Good food, good service, AND a good mission?? I'm for this restaurant! We were seated right away and the ambiance was so nice. There was a live band playing jazz and I loved the decor! The complimentary sweet potato biscuits were yummy! The top was glazed and subtly sweet. We ordered the Shrimp & Grits ($16) and Daniel's Gumbo ($15). The gumbo was comforting and had a good mix of spices. We loved the shrimp & grits because those grits were fluffy and good! The shrimp were also plump and flavorful. The food melted in our mouths! The service was very attentive and friendly! Our water was never even near empty. This restaurant hires at-risk youth and provides them hands-on training and work experience. That's awesome because otherwise, these youth could be hanging around with the wrong crowd or having trouble getting back on their feet. Gratuity is automatically included (20%), but the service and food was worth it. read more

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Great food and nice atmosphere! Different than what I expected. Service was great and it was Dec 2022.

I really want to give this place 5 stars, just because of the wonder story behind it let me start with the positives --peanut butter stew --shrimp and grits --catfish and couscous --kale --gumbo --coconut rice pudding things to pass or think twice --fried chicken (overly fried, too dry) --the house soda --the sweet potato pie (i see many rave reviews about it, personally, i didnt find it that spectacular) service --friendly/attentive (or as friendly and attentive as can be given that some of these guys are in training and lacking in much fine dining experience) the -2 stars was mainly because we had to ask for biscuit (the complimentary ones), asked twice, only to be told (the third time we asked) that they ran out, but we saw a moment ago the next table (who were seated AFTER us) getting biscuits...yes i am being a bit too petty doing this over biscuits, but i really wanted some biscuits read more

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Wow, I had the pleasure of dining at Old Skool Cafe last week, and I was totally blown away by the food, the service, the entertainment, the ambiance, and their social mission. I started off with the black-eyed pea salad, which very tasty. We followed up with Abu's Peanut Butter Stew, and the a half slab of the Bayview Baby Back Ribs. I was very curious about the peanut butter stew because it was the most unique item on the menu, and it did not disappoint. It was kind of like a garlicky peanut coconut curry, but the flavors were unique and unlike anything that I've had before. I highly recommend this dish, it's very unique and absolutely delicious. The Bayview Baby Back Ribs were amazing, and were the best back ribs I've ever had. They were meaty, juicy, and tender, and the sauce complimented the porkiness perfectly. During our meal, Chef Kevin introduced himself to us and made sure that everything was fine. He chatted with us about Old Skool's history, the food, and their mission. He was a very gracious host, and the rest of the staff was friendly and attentive too. We also enjoyed the live piano music that accompanied our meal. One thing to note for people who are not familiar with the neighborhood -- although we had no problems, you should be mindful of your surroundings and not leave anything of value in your car when you park. I really enjoyed our meal, and I'm looking forward to going back again! read more

My sister and I had the best time at Old Skool Cafe!! Great service, fantastic food, fun ambience, and unique cocktails. We will definitely be returning! Thank you for a great experience! read more

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When we first walked into the restaurant, we were immediately transported into an elegant atmosphere. The walls are a deep red. Chandeliers graced the ceilings. There were raised booths or tables to sit in. The waitstaff were dressed in red and black or all black. There was a pianist playing for the night. He was lovely. The whole vibe in the restaurant was pretty cool! We liked it a lot Our server was Charles. He was very attentive and knowledgeable. We appreciated his humor. When it came time to order wine, he recommended we speak with Chef Kevin. Chef Kevin was delightful and we'll verse in the wine arena. He selected a 2009 Russian River Valley Pilot Noir. It was yummy! Thanks Kevin!!! We started with an 'Opener' of chicken wings. Spiced just right with a few dipping sauces. Our entrees were the Abu's Peanut Butter Stew with wild rice, Gumbo, and a side of greens. The peanut butter stew was so good! Every flavor melded together wonderfully! The gumbo had just the right spicyness. It was quite flavorful as well. Everything was served hot and right on time. Be aware that they do not take Amex. I suggested they post that somewhere. We were treated really well by all staff and will certainly visit again soon. They signed us up for some type of reward account. Thanks Old Skool Cafe read more

Old Skool Cafe - Yummy Gumbo! - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I'm a huge comfort foods/bbq snob after having lived in the midwest, since there wasn't much else to do there except for stuffing my face and epitomizing the heartland's obesity epidemic. Food: reasonably priced and decent efforts in terms of quality -Abu's peanut butter stew, despite my dentist's-nightmare-sweet-tooth, this was too sweet as a main dish -Potato frites were okay, standard mac and cheese -Spicy collard greens was too sour but the turkey meat mixed in was fine -Pan seared shrimp n smoky cheese grits was good -Baby back ribs were too dry, more like grandpa cow back ribs -Sweet potato pie was yums, not too sugary with a smooth custardy texture; I'm easy to please with sweet potato anything and this had me mouthgasming immediately Service: -Everyone was nice, but service itself was a spotty mess -Forgot two of our orders, and my small ass water glass was arbitrarily filled 2/3 full when both of my friends got the full glass of water treatment afterwards Setting: -Nice ambiance, beautiful live music by the kids (albeit a little too loud) 3.5 stars for the karmalicious concept. read more

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We went to the Old Skool Cafe last night for our birthday celebration. My brother-in-law, niece and myself all have birthdays in October and we celebrate by going out for dinner every year. This year we went to the Old Skool Cafe. What a great experience. First of all the place reminded me of an old western saloon...it was unique. Our server was super friendly and some what entertaining with his mannerisms. The menu is limited but fantastic. We ordered the brussel sprouts and mac and cheese for starters, then the house salad, and our main dishes we ordered the fried chicken and the short ribs. All was delicious! The chef (Eddie) came to our talk for a chat and we very much felt at home. Great staff, great food with family. Overall a fun meal. Thanks to all at Old Skool Cafe! read more

Great food that supports a great cause. If you're ever in the Bayview and hungry for soul satisfying food, go here! read more

Old Skool Cafe - Arugula salad and Fried okra - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Excellent service all around, great food, nice speakeasy decor, and amazing live music performance!! And of course, the mission of this restaurant is just so inspiring. This place is surely becoming my new favorite spot, can't wait to go back soon! :) read more

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The ambiance was so nice! They have a live jazz band, excellent soul food and very nice staff. I definitely will come back.

My dinner was excellent , very flavorful... the service was a little slow for it not to be a packed place , the setting is warm & cozy ... 3 because their menu changed since my last visit , so I know now not to ask to many questions about what's in the dish ‍ read more

An evening that checks all the boxes: unique venue, cool live jazz, friendly service, top shelf spirits to complement the culinary experience. read more

haven't eaten here. I can't eat here. I just went to make a reservation for myself, but I can't there. There systems require couples or greater to get a reservation. I'm tired of calling restaurants to try to get a reservation for myself. read more

Food is very hit or miss every time. Especially the gumbo. So if it's a miss on your first time... you probably won't want to come back which is unfortunate. It's inconsistent but the times that the food is good it's REALLY good. The staff is always friendly and accommodating and the ambiance can't be beat! Try the short ribs and a lavender soda! read more

Saturday night group of 10, staff and food should have been on point. Fried chicken : Bland, spiceless, dry and somehow the skin wasn't crispy.... The coleslaw was fine Gumbo: Watery, thin, bland and overall bad, honestly the worst gumbo I've ever experienced. Coleslaw: Fine Biscuits: Dry but ok Extremely disappointed in the food, went in with good expectations but was let down all around, service was meh but the food was strait up terrible read more

Really really big fan of Old Skool Cafe!! What makes it even better is that you're also supporting a great cause. The fired chicken and gumbo are my go-tos. The fried chicken is perfectly crisp, juicy and flavorful and the mashed potatoes they're served on are delicious. The gumbo loaded with seafood, sausages and was clearly made with love. The Mac n cheese is spot on, as are the collards. Keep doing what you're doing OSC! read more

Where can you go for great food, attentive service, jazz music with a 1920s vibe, and support a great cause? Old Skool Cafe is the place to be! Founded by Teresa Goines, a former correctional officer, Old Skool Cafe is a Jazz-themed supper club in the Bayview and it is completely run by youth (16-22 year olds) coming out of jail or foster care. I was so impressed that the youth were so professional and friendly. And they can cook! :) Try Old Skool...you won't be disappointed. I came hungry and I left inspired (and full)! I will definitely be back. Teresa, thank you for being an inspiration by helping these youth with this thing called LIFE. read more

I haven't been their since pre Covid. But from what I remember the food is good. All the service help are getting rehabilitated, getting trained and educated. Nice ambience and entertainment! read more

5 star experience all around. This place is amazing and I highly encourage everyone to pay a visit. First - you need to understand the mission of OSC first, this is a restaurant that serves the community first. The cooks, waiters, musicians, and hostess are all kids/young adults from age 16-22 from the Bayview or Hunter's Point. These are kids that are coming from some really tough situations at home and they're finding time between school and other jobs to hone their interpersonal, business or musical skills. How incredible is that. There's a chef that helps craft the menu and the founder and her staff help on the restaurant floor some as well. Now, onto the food and venue. First of all it's soul food from America, Caribbean and Africa. The Fried Chicken, Peanut Butter Stew and Shrimp & Grits were all very, very good. There's a small beer and wine menu and they make some nice house made soda's and seltzers. The music was Jazz for the night we were there and these two kids were f**king crushing it. It's like they were prodigies, both were so good. Anyway, make the trek, see a part of SF you often skip over, ask the kids their stories, and then enjoy great service, food and music and a beautiful old venue. Highly, highly recommend. read more

Went to brunch here in early March and loved the food!! Their entire concept warms my heart and it was great to see the youth learning life skills. They were real polite and the servers came by consistently to check on our water and dishes. I would highly recommend coming back after their renovations are completed ! :) The food servings were the perfect size for brunch and was tasty all around. Just the right of seasoning and portions!! I believe we had soft shell crab Benedict and pork sliders, which were absolutely divine. My friends enjoyed their shrimp and grits and breakfast sandwich as well. Our favorite part (hands down) was the Dutch pancakes/waffles, I forget the naming conventions but it was super delish. read more

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Loved visiting Old Skool Cafe and all they are doing for the community! The food and atmosphere is absolutely incredible! read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food is delicious. Service great . Highly recommend this place. The ambiance sets the tone for a great evening.

This restaurant is wonderful! Can't believe I've lived in the Bay Area for so long and didn't know about Old Skool until now. We were there on a Saturday night. Everything we had was delicious, and our favorites were the Warrior Wings, garlic mashed potatoes, Fried Chicken, and Gumbo. In addition to the food, we really enjoyed the fantastic live music. It wasn't so loud that we couldn't talk to each other. It was perfect background jazz. Really impressive musicians! We'll definitely be back soon to try more dishes. I really want to try the Peanut Butter stew and the cheesecake dessert. read more

Aside from the great social mission that they have, their food and service is very good. Their Saturday "gospel brunch" just started two weekends ago. They have a live singer during this time. The brunch menu is sizable, and seemingly more in selection than their dinner menu. We ordered the pork hash and crab fritters benedict -- both were delicious, not too heavy, good texture. We ended our meal with the Dutch pancake ordered as a texture. Oh my gosh. It's spongy eggy goodness with the taste of creme brulee. We've come here a few times for dinner. I love their fried chicken --- perfectly brined juicy boneless chicken with perfect fried texture. Their other menu items - ribs, mac and cheese, shrimp and grits, gumbo -- all so good. I haven't ordered a single thing that I haven't liked. read more

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Fried Calamari is so good and there food is really delicious. I've always wanted to try there dessert even the brownie

You're enjoying a wonderful, romantic dinner only to be distracted by the couple next to you. The woman is clearly upset and balling her eyes out at the dinner table. AWKWARD! Leave your relationship problems at home please. Except I was THAT woman...balling my eyes out at the dinner table. Not because Mr. NSS and I were fighting but because I had an epiphany of how I blessed I am. I didn't grow up in poverty. I didn't grow up in a home with domestic violence (I had a dad that lined the corners of the house with diapers so I wouldn't fall and hurt myself). I've never been locked up (though my friends think I will one day for public indecency). I sat there with my eyeliner running down by face and my whore lashes falling off like I had just did the walk of shame as our waiter, Dominic gave a short speech. He stood up in front of all the Old Skool Café patrons and told us about how he grew up in a home with domestic violence and has been in out of jail since he was 12 years old. Just when he thought he would never be able to find a job with a criminal record, Old Skool Café took him in, and taught him (and other at-risk youths) how to cook, how to bus tables, and most importantly, is giving him marketable skills to pursue a future career in the restaurant industry. For this, I would like to dedicate my 1000th review to OId Skool Café, a supperclub dedicated to helping at-risk youths make a positive transition in their lives Nestled inside a small street in Bayview-Hunter's Point, Old Skool Café is a converted abandoned church turned supperclub. Upon walking in, you will be amazed that this gem is located in this part of San Francisco. The sultry burgundy walls, vintage golden chandeliers, youths dressed in formal red and black jazz attire with suspenders, and live music by talented singers make this a perfect date place for a romantic dinner. Fellas, this is a perfect *panty dropping* date place. Once she hears the story behind the supperclub, she'll melt and be amazed that you took the time to research and pick a place with such a worthy cause. TRUST ME. Old Skool Café serves soul food tapas style. They recommend 3-4 dishes per a person which can add up. Wine by the glass was $8-$12. Dinner for two is about $100 (including gratuity). Not exactly the cheapest but it's for a good cause and great way to give back to the community. F O O D Dating a human garbage disposal, we ordered 5 dishes plus dessert. I wasn't very hungry but it was just enough for the both of us. Given these youths have no formal culinary training; the food served was very impressive. The extent of Mr. NSS cooking is microwaving Egg Beaters and he's 32 so I give these kids props. The absolute favs of the night were the Shrimp & Grits - $12 (http://bit.ly/12KUVfv), the West African Peanut Butter Stew - $12 (http://bit.ly/W1WbFl), and Baby Back Ribs - $11 (http://bit.ly/Y7PWBf). The shrimp was plumply tender and sweet while the cheesy grits were smooth yet had a chunky bite to them. Loved the bits of chorizo for an added richness. The peanut stew was like a peanut butter curry. Richly thick, the peanut butter stew had tender chunks of chicken and a scoop of white rice to mellow out the robust flavors. The baby back ribs were fall of the bone tender and nicely lacquered with a tangy smoky bbq sauce with a touch of sweetness. The Gumbo - $12 ((http://bit.ly/VreNh2) could have benefited from more seasoning and more roux for a thicker consistency while the Calamari - $9 ((http://bit.ly/TlYVCv) could have used more batter and less time in the fryer as it was a bit dry and overcooked. We ended dinner with the Panna Cotta - $7 (http://bit.ly/TlZUlW) since they were out of the Sweet Potato Pie which was deliciously custardy but the balsamic reduction was a tiny bit too pungent. S E R V I C E Friendly, attentive, and professional, these young servers will surely be ready for to hit San Francisco's finest restaurants in the future. Food service was pretty timely given it started getting crowded as the weekend night progressed. A M B I A N C E / D E C O R Panty Dropper. P A R K I N G Plenty of street parking around the corner on Oakdale. The T-line is just steps away though I would recommend driving or taking the taxi. The food and the service at Old Skool Cafe far exceeded by expectations given the youths had no formal training. Although it wasn't perfect, it's better than anything I could ever produce in the kitchen (even as an adult) without burning down the house or being sent to the ER after dropping a tray of plates on my foot. Mad props to Old Skool Café for this and helping at-risk youths completely turn their lives around for the better. read more

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Supporting a good cause, great food, and live jazz music during dinner? Old Skool, you really had a way to my heart. Now if only guys could do the same. HAHA. JK, not really. Reunited with my super food buddy since sophomore year, Nathan W. and I have been wanting to go here since 2 years ago. And we finally somehow ended up here 2 years later. Old Skool hires at-risk youth age 16-22 and gives them a place to go to get into a healthy life loop. I LOVEEEEE the mission of this place. It was so meaningful and super heartwarming to be able to support these youth. .::Atmosphere/Service::. Red chandeliers hung from the ceilings, warm decors filled the room, a piano on one side of the room, a live musician playing and singing great music while I ate= the perfect breathtaking atmosphere one could ever imagine. The chef himself greeted us at the door and he came to check on us when we were eating our entree. The staff were all very friendly. Everything was just amazing. .::Food::. We shared all the following items: +Pan Seared Shimp 'n Smoky Grits $18: Award-winning dish. Topped with Spanish chorizo and scallions. Flavorful shrimp paired with very thick creamy grits that made my mouth water. +Daniel's Gumbo ($12cup//$18bowl): New Orleans classic with andouille sausage, chicken and shrimp; topped with Dugeness Crab over rice. WARNING: for those who cannot handle a bit of spice (not even hot cheetos like me) there is a hint of fire to this dish haha. I took a big gulp before realizing I was sentencing my taste buds to death. Not TOO bad thou. Super bold in flavors and everything was super good. +Bread Pudding ($7): there was no dessert menu so the waiter verbally listed their selections. Once waiter said bread pudding, my friend screamed BREAD PUDDING. And we were done. The bread pudding was super moist and the ice cream on top melted quickly. There was a hint of cinnamon to it. This one seemed to be a seasonal dessert. .::Wait Time::. NONE. NONE whatsoever. But it was because we came on halloween so we were lucky. The chef recommended reservations on Fri-Sun. Other days would not be a problem. My only one complaint, and not really their fault at all would be the area it's located at. I was scared for my life. I would not frequent here often if a guy was not there with me haha. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Please check out their documentary FIRST before reading this review. http://vimeo.com/42108559 It took me a few days to think about what i was going to write about that would talk all the good things going for this place besides the food. As some one who actively does community service/volunteer work i know how important helping the community. There was something special about this place aside from the food. Old Skool cafe helps at risk youths that have been to jail/juvenile and puts them to work in the restaurant business to gain experience and keep the out of trouble. We need more places like this in the city. On to the review - Considering that this place is in the heart of the ghetto (3rd street) when you walk inside it was a different environment. They had an "old school" theme all laced up in black and red. They really sold the them. The place is kinda small. only probably 50 people can be served max. Our server was Marcus, super nice and genuially helpful. I would not have think that he came from a troubled past. Since its tapas style restaurant we ordered - grits, bbq ribs, mac n cheese, blackened fish, fried chicken, and gumbo. My personal fav were the MAC N CHEESE and the SHRIMP AND GRITS. All had creamy consistency and had a home made taste to it. Everything is mostly under $10 and good tapas portion size. This place went beyond my expectation! I highly recommend this place. Quick tip - This place is only open for 4 hours a night and open 3 days a week! Make a reservation online! read more

Check Please Bay Area has yet to disappoint me. We saw this restaurant featured on the show, and I was convinced by the show's end that this was the place where we were going to celebrate our special wedding anniversary. I was looking for ambiance, great food and an altogether unique experience, and based on guests' comments and Yelp reviews, this place meets all three requirements. This restaurant is not your typical restaurant. It's a "Youth-Run Supper Club." Both the front and back areas of the restaurant are run by at-risk and previously incarcerated youth, giving them a chance to gain valuable work experience. And what a setting! The 40s supper club theme decor is fabulous! You just need a jazz band to complete the experience. But lucky for us there was a nice young man playing jazz tunes on the piano using his iPhone for his sheet music. How's that for a unique restaurant experience? The food here is really good. We ordered several dishes which we shared for the most part, and we enjoyed all of them. We started with the ceviche and the gumbo. The ceviche was refreshing and light and the gumbo was spicy and very tasty! It's one of the best gumbos I've ever had. The shrimp was tender, not overcooked as they often are, and next time we eat here, I am ordering that for my main course! My husband and I shared the Mac and Cheese and Fried Chicken entree as well. The fried chicken plate came with half a chicken, a nice serving of garlic mashed potatoes and slaw. The fried chicken was very lightly breaded and seasoned well with spices. Very good, not heavy at all. The mashed potatoes was delicious. Definitely a good recipe! I didn't eat much slaw as I was getting full by that pointbut it was good too. In between courses we were visited by and congratulated by the founder of the restaurant and the social worker working with the young people. They thanked us for choosing to celebrate our anniversary here and gave us a couple of glasses of champagne on the house. How amazing is that?! We enjoyed our Chocolate Mousse dessert with the champagne. Service was efficient and friendly and the food came out in a timely manner. There was a group of 40 that came in after we got seated and were into our starters, and another group of at least 20 people celebrating someone's birthday, but the kitchen handled it very well. We did not experience any delay in our food and the food just kept coming out for the large groups! The kitchen people obviously know how to handle large groups. I would recommend making reservations especially if you're dining on the weekend. I reserved through Yelp about three weeks in advance. Don't worry about parking as they have a parking lot for patrons. Free parking in front of the restaurant!!! How rare is that in San Francisco?! Wear those heels. No need to walk a few blocks to eat here! read more

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The best restaurant in San Francisco, period, full stop. The secret sauce? Love and empathy! Love the mission and vision behind this restaurant and love the impact it has created for the San Francisco community! Go Teresa and the Old Skool Cafe team! After the pandemic I will be visiting again! read more

The food was off the charts. And after meeting the chef and talking about his passion for his creations, I wasn't the least bit surprised. We were able to taste nearly everything on the menu from the jambalaya to the chicken and the ribs. I couldn't find fault with any dish. And the Valentine's Day spread sounds particularly amazing. Incredible venue, great music, ambiance. Definitely a diamond in the rough and not to be missed. And it should not be forgot what an amazing cause Old Skool supports and the invaluable opportunity it provides for local youth. read more

Old Skool Cafe's mission is to "provide marketable employment skills in the restaurant industry to youth...." haven't been to their eatery but sampled their fare at a food fair. locale: new taste marketplace (3/12) samplings: -red snapper ceviche(4) *contained mango bits, tortilla chips, avocado, red onions, and red snapper *fish not numbed by vinegar, had a freshness about it, nice contast of tastes and textures. fish tasted fresh. *a steal for $4. -otai(mango island beverage3) innovative, refreshing, had pulp in it meaning freshly made, not from concentrate. -nicaraguan organic coffee(2) nice and smooth -mini banana chocolate chip muffin(1) moist with banana and chocolate chip taste -mini sweet potato pie(1) a nice biteful pie. foodnotes: -food way above average, innovative -an appropriate shout out for review #2800 -old skool has similarities to delancy street.. read more

Although it was merely a benefit dinner and not a meal AT the cafe itself, it was catered by the Old Skool Cafe chef and team and seemingly very representative of their services in general. The courses were as follows: * Spiced Sweet Potato Soup with Sage * Roasted Gold and Red Beets, Crumbled Feta Cheese * Mushroom Risotto with Scharffenberger Cacao Nibs and Reggiano Parmesan Cheese * Niman Ranch hearty Beef Stew cocked in Porter, Burgundy and Dark Chocolate All the courses were exquisite. Just yesterday, I had dinner at a upscale restaurant in Sonoma and the beet salad there didn't even hold a candle to the one made by Old Skool Cafe! That was even a point of discussion at the table. The risotto was fairly bland, also discussed at the table, since all of the other courses were so stellar. I took off one star for that, but put one back on because the kids who served us, plus those who performed (sang, played music, even a little dancing) were just outstanding. Ah, I should explain that this is the first of it's kind... 1940s style supper club run by local youth. You can find more about it at http://oldskoolcafe.org. Truly an amazing concept. Do I work for them? Nope, but I can tell you, after your first experience with them, you'll be a fan as well! read more

Old Skool Cafe - Old Skool Cafe ("OSC") is a non-profit organization that offers programs and services to rehabilitate at-risk youth through work - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Be ready to be transported to Bourbon Street upon entry. The sultry red chandeliers, cozy booths and velvet soft, black chairs will make you feel like you walked into a locals lounge in New Orleans! The live Jazz musicians playing front and center complete the scene. The service here is impeccable, everyone is attentive and available to help. It wasn't the decor, the food, or the cause that impressed me the most but rather when Chef Kevin came out with my plate and introduced himself and talked about their purpose. That is attention to detail! I don't know if he does that at every table, but I sure felt special that he came to mine. Maybe he just wanted to know what party of two was ordering all that food. As soon as you sit down the staff brings a plate of four mini pieces of sweet cornbread. The Frenchman ate them so fast, I didn't have time to take a photo. They were so fluffy and light (no Jiff here folks), topped with a small drizzle of honey on top. Truth be told, I was here to see what sort of food game this place had - was the food truly southern? With this in mind I ordered the Fried Chicken, The Gumbo and the Spicy Greens. Those greens!!! I pretty much ate them all on my own. The chef prepares them in smoked turkey necks, so for all us southerners who know about that back fat and ham-hocks..none of that in these here and they were still amazing! Juicy, spicy, not overly vinegary or salted. They were beyond exceptional! The Gumbo had an aroma that led me to believe the roux was made with love. Indeed it was; spicy, not too watery or thick mixing well with the rice, crab and sausage. The shrimp were sautéed in butter beforehand and complemented the flavor altogether. There was no ocra thank goodness. It wasn't my Mamon Rieux's gumbo, but it was probably the best I have had in California. Ya'll westerners need some practice. Anyway, the Fried Chicken was satisfying as well. Juicy, juicy, juicy. There is nothing worse then some dried fried chicken! Well done Chef Kevin, that little bird was seasoned and saucy. I wasn't so much a fan of the mashed potatoes and cole slaw. But I'm a little funny about cole slaw - I only like Popeye's LOL!! Seriously folks, take a taxi, Lyft or Uber, or even the Muni to this eatery. The muni stops right in front, so you have no excuse. The basis behind their establishment is comendable. They employ youth who would otherwise be getting into shenanigans, lacking guidance, heading down that terrible path of self destruction. Old Skool Cafe keeps them focused with paid jobs, encouraging support and leadership. So get there, support the future and your hungry tummy! read more

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We love this restaurant. We've been here many times and always enjoyed it. The mission, service, food, and atmosphere are absolutely the best. Everyone is so friendly and the staff always puts in extra effort to make our dining experience extra special. We couldn't recommend it more highly. read more

Fabulous ambiance, delicious food and a meaningful mission! Definitely will be coming back. Live music was an unexpected bonus!

5 stars, and I can tell ya why. +1 for the decor, it's too retro chic. Even the bathroom was decorated. +1 speaking of the bathroom, it is VERY clean! I approve! +1 for their friendly staff. Our waiter, we can tell was fairly new... But he was too kind. As were the rest of the staff there! Even chef man, himself! +1 for the live entertainment. His covers/ versions of the songs contributed to the overall vibe of the place. (Joshua was his name?? Not sure. He should create business cards to advertise his youtube channel or something). +1 last but not least, for their food. The kale salad was very good! A perfect blend of flavors, the dressing wasn't too much (You couldn't guess how many salads I've eaten that were so drenched in dressing that the crisp of the veggies were lost). We ordered the grexican (sp?) burger, a smokey taste that paired perfectly with their sweet potato fries... And that sauce! That orange, cajun mayo? Not sure what it was but it was delicious! I had the shrimp and grits.... Best grits I've ever had!!!!! Hands down! I was very surprised that everything we had was ridiculously good! Even the complimentary sweet potato biscuits..... I almost asked if I could take some home! Good thing I stopped myself! Let's see.... 1 + 1 + 1..... Do the math! This place is amazing and although it is literally across the bay from us and about 3-4 freeway changes... We will definitely be back! read more

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We had a wonderful evening full of really good food and jazz at Old Skool Café. I am Southern, and I ordered the shrimp and grits. I eat shrimp and grits all over the southern part of the US, and this one definitely stood toe to toe with those. The shrimp was seasoned well, and the grits had a nice taste. My son had the mac & cheese, and that is one of his favorite dishes. He said that it was creamy and rich without being too heavy. The jazz was also very good. We were surprised to see what good music came from such young musicians. The waiters did an excellent job taking care of everything we needed, without bugging us too much during the music. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Inside the restaurant. - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Posted in the Elite Event, and shall do another here! Old Skool is THAT good. It's embarrassing how badly I've been wanting to try this place...and did not have an opportunity to come. Just life getting in the way and lack of planning on my part. Finally, when Yelp decided to have an event here that was ALSO on a free night for me, I was in! The reason I've been intrigued at this place is not because of the great food (which I PROMISE I WILL GET TO LATER). It's because of what I've read of the amazing work they do with at-risk youth. In a former life, I worked with disadvantaged young people. Though my youth did not have experience in the Juvenile Justice system (yet for some...smh), I know how difficult it is to work with young people in general. Adding the fact that these are youth who did something stupid and had the unfortunate luck to get caught...it makes to so much harder to empower these young people. Hearing an average success rate for youth in the program was about 50%, it's pretty good. Yes, 50% would fail you in school. But 1 in 2 youth being able to turn their life around is nothing to scoff at. The youth there were awesome. Romaine (Spelling is probably totally off) was great at the front door, greeting people on their way in. Carlos made an amazing presentation to everyone, and really showed off what Old Skool Cafe is trying to achieve. All of the waiters and waitresses were amazing, but Serena NOT Williams was a favorite of mine. Just because she was also inclined to chat with people while bringing around bites of delicious foods. Speaking of...FOOD.... Sweet Potato Biscuits with Honey Butter: I was a bit hesitant when these came around, but since they were the first bite and I was hungry...yeah, I partook in one. And wow. Yum! It got all the sweetness needed from the sweet potato, but wasn't overly dessert-like. It really grew on me (and my friend) and we were more than eager to take a 2nd biscuit when it came around. Taumoepean Ota: No idea what the young person was saying when first introducing this. We just saw a creamy ceviche-style food on a crisp tortilla and grabbed one. Evidently its Tongan, which makes sense that they know how to make a decent one. Though not Southern in style, it's a great reflection of the community in Bayview. A lot of Pacific Islanders are here, and this thing was delicious. Like, delicious. Old Skool Ceviche: After the Taumoepean Ota, this one paled in comparison. It was still good, but the fish couldn't stand up to the strong flavors of all the other ingredients. I realize tilapia doesn't have much flavor. It was still a great bite. On the same house-made tortillas. DELICIOUS. I'd like a bag of those tortillas to go please! Bayview Baby Back Ribs: Slow cooked and delicious. I totally didn't mind getting my fingers dirty, and was pleased that most of the people I sat with also didn't mind. The ribs were moist, but soft. It totally felt like it was smoked for hours. Jordan's Fried Chicken: Was good, but I'm not so sure about that size. It was perfect for the venue - chicken wings and drumettes - but I'd like to see how they do chicken breast and thigh pieces now. These pieces had great flavor. Spicy Collared Greens: I love collareds. So. Good. These had a kick of spice, which made it all the more delicious, and was SO good. I could have had a plate of these alone. When I saw people weren't really taking them as quickly (seriously), I helped myself to second...and third helpings. Mac and Cheese: Weirdly, I'm not a big Mac and Cheese fan. These were pretty good, but I think it took a little bit of time to come out so some of the cheese was starting to harden. But...it DID come out after the wonderful presentation, so I don't mind. Abu's West African Peanut Butter Stew: My friend saw "peanut butter" and was disinclined to like it. The chicken was a bit dry, but the taste worked for me. Think Thai curry, and its got about that same texture/flavor. Daniel's Gumbo: I needed some rice to go with this. The pieces I ate were super flavorful, but It was SUPER FLAVORFUL. Needed some rice to balance the taste. Pan Seared Shrimp 'n' Smokey Cheese Grits: Probably among the best grits I've had in a while. The first time I had grits, it was this gooey mess of stuff that didn't make me like it, so I've been weary of it since. This one was probably some of the best grits I've had, and the shrimp on top was quite well cooked. Mini Sweet Potato Tarts: I could have had a dozen of these suckers. Really. good. Seems like anything they have with sweet potato is delicious...I'll have to return and confirm this assumption. Service was spectacular. The youth were totally on their game and were stellar. At the end, they were particularly good at hustling for return customers. I promise, Serena NOT Williams. I will return and ask for you! read more