Café Momentum

I support café mometum. Not only is their food is delicious but what they stand for is something you can be proud to support. Café Momentum trains at risk youths and give them something to believe in. They work on a salary so tips given at the restaurants are donated to the movement. Make a reservation to be sure you get a seat. I had a dinner date here on a Saturday and it was packed. We got in at the right time. The menu is plenty to choose. I got the smoked fried chicken with mashed potato and a biscuit. It was amazing!!! so flavorful! date had their special for the night, duck with elotes and mole. The elotes and mole was dead on. We started off with the shrimp and grits beignets and it was delicious also. That sauce made the dish. I wanted to lick the plate clean but I had to behave myself because I was on a date. I didn’t want my date to run away. :) for dessert, we had almond cake. Southern almond cake with homemade whipped cream and almond toppings. DELICIOUS!!! Everything was so good!
How can this place accomplish so many wonderful dishes? I’m impressed!
Come eat and support the movement! I know momentum is a physics term from school. It means movement. I’m guessing they got their name because they are a movement? Café Momentum is so fitting!

The food was spectacular and enjoyed the wines that were available. The only opportunity area they would probably need to work on is the amount of time it takes to place your order and subsequently get your food. It took well over 90 minutes to get our food and silverware but again, the food almost made the wait a non-​issue.

Great overall experience, quality food in a unique, uplifting setting. I’m not normally a salad guy, but the one with house-​made bacon ranked as one of the best I’ve ever had. My girlfriend had the lamb, and I went with the wagyu steak, both hit the spot. Wine prices very reasonable ($ 20/​bottle). The staff, former juvenile delinquents given a second chance, were personable and helpful.

We went to this place because all the 5 star reviews. The place is nice, but let’s talk about the food. If you are a real foodie, this is not the place you want to go. We ordered fried chicken and Wagyu steak. The chicken tastes plain, there’s no seanoning inside. The steak is not premium quality, didn’t season properly and the dish only comes with a little bit vege. The food is overpriced, they tasted like $ 10-​$ 15 dish to us. And utensils are from ikea, I wasn’t expect that from a nice restaurant.

My wife and I happened to be staying in the Hilton next door and it was about 9pm. We walked in and had no idea what this place was all about. Needless to say we had the pea shoot salad, avocado soup and the rock fish special.
WOW, WOW, WOW… need I say more? The wine list is awesome and they sell it at cost. What an amazing experience and food. Thank you Roosevelt for clueing is in and taking the time on a busy night to tell us all about the concept. Immediately bought his book Victorious Underdog on Amazon. Can wait to start reading!!!

Pretty interior. All the tables were full but it wasn’t loud, probably thanks to the tall ceilings. Friendly waitstaff, although a little slow. But like I said, all the tables were full. We all tried each others’ appetizers and entrees. Octopus appetizer is amazing. It’s like prosciutto made from octopus. Shrimp beignet was good, too. For the entrees, the fish of the day was fantastic. I added a bowl of artichoke soup and bread on the side, and I’m glad I did. S’mores were great. I’ll definitely go back.

The experience leaves you feeling inspired and hopeful. Chad Houser is creating a legacy that will live on long past his culinary achievements. The food, the atmosphere and the service were all incredible.
The food is well prepared and delicious. What impressed me most was every dish I tried was seasoned, cooked and presented with such precision. No undercooked or overlooked anything. And there was no need to «help» season your food. Each course was incredible-​I would recommend for your first time the smoked-​fried chicken, the octopus, shrimp and grits beignets, the romain salad and make sure to pre-​order a fried pie.
When you arrive the open space seems warm and modern, but there is an energy that permeates the entire room. Be prepared to be welcomed by the entire staff. They work in tandem providing professional, polite and attentive service without ever being intrusive. And they smile. But when you see how the young men and women interact with each other, when no one is looking, then you realize the beauty and genius of Café Momentum. Thank you for my first experience, and congratulations on graduating your first class!
See you again soon…

My friends and I (6 people) made rsvp for a weekday night after hearing much about them. This is a restaurant that is set up to help juveniles obtain a set of skills and prepare them for the real world. I think the idea is great and wanted to show my support to them. They are only opened from Thursday thru Saturday for dinner hours so keep that in mind when you want to check this place out.
Because the staff are juveniles, do not expect them to get everything right on the first try. They are trying their best which can be hard. The managers are there watching in the corner so things do run smoothly regardless. For appetizers, we started off with shrimp and grit beignets. I was a little surprised by the beignets because I am used to sweet puffy NOLA ones but these were fun to try. My actual entrée was the market fish with black rice which was very good. Not sure what the market fish was because I forgot to ask.
I also enjoyed the smoked fried chicken plate as well as the pork chop dish. The meats were super tender with lots of flavouring. I am not sure what dish I would order the next time I am here but they were all very good. We also ordered desserts (i.e. fried pie with smoked pecan praline ice cream and noble coyote smore) and would recommend that too if you have any room left. Overall, had a good experience here so you should definitely check out this place if you have the chance!

Really cool concept~ fine dining and a good cause, what’s not to like?
MARKET FISH~ Was MAHI MAHI this visit. Was skeptical at first because lots of mahi mahi i’ve had were kind of dry, but they did it so well. The fish was really moist and flavorful; the asparagus was well seasoned, risotto was black which added color to the plate, topped with a «kim chi”-type bed of greens, which added an unconventional dimension to the dish. Heads-​up, it wasn’t actual kim chi (I remember «kim chi» was in quotations on the menu), but it was fermented and spicy in a way that was not offensive or detracting from the fish and risotto; it just worked.
SMOKED FRIED CHICKEN~ topped with gravy, in between a homemade biscuit, on a bed of braised collard greens, with pickled vegetables to the side. Loved the pickled veggies, since it really offset the heaviness of the rest of the dish~ such attention to detail.
In both of our dishes, the attention to detail is what sets Café Momentum apart from other restaurants in terms of food quality. I’m sure lots of places can make a killer fried chicken or a fish dish, but in addition to good cooking technique, Café Momentum just thinks things more thoroughly, and that’s to be commended.
Loved the food, loved the service, go Café Momentum!

This place is really great because it’s a charity. Let that be clear. So a reviewer might find herself in a quandary when assigning a star-​rating, lest there be any confusion about what is being reviewed – the food (yes), or the servers (no)…because the servers at Café Momentum are at-​risk youths who have been given an opportunity to learn a trade, and change the course of their lives toward one with a brighter future. What an idea!
So I highly recommend going, because this is fine dining you can feel GOOD about! :)
Back to the review – the star-​rating here is purely about the degree of gustatory satisfaction one might expect to find while dining at the Café.
I ordered a third course only, with coffee. My meal was quite ordinary (alfredo linquine with a broccoli steak). The pasta was a bit on the dry side and could have benefited from more sauce. The broccoli atop was cooked well, but lacked any flavor other than that of broccoli.
But for what the food lacked, the service and the idea were great. The young people were all obviously trying very hard to please. No question was unanswered (even if it meant our young server had to run and get an answer), and no need was unattended to.
Café Momentum is a great idea, and it’s a pity it took our city as long as it did to come up with this interesting opportunity for young people. No matter what you order, it will sit well with your conscience.

Café Momentum, one of the best decisions in planning a team dinner I’ve made yet! I support a team of 28 and had to secure a location for a group dinner in Dallas. While a list of restaurants was provided, I chose to go off the grid and do some research, stumbling onto this restaurant by chance.
Online reviews were outstanding, but most important was their mission and story of how this brick and mortar came to be. It all started with an experiment by chef Chad Houser to work with at risk youth in Dallas and blossomed into a beautiful story with so many benefits and happy endings and support from the community.
Building those with little chance to see a future outside of the trouble they’ve found themselves in, fine restaurants around the city stepped in to make a difference in these youths lives. The program has continued to grow and expand to reach so many more students, profoundly decreasing recidivism.
Our host shared their mission with the team and our global guests, who were engaged and fascinated by their story. While normally closed on the date we requesting, we were able to rent the space for a private occasion, further adding to the experience.
Their menu and course options exceeded our expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them to offer something unique and exclusive to my group, with so much more than the standard Prix Fixe menu featuring a filet, chicken and fish.
I would highly recommend anyone visiting the area to look into doing your part in the community by investing your funds in this establishment!

Great concept, good food. Some of the dishes are a bit hit or miss, but overall the food is delicious. The service was a little iffy– not because the waiter was rude (he was very kind), but the waiter was very slow to take our order, and then messed up our appetizer order and never fixed it. We understood, and still greatly enjoyed our meals. Dining here also makes one feel good about helping the community. Would definitely come again!

This was another ‘hey — what does Unilocal say is good in the area’. We were at Klyde Warren Park and didn’t much feel like eating out of a truck. So I walked myself and the kiddo over one Saturday evening and I was super surprised AND impressed. The food was seriously amazing. The service was great and best of all — the story was and is truly inspirational. Tip — if you don’t drink all of your wine — it is a ‘to-​go’ kinda deal. They were nice enough to wrap it up nicely for me as we were taking the train home — and you know — no need to be a target. Slightly buzzed, kiddo and a bottle of wine. ;)

The other day I was in Dallas and visited my relatives. In the evening we decided to go somewhere for the dinner. My sister advised Café Momentum.
I was surprised when my sister said me that this café provides a job for young people who have spent time in juvenile facilities. Also she said that Café Momentum working in collaboration with the Dallas County Juvenile Justice Department. I think that this is a very good idea and it’s great that café tries to help and support young people with some problems.
If to talk about food I ordered grilled shrimp and hand-​torn pasta. It was delicious. My sister and her family also liked the food. The service was great. Our waiter was very friendly and cheerful. I recommend this café for everyone.

What an amazing concept for a restaurant and I had an awesome experience!!! The amazing food aside, it was so humbling to see young lives being transformed and for them to have an opportunity like Café Momentum to serve as a stepping stone to the rest of their lives. It was so fun getting to know and encourage the servers there. I highly recommend trying this place. You leave with a full tummy and feeling inspired. Make sure to make reservations far in advance because it gets booked.

Serving our community and eating fantastic food. Count me in! We had a large party and all the food that was served was excellent. I loved the energy in the restaurant and walking away with a full stomach and heart makes a perfect meal!

Let’s start off with the basics: the food is excellent. They get that right. All four of our entrées were delicious. Now on the service side, this place is massively overstaffed, which leads to service that is almost overly fawning. Because the staff is made up of kids that have gotten in trouble in the past, and are now getting a break, they’re not the most polished crew, but they are the most well-​meaning. In fact they were so eager to take our order, they asked what we wanted to drink before we had even sat down. They don’t sell wine by the glass, perhaps because they might have a shrinkage problem if they did. However, you can take any extra with you, but since I don’t trust my kids at home I was unwilling to do that. The prices were very reasonable, and I must admit that when they called the tip a «donation» instead, I ended up giving the biggest tip of my life. Bottom line: I recommend you go here. You won’t regret it.

Made a reservation last night and had a great meal! I ordered the scallops with brussel sprouts and slaw and it was delicious. I recommend, if you have a table for two, to get and share one first course and one second course. The portions are small-​ish, but with four courses you’ll be stuffed if you eat every one by yourself.
My boyfriend had the wagyu beef. I tried a bite and it was expertly cooked. Very soft and juicy.
My only complaint is that it took us a long time to get a waiter. We sat for about 10 minutes waiting for someone to take our drink orders. However, once we did get a waiter he was great! Very attentive and friendly.
I love this concept and felt good eating here. We’ll be back! :)

Food with a social cause you say? Sounds like my kind of place!
So, of course, on my one and only night in Dallas, I came here for dinner. This place has ambience. Now, the story behind the place: they hire at risk youth, who have previously gotten in trouble and help integrate them back into society. They train them in all different aspects of the business. AND they pay them a living wage. In AMERICA. That in itself is a huge plus in my books.
Well, the wait staff are some of the nicest and most polite I’ve ever encountered. And they’re not even working for tips. I get the feeling this place really allows these kids to get their confidence up and show them what they are capable of. The servers all seemed really happy and enjoying their work, which is a rarity as it is, but so nice to see a business giving people a chance.
OK, so the menu. Not cheap, but reasonable. On par with Dallas prices I’d say. I opted for the BBQ fried chicken. Fried chicken is a texas thing (don’t let the kentucky thing fool you, it’s very Texan). That said, BBQ fried chicken? Well, that’s just brilliant. The serving size was very generous, including sides of veges and mash with gravy. Delicious. The beers they sell were great too.
Sadly, I was so full from the main I couldn’t fit in dessert. Shame, because i had my eyes on those smores so badly. The dessert menu in general sounds just amazing.
I booked a table before I went. Reviews said it’s be busy. I went on friday at 8:30pm and it wasn’t busy, but that said I guess that’s quite a later dinner time and they did say they were busy earlier. So probably best to book. This place is a worth a visit for sure.
The whole staff even came over and sang happy birthday, several times, for diners celebrating their birthday that night. It’s a warm kind of place alright.

Excellent food. Loved the smoked fried chicken and the shrimp beignets. The smores dessert is freaking awesome! 5 stars not just for the cause but the delicious food and smiling faces!!! Good job ya’ll

A feel-​good eating experience all around. I work with inner city high school students, so seeing these young people given another chance to succeed definitely bumps up this dining experience. As others have mentioned, Café Momentum staffs at-​risk youth who have been in juvenile facilities a chance to gain professional experience and important life skills. Everyone was super friendly, and the menu encourages you to engage in conversation with your server. We had a fun time with our server, a young man who was eager to explain which dishes were his favorite and what he didn’t particularly like about other dishes.
As far as the food goes, it was delicious! Definitely go for the fried chicken — it’s a standout. Everything else was also on point, and we left with hearts and bellies full and satisfied. A very pleasant experience and highly recommended.

What an exciting meal by Chef Nicole and the culinary staff. A wine list that will satisfy any discerning pallet.
The atmosphere is light and airy, the service 5 stars.
Our meal consisted of shrimp and grits beignets, wagu beef, fried okra and a s’more for desert. Chef Nicole’s offerings did not disappoint.
A unique concept of getting young people who have gone wayward to get a second chance. No tipping is allowed yet you may feel free to donate to the organization that runs and managed the restaurant.

FIVE stars! This place was amazing. I’m not sure the exact details of this place other than the owner employees underprivileged (hope that’s the correct word) young men to work here alongside some amazing chefs. I don’t want to call them kids, but they were all so young, but were just amazing and cute. I wanted to hug every single one of them. All of the glassware/​plates, etc are donated so nothing quite matches which adds to the charm.
Not only is this a wonderful concept, the food was really good. My friend and I split the momentum salad. Nice leafy salad with a vinaigrette dressing. I had some of my friend’s okra/​tomato/​onion salad and damn that shiz was awesome. Had a hint of sweetness to it. For my entrée I had the steak and eggs (poached) egg. Good char on it and nice flavor. For dessert I got the smores. Very rich dessert. Should have split it, but instead I inhaled all of it.
You buy wine by the bottles and we had one that was on the $ 20 list. A pinot nior and it was quite delicious. Would buy it if I ever see it at a store.
The prices for food are not that much considering what you get. It gets pricey because your heart opens up and you tip (they call it donations) really well since all the donations go back to the restaurant.
There is valet right next to the restaurant in the parking garage. You pull in and they give you a key ring with a button. When you are about 10 mins away from being done you click the button and your car will be ready when you walk out.
Overall an excellent experience and I plan to return soon!

What a lovely surprise. The food was as good as good as any I have enjoyed at any Dallas restaurant in the same price range ($ 175 for four, not including wine).
The service can be uneven which is why I gave it four stars rather than five. Even though the point of this non-​profit restaurant is to give juvenile offenders marketable skills (and one wants to cut them a lot of slack for that) it was still more chaotic than I would have imagined that professional trainers would prefer.
Perhaps because the adults on the floor also ranged from being distracted to overly solicitous — like one gets at a small-​town evangelical church.
If you do go, be sure to allow 20−40% more time than you normally would for a dining experience. It just is.
It is a good cause with much better than good food.

GO!
What an amazing meal! EXCELLENT! Maybe the best steak I’ve had in a long time… cooked perfectly! Do yourself a favor and go w/​some friends so you can taste something from each course on the menu, from appetizers to dessert… not to mention the best $ 20 Cotes du Rhone; an absolute steal!
You will read some reviews here that express some «issues» with the service. C’mon! Remember these are at-​risk kids starting over. Sit back, take your time dining. you won’t be dissappointed! And be sure to get up from your table at some point, walk over to the open kitchen, and observe these young chefs at work!
GO!

Yup. Doesn’t get much better than this.
I originally was drawn to this place because of its mission («changing lives») and I had read articles about the way this restaurant was teaching its interns. I’m a sucker for do-​good stories, especially when food is involved.
That may have brought me to CM, but what will keep me going back is the glorious food. Every course was incredible. I started with the octopus (served on one of the painted plates) and the shrimp/​grit beignets, followed by a Momentum Salad. For the main course, I got the fried chicken, my mom got the risotto, and my dad got the salmon, so we were able to sample. Everything was so tasty. I could have ordered any dish on the menu and been satisfied. Finally, i had the smores dessert. Oh man. Simply amazing.
The servers (interns)/staff/sommelier made it an even better experience, especially our server Jameian. Seriously, I could come here every day.

Fantastic concept but some of the food needs a bit of work. Hubby and I were with several friends and had a great time. We were taken to our table by Tony, a super nice kid who made us feel very welcome. Our server was Adolph, who was wonderful. Answered all our questions about the food with a tremendous amount of knowledge and we could tell how much he enjoyed being there.
We started with some of the 1^st courses to share:
–The cauliflower head, which most of us thought was overpriced and bland. The two sauces that came with it totally overpowered any sense of it being roasted.
–The toasts, which I really liked. The flavors of each of the spreads was wonderful.
–Shrimp and grit beignets, which were my hands down favorite for flavor.
–Octopus Tiradito: This was such a letdown to me after all the crazy-​good reviews. It was bland and I thought the octopus should have been thicker.
I then ordered the buttered shrimp risotto, which was nice but needed something. Maybe a hit of citrus. The shrimp were cooked perfectly but were boring and the risotto, though I loved the whole mushrooms and peas mixed in, was undercooked.
Hubby ordered the pork loin, which was fantastic. Lots of flavor and melt-​in-​your-​mouth tender. Everything that came with it had wonderful flavor and texture.
Others at the table also ordered the short ribs. We all agreed it just tasted like a Sunday pot roast. It was good but nothing over-​the-​top special.
For desserts we tried the fried pie (YUM); some little cakes with a terrific ice cream; and the s’mores. I liked the ice cream the best out of the bunch.
The restaurant is bustling with business and is very attractive. I liked the idea of the wall that we wrote on afterwards and the plates that the guys made themselves. It’s a fantastic concept that I would like to see in other types of businesses. Hubby and I plan to come back here again.

4.5*
Like everyone else, I LOVE the concept of this restaurant — it is such a brilliant idea. It is great to see that there are businesses out there devoted to helping out its community and providing a safe place for ‘at-​risk’ youth to develop professional skills.
Café Momentum is a reasonably priced upscale restaurant that has an incredible staff and food. Everything about our experience from the valet to dining met my expectations. The staff is energetic, friendly and welcoming. However, even though our server was nice, he was a man of few words. I wished he displayed a tad bit more enthusiasm and was more attentive to us.
My boyfriend and I started off with the octopus tiradito, which is thinly sliced octopus drizzled in an aji amarillo sauce — probably my favorite! Then I got the market fish, which was salmon for the night, and it is great. The salmon is nicely seared where the skin is crispy, but the meat still flaky. My boyfriend got the beef braciole, which reminded me of a beef stew. The meat is tender and has a prominent curry flavor to it. Overall, both dishes are filling and did not disappoint.
If you look at the kitchen, you can tell that each dish is being treated with care and detail. All in all, Café Momentum not only prides itself for its unique concept, but also prides itself in the quality of its food.

As a teacher my heart bursts at the sight of so many people who have overcome so much at an early age.
Cauliflower app made me want to eat my vegetables. It was delicious and perfect to share. They were out of the beef (get an early reservation), but the scallops and smoked fried chicken did not disappoint.
S’mores for desert was the perfect end to the evening! Don’t forget to leave an encouraging note on the wall and inquire about their stories.
Stay positive!

Café Momentum is an incredible concept; it is inspirational to witness an establishment fully dedicated to improving the lives of Dallas youth. Conversing with Thomas (our waiter for the evening) and some of his fellow interns about how excited they were to be a part of Café Momentum, made the dining experience that much more enjoyable. These are young gentleman who appreciate the opportunity to intern at CM, and in turn take it upon themselves to ensure their customers have a pleasant evening. We most certainly did.
Some useful information:
–Valet parking is available, but there is also street parking nearby
–The restaurant serves beer/​wine only. Wine is only served by the bottle (with $ 20, 40, 60, 80/​bottle price ranges — very reasonable). Beer/​wine will be ordered before being seated. You are allowed to take unfinished wine bottles home.
Food was terrific. We ordered the fried pork rillettes, shrimp and grit beignets (yum), beef braciole, and the short rib. The short rib was excellent. Perfectly prepared and exceptionally flavored… not to mention that the portion sizes of meat are quite large.
I highly recommend getting multiple desserts. Sarah Green is the pastry chef — she is absolutely incredible. I remember her desserts at Oak — all were very unique, with great plating/​presentation, and creative ingredient combinations that harmonizes with every delicious bite. I’m an absolute fan, and having the Noble Coyote Smore last night at CM only strengthened that sentiment. Seriously.
Overall, I encourage everyone to dine at Café Momentum to support Dallas youth, and have a truly gratifying dining experience while doing so.

I went here for dinner with my husband for their grand opening weekend. The restaurant was very classy and trendy with simple but yet personal décor. The back wall has a collection of personal plates with messages from each intern saying what they are thankful for, a very nice touch.
The food was pretty impressive. Our waiter, Tamarrion, was amazing. He gave us great recommendations. We ordered the shrimp & grits beignets for appetizer, short ribs as entrée and the smores for dessert. Our favorite were the smores and the short ribs. All the waiters and staff there were extremely nice, polite and courteous. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. We will definitely be coming back!
Oh by the way, my husband said the bathroom was really nice with some interesting writing on the wall :)