Forgot Password?

    Or sign in with a social account:

    GOOGLE + YAHOO!

    Don't have an account yet? Sign Up ›

    Connect. Discover. Share.

    Get the most out of your experience with a personalized all-access pass to everything local on events, music, restaurants, news and more.

    GOOGLE+ YAHOO!

    Already registered?

  • MVN

    Don't have an account yet?

    Sign Up ›
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Now Reading: Locations

 

Our Critics' Picks

Join Insiders today!
  • Slideshows
  • Videos
 
MORE

Cafe Momentum

1510 Pacific Ave.
Dallas, TX 75201
Downtown & Deep Ellum
214-303-1234
Critics' Pick
Best Of
Cafe Momentum

Stanton Stephens

Details

  • 5:30-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
  • Beer and wine
  • Dinner
  • Reservations Recommended
American
Directions
The Top 100 Dallas Restaurants, No. 44: When we first visited Cafe Momentum, we were concerned that the restaurant gets graded on a curve. A nonprofit, the business employs juvenile offenders and pays them fair, living wages to help teach them life skills, leadership and, of course, how to work in a restaurant. How could a food writer be objective about the quality of the food served by such an outstanding cause? But here’s the thing: Cafe Momentum is a genuinely good restaurant, one with a pronounced Southern accent that manages to stand out from the glut of Southern kitchens around town.

Top pick: Menu items rotate along with the interns and the professionals who teach them, but look out for market-fresh fish with seasonal sides, savory crawfish beignets or an excellent plate of shrimp and grits.

The downside: Because of the nature of the restaurant, the food and drink options are fairly limited. That’s not a bad thing; it eliminates decision fatigue, and the drinks don’t have much markup at all.

Fun fact: Because the staff are paid living wages, any tip left on the table will be considered a donation to the restaurant’s mission.

Related Stories (4)

View All

More American Restaurants in Downtown & Deep Ellum

  • Dick's Last Resort
    Best Of
    Dick's Last Resort

    This Big D live-music landmark and raucous sports bar straddles the West End and Victory Park, ju...

    American
  • Adair's
    Best Of
    Adair's

    If you've never met a cowboy who could give you a pretty good lesson in punk-rock history, that p...

    American
  • House of Blues
    Best Of
    House of Blues

    Located in the White Swan Building in Victory Park, this temple of sound has room enough for 1,62...

    American
View All

More American Restaurants in Dallas

Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our terms of use, our cookies policy, and our privacy policy

©2019 Dallas Observer, LP. All rights reserved.

We use cookies to collect and analyze information on site performance and usage, and to enhance and customize content and advertisements. By clicking 'X' or continuing to use the site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. To find out more, visit our cookies policy and our privacy policy.

Newsletters

All-access pass to the top stories, events and offers around town.

  • Top Stories
    Send:

Newsletters

All-access pass to top stories, events and offers around town.

Sign Up >

No Thanks!

Remind Me Later >