Old Skool Cafe

To celebrate our 27th anniversary, we went to @oldskoolcafe. The greeters, cooks and servers are all young people. Mama T opened this place to help at risk youth learn work and life skills (like how to get a license, do taxes, set a bank account). Partnering with experienced chefs, this restaurant has excellent food and live jazz!!! We ordered the Taumoepeau Ota (think ceviche) and it was a great appetizer light and the fish was super fresh. We had the short ribs which were super tender and had a rich gravy. We didnt think we had room for dessert, but the lavender cheesecake and the Guittard chocolate brownie were fabulous! If you are in the city: GO! SUPPORT! ENJOY DELICIOUS FOOD!
Jun 18th, 2023

We had a wonderful visit! The music was fantastic, the food was super yummy & overall a great time. The youth who worked here were so professional & really hustled to make everything special from our greeting when we arrived, throughout our meal & when we departed. Will be back!!!
Jun 16th, 2023

I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to write this review. We came across this restaurant thanks to an article about the restaurant's backstory (Definitely take a moment and Google their story. Long story short: the staff is made up of youths that are/were considered at-risk. The restaurant is a way for them to learn skills, gain work experience, and build their self-esteem. That concept was enough for us to give them a try.) Overall we had a great experience. Our waiter was newer and you could tell that he was nervous but he was extremely sweet. This was a few months ago so I'm sure he's gotten over his nerves by now. Everyone was so friendly (seasoned restaurant staff at other establishments could learn about hospitality from these teens & young adults). The food was far better than I anticipated. And I have been thinking about the Sweet Potato Biscuits (sadly these aren't available to purchase, they're a complimentary starter) since our dinner. My only problems were that they were hard to find and we actually drove by twice without realizing it, and the dark entryway/walkway to the dining area. Other than that it's great food, a great experience, a great atmosphere, and a great cause.
Jun 8th, 2023

The food was great, the staff was friendly and accommodating, and I loved the atmosphere.
May 18th, 2023

May 16th, 2023