At FareStart, food is the tool that transforms lives. FareStart is a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. The FareStart Restaurant, located at 7th & Virginia in downtown Seattle, is open for lunch Monday-Friday from 11am–2pm, and for Guest Chef Night dinners on Thursdays from 5:30-8 p.m. All proceeds from the restaurant go back into the program to support FareStart’s job training and placement programs.
Held at the FareStart Restaurant, Guest Chef Night is a weekly highlight for the FareStart community. For FareStart students, it is a unique opportunity to work with Seattle's premier chefs. Every Thursday night, a different local chef works with students to prepare a delicious three-course meal. Guest Chef Night is $29.95 per person. For a calendar of upcoming chefs, please visit www.farestart.org.
"My wife and I attended dinner at FareStart last Thursday evening. We think this is a fantastic cause and were pleased to be a part of it. The volunteer service was good although we did feel somewhat rushed through the meal. We found the reservation system worked well for us. We felt the restaurant space worked well too. We thought the presentation and the food was good but not top of the line. We also thought that the food and wine were a bit on the pricey side for the value we received. This is an excellent concept and we commend this organization for the effort that goes into this. We loved to support it but wished we had had a more positive experience with the food (ok but not a wow)."
Dined on 5/16/2013
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"Excellent place to meet for lunch. Good cause. Food is consistently good, but not great. Limited menu. A few more options (particularly vegan options) would go a long way!"
Dined on 5/16/2013
Special Features: good for groups
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"We came from TN on vacation and had heard great things about FareStart from friends. Not only is it a great mission, but a great meal and great service! Thank you for the great work you do at FareStart!"
Dined on 5/09/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"This is my favorite place to meet for a business lunch but you have to have a reservation! The price, volume and food choices are all great, not too excessive, just right for a one hour lunch meeting."
Dined on 5/08/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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"FareStart has a really nice menu that doesn't over-reach and solid execution. Factor in that the meal is prepared by participants in their culinary training program who have been homeless, and you get a double win. Prices are also more than fair. Ambience is tremendous and the service has always been top notch for me. Love these guys. I would come here even if it wasn't the "politically correct" thing to do, but since it is, it makes me feel like I am eating with a conscience."
Dined on 4/19/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, hot spot, great for lunch
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"I was planning a take myself out on a date night, and remembered years ago, on the Mountain 103.7 they mentioned this restaurant. I googled it and found out it was Guest Chef night = Thursday and I believe the guest Chef was Robert Spaulding of Elliott Bay Oyster House. I was going to a play so I made early reservations, and arrived first. The hosts were very friendly and seated me promptly and the wait staff was very kind and courteous. I was absolutely amazed at how wonderful the food tasted, I even tried the geoduck tartar which was a seafood I didn't think would ever enter my mouth. The salmon with dungeness crab was the best I've ever had. Kudos to all the staff in the kitchen! Awesome! I'll be back."
Dined on 5/02/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, notable wine list, kid-friendly, romantic, late-night find, neighborhood gem, hot spot, great for lunch, special occasion
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"We found out about FareStart by getting a gift card, and were intrigued by the concept of the restaurant. Our visit was on a "guest chef" night (Thursday 5/2) and that aspect was particularly compelling. The staff was flexible around my wife's dislike of onions, and modified the appetizer course to accommodate her taste - that was much appreciated. Overall, the meal was well prepared and served. My one "complaint" is that there was no amaretto/frangelico available to accompany an almond-themed dessert (which for my money was the best of the three courses) - beer and wine are apparently the only alcohol options. Otherwise we were delighted to have a good meal and support a great cause. One caveat - the portions are not large."
Dined on 5/02/2013
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"Went to Guest Chef Night when Elliot Bay Oyster House chef was in charge. The food was good and looked beautiful. The food experience compared to the 3 for 30 (3 courses for $30) that happens in upscale Seattle restaurants a couple times a year. The difference is that you're supporting a great cause. And I don't know if this is typical but we witnessed the graduation of a culinary student. Pretty special experience."
Dined on 5/02/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"The food was amazing and the concepts behind the restaurant make it that much more spectacular. Great place for a business meeting and lunch, I will be back!"
Dined on 04/25/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, great for lunch, hot spot
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"Our service was outstanding and the food was excellent. Would like to see more vegan options, particularly for dessert. Would be able to dine there more frequently if you were open on weekends."
Dined on 04/19/2013
2013
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"I absolutely adore FareStart! Such great food at a great price, and it feels so great to dine there to support all that they do! I only wish I worked downtown so I could have lunch there."
Dined on 04/18/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion, great for lunch
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"Great way to try some different cuisines and support a place doing good work! The servers are volunteers, which just adds to the fun and sets this apart from just a restaurant night out."
Dined on 04/11/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"This is our Third Annual BD (birthday) lunch and we had a wonderful time. I work at Seattle Children's Research Institute right next door and my two cousins and I meet up each year at FareStart celebrate our BD's which are all within 2 weeks of each other and enjoy a great meal. The food is top notch and the service adds to the whole experience. Our waitress was excellent! We like it so much we are planning to make it a monthly date.
Thank you for having such a win/win place to eat."
Dined on 03/28/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch
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"As with the previous two occasions, food is mediocre (not bad, just not good), and the service is borderline acceptable.
But hey, it is what is it is - the food is prepared en masse by chefs in training, and the service is provided by volunteers who do what YOU do for a living, not waitress.
You don't go to Farestart for the dining experience - you go because it is a worthy cause, which is why I have been several times. This review isn't a compliant...it is just honesty shared to set expectations. If you are expecting haute cuisine served by dining professionals, you are mistaken. If you are expecting a decent meal at a decent price that represents amongst the most painless ways to give back, then you are on track."
Dined on 03/28/2013
2004
Special Features: good for groups, romantic
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"As well as being a lovely culinary occasion, dining at Fare Start was a moving Social Justice experience. We got to participate in a long-awaited graduation and saw lives changing before our eyes. I would not hesitate to bring any party, from romantic partner to business banquet, to enjoy Fare Start."
Dined on 03/21/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"This was the 2nd time we've been to FareStart and it was wonderful! We had a couple questions about the main dish so one of the wait staff just went and brought out the head chef to talk to us! It was another fabulous experience!!!"
Dined on 03/14/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, hot spot
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"This is an important program in Seattle. It is good to support. It does a very good thing in the community in helping people who are willing to work get a 2nd chance and turn their lives around. The graduation was very moving. How important it is to be a part of the helping hand. The Dinner was excellent. It was a great way to celebrate a birthday."
Dined on 03/14/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, special occasion
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"We usually love their food on guest chef night but this night was not so delightful. Food was very dry to swallow - all three courses - with the exception of soup. Everything had too many whole nuts which spoiled the original taste."
Dined on 03/14/2013
2010
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"This is a busy place for lunch as workers from the area pour in to make a near capacity crowd. The food was creative, with generous portions and satisfying. I want to go back to try some other items on the lunch menu and for one of their Thursday night special chef dinners."
Dined on 03/13/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, great for lunch, hot spot
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"It was a great evening with wonderful food and meeting the chef and supporting Brian, the graduate we met. I would recommend this to anyone especially those that like to eat for a cause."
Dined on 03/07/2013
2009
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"We have enjoyed the Fare Start dinner on both visits. Careful attention to the guests comfort begins at the door. Volunteer waitstaff should be kept more in the background or better explained at the beginning. Our food was well prepared and served properly. The spinach salad was served with a delightful touch of balsamic and pine nuts with a cheese and honey "crouton". Both available entrees, braised ribs with creamy polenta and vegetarian lasagne were warmed through and perfectly balanced in taste. The dessert was a hazelnut torte and presented expertly, with a nicely whipped ball of creamon the side atop an amatueish squiggle of cheap chocolate sauce, overall still a 4/5. I expect no less than outstanding overall and wasn't dissapointed."
Dined on 03/07/2013
2010
Special Features: special occasion
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"Lunch here is outstanding. Steak frites, salads and sandwiches are some of the best in town and with great prices!Dinner is a bit less-so. Felt like I was receiving sub-par wedding dinner food due to set-up, also felt rushed as there was less than one minute between courses."
Dined on 03/07/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for lunch, hot spot
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"Really a great, impressive cause. Service (volunteers) and scene were terrific....genuine, caring, delightful folks. Our main meat dish was fair (clearly overcooked and dry), so that was a slight detractor. Salad, dessert, coffee get very high marks for quality, serving size, and presentation. We had a late reservation 7:45 so we ran out of time for kitchen tours, etc.
We had out of town guests from Texas......and we were happy to have selected farestart for our "dinner night".
Big thumbs up."
Dined on 03/07/2013
2009
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"I was very excited to take my aunt (84) to lunch. I've heard and read so many wonderful reviews of your restaurant. I had the Fish and Chips and my aunt had the Cobb salad w/o the chicken.. I had water and my aunt had coffee. Her salad was ok, no credit was given for not having the chicken. My Fish n' chips was very dry and the fries were horrible tasting. The wait staff was nice, however no one asked us how our meal was. Our total bill with tip (20%) was 32.00 dollars. I was so very dissapointed."
Dined on 03/06/2013
2010
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"I love the concept behind FareStart and the food was interesting and delicious! A great way to entertain and support our community in a positive way!"
Dined on 03/04/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, great for lunch, hot spot
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"The food was excellent, we went on guest chef night and the food was prepared by the students in culinary training. They did a wonderful job and the service was provided by volunteers which also did a great job! The atmosphere was charged and gave the patrons an excellent opportunity to witness what Fare Start is all about."
Dined on 02/28/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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"For Thursday Guest Chef Nights, plan on 2 to 2.5 hours for dinner. Even with an early reservation (6 pm), if your entree is not brought out by 6:45, it will be on hold until after the student and graduate introductions and remarks. Remember that you are supporting a non-profit training restaurant, with volunteer servers. On our visit, the menu was delectable, but the delivery fell short on timing and food temperature."
Dined on 02/28/2013
2004
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