by the time I got to it. I think the sandwich was vegan, I think you would be fine finding an option here. Would buy again.

    (4)

  • Pauline L.

    A feel-good meal that also tastes good! Dining at this modern, yet affordable restaurant will be an experience that is pleasant, but also helps to support at-risk students advancing in the culinary profession. The decor is chic, but also casual - appropriate for business professionals or couples to dine at. For lunch, you have your typical cafe choices of salads, soups, and fish sticks along with a few special entrees. I thoroughly enjoyed my well cooked flat iron steak; juicy, well-marinated, and drizzled with a savory blue cheese sauce. A great place to stop by if you're near the downtown area and minutes from the Westin hotel.

    (4)

  • Anna M.

    Like they say on their menu, "the most socially responsible crouton you will ever eat." I liked being part of their mission, the food was good (the tofu nuggets and goat cheese crostini were the best) and the atmosphere was lively. The chefs in training are doing a great job, and I'll definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Robin R.

    I went here today for lunch - 11:30. We got a reservation because it's always pretty crowded when I walk by. It was pretty empty but swamped by 12:15. The service was perfect - not too attentive but totally aware of what we needed. I had the tomato basil soup which was probably the best of the tomato variety I've ever had. It was a blended soup which can leave me wanting more, but it was perfect. It was served with some focaccia-like bread on the side that was awesome and fresh. I also had their beet salad with Gorgonzola replacing the chevre (can't get into goat cheese). The portion was just right and it was so fresh! I'm not quite sure why I'm not giving them 5 start. I suppose that I wasn't wow-ed but very much impressed. It's also great to support a good cause. I also ordered banoffee pie to go and am enjoying it as I sit and write this review. Banoffee pie - I've never seen it state-side! Impressive. I also had an espresso that was just right. I'm a bathroom snob which may be why I'm not giving 5-stars. Call me a lunatic, but I think that the bathroom is what makes or breaks a place for me. The bathroom here was just "meh".... I love a nice bathroom that puts some of its character into it. Go figure.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth T.

    The restaurant is pretty interesting. It looks fancy and industrial at the same time. It's definitely a cool idea and supports a great cause. The food was amazing. The variety offered was a decent amount. All sound wonderful. The service was great. I was greeted by a lovely hostess who showed me and my coworkers to our table. The waitress was funny and friendly. The thing I liked most about the restaurant is the fact you can see through the kitchen. When I was there, there was a class going on. You can see the students learning how to make the dishes and cooking. You definitely feel like you're helping.

    (4)

  • Kelly D.

    I think what this organization does for the homeless is just awesome- very Seattle. For those of you unfamiliar it is not only a restaurant but a job-training program for homeless or ex-convicts to learn to work in a gourmet kitchen. So far I've only had their carrot-ginger soup but talk about bang for your buck! $3.50 got me a giant bowl of gourmet pureed soup with a slab of fresh foccacia, and a warm tingly feeling for helping a good cause. I plan to come back for sure and will update. Until then- me likey!

    (5)

  • Kiran C.

    Farestart is an incredible place. They are making dreams come true for the culinary students. The students are homeless and disadvantaged. They learn to cook and are empowered to make a fresh start. I have volunteered here on a guest chef night. They have a few limited choices for the guest chef dinners but the food is always excellent. It is a great way for the Seattle area chefs to give back to the community. I would recommend volunteering if you are into food and want to give back in a small but meaningful way. Dinners are excellent. I have heard that lunches are just ok but it is still a great cause and you should support them! Make Seattle a better place and eat here at least once.

    (5)

  • Tim O.

    Eating here fulfills up your belly and your conscience. Corny, but not as corny as the delicious corn bread I had there. I like knowing that my money for eating delicious food is going to help people better their lives.

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    I celebrated ROTD #2 by lunching at Farestart today. In honor of the holiday season, the decorations are festive and there is a big gingerbread house in the kitchen window! I did my best to recreate the experiences that I wrote about in my ROTD review, so I ordered my favorite turkey sandwich and ceasar salad, and finished the meal with a chocolate chip cookie that was lightly dusted in powdered sugar and had a hint of lemon. Super simple and solid food, hard to mess it up. Like I said before, my favorite thing about Farestart is that I always see people that I know. Happened again today! Bumped in to two of the founding donors of my organization. The last thing I have to say about Farestart is that they offer a donation line on the check, which is tax-deductible and goes straight to the program. They ALSO have a space for tips, which go to the program- not to your server. I think this is brilliant, because you can contribute either way, and almost anyone can add an extra dollar or two to the check. Genius!

    (5)

  • Rebecca P.

    Great food, good service and a wonderful concept. I will be going back myself and would recommend this lunch spot.

    (5)

  • Derrick C.

    The concept alone is enough to come here. The food is good, not great. The portions were a little small but the prices very reasonable so hard to really complain. Everything we ordered was good but nothing was really great. Seafood chowder, goat cheese crostini, salmon sandwich, fish & chips, and the flat-iron steak - all 3 star food but if you factor in the price and the mission of the restaurant, it bumps it up a notch.

    (4)

  • Melissa B.

    I selected this restaurant to have lunch with my cousin whom I had not seen in 10 years. She was in Seattle for work and I wanted to bring her to a great place, not too overwhelmingly crowded with flexible service as we would be spending time talking and visiting for a while! This was perfect. Wonderful restaurant, fantastic service and great food. I can't say enough about the mission and visiting for that alone is a no brainier. The food was very good, nice sized portions and prepared well. I will be back for sure. Thank you Farestart!

    (4)

  • Laura P.

    What is not to love about FareStart? They are a great restaurant with reasonable prices and they are providing a wonderful and needed service for those they train. For those who don't know, FareStart provides job training and placement for homeless and disadvantaged people. Another part of the service is creating meals for homeless shelters and snacks for low income children. The best part is, if you ate there and didn't know all of this, you'd have no idea because the food and service is great. If you haven't been there before, go! The serve lunch and dinner on Thursdays only for guest chef night. In this recession, you can feel good about giving yourself a treat by eating out and helping those in need at the same time. In case I didn't mention it enough, the food is fantastic!!

    (5)

  • Maria L.

    If you find the Food Network's "Chef Jeff Project" to be super duper moving, and never miss an opportunity to buy Real Change, you'll really love Farestart. The FOOD here, however, is just OK. I think they could have done more with the Field Roast cutlet than slap it in between two slices of bread.

    (3)

  • Diana L.

    I'm a good little Liberal. I VOTE MY FUCKING PARTY LINE. I buy Real Change when I have a buck in my pocket, I've volunteered at Union Gospel on Thanksgiving; I'm practically a commie bastard - except for that part where I shop like a freak and drive a gas guzzling SUV - and love meat, even foie gras, and happily eat McDonalds, and buy juice boxes and sometimes don't recycle out of sheer laziness. Huh... I have a subscription to The Atlantic and there's an Utne Reader right here on my desk, so I maintain - I'm a good little Liberal. And I really, really like to eat. Pretty much anything. She's a hungry little Liberal. Given all this - very odd that yesterday was my first time here. Farestart is an amazing program that provides disadvantaged people with the bootstraps they are always accused of having, but rarely do. And it's an amazing place to eat. The food is imaginative and well prepared; I had a scallop dish over a bed of Beluga lentils, shaved fennel and sauteed leeks with a orange vinigrette that blew my mind. My boss had the apple braised pork shoulder sandwich that left me in a horrible state of food envy. AND we got to pair our meals with Dry Soda. I'm not going to go into the strawberry-rhubarb crumble I had for dessert because I'm apt to run down there and have another. Seriously. Shit. Bye.

    (5)

  • Michael L.

    I happened up FareStart on a Thursday night during my last visit to Seattle and walked in expecting another restaurant. Here's why it was cool. 1.) There was a guest chef who had students helping him/her 2.) I was introduced to Lemongrass Dry soda 3.) The course was fixed for the night. Perfect because I can't make decisions worth sh*t 4.) Duck was being served. Duck is like chicken doused in LSD and crack. I love it. 5.) Kid friendly 6.) The servers were volunteers from the Starbucks Legal department. For all the money I've spent on lawyers in my life, it's about time they catered to my ass.

    (5)

  • Courtnee P.

    I'd wanted to come here for a long time. The experience I had at lunch this week was ok. The hostess was a riot. The tomato basil soup was the best thing I had, along with the field roast sandwich. The sandwich was forgettable enough that I just realized while writing this review that the leftover half I had packed up is still in my backpack, surely inedible by now. That.. really doesn't happen often. The food was tasty, nothing wrong with it or anything, but also nothing special. They screwed up our order a couple times. The server forgot my starter, and brought my friend the wrong salad with his meal. I'll give it another shot, but not on a day when I'm buying.

    (3)

  • Audrey L.

    Awesome!!!!!! The best meal I have had in a long time. Soooooo so good! Yum!

    (5)

  • Kelly B.

    This place is terrific - and it's so awesome that it gives back to the community in such an incredible way. The prices here are COMPLETELY reasonable, and the menu = slam dunk. I ordered some fried pork sandwich for lunch. I can't say what it consisted of (when I see "pork" I just say "yes" without reading the fine print) but it was rad. Top notch service, to boot. Love it love it love it.

    (4)

  • eric k.

    Got take-out from here today.... a couple BLT sandwhiches... Quite good... I think we still have one whole leftover. The meal was on the expensive side.... after tip/donation, 2 sandwiches without drinks were almost $30. a walk down to Whole Foods just down the street on the way to the park a couple blocks away... and we had a nice lunch... heck.. the seattle weather even cooperated.

    (4)

  • Annie L.

    This is the most socially responsible meal you will ever have, in the most socially responsible-ish kinda city. First off - the punchline: Farestart is a non-profit organization that provides job opportunities for those of us (..and I say 'us' because you never know when you'll be walking in different shoes) to need a little pick up to get back into the grind. Second - the selling point: The meals are pretty darn delicious. Yes, the menu offers your typical sandwich/salad/soup/meat entree array of selections, but, they are 5 star yummy goodness. Yuppie kind of presentation, but wholesome taste. Finally - the frosting on the cake: Relatively cheap. I don't think any of the meals are above 12-15 bucks per person. Most of the salads and sandwiches are below 10 buckaroos. And, they offer espresso, etc. as well as dessert. Ready to eat for a good cause? And you thought you'd never have a socially valid excuse to! :-D

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    I'm a big fan of Farestart. Well prepared, reasonably priced food with great service. What more can you ask for? ...Perhaps that your food be prepared by people who are learning career skills and within a restaurant that works to be sustainable and sensitive to the environment. Farestart meets that mark, too. On top of everything else, they have great vegetarian options (Fieldroast served here!), while pleasing carnivores at the same time. Oh, and don't miss celebrity chef nights, where you can get a great prix fixe meal for under $45 on Thursday nights.

    (5)

  • NicknSelena S.

    Absolutely amazing food. I wish the servings were a little bigger or their vegetarian option was more inspired, but still not enough to stop my five rating. Well worth the 25 dollar price on the prix-fix meal on Thursday night.

    (5)

  • Kyle N.

    In June, to celebrate four months as husband and wife, Marcy and I enjoyed lunch at FareStart. I have had the pleasure of volunteering for this organization and participating in their fantastic Guest Chef on the Waterfront fundraising event! We arrived around 12:00 and were able to get right in. However, the dining room quickly filled up shortly thereafter. One of the lunch specials on their fresh sheet was the chicken, apple and brie sandwich. In addition, a tomato basil soup was offered as a side. The bread received a slight grilling and the chicken was in good company with the apples and brie. A cucumber inspired aioli was also provided as a spreadable delight! Delicious. Marcy opted for the pork sandwich, which was warm apple-braised pork shoulder topped with beer-battered onion rings on potato bread. A side of sherry vinaigrette apple slaw and spicy chipotle aioli rounded out her plate. Although it was slightly messy (typical of a good pork sandwich) it was very tasty! Both plates were delicious comfort lunch fare that took the edge off the chilly Seattle morning. Without a doubt, this will be my "dine out" lunch headquarters from now on! Not only is the food very tasty, the staff was very attentive and friendly. All of the chefs and wait staff are enrolled in the FareStart program and are clearly dedicated, hard working individuals with a passion for cuisine. If you haven't tried FareStart, make a point of giving it a shot and allow your lunch budget to act as a donation to a fantastic organization! If lunch is tough to schedule, they also host a Guest Chef Night that brings in the best Seattle chefs and is very popular (for good reason)! Mise en Place Seattle culinarykyle.blogspot.com

    (5)

  • Edmond R.

    I've eaten here on a number of occasions, for lunch and for Thursday guest chef night. The food has always been well prepared and the service excellent. By far, though, the best part of the experience is graduation on Thursdays. To hear the graduates' stories and see the pride they have in their accomplishment makes dining here and supporting Fare Start all the better.

    (4)

  • Madeline A.

    Went to Thursday night Chief Night with 16 people great atmosphere, super service and love the whole concept of the restaurant. Capital Grill Chief night only problem was portions were so small, salad just a few bites, steak with nothing else ,left the restaurant hungrey.

    (2)

  • Bridget L.

    Joined my husband for lunch and had an enjoyable experience. Our server was attentive--just the right balance of checking in on us and letting us enjoy our food. The ambience is a tad upscale, but you can come as you are. Nice exposed beams/somewhat industrial look, yet someone knew to put in carpet to curb the noise The Field Roast sandwich was great...a little crispy and with Dijon mustard. It came with a cup of ham and lentil soup. Both were great. My husband had the Ceasar salad with grilled salmon. The salad was almost a whole heart of romaine, and the salmon was also a hugely generous portion. The salmon was a tad dry, but I'm willing to forgive it in a salad. Quite the Monday afternoon lunch date. We were too full for dessert. I'm wishing we had ordered the cookies to go. Next time!

    (5)

  • Jane L.

    FareStart was a totally unexpected. When I heard that it is a job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals, I figured it would be a dimly lit venue serving an adequate lunch. Boy was I wrong on both accounts - what a serendipity! The restaurant has warm wood floors a high white-washed ceiling and a bank of huge windows that let the light pour in over inviting tables. The wait staff was attentive and pleasant. The food was fantastic! I ordered a cob salad and it's one of the best I've ever had - the freshest ingredients, just cooked bacon, Greek feta and kalamata olives - a welcome change from the usual canned black olives. Everyone's lunch was fantastic from flank steak with sautéed greens and one large onion ring to an Autumn greens salad and homemade soup. I felt like I was in a first class restaurant - and I was!

    (5)

  • Aaron F.

    Not only does Farestart offer excellent food and service in a beautiful dining room, but also surprisingly low prices and the pleasure of eating well guilt-free. Revenue goes towards their non-profit job development program. I walked by the restaurant many times assuming it was out of my price range. However, it turns out the average lunch entree is $8. Seafood sandwiches start at $10 and entrees at $15. I ordered the blackened salmon sandwich at $10.50 and substituted the house salad for $0.50 more. The salmon was seasoned and cooked perfectly, the bread soft and complimentary. The house salad was excellent featuring apple and cranberries. The combination of value, quality and atmosphere make Farestart absolutely worth checking out, as does the fact that your money will go to a good cause.

    (5)

  • Shawn D.

    Pricey but the food is just ok.

    (3)

  • Melissa J.

    Farestart trains cooks. Waitstaff (at least for dinner) are volunteers. This is a pretty darn savvy combination of fundraising savvy, social consciousness, and outstanding food. The building is located on an odd stretch of not-quite-SLU, not-quite-downtown. Great if you can walk, can be a challenge to park a car or find a direct bus line. Thursday nights are Guest Chef. Chefs from local restaurants donate their time to prepare a special menu--with help from students from the FareStart program. The 16 week program focuses on providing homeless individuals with the skills to work in the restaurant trade. They also provide wrap-around support services--help finding housing, addiction treatment, clothing & tools, etc. There are some great success stories. As a program, FareStart does well. As a restaurant, FareStart is awesome. Fixed price dinner ($25 per person for appetizer, entree, and dessert--each generously sized). Nice wine selection for cheaper than retail ($34 bottle of Le Ecole Semillion). Imaginative menus, well prepared.

    (4)

  • Joyce Man H.

    Very yummy gourmet sandwiches for lunch. I'm pretty much a carnivore, but I tried the vegan sandwich cuz it was cheap, and it was soooo tasty. It came with a salmon chowder that was also da bomb. Prices are a little high for lunch and there's a lot of fancy white collar people in there, but it's quality food for a reasonable price and a good cause. I'll definitely be back, probably for the Thursday dinner!

    (5)

  • Andrew O.

    Just happened to walk by this place while visiting Seattle and decided to give it a try for lunch. If you don't know, this restaurant helps homeless and near-homeless people to learn applicable job skills by working in the restaurant. I don't know if our server was part of the program or not, but she was pretty unfriendly and quiet. (and I don't expect very much at all) I ordered the Founder's Field Roast sandwich, which was really, really good. It came with beer-battered french fries, which were also awesome. My wife ordered the autumn field vegetable salad (something like that), and it was a disappointment. The root vegetables were undercooked and cold, some to the point of being inedible. Also, the root vegetables were surrounded by tons of frisee, the ugly step-child of the salad world. So, one awesome dish, one bad dish and so-so service, but I'm giving this place 4 stars for their mission and the quality of my meal.

    (4)

  • William M.

    This place was great for lunch, and their carrot ginger soup was one of the best soups I've ever had...like evar. Also, you're doing something good for your community, so...yeah. Good for you! Eh... Whatever, the place is delicious.

    (5)

  • Dae Y.

    business lunch. the others liked their food, but i REALLY liked my food. i had the blackened salmon sandwich w/ ceasar side salad. REALLY good. i will have to go back for it. it was cooked perfectly and so flavorful. the restaurant was busy. they initially had the reservation for 2. it was 6 of us. but they very quickly rectified the issue and we were seated upstairs quicker than i thought we would be. i had to cut up the big leaves of lettuce, but it was fun. reminded me of when i would cut up my salads in college cuz i would put too much vegggies on it. if i didn't cut it up, then half the salad would wind up on the table. i would prolly say 4.5 start since i wouldn't normally buy an $11 lunch downtown, but this sandwich was good!

    (5)

  • Kellan M.

    I am probably nicer because this restaurant has such a positive message and benefits the community. But even without all that warm and fuzzy stuff, the restaurant is a success. The food is simple enough, yet tasty and priced just right. Soups, sandwiches, pastas all make great lunches (I've never tried the dinners). Service is quick and the food is prepared quickly, which is perfect for busy working-types. Only negative: I've tried twice to volunteer with them and have never received a response.

    (4)

  • Greta D.

    Guest Chef Nights (Thursdays) are fantastic. I volunteer for some and attend as a diner for others. Proceeds pay for the low income students' classes and board, providing them with great skills. Guest chefs from the best restaurants volunteer their time and expertise on Thursdays to work with the students.

    (5)

  • Hunter O.

    this place is pretty neat they do what there name says for people trying to improve there lives. the food was pretty good. the wait staff was fun. well the gal we had was cool she worked hard to try and keep all of us happy but we were a huge party of like 25 or so.. give it a try some time for thursday dinner is what i would say. it is for a good cause and it is a fun place. i would say almost fancy but then there are people like me that come there in jeans and a polo that bring this place back to cool hahaha..

    (4)

  • M K.

    I've been twice, once while it was super busy and once while it was fairly empty - so I can honestly say the service is a tad slow (as is the time between ordering and getting your food). I really love what this restaurant does and stands for, and I've never been disappointed in anything I've eaten there. Food is good for good prices, for sure. Be prepared to sit a while between being seated and after ordering though.

    (3)

  • Connie C.

    Attended the Thursday night dinner, great quality meal for a very reasonable price. Servers was very professional, especially considering all are volunteers. It was a full house, and the three courses came at the appropriate time. Food was also delicious. My vegetarian meal did come out significantly later than the main entree, lamb chops, but really, not a big deal. The purpose behind farestart is wonderful, love what they're doing here. Was pleasantly surprised by how professionally everything was run. If you live in Seattle and have never tried out the guest chef night on Thursdays, you're definitely missing out.

    (4)

  • Koriann B.

    I have been to many of the best restaurants in the city and Farestart definitely holds its own with most of them. My coworkers and I went there today for my boss' birthday lunch. We ordered the goat cheese crostini for all of us to share (there were four of us) and it was fantastic. Mild, creamy, and served with a balsamic reduction. Fantastic. I ordered the scallops and the came perfectly seared atop a bed of very yummy lentils. My only problem was that I received only two small scallops and was charged $14.95 plus tax. The only other dish I tried was the blackened salmon sandwich and the salmon was among the best I have ever tasted. The other dishes, a chicken burger and Chop Chop Salad were well received and thoroughly enjoyed. We are going back in a couple of weeks for my coworker's birthday and I can't wait!

    (4)

  • Josephine M.

    Ahh. A resturant where I can support my food addiction, and a good cause, at the same time. I had a fantastic time dining at Farestart for one of their guest celebrity chef nights. The food was excellent, and so well presented! I can't remember the last time I had food this pretty. This organization does a great job preparing and serving up great food, and has a great mission. They deserve our support.

    (5)

  • Alan H.

    Farestart is a special place. I was amazed that the interior was sleek, modern, and huge. Great lunch menu with the usuals. Prices are more than reasonable (nothing is over $12, even for the steak entree). The food was good, not great, but the life behind Farestart makes up for it. Great place to take clients or your coworkers. They dont serve alcohol or wine during lunch. The staff is very friendly, knowledgable, and fast. Great views of the open kitchen. Offers take out.

    (5)

  • Austin K.

    So I tried out the new location to meet a colleague for lunch. Same great food and ambiance. Much bigger. One weird thing. Our table smelt like hamsters. That was a bit odd and comforting in a childish way.

    (4)

  • Kyle H.

    Good solid lunch ... maybe would have given 5 stars if I'd gotten the fish & chips, but the crispy pork sandwich was good, too. I'll keep going back because the intent of the business is sound!

    (4)

  • Andy K.

    Farestart is more than just a restaurant and more than just a charity; more than just a social service. It's merits in one dimension can compensate for weaknesses in another. Absolutely the service it provides to the less fortunate is hugely valuable. Our societal problems and systemic poverty are not going to be solved simply through passive welfare systems (though they are important) and so Farestart exists to provide real-world, marketable skills to those willing to work for it. They do not set the bar low; graduates will not be nuking chick'n patties at your local Burger King. I suspect that Farestart targets high end dining not only to provide a more valuable skill set, but also to teach a respect for standards, responsibility, quality, and service that will be applicable not only in restaurant work but also in the graduate's lives. Dining here you are left with the sense that instructors love what they do and have absolute confidence in their pupils. Those graduating provide moving testimony to illustrate the value of all they learn. Taken purely as a restaurant Farestart comes in around 3.5 or 4 stars. The food is tasty, but not spectacular and could be more highly seasoned. The soup course, a squash and apple puree, was a nice beginning and the dessert, an apple spice cake, was delicious, but the main course was not a standout. Nothing was unsatisfactory, just not what one interested soley in the dining experience might expect. Farestart has a very nice ambiance; wide open, and tastefully decorated with a earth tones. It can easily accommodate a large group and so should be considered for your next event. It might be easy to dismiss the overwhelmingly positive reviews of Farestart as a bunch of affluent foodies who like to feel like they're supporting something by dining out. Don't be fooled. Farestart is every bit a serious restaurant and, if one was taken in unaware of its purpose, they would leave thinking they had a very pleasant meal at a solid and professional business.

    (5)

  • Rebecca M.

    loveitloveitloveit. The mission, to give homeless and high-risk youth and adults marketable skills in the fine dining industry, is positvely revolutionary. And they happen to get some rockin' chefs in on Thursday evenings. I've never been for lunch, but when I volunteered as a server, the menu looked delish. Check it out and give your hard earned money to a good cause instead of those silly chain restaurants it's so easy to default to!

    (5)

  • Trevor B.

    What a wonderful idea for a restaurant. Helping to train homeless and unemployed workers the food industry. With that said I have been here for lunch where they serve an amazing veggie Reuben. Also there Guest Chef Nights are spectacular, great way to try a chef out inexpensively.

    (4)

  • Kaitlyn M.

    I have no strong feelings either way about this place. I think the program and what they are doing to end the cycle of homelessness is great. That being said, the food was enjoyable. Not mindblowing delicious, but enjoyable. Came at lunchtime and had the turkey sandwich. It was pretty tasty, with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and bacon, it hit the spot. Nothing too fancy, but at lunch that is a-okay. The place was pretty busy and I was glad I had made a reservation. They are part of the Open Table program that allows you to make reservations online- always handy. Not the most adventurous meal I've ever had, but the program is definitely worth supporting and I will definitely be back to try something new.

    (3)

  • Norm W.

    Farestart is a wonderful concept and wonderful restaurant. How nice it is to know that you can enjoy a good meal while contributing to a good cause at the same time. One almost feels guilty. I had the blackened salmon sandwich with a lentil & sausage soup. While I don't usually like blackened dishes, I quite enjoyed the salmon - not too spicy as others are for me. And the price! $7.95, plus only $1.25 for a bottomless cup of Starbucks coffee. Not the absolute best food around, but certainly above average and an amazing deal for the price - especially in downtown where I work. I often pay more to eat at the Westlake Center fast food court...and you know what that quality is like. That's one of the reasons I give Farestart such a high rating. The staff is very friendly and the decor is non-pretentious, but hip. I especially like the steel cables that form the bannister for the balcony where we sat and the tall, open beam ceilings. Reservations are painless via OpenTable. The credit card receipt has room for you to make a tax deductible contribution if you like, separate from the tip (which the menu says also goes back into the program). Farestart will be catering my company's reception in about 3 weeks. I'm really looking forward to that!

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    We took some out of town guests to the Thursday evening guest chef pris fixe dinner. The gourmet 3 course meal was excellent--taste and presentation. FareStart "graduated" several culinary services students that evening and there was a short presentation about their programs. I'm not sure if this is every Thursday, but it was a nice break in the meal and made us feel like we were supporting something socially worthwhile, at the same time as having a nice dinner. We will definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Jason C.

    Even if the mission weren't superb the food stands on it's own as a great achievement. The night we attended the culinary minds from Alligator Soul were sharing their craft with both students and patrons. The entire of pork loin was the least amazing, but it was still good. The starting salad was simply one of the best salads I've ever had. The dessert was incredible, but what stood out was its portion. Think the biggest piece of lasagna you've ever dished out for yourself at a potluck and then times it by 10. If you can imagine that, then you'll be about half way to how big the slice of chocolate cake on our plates was that evening.

    (4)

  • Amanda W.

    I love this place. I have gone to guest chef night many times now. You are able to look up online who the chef will be and what restaurant they normally work for, then plan your reservation accordingly. Last night was a great meal with a parsnip soup with brioche croutons as the starter. Then for the main course kobe beef short ribs. Beautiful. Then an ooey gooey chocolate cake. I don't expect the waiting staff to be exactly brilliant, as they are just volunteering. But I have not had an inconsiderate waiter yet. I have never been disappointed in the food, because it has always been up to par if not spectacular. This is a great feel good restaurant. If I am able to plan a place to go on a thursday evening in the city I will strive to go to farestart. I can't say enough great things. Also very well priced to have a meal thought up by some of the best chefs in seattle.

    (5)

  • Tim R.

    My suggestion? Go here. Great service. Great food. Great cause.

    (5)

  • robinne b.

    A fantastic concept - great atmosphere, attentive service, sweet prices. Highly recommended for business lunches, dates or a bite alone after a long day walking around the city. I ordered the zucchini soup to start - creamy and good. For the main I had vegetable polenta - sunny side up which is a great option if you're torn between a lunch item and something breakfast-y. I'd definitely go back again.

    (4)

  • Christabel F.

    Yep, it's still good and I'm going to keep coming back.

    (5)

  • Anne G.

    Farestart embodies the very best of Seattle, offering delectable dishes that fill the body and soul with the most holistic happiness one can possibly attain from food prepared outside the home. Farestart, I do! I vow myself to you! I will continue to search, but I just can't imagine that any other could possibly outdo you and win my heart in the way you have. My first Seattle foodie love will forever be the deepest!

    (5)

  • Bonnie G.

    I went here with some girlfriends for lunch yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it! The decor was nice but the food was amazing! It was just simple lunch food but I loved it. I ordered the Field Roast sandwich with Caesar salad and enjoyed it very much. We then ordered two desserts between the five of us and they were both incredible. Especially the creme' brulee'. (yes, I know I spelled that wrong...spell checker couldn't even help me on that one so I gave up) Our bill for the 5 of us was amazingly low (it is that way when no alcohol is served)...which gets me to my only complaint (which does not change my rating) it would have been nice to order a glass of wine with this fabulous lunch.

    (5)

  • Aaron L.

    Great food, great service, and a great cause. Five stars.

    (5)

  • Kay C.

    only came here for lunch but what's not to like - good food and a good cause. can't wait to try out the thursdays!

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Great little place with decent food and a worthy cause. I tried the salmon cakes and crispy pork sandwich. Both were very good. Not mind-blowing, but definitely worth trying.

    (4)

  • Aaron B.

    Incredible place with an amazing mission. Food is usually superb. Had the beef braised sandwich with a caesar salad for lunch today. It was fine. The iced tea here is awesome too. If I could foot the bill, I'd eat here every day just to support the mission.

    (4)

  • C C.

    Farestart has some of the best eats in Seattle. They make their own veggie patty with a fig spread that is so good. I order it almost every time I go for lunch and I'm not even vegetarian! Everything I have tried there is Dlish! They always ask if you have reservation but I don't and I always get seated with in 5 minutes. Wait staff in training so sometime it's hit or miss with how good your service is. Still by far the best prices for the high quality of food you are getting.

    (5)

  • Julian H.

    I visited during a private event. Can't speak to the food because it was mostly gone by the time I arrived, but it looked good. The atmosphere is nice, a big, open, clean feeling room with a second-floor loft off on one side.

    (4)

  • Kaylene C.

    I have never been to the restaurant, in fact I didn't even know they had a restaurant. This review is for the food they serve as hot lunches at daycare centers. I worked at a center that served Farestart for their hot lunch program and usually the food was pretty darn good. Better than most "School food". We had several vegetarian kids there and they always provided a suitable alternative for them, turned my carnivorous son into a tofu lover! My son attended the center and he was always wanting seconds! The fruits and veggies they sent with the lunches were always fresh, the person from FS would come and prepare everything in our kitchen for us to take to the classrooms. Good stuff!

    (3)

  • Mike N.

    Love this place! What a lovely mission to empower disenfranchised persons while serving yummy fare in great decor.

    (5)

  • M. O.

    FareStart is just an all around great place. The food is healthy, well prepared and tasty; the atmosphere is comfortable; and the concept behind the restaurant is really amazing.

    (4)

  • Dave S.

    Farestart is one of the undiscovered gems in Seattle, in my opinion. Since moving to their new location, the food quality seems have improved 10-fold, and even more important the atmosphere is as nice/nicer than most high-end restaurants. But the bonus is that you know they've got a grander vision than just serving food/running a business; in addition, they're helping transform lives, and our community -- that's something special.

    (5)

  • Louise M.

    I go here for lunch all the time. It has one of the most reasonably priced menus for the downtown area, and the highest quality food (excellent consistancy as far as quality as well). Some of my favorites are the salmon ceaser - a bargain as far as price, and they always use WILD salmon, instead of the gross farmed stuff that is so bad for you. The onion rings are amazing. The Polenta with grilled vegtables is delicious. The homade soups they serve daily are always amazing. Excellent place.

    (5)

  • Ben J.

    I liked the food, but I like the concept even better.

    (4)

  • Lindsey D.

    Tasty food for a great cause! This place give the formerly homeless a new start and job training. Service was prompt, really clean space, and excellent prices for lunch!

    (5)

  • Bernadette E.

    you want me to do what?!?!? ARE YOU SERIOUS????? that's what i asked my boss when she told me what i had to do for a volunteer project for work... i had the opportunity to volunteer a few weeks ago as a server for their "guest chef night" with the company i work for so my review is based strictly on this experience. guest chef night in a nutshell is like so: -guest chef prepares a 3-course meal -chef is assisted in food preparation by students in the fare start program -volunteers (like me!!) come in and play the part of servers for all those who dine that evening -we are thanked by getting to eat what was served at the end of the night as well as share a glass of wine with all the volunteers... SCORE!!! because i had absolutely no experience in the food and service industry i had no clue what to expect. we arrived at 5... had about a half hour of training and then WHAM BAM THANK YOU MA'AM we were out there ready to serve some food!! : ) with the assistance of our "team captains" the night went by like a breeze and i even more so now appreciate those that work in the industry... thank you thank you thank you!!! farestart is a terrific program!! i had never heard of it until i volunteered and now look forward to going in to dine myself!! especially when this 3-course meal is ALWAYS $24.95 a person and 100% of the proceeds go right back into the program!!! i suggest a yelp outing here soon... who's with me?!?!?! : )

    (5)

  • Dylan P.

    Great prices and food with an upscale environment. I had one of the better lunch experiences there that I can remember. The staff was professional and pleasant.

    (5)

  • Gen L.

    absolutely the BEST place to dine & also contribute to the betterment of homeless people food is definitely above average quality & prices are reasonable facility is great for a downtown lunch spot (i haven't gone there for dinner yet), altho' the streets outside the window are not especially attractive (inside decor is clean, uncluttered & it's fun to see food being made by the chefs behind the glass) waitstaff are terrific!!! it was a pleasure being served by them/efficient & friendly totally ROCKS & they have FIELD ROAST selections for lunch please do support this restaurant - you'll not regret it.

    (5)

  • howard g.

    i have yet to eat here for lunch or dinner but i have been the guest chef there 3 times and i allways love it. its a great thing they do training people to start out in kitchens. i have worked with a few graduates over the years too and its awesome to see the true results of the program. they allways have a great rotation of chefs and they sell out pretty quick. please go often for dinner or lunch and support them.

    (5)

  • Erika L.

    I may be biased for reasons only known to me and a select few, but this place is GREAT. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great price. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

    (5)

  • Jeff F.

    Great concept - solid food. Worth putting in the lunch rotation if you work nearby. Great Tomato Basil Soup & Salmon Sandwich.

    (4)

  • Rob D.

    Good cause, needs better romaine lettuce

    (4)

  • Corey G.

    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!

    (5)

  • Kyoni R.

    My best friend use to work here and always encouraged us to support this program. His brother in law a classical trained chef also teaches here. So I do have a place in my heart for this place. I always like to give back in even my own small way. Three-course Guest Chef Night meals are $29.95. The price does not include tax, beverage, or gratuity. Wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. Guest Chef Night Menu Paratii Craft Bar Chef Sam Hassan Dinner consisted of... Starter Paratii Shrimp, Shrimp and Yucca Pan Seared, Covered in Grated Parmesan Cheese, Drizzled with Housemade Cilantro-Tangerine Pesto and Sam's Brazilian Chilly Sauce Vegetarian Paratii Palmito, Hearts of Palm and Yucca Pan Seared, Covered in Grated Parmesan Cheese, Drizzled with Housemade Cilantro-Tangerine Pesto and Sam's Brazilian Chilly Sauce Entrée Feijoada Carioca, Black Bean Stew with Sausages, Marinated Pork, Marinated Beef, Bacon and Smoked Ribs. Served with Brazilian Rice, Couve - Wilted Collard Greens, and Farofa - Fried Cassava Flour with Eggs, Onions, Garlic, Spring Onions, Butter and Olive Oil Vegetarian/Gluten Free Feijoada Carioca, Black Bean Stew with Squash, Yams, Sweet Potatoes, Leek, Yucca and Red and Green Peppers. Served with Brazilian Rice, Couve - Wilted Collard Greens, and Farofa - Fried Cassava Flour with Eggs, Onions, Garlic, Spring Onions, Butter and Olive Oil Dessert Maracuja (Passion Fruit) Mousse 18 Foodies gathered around a long table and shared food, wine, and conversation for 2 whole hours. It was a good night. Thanks STF for supporting a good cause.

    (4)

  • Kellie K.

    I haven't been to a guest chef night in awhile, but they are really fun. The atmosphere is great, they had a graduation ceremony, and the volunteer waitstaff are very pleasant. My favorite thing here is the vegetarian reuben which is available during weekday lunch. I wish they had weekend lunch so I could have it more often. Tons of field roast, saurkraut and sauce and the bread is delicious. Their fries are really good, too. The ceasar salad is great. I got the polenta and egg dish once which was also really good, but now I only get the vegetarian reuben since I don't go too often.

    (5)

  • Jay M.

    Late afternoon lunch.... Unique spot, gives portion of their revenue back to the community. Food was simple, fresh and tasty. Really good service. Not a local, needed suggestions of things to do at night and staff was really good with suggestions. No alcohol though...

    (4)

  • Reza B.

    This is my current favorite restaurant on planet Earth! I cannot say enough good things about this place. From the work they do to help people learn to be chefs/cooks to the amazing food, this place is a jewel of culinary mastery. I LOVE FARE START. Go here, eat anything they give you and thank God that this may one day be the norm rather than the exception...

    (5)

  • Lilani E.

    I went here last night for the first time for Guest Chef Night. Happy to say it was a good experience from start to finish. I was greeted warmly by the host and had a glass of bubbly as I waited for the rest of party to arrive. We were seated promptly and served promptly which would earn them a 6th star as I am usually starving at this point in the evening. While we were having our meal they had a graduation ceremony for 3 chefs that completed their training. All 3 graduates had amazing stories and while I was enjoying my perfectly cooked meal I was feeling pretty damn good about supporting such a great program. It's a great place for non-picky eaters to go and for anyone with food allergies as they took extra efforts to accommodate one of us who has PKU. Bravo, Fare Start!

    (5)

  • Katy B.

    My girlfriend and I did a guest chef night here when Tango was hosting. Can't help but love the concept of dining for a good cause. The owner of Tango even came by our table and thanked us for being there. It was nice to see the graduates of their culinary program and hear their success story. Overall, great environment, positive energy, great value for great food.

    (4)

  • Rich W.

    FareStart not only serves great food, but also serves an important societal function - training disadvantaged individuals to work in the food industry. Their photo wall is a testimony to their successes. I think they're only open for lunch, but there's a prix fixe dinner every Thursday night presented by a celebrity chef. The food was expertly prepared - you could taste the seared-in flavor of the burger, covered with a generous spread of cheddar cheese and served with battered fries that stayed crisp a hour after being served. The vegetarian field roast sandwich was good enough to make a carnivore convert, and the gnocchi was cooked to perfection. Instead of dropping $20 on a mediocre downtown meal and having the profits go to some corporate entity elsewhere, let the proceeds stay local and help others to help themselves.

    (5)

  • Rebecca S.

    I've heard about Farestart for a while now and I've always thought the concept was awesome, but today was my first time actually trying out their food. I went for lunch, and ordered the chicken salad sandwich and a side house salad. Both items were unique to the usual downtown lunch offerings. The chicken salad sandwich had brie and apple in it - I haven't seen that combination before, but it was really, really delicious. The only downfall was that the potato bread was too thin, and didn't hold the sandwich together very well. I also really enjoyed the house salad - I think every salad should have fennel on it, and their balsamic dressing is great. Service is slo-o-ow though, and the location is very inconvenient, which are two things making it more of a special occasion restaurant than a lunch spot for me.

    (4)

  • Liz C.

    Made a reservation for 1:30pm on a Thursday and was promptly seated. Decor is clean minimalist. Service was very fast. I ordered the flat iron steak and a glass of wine, except the do not serve wine or beer at lunch. My steak was a little better than just OK but the price was very fair at $11.00. The onion rings that came on top were seriously the best I have ever had. The greens under with cream sauce lacked a bit in flavor I thought. But, as others have said 5 stars based on there cause. Was very nice to feel like I was able to give back a little.

    (3)

  • Joshua S.

    I like the idea behind this place a lot... but the food itself was underwhelming. The prices were decent, but none of our food was as tasty as it sounded on the menu.

    (3)

  • Nikki M.

    I was part of a group lunch for the university I work for today. This place is EXTREMELY accommodating to larger groups. I highly suggest it. I had two groups coming in and the staff was fantastic and the food was great. Also, afterwards the manager gave me some great tips on visiting Seattle. All of the folks I was with really enjoyed their food. The fried pork sandwich was definitely a favorite of the group. I had the vegetarian polenta and it was hard to eat the egg because it was prepared so perfectly. (I'm a bit of a mess when moving the eggs from the pan to the plate.) I'm excited to come back when I return to Seattle!

    (5)

  • Brian K.

    Great food for a great cause. I stopped by for drinks and an app. The service was great and the atmosphere was fun and light hearted!

    (5)

  • Rocket H.

    The message they convey is fantastic. The food is amazing. Been to a wedding here, It was lovely. Location is a plus. Helping others is key. Chinook Book coupon a plus.

    (5)

  • Tanya S.

    I've eaten at the Farestart cafe many times, which deserves its own five star rating, but this review comments primarily on their catering services. Farestart is a phenomenal organization, and the catering services did not disappoint. From the initial estimates, to the menu planning, to site visits, and the final day-of execution, the Farestart catering team truly went above and beyond to make our wedding memorable. My husband and I chose Farestart primarily for their mission, as we both strongly believe in and wanted to support the work they do by building work skills for sustainable jobs and better lives. It was simply a huge bonus that their food is SO good! My husband is a vegan, and it's frankly hard to find mainstream catering companies that provide quality, tasty vegan options (not just looking for veggie food skewers, but good vegan food options!) along with hearty meat portions for all of our guests (and myself, the non-vegan in this relationship). Farestart went above and beyond to create a vegan friendly menu that would satisfy all of our guests, in addition to my hungry vegan husband. The result? Most of our meat-loving guests RAVED not only about the chicken and salmon entrees, but revered the vegetable napoleon as the best dish of the night! My mom went on to email the staff for the recipe! In addition to the outstanding food, the Farestart team went above and beyond for personable, professional service. We so appreciate the flexibility it took to work with an off-site venue up in Snohomish with limited kitchen (as in very little to any) equipment. On your wedding day, the goal is for everything to go as smoothly as possible, which it did, largely in part to the capability and professionalism of the Farestart staff. From setting up our dessert table, bar, appetizers, and dinner service, to helping move chairs and clean-up the venue, everything was done smoothly behind the scenes and we are deeply grateful to Farestart for helping make our day so special!

    (5)

  • Leah S.

    I was beyond impressed with everything this place had to offer. I am so in love with the concept and what this restaurant represents. We will be coming back soon and hopefully volunteering here as well. Let me briefly list why I loved it: 1) the service was pleasant and quick, we had lunch with an appetizer in 45 minutes. 2) the food was tasty! We shared the bruschetta and had the fish and chips and turkey sandwich 3) the prices are very reasonable and in lieu of tips they suggest a donation! Who wouldn't want to give to this great cause? Go check it out!

    (5)

  • Ninette C.

    Came here for lunch and the veggie Ruben is pretty delicious! I love getting a traditionally meat dish vegetarian- it gives me a chance to try something I normally wouldn't get to eat! The field roast patty is crispy and quite unique. I had it with a Cesar salad and it didn't feel too heavy or anything. At $10, in a restaurant setting its pretty reasonably priced. Additionally, as everyone says, this place is such a great cause. They're teaching disadvantage people an employable skill and the staff seems happy to be there. It's also really cool seeing the names of all the donors and corporate sponsors. This is a great place for a delicious lunch for a great cause!

    (4)

  • Susan C.

    I really love the concept of FareStart. I've volunteered there in the past and the program is excellent, providing a program and second chance to those enrolled. The location is excellent, downtown and with its own private space. The facilities can be rented out for catering, parties, celebrations, etc. all at a reasonable price. I attended the FareStart Chef Guest Night featuring Chef Hsiao-Ching Chou, Chinese Soul Food. Unfortunately I cannot say I enjoyed this meal. The meat was tough, vegetables lacked taste and the plating of the dishes was not consistent. Being Chinese myself and being no professional cook at all, both my husband and I agree that we could prepare the same dishes better. Our table of 3 each ate less than half of each dish, except for the dessert. First course: Hot and sour soup, with crispy scallion pancakes Hot and sour soup was not hot at all. It was sour. The scallion pancakes were not crispy, they were soft and moist. Second course: Grass-fed beef brisket braised with soy sauce, spices, ginger and garlic. Served with jasmine rice, pickles and aquaponic lettuces from This Is Odd Urban Farm. The beef was tough and it lacked the "hong sao" flavor that was intended. The vegetables consisted of carrots, lettuce and pickled vegetables. The plating of the vegetables was not consistent among our 3 plates as I had very few carrots whereas our friend had almost all carrots and only one piece of lettuce. The vegetables were rather bland. Third course:Almond cake with Frog Hollow peach compote and whipped cream This combination was interesting as I have never had peach before with almond cake. The chef described the cake as being a sponge cake, however the cake was dense and not the typical sponge cake consistency you would find in an Asian restaurant. Nevertheless, I still like the concept of having guest chefs and the business model of FareStart, so I will be back again in the future, probably not for Asian food though.

    (4)

  • Chris H.

    I am so happy and blessed to recommend this as an excellent restaurant, as a cool spot to volunteer, and as a saintly organization that is doing incredible and important work in Seattle. The impact of this organization goes far, far beyond its front door and deserves our support and love. Do yourself a favor and volunteer in the contract kitchen...you'll work side by side with the students in the program and some of the chef instructors, preparing meals for community centers and shelters. It is really fun and the best way to get exposed to this organization. Added bonus: the genius who started FareStart is also the genius who invented Field Roast (yummmmmm).

    (5)

  • David P.

    Just had lunch with three associates at FareStart. We had fish & chips, grilled salmon and a chicken tarragon sandwich that were all delicious. The service was noticeably attentive and very friendly and the delivery was fast for a lunch time meal.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    Great cause and mission. I've done chef nights, which are amazing. It is a set menu, look on their site ahead of time to make sure you'll like it. Regular and veggie options. We rented it out for an event and while the h'ors douvres weren't exceptional, it still supports a great cause.

    (4)

  • Emily C.

    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.

    (3)

  • Helen T.

    I made reservations here on a Thursday night to grab dinner with my friend after hearing about the "Guest Chef" night. I highly recommend making a reservation at least a week in advance if you plan on attending and want a good dinner time. I ended up getting a reservation at 6:15pm even though I made a reservation pretty early on in the week. The thing you have to know about this place is that it's a non-profit program and the servers are volunteers. The "students" cooking your food are also people who are given a second opportunity at a new job because of unfortunate events that occurred in their lives before. Now, some of you reading this review probably don't care about it, but I thought it was really touching, especially when they had their graduation ceremony when I was there (which was a complete surprise!). But I wouldn't rate this place 5 stars if the food wasn't good. Every dish that was served was on point, and it came out pretty quickly too. None of the dishes I had were too salty or sweet, and each dish was flavorful. The sauce that was served with the halibut was amazing and complemented it very well. The dessert, a chocolate peanut butter tart, was also spectacular, as it wasn't too sweet. I could tell that the peanut brittle on the side was definitely freshly made and was delicious. The whole meal was well worth the $30. To top it off, the service was great. Even though all the servers were volunteers, they were courteous and probably better than the service I've had at other restaurants where servers were paid. Overall, I loved it here. It's a good place for a date as well, since it's in between casual and up-scale. Plus for $30 for a 3 course meal, it's definitely worth it.

    (5)

  • Andrea K.

    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.

    (3)

  • Lucia H.

    I have been here twice and both times have been pretty enjoyable. Last week my boyfriend and I went to the guest chef night. The meal started out with a shrimp salad that was good but it had a little bit too much celery in it for my taste. The main course was decent. It was a BBQ plate that came with a rib, brisket, two fried pickles, coleslaw, and two biscuits. The rib was definitely the best part as well as the fried pickles. The biscuits were dry and the coleslaw was too oily which made the whole meal overall ok. Desert was pie!! I had the peanut butter pie and it was really delicious. The inside is very nice and comfortable too and the you can see into the kitchen in the back and watch them cook. We scored a corner table next to a window last week that could have sat 4 people which I was very happy with :) Both times I have visited the servers were SO nice and attentive. They are super good about refilling your water and noticing when you're ready for your next course without rushing you. This place supports a great cause and $30 bucks gets you a 3 course meal which is rad. The location is really nice too and easy to get to. If you make reservations make sure you read the whole email because you can get $6 parking (instead of $14) at the garage a block or two away from the restaurant as long as you get the parking ticket validated at the front desk.

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    There should be more places like this! It's been a long time coming for me to dine here. I finally made it and it was the Ethan Stowell guest chef dinner. You would have no idea it's a non profit with the nice setting, good food, and friendly staff. Our waitress was a volunteer and she said she hadn't been trained in waitress. I think if they are going to volunteer a handout and a training would help a lot for everyone's experience. We were sympathetic since we knew we could be in her shoes someday.

    (4)

  • Joshua B.

    Great food and a great non-profit mission - what more could you ask for? I regularly take my team out for group lunches or prospective candidates here when I interview them since it's around the corner from my office. There's plenty of food choices to cover any palette or dietary restrictions, the space itself is large and comfortable (can hear yourself talk), and assuming you make a reservation in advance they can definitely accommodate large parties. I also love that not only am I getting good food but that Farestart provides culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. They also provide a significant amount of meals to the homeless as part of their mission. If you're considering going here at night take a look at their web site and consider one of the "guest chef nights" where a famous local chef comes in and cooks a special menu (with the proceeds not just going to the training but the additional services they provide outside of the restaurant).

    (5)

  • Kendra M.

    I've used FareStart to cater two events, and I love their service and their mission. Their food is always excellent and beautiful, and they offer many different seasonal dishes that can accomodate a variety of diets. My most recent event, for 300 people, had four types of displays and eight different appetizers on rotation. We were very satisfied, and I have heard repeatedly that people left full and happy. In particular, the mini burgers (both beef and bean) were a hit, as were the lemongrass meatballs. The salmon display is always big, and the mezze display is wonderful for vegetarians. I was very very pleased.

    (5)

  • Anthony N.

    A few coworkers and I came here for my bday lunch and there was no wait at 11:45ish (there were 8 of us). We waited a while though before someone came by to take our orders. When they took our orders, it was kinda weird. Normally, you would take one person's order then go either clockwise or counter-clockwise. This lady jumped around (it was funny bc one of our coworkers was trying to order twice when she moved around the table to take other peoples order). One of my coworkers and I decided to trade halves and requested to have the burger cut in half. The server gave us a dirty look and was like "why do you want to do that?". Then she mumbled something and left :/ Surprisingly, the burger came out cut in half and the pork sandwich was also halved. The food was really good! I enjoyed both the burger and the pork sandwich. The burger was juicy and the patty was flavorful for a simple burger and the pork sandwich was delicious as well. I'm giving this place a 3 star just because the service was soo off. I'd come again though to try their other menu items and also the guest chef nights.

    (3)

  • Elle K.

    I went to farestart for lunch one day without knowing the story behind this restaurant. It was busy during the lunch time and we had to wait additional 10-15minutes even though we had a reservation. Their lunch menu was pretty casual: burgers, sandwiches,etc. we decided on grilled salmon dish and a turkey sandwich wth side of salad. Foods were okay, nothing memorable. They had good price, but I am quite picky about what I eat, and I would rather pay couple more bucks to get something i really enjoy. After our experience, i came into yelp to write a review, and learned about their mission. I feel bad to rate them lower because this nonprofit organization is awesome and their cause is great! However, to be honest, food was not as good as my expectation. They have decent food, so if you want to support a good cause while eating your lunch- great idea, go ahead. But don't have too high expectations for gourmet foods.

    (3)

  • Jordana G.

    Great service, very welcoming environment. White bean, winter squash, and kale soup: delicious, rich, seasoned perfectly, just the right amount of nutty beans and sweet squash peppered with tiny bites of greens. Field roast lentil sandwich: so many flavors in the first bite. Tender bread, nutty crunchy lentil patty with a tart bite of arugula and mustard, seasoned with olive tapenade. A very sophisticated sandwich in anyone's book.

    (5)

  • Scott L.

    I had a company lunch here and because of the large size of our party they placed us upstairs and included an automatic 18% gratuity charge. It's somewhat tricky to review this restaurant as from what I understand the chefs and servers are all in training. This was pretty evident in our waitress, who nonetheless was very friendly. I ordered the blackened salmon sandwich which was underwhelming. I don't think the bread went well with the overall sandwich. I think the food would be okay for takeout. The space inside is nice and service is pretty quick.

    (4)

  • Crystal D.

    I had the pleasure of volunteering to work under Chef Lucas and I must tell you that it is an experience work remembering! He is a very encouraging instructor, motivating manager, talented chef and excellent communicator. I really enjoyed my time there and all of the students spoke very highly of him. During the middle of our shift, he cooked us a very tasty gumbo with rice and a veggie fried rice. For desert, we had spiced cranberry apple tarts. So delish!!!

    (5)

  • Anisa R.

    I went with the salmon burger as recommended and it did not disappoint. The side salads look great but I opted for the fries which were cooked perfectly. The homemade aioli sauce was delish and the pickles were a great add. $14 seems a little steep for a sammie at lunch but I get that it was salmon and its a non profit. Speaking of which, their checks ask for a donation not a tip and it seems to be tax deductible. Note: they don't serve alcohol at lunch bc some of their trainees are recovering alcoholics. All in all, Cool place, great mission, very good food.

    (4)

  • John B.

    I came for their Thursday Guest Chef night - the only night they serve dinner, I guess. ...but any review isn't fair. Yes, the food was really good, but next week there will be a different chef cooking something else. I did really like the concept. Feels good to support something like this. A funny moment: The 3-course prix fixe dinner didn't have a price printed on the menu. So I asked my volunteer waitress how much it was - or whether it was "make a donation" - or whatever the idea was. She didn't know either and we shared a laugh when the answer was "$29.99" (which seems more like a marked-down sweater price at Eddie Bauer than a meal price).

    (5)

  • Jenny W.

    I love this place!! The meaning is special, helping people acquire new skills and job placement. AND the food is absolutely amazing. I volunteered here on the guest chef night once with my company, and look forward to doing it again!

    (5)

  • Ali D.

    Came for a working lunch and was overwhelmed (in a good way) by the menu! Luckily my colleague recommended the Founders Field Roast sandwich. I was definitely hesitant. Field Roast? You mean, a vegan, meat substitute? But, why wouldn't I just order meat? (I really like my meat.) But thank goodness I was feeling adventurous that day. The field roast sandwich was scrumptious and satisfying for vegans and meat lovers alike. For those who are unfamiliar, the signature field roast at FareStart is a hazelnut-encrusted lentil and sage patty. They crisp theirs up and nestle it between two slices of vegan potato bread, smother it with vegan fig mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and top it with fresh arugula and tomato. On the side I ordered sweet potato fries. It was unexpectedly rich and meaty yet light and fresh, perfect for lunch. Not only would I go back for the food but for the overall mission of FareStart. I'm in love with our generous and passionate non-profit community here in Seattle so it's just a bonus that FareStart is doing great work and dishing up some amazing food.

    (4)

  • Daren D.

    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.

    (4)

  • Tanya B.

    We went at lunch (noon), no waiting and no reservations. It was packed (we had upstairs seating) but we received great service and I would definitely go back. I had the baked salmon and veggies lunch. I didn't leave a morsel behind (good portion).... ok, maybe the carrots but I don't eat cooked carrots. My friend had a salad and again, it was devoured- delicious! In and out with nice conversation and no rushing- 60 minutes, so enjoyable for work/ personal lunch. They also have signature chefs in weekly.... Check me out- totally worth your biz!

    (4)

  • Keith B.

    I've been here twice with friends for lunch. The ambiance is nice. The staff is great. They're all friendly and attentive. The food was also fantastic.

    (5)

  • Aaron B.

    I have been to FareStart a number of times for lunch. The burger is probably the best option with a side salad. The pork cutlet sandwich is similar to chicken katsu on bread but I found it to be quite dry and the portion to be too large. Steak frites is ok but my medium rare request was medium well and the fries were not great. The service is usually attentive and quick. At lunch this place this place is very busy with a corporate tech and healthcare crowd. If you want a decent table make a same day reservation. If you go at noon prepare to sit at a card table in the upper banquet room away from any light. I love the concept of the restaurant but I think the place needs a menu refresh at lunch.

    (3)

  • Clint W.

    woot! we were volunteer servers on guest chef's night! honestly, there were a number of us that were a little nervous. a few of the peeps had done this before but most of us were wirgins. wirgins that were dang good at consuming but not serving. we had a crash course and were off and running. there was an experienced person for every 2 or 3 of us, and it went just fine. 4-5 hours on yer feet, so wear comfortable footwear. that's the yelp tip of the day. second tip of the day - park in the 1918 garage across from the po-lice station. it was fun being on the other side of the house and i think we all had a lot of fun, helping out a great cause. pluses - i didn't spill on anybody or break anything.

    (5)

  • Dude M.

    I like the food and staff is always great. Word of caution TIPS are treated as general donations and NOT GIVEN to the staff you see working.

    (4)

  • Karen L.

    My BF and I have volunteered here before, and we finally got to eat here for lunch. We ordered the salmon cakes, tomato basil soup, bruschetta, kabob skewers, and grilled salmon. Everything was good, but we especially liked the salmon cakes. It was so good that we wished we had ordered more of it. For dessert, we had the strawberry rhubarb sorbet, which was very good.

    (4)

  • Minjee K.

    We were visiting Seattle for a conference at the Westin and needed a quick lunch. Reservations were easy to make on open table even for a large group, and service was quick and friendly. Most importantly, my roasted beets salad was probably the best beet salad I've tried anywhere (and I eat a lot of beets). The portion was definitely filling yet I didn't go into food coma in the afternoon. I also had tomato basil soup which was nicely flavored although it wasn't special. Definitely recommend for any visitors in a hurry yet still in need for a quiet meal in a professional/business setting.

    (5)

  • Thy N.

    First of all, read their mission! LOVE! Food was delicious. Very very vegetarian-friendly. I noticed that they had at least one vegetarian item on each section! Appetizers, main entrees, salads, etc. My order: vegetable polenta. Deeeeelish... it came with brussel sprouts, kale, tomatoes, etc. the polenta itself was just so perfect. Dessert: Fuji Apple rhubarb crisp something something with ice-cream. OMDrools... Anyways---- Honestly didn't even know what their restaurant was all about til we paid for the bill at the end. And that's what made the meal extra satisfying! Good food, good karma. :)

    (5)

  • Lis M.

    Love the atmosphere. LOVE the concept and community involvement. Ordered the pork sandwich and steak frites. Didn't care for either plates. I would go back to give it a second chance just because what the restaurant stands for and does for people. Very very cool concept.

    (3)

  • Shondip C.

    I decided to come here after seeing Brandon T's review. I'm also staying at the Hyatt, and this place is a short walk up 7th Ave. Got fairly full for lunch at about noon. They recommend reservations, but for 1 or 2 you should be fine without. Excellent service, very solid food. My favorite was the creme brule, but I love sweets. Feels like a regular restaurant, they don't push the narrative, which I appreciated. In short, FareSart is a non-profit that provides culinary training for the homeless to prepare then for careers in the restaurant business. Aptly named, no? They're run like a culinary school. They only serve lunch, except nights when they feature guest chefs, or even the FareStart chefs. Definitely worth a visit.

    (4)

  • Estee L.

    Steak frites is highly recommended. Serving portion is just right. Huge fan of the onion rings. Steak seasoning is a but too salty for me but overall enjoyed the food and the ambiance is nice.

    (4)

  • Megan Y.

    Pros: This is obviously a great and needed establishment in the downtown community (plus it's walking distance from my work). I really enjoyed the service from the staff. They were extremely professional and well-trained (obviously) from how they handled all of orders, so I was impressed with that. Also, the decor here is very contemporary. One wall is covered in painted dining plates, and they work well as an art piece. There's also plenty of room for big and small tables. I feel like most people here were on a business lunch. And it was crowded so that is a testament to the quality of the place. Cons: They're only open for lunch. I want to take my friends here for dinner, but that's currently not an option. The quality of food leaves something to be desired. It's not bad food by any means, just pretty mediocre. When I went last week I ordered the rosemary turkey sandwich (which I believe is on their regular menu) and it was just okay. The turkey was very dry and didn't have a rosemary taste at all. It came with a choice of fries or salad and I chose the house salad which was all arugula. My coworkers ordered the catfish sandwich (off of their fresh or specials menu) with the kale salad. It did look more appetizing than my dish and they seemed to like it. I'll give this place another try most likely, because the turkey sandwich may have just been the wrong thing to order.

    (4)

  • Allen C.

    I go to this restaurant often for business lunches as I work close by. I am always very happy with the food, service, and ambiance. The blackened salmon sandwich and the veggie Ruben are my two go to dishes and they are always yummy!! I highly recommend FareStart, not just for the great work they do in the community but also for the great food.

    (5)

  • Mark W.

    I've been here for lunch and have really enjoyed their food. There is a great range for all palettes - the beet salad and salmon sandwich got lunch are at the top for me. You can do lunch here for about $10, walk in without a reservation, and usually get out in time to get back for work. Nice staff, clean restaurant, I'd definitely go back and may need to stick around for dinner sometime. Just learned about the mission too and you would never know walking in. Great job.

    (4)

  • Jane C.

    I can't vouch that the food was that amazing, but I absolutely love this place for its mission/concept. First off, parking is just horrible - now that I have gotten that out of the way...lets move on. Came here on a weekday to have lunch with my cousin who was in town. We had reservations, although it wasn't completely packed, we were still instructed to wait for a few minutes. We were led to the upstairs dining area and was greeted promptly by our server. I had the crispy pork sandwich. I found this to be a little on the dry and small side, but for lunch I suppose it was a decent portion. The sandwich did not come with any sides or anything like that, every thing ordered is extra. I suppose it is justifiable because it goes towards the organization. Unfortunately, as much as I love the mission of Farestart, I did not love their food. I really did want to love it so I can come back and donate money as well as eat good food...hopefully it will be improved by the next time I go. The longer we sat, the more people started to come in. So come early if you don't have a reservation! Although the food was not the best (IMO) everyone should go to support such a wonderful and dedicated organization!

    (4)

  • Susan G.

    This was a lot of fun for all of us as we don't get downtown very much. Everything was very professional and the prices were reasonable. Loved the fish and chips. For us, the service was perfect. We made reservations for a lunch on Tuesday and the place was packed! Our waitperson was attentive to exactly the right degree, neither intrusive nor lax. Everybody enjoyed their sandwiches and salads. Would definitely eat here again.

    (5)

  • Stasiya S.

    I though this place was fantastic for lunch! Great open space with plenty of seating and lots of natural light. The service was flawless and impressive. Our server went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Sarah D.

    Great food and prices - want to try everything on the menu! (A little slow on the service and finishing up (to-go boxes and bill).... Had a yummy turkey rosemary sandwich and tomato basil soup! Will be back.

    (5)

  • Patty T.

    I like what Farestart is trying to accomplish and truly thinks there should be more places like this that gives people opportunities to change courses of their lives. I went on a Thursday night with a group of 6-7 people. We were seated right away and the restaurant accommodated last minute request to host 2 more people. The dinner was tortialla soup (vegetarian version for me), cod and tropical fruity dessert. Everything was well prepared. The service has room for improvement, but knowing that the staff are in training, I could see how they would one day become amazing servers.

    (4)

  • M R.

    Braised short ribs, mushroom demi, glazed root vegetables, fried leeks. Autumn salad starter and honey cake for dessert.......yum! Great job FareStart students - definitely one of the best meals in town!

    (4)

  • Julian G.

    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.

    (3)

  • Lily L.

    Love what they do and what they cook. Though I am usually here for volunteering, the restaurant has a program that invite people off the streets and into the culinary field. Most of their employees or interns wind up opening their own restaurants or working for incredibly renown restaurants. The chefs are completely professional and attentive on the floor and in the kitchen. Farestart does great wonders in providing for homeless shelters, supermarkets, and schools. They accomplish so much and make a name for themselves. Did you know they had Top Chef aired there last year? Phenomenal!

    (5)

  • A C.

    Not only do you donate to a great cause, but you get amazing food here! I have been a Farestart volunteer in the contract kitchen, and some of their special events. This was the first time I have been to their restaurant. I brought my dad with me to show him what a great cause Farestart represents. They teach qualified low income/no income individuals, skills in the food industry. By the time the students make it to cooking at the restaurant, they have learned enough skills to prepare a delicious meal that I think is well worth the money! After that, they are well on their way to getting a new start in life! We had blackened salmon on brioche and crispy fried pork. Both were delicious. Their aoli sauce for the salmon was delish! I couldn't decide which I liked better, the crispy fried pork or the salmon. They source their meats from local farms known to have delicious healthy meats. I think I will be bringing all of my friends and guests to the Seattle area, to Farestart for lunch from now on!

    (5)

  • Celeste T.

    I love their mission and their space - a lovely, airy dining room with a big lobby area that's well defined and has plates painted by many different associated chef/restaurants. Service and food were a bit erratic, though. For example, the server was polite but clearly hadn't memorized the soup of the day, and when it was time to pay, she forgot to give us the bill then checked us to take payment, which was confusing at best, and a little embarrassing for everyone. I had the veggie polenta, which was good but not outstanding. Some of the veggies really should have been peeled better, the textures were distracting/unpleasant. The flavor was good, though. My seatmate had the fish and chips, which looked like it was all from a freezer bag, both the fish and the fries. They do have Dry soda, which is awesome! And for semi-fancy food at lunch, the price was right.

    (3)

  • Sarah E.

    Four of us went here for lunch and had a great lunch. I ordered a vanilla latte, but the server brought me a chai, BUT the chai was amazing and I'm glad she mixed up the order. We ordered the wild coho salmon cakes and the thyme and chevre crostinis for our appetizers. The salmon cakes were moist, flavorful, and was 99% salmon The crostinis were pretty good too, but I'm not a fan of goat cheese, so I didn't have more than a bite, but everyone else loved them. We ordered the crispy pork sandwich, the blackened salmon sandwich, the pappardelle pasta, and the grilled salmon. Both sandwiches were packed full of meat and were delicous! The pappardelle and grilled salmon were good as well. We ordered two desserts to split between the four of us: mango sorbet in a sugar lace cookie bowl and chocolate filled beignets. The sorbet was light and refreshing and the cookie really went well with the mango flavor. The chocolate beignet dessert was not what we were expecting, but it was still really good. Overall, this place has great food and supports a great cause. I really want to try to go to one of their guest chef nights in the future!

    (5)

  • Liz M.

    Would you like to have a tasty meal and support a good cause? Then pay a visit to Farestart which is an awesome nonprofit organization that provides culinary training for 'disadvantaged' people to teach them a trade and assists them with job placement. Visiting 'training' institutes can be a risky proposition - obviously students are learning and that could mean less than wonderful results for your meal. But it is not so! The food is creative and very well done, and we all agreed the salmon burger was the star of the show. The menu changes frequently, so you never know what might be available next. Our server seemed a little nervous but was fine and I enjoyed seeing the Thanksgiving-Christmas tree with a turkey on top. I'd certainly come back here for lunch and depending on who was cooking, I might consider trying one of the Guest Chef nights.

    (4)

  • Grace C.

    My fiance and I came here right after obtaining our marriage license to celebrate. We love the space inside Farestart, and had originally wanted to get married here. We ordered the lamb ribs and pastrami melt. We were blown away by the quality of the food and the reasonable prices - cooked by chefs-in-training! The lamb ribs came out so tender you could cut them with your fork. The asparagus stir fry and quinao salad side dishes were really tasty too. The only downside is you have to find street parking and they are not open for dinner except for Guest Chef nights! Otherwise, great food, great restaurant, great service for a great cause.

    (4)

  • Andy Z.

    food: it was guest chef night from serafina. it was a 3 course meal. a carrot soup for starters, slow cooked rib, then a cookie dessert with chocolate sauce. the carrot soup was amazing. velvety smooth with some sort of crouton or cracker ish type on top. you can really taste the carrot. the rib was alright. a little bit dry in my opinion. but the vegetables were great. the dessert was pretty lame. the caramel sauce is awesome, but the cookies were nothing special. ***4/5 service: the great thing about this place is that its full of volunteers. our server was an attorney. surprising. you can tell they dont really have much experience in food service, but they were trying their best. very good people. ***5/5 ambiance: the place is pretty big. the night we were there, it was graduation night for some of the workers. they had their ceremony and it was an emotional moment for some tables. everything is very simple though. nothing fancy, but not shabby either. ***4/5 price: for the quality of the food and the mission of the restaurant, its totally worth the money. its providing for a good cause and its good to see the volunteers helping. ***5/5

    (4)

  • Jennifer N.

    I finally got to go here for lunch today! I've been wanting to for a very long time based on all the great feedback I've always heard. It was fantastic! For my meal I had the tomato soup and a caesar salad. They were both delicious. My waitress was extremely nice. And it was super affordable! Really just a fantastic lunch experience - highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Sin-Yaw W.

    Do you come to feel good or to have a good restaurant experience? This is for the Thursday "guest chef" night. The chef was the one from Il Fornaio. It was prix fixe menu of three courses. All serving staff were volunteers (and not professional). The kitchen staff were (supposedly under-privileged) students. The main course were a salmon wrapped asparagus topped with capers and artichoke. I think the flavors were off balance (too acid) and over-prepared to ruin the nice salmon. With a glass of mediocre white wine, it came down to slightly more the $50 per person. Guess the community atmosphere is nice. You chat up with the volunteers and learn about the program. You also get the feeling that the patrons were already members of the community that you knew little about. To get real restaurant experience, go to a real restaurant. To feel good about the community, come for the lunch.

    (3)

  • Elton P.

    I cannot sing the praises of this place enough! When I have time for a sit down lunch at work, I love picking this place. You get 4 star quality cuisine at 3 star prices. Everything from their daily specials to their burgers are awesome, especially the painted hills burger and their patented veggie burger (I can't remember the exact name of it). The tomato basil soup is pretty awesome, as well. The only thing I haven't been a huge fan of was their pork sandwich - it was only ok. I'd also caution you to ask about portion sizes when you order, some things are a little more filling than others. If you haven't been here yet though, you're really missing out. They're even a nonprofit, so you can feel good about eating there and can even donate additional money to help with their job training program. Be sure to all ahead, especially during the lunch rush. they don't have a lot of room for large groups, but plenty of room for parties of 2-4 people.

    (5)

  • Yan L.

    Got the grilled salmon with vegetables. It was expertly cooked: timed just right, flaky and fresh. The grilled vegetables were delicious too. The waitstaff were very attentive, and understanding of our time constraints (we only had an hour for lunch). Extremely fresh food at a great price. I'm definitely coming again if I'm in town.

    (4)

  • Angela M.

    I love everything about Farestart! From guest chef night to enjoying a quick grilled cheese& tomato soup during the week. My rehearsal dinner actually fell on a guest chef Thursday evening 11/10/2011! My family/friends were so impressed at the mission of Farestart not to mention the impeccable food. I will always support Farestart and recommend family/friends to pop in when they are visiting Seattle. Not to mention the pricing is extraordinarily reasonable for 3 courses in the city, with all proceeds going to an amazing cause. I would gladly contribute much, much more & would love to have the opportunity to volunteer when I move back to Seattle. Keep up the amazing work!!

    (5)

  • Chelsea S.

    Visiting here from LA and found this place on Yelp. Good location, right in downtown, simple decor but nice and cozy. The service was great, got good right away... I had the field roast sandwich which was amazing, the fig sauce was my favorite part. My boyfriend got the pork sandwich which was also incredible. Extremely impressed especially after reading the story on this place. Certainly exceeded expectations and I would recommend/come back to this place in a heartbeat!

    (5)

  • Heather M.

    This place is great! Not only does it have a chic atmosphere, delicious food, and reasonable prices, but it represents an amazing program that supports student job and training for people from all walks of life! Several of my friends and I went here for lunch and our experience couldn't have been better. We arrived about 15 minutes before our reservations and yet only had to wait a few minutes before being sat at a great table near the kitchen. The waitress handed us our menus right away and then gave us several minutes to decide what we wanted to drink. Upon coming back with our drinks, she took our lunch order. My party ended up ordering two of their appetizers, the wild coho salmon cakes and four orders of their thyme and chevre crostinis, to share between us. The salmon cakes were wonderful! They were moist, flavorful, and consisted mostly of the salmon itself. The crostinis were tasty as well. They put a sweet piquillo pepper jam on top that really brought out the flavor of the cheese. We each ordered an entree off the lunch menu, including: the crispy pork sandwich, the blackened salmon sandwich, the pappardelle pasta, and the grilled salmon. Both sandwiches really hit the spot! Each had a unique combination of ingredients that all complimented the main protein. The pappardelle was good, however we all wished it would have been a little hotter when it came out of the kitchen. The grilled salmon was good as well; however the vegetables beneath it were not necessarily what I would have chosen to go with the salmon. Personally I thought the sandwiches were the stars at our table! Lastly, we ordered two desserts to split between the four of us. The first dessert consisted of mango sorbet set within a bowl made out a sugar lace cookie. The sorbet was light and refreshing and the cookie really went well with the somewhat tart mango flavor. We also ordered the chocolate beignet dessert; which consisted of four small chocolate-filled beignets with a cherry compote and scoop of your choice of ice cream. The beignets were okay, not exactly what I was expecting... but they were a hit none the less. By the time we finished our meal, we were all very full and extremely satisfied. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone and personally look forward to returning to try out their dinner menu! My advice?! Go check it out, enjoy the food, and support a great cause!

    (4)

  • Katie K.

    This place was fantastic. I was out of town visiting looking for a good place for lunch. This place went above the mark. It was amazing and reasonably priced. I also love the concept and what they are doing to help the community. I had the salmon sandwich with a salad. The salmon was cooked perfectly and it was seasoned deliciously. They also have a kids menu, which is great if you are traveling with kids. A lot of places seemed to not have a lot of kids options, we were very happy they had options for kids. The service was great and I would recommend this place to anyone.

    (5)

  • Kevin O.

    The only thing I find good about this place is their mission and service to the community. The several times I've been here for lunch has been mediocre food and pretty lousy service. I keep going because it's close to work and not terrible. If there were better sit down options around, I'd start going there.

    (3)

  • Brandon T.

    Came here for lunch today for the first time. Am staying at the Hyatt just up the road, and found this place via yelp close by with a ton of positive reviews. Turns out most of them are for what the organization itself is doing and not for the food itself. While I disagree with some of the reviews out there that rate on the experience of some part of the business that doesn't matter; in this case i'll make an exception. Had a burger, but was surprised by all of the options on the menu. The burger itself was good, but not great. Regardless the service was fantastic, something for everyone exists on the menu which changes often, and I felt good leaving money at the end of my meal to help in this organizations initiative. Definitely worth stopping in and having a bite if you're in the city.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    Their food is great, but their mission is even greater. Farestart helps homeless, ex-con and other down on their luck folks reintegrate into society via the food industry. This is no cafeteria, the decor here feels like an upscale hip restaurant. Good work!!!

    (5)

  • Ray P.

    Excellent food and service. Five star food but at two star prices. The restaurant decor is casual and modern and condusive to eating out with friends or that special someone. I found the service to be top notch that matched the quality of the food. This is a great concept helping the homeless where what you pay goes to helping the program. If you get a chance and it's not too busy, spend some time chatting the the staff there. They'll give you the background of this restaurant and the entire program they have for helping some of the unfortunates get back on their feet. They only open for lunch so reservations is a good idea. On Thursdays they have a local top notch guest chef come in to train the crew preparing dinner. For $29 you get a fancy three course meal. This will be one of my regular visits whenever I'm in the area!

    (5)

  • Nina T.

    As part of November's 30 for 30 Yelp challenge, I felt like I should write a special review for Thanksgiving day. I'm thankful for Farestart! It's great to have an organization that provides a good meal and has a worthy cause. I don't work in Seattle so I've never been able to make it to Farestart for lunch, but I've attended quite a few of the guest chef Thursday dinners, where a local chef volunteers his time to work with the students to make a delicious three course meal. It's particularly nice to be dining at 7pm, when they have the graduation ceremony to celebrate the students and the jobs they have lined up following graduation! I've also been to a wedding reception here, and it was a lovely venue with really delicious food and knowledge that a lot of the money spent would be going back into the program.

    (5)

  • Lisa N.

    Been here a few times since it's close to where I work and I've never been disappointed. The concept is wonderful and I love what they're doing to help disadvantaged people in our community. While I've never been here for dinner, their lunch is spectacular, whether you order from their regular menu or the specials. I'm a big fan of their burger & fries and any and all of their fish dishes. Prices are incredibly reasonable, service is excellent, and food is one of the best options in the area. It gets fairly busy around lunch so be prepared to wait a bit for your table.

    (5)

  • Arleen E.

    Such a wonderul dining experience. We dined at Farestart for one of their Guest Chef Night dinners. The dinner prepared by chef Perry Mascitti and the culinary teams from Tulalip Resort Casino and Farestart was simply amazing. We started off with amuse buche of salmon and creme fraiche served in an egg shell... loved it! This was followed by torina di mano - a dish chef Perry's Italian mother taught him as a child. The third course was grilled asparagus and lamb carpaccio and the main course was pinenut halibut with fava beans, spinach and micro greens. Before dessert was served, Farestart presented the three graduates to the diners. They shared their stories and their plans for the future. Such a wonderful program focused on transforming lives. FareStart is a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. We were also told that the service is provided by volunteers and tips they recieve go back to Farestart. Dessert? We finished with a champgne fruit zuppa. I highly recommend dining at Farestart for one of their Guest Chef Nights (thursdays only). Not only will you enjoy a great meal, but you are helping transform lives.

    (5)

  • Josh S.

    Awesome lunch menu. Soups, sandwiches, fries are great. And it supports a good initiative.

    (5)

  • Shelby M.

    The food and service here are always excellent, and it couldn't be for a better cause. Try the field roast sandwich if you're into vegetarian dishes, it's really tasty.

    (5)

  • Harrison W.

    I went to lunch at FareStart with middling expectations. "This ridiculously well-reviewed restaurant can't really be that great. It must be due to the cause and mission of this place that makes people like this place so much". Boy did I eat my own words. This 5-starred review is based truly on the merit of the food only. The fact that FareStart has such a community-focused mission only amazes me even more. Decor is embodied with a high ceiling, open natural lighting, modern furniture, and a freaking awesome second level loft that overlooks the rest of the restaurant. I was lucky enough to get a table up on the loft. Food came out fresh and hot. I got the Crispy Pork Sandwich. It was on toasted sliced artisan bread that held up to all of the fillings. Every bite was an equal, blended, and flavorful mix of bread, pork, lettuce, and cilantro aioli (which was very nicely cilantro-flavored). The pork was so soft that it flaked away at every bite almost like a fish filet! No concerns of tough pork chop here (which can happen all too often). The side of fries were also the-bomb-dot-com. I believe they were batter-dipped and double fried, and they had crispy outside and a fluffy inside. My friend got some lentil fritters as an app (weekly rotation), and they were also very flavorful. The servers were incredibly nice. Service might have been a tad slow, but this was during lunch rush, so as much expected. Short of that, there's not a single negative thing that I can think of at my FareStart experience.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    A friend and I wandered in not really knowing what to expect after dealing with some paperwork at the South Korean Consulate nearby. We saw that the restaurant had good reviews online and decided to take the plunge. First of all, we waltzed in unaware that the entire restaurant would be PACKED, but somehow we were still seated in under ten minutes. I consider it a good thing when a restaurant with that many tables can be full and have people waiting still. Every Farestart employee we encountered was nice and efficient. From host to server to food runner. We both ordered food off the weekly specials menu and both entrees were promptly delivered and DELICIOUS. We also had two desserts, and I am still craving that Lavender Creme Brulee. Our server never pressured us to order more and was the perfect amount of attentive. Even though the restaurant was completely full, I was neither overwhelmed by people nor feeling neglected by staff. On top of everything, the restaurant has a cool purpose in the community. If I lived closer, I'd go more and if I find myself in Seattle again, I'll definitely return.

    (5)

  • Melba L.

    We had a business lunch at Fare Start and everyone enjoyed their meal. Minor complaints about the fish and chips, but otherwise a winner. Chef Matt came out to say hello and treated us like royalty. Great service. Great program, too.

    (4)

  • joanna T.

    We ate here yesterday at noon. I hate to rate this place badly because its a good cause. My mom and i rarely get a chance to go here so when we happened to be in dt Seattle yesterday i suggested we go there for a nice lunch. It was a bit out of the way since we were heading to the market but we have had good meals here in the past so we decided to go. Well that turned out to be a mistake. The place was packed to the gills. And we waited for about 15 mins only to be taken upstairs into a banquet room where no one else was seated. The hostess said it was to get us service faster. Honey, I like looking at all of the single guys and the atmosphere, i don't want to be thrown into some back room. Also she didn't give us an option of waiting for a better table which my mom and i would have gladly done. To further make me upset we walked right by a 2 person table in the main area and that was given to a couple that came in after us. I feel like I was treated like a unappreciated customer thrown into the back room to be hidden from the world. And they didn't seat anyone in that room with us. We were both dressed up because i had just come from signing paperwork for a new job. So we didn't look bad. Frankly, if i wanted to sit alone I would have ate at home! Then there was the food, never have I been so disappointed in the food here. My moms chicken salad was lacking grapes or any fruit to bring out the brie flavor. My steaks demi glaze was on the fries and not the steak. There was a horrible white almost ranch sauce on the steak that was overpowering its flavor. The waitress brought us water without ice in it, on a muggy day? I had to ask for ice. The best thing about my meal was my mocha. and My moms diet coke. Our waitress was good also so we left her a nice tip because none of the rest of this was her fault. I compare this place to OSC in Burien, and south Seattle community college white table student restaurants. I have never had a bad meal at those two locations. I am sorry to say this place has gone down hill and I probably wont come here again after this experience.

    (2)

  • Tim W.

    Had a work dinner here recently. We had a large group so we were served buffet style. All the food I tasted was great and the people were super friendly! "FareStart is a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. Over the past 20 years, FareStart has provided opportunities for nearly 6,000 people to transform their lives." What an awesome place!

    (5)

  • Brian B.

    Was in the area, sar the reviews on yelp and stopped in for lunch. Get there early if your just a walk in like I was. Had the crispy pork sandwich and it was AMAZING. One of the better sandwichs I have ever had. The staff was great too, very friendly! Excellent food and you're supporting a good cause, what not could you want.

    (5)

  • Ann S.

    Great lunch for a great cause! Would definitely recommend.

    (4)

  • Faina M.

    This place is really nice, atmosphere is very relaxed an modern, Coming in, I didn't have much expectation, just getting a quick bite to eat in between jobs.. I was immediately greeted at the door, seated within minutes. The service was really professional, as i was sitting and waiting for the arrival of my food i noticed how the atmosphere of this place was very relaxed, was modernly furnished but yet still very warm and welcoming. The food was good, not AS good as i'd expected it would be while I examined the menu.. but definitely would recommend this place for someone who's looking for a nice downtown experience. The windows are huge and the view to the downtown was very entertaining as i ate...

    (4)

  • Rudy W.

    great place. great atmosphere and great food. the price you pay vs the quality you get is remarkable. can't go wrong and this place is a keeper. if you are in the area and don't know what to eat, just drop by and be serve.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth L.

    Fantastic nonprofit. Attended Madison Park Conservatory's Guest Chef Night tonight and have attended twice before. Menus are thoughtfully prepared, volunteer servers are always pleasant and professional. Venue is nice. Recommend bringing friends to support a great cause!

    (5)

  • Michael G.

    There was not one thing that we ate here that wasn't delicious and different from what we usually eat. Try the specials and enjoy.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
  • Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

FareStart

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