This cafe gives back to the community everyday! Through fresh produce donations, the SAME Cafe provides affordable lunches made from fresh produce. Customers can pay what they have, bring produce or volunteer 30 minutes in exchange for lunch... in this way, no one goes hungry, no one is turned away. The SAME Cafe (So All May Eat) is always open to produce or monetary donations and volunteers to propell its goals forward. A nobel cause to ensure those with food insecurity can access food. read more

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Cute cafe off of Colfax! Great foods, healthy options, and an amazing place to volunteer!!

I love this place. Food is great. Friendly staff. Everyone can eat here. This is a great place for families and friends. read more

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Great restaurant with amazing food. Everything seemed fresh and well presented. They even have cookies and the volunteers were all friendly and nice. We need more places like this in the city. Nice outdoor patio as well. read more

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I can't imagine how anyone could not give this wonderful nonprofit enterprise a five-star rating. The name says it perfectly: So All May Eat. Not only does this little cafe (and food truck--watch for it!) welcome absolutely everyone, regardless of ability to pay, but they also turn out delicious, healthy food every day. The menu generally consists of two soups, two salads, and two pizza choices. There is usually one meat and one vegetarian option for the soup and pizza. Ingredients are mostly local and organic. Everything is made from scratch, presented with nice plates and silverware, and looks as good as it tastes. The staff is friendly and helpful. There's a fairly large inside dining area with well-spaced tables, given the current virus situation. There's also an expansive, and shaded, outdoor patio. Colfax Avenue can sometimes be a bit noisy, but this is still a pleasant place to sit and to dine. It's also a chance to tell passing pedestrians about the many virtues of SAME and to encourage them to give it a try. A standard meal is a bowl of hearty soup, salad, two slices of pizza, and a shortbread cookie, plus a drink. You can pay via a cash donation, by volunteering time, or by providing produce. There are no set prices. The menu varies from day-to-day, based on the available ingredients. Everyone receives the same meal and everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The cafe is normally open for lunch, but they are happy to arrange any sort of evening event such as parties, book clubs, corporate groups, and even wedding receptions! SAME partners with many local organizations. See the list on their Web site. read more

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I have come here to volunteer a few times recently and cannot get over the incredible mission and staff. This may just be the most welcoming place I have ever set foot in; everybody here is treated like a respected human, regardless of what they can or cannot afford to pay for a meal. SAME Cafe serves up pizza, soups, and salads inspired by donated local produce and the menu changes daily. Whether you can afford to pay $15 for a cup of coffee, or exchange 30 minutes of volunteering for a full hot meal, SAME Cafe will treat you just the same. A few of my volunteer shifts were during cold, snowy days, and it was amazing to see how SAME Cafe offered a warm, safe place for people who needed it the most. I have had so much fun volunteering here, with tasks ranging from peeling beets and hardboiled eggs to mopping the dining room and cleaning the restroom. The positive energy is infectious, making any task enjoyable. The lemon shortbread cookies are a must try! read more

Freshest, healthiest, and heartiest lunch you'll find anywhere in different. Supper chill cafe/coffeeshop-esque vibes. Oh yeah, they provide healthy and delicious food to everyone in the community, regardless of their ability to pay. Love this place. read more

This is a hidden gem of Denver for a fresh warm meal. I had the Vegan Thai Soup with a side of coffee and I must say I wished I stopped by here sooner. The volunteers are very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is clean and welcoming with relaxing music in the background, flowers at each table and nice decor. Meals do cost a donation so everyone can have an opportunity to eat something healthy. They don't give up Donuts or bagels but rather a meal that goes above and beyond. I look forward to coming back here when I visit Denver again. read more

Eat, participate and donate at SAME Cafe, share with friends! So All May Eat (SAME) Cafe -- It's an incredibly amazing experience to volunteer for this restaurant, not to mention to enjoy the tasty and healthy food! I find it highly important to give back in life, especially your own neighborhood, and here you can have a direct impact in making sure people eat good meals, regardless of ability to pay -- and all people are treated the same and with dignity. Patrons are invited to order from the fresh organic menu of daily changing selections of soups, salads and pizzas -- and the meal can be 'fair exchanged' by volunteering time, donating as little as $2 to cover food or as much as you'd like or are able -- or giving homegrown produce. I was able to volunteer, make a donation, and 'pay forward' my meal to someone in need. This 501c3 non-profit (the only non-profit restaurant in Denver) is funded by donations of time, produce, and money from guests and supporters. read more

SAME Café - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Having barely survived in Albuquerque for way too long, my husband and I threw most of our worldly belongings in a dumpster and moved to Denver last month with what we could carry on the El Paso Limousine and hoped for the best. New Mexico has one of the highest unemployment rates and Colorado one of the lowest. Moving here broke with a vague offer of a couch I found myself googling "what if I become homeless?" In exchange for cleaning the bathroom, sweeping, wiping down tables, and cutting up vegetables, you can enjoy Celery & Potato Soup Walnut Pesto Mixed Greens Strawberry Almond & Goat Cheese Salad Bacon Blue Cheese & Buffalo Sauce Pizza Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup Asparagus Roasted Mushroom & Mixed Green Salad couscous Apricot Mint Salad Apple Blue Cheese Balsamic Vinaigrette Pizza Chicken Bacon & Garden Tomato Soup Asparagus Potato Parmesan Salad Mixed Greens Apple Walnut SaladWalnut Basil Pesto and Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza (Most everything is organic/seasonal. Presently, they have a lot of asparagus--which I LOVE) Depending on geography, a similar meal might have a price tag of $8.00-$15.00. If you aren't trading volunteer work for food, a meal costs what you can afford, or what you think it should. I think around 70% of operating costs for Same Café comes from what patrons decide to pay. A sign on the wall shows the average contribution to be around $4.50. So, whatever your situation--I highly recommend it. Bonus points for the patio and free wifi. read more

SAME Café - Yum - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

There are still beautiful, generous, accepting humans in this world, and they are showing up for Denver at SAME Café. I haven't volunteered there yet, but I plan to soon. I just love their mission and their healthy, vibrant, hand-crafted menu, with delicious food. The people who run it are doing so much good for our community, and it feels amazing just to step inside and be a part of that, even just if you are stopping for a quick lunch on a workday. Try it, and let your lunch mean something for so many others, even if you are dining solo! read more

What a wonderful surprise to find these guys at the Farmer's Market today by Denver East High School! Matt was so friendly and welcoming, as was the entire crew, and the food was so delicious! I had the Quinoa, chicken, and Latin-inspired bowl with plantains (nom nom nom) and they did this deliciously light and flavorful basil soda, and fresh cookies! What's more is this business supports people in need by offering them an opportunity to work in exchange for their meal! I think this concept is so inspiring, and the fact they have a food truck to bring the food to the people is even more endearing. Thanks again Matt, we will be back! read more

SAME Café - Matt and their crew - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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HOW IT WORKS IF YOU WANT TO DONATE MONEY FOR YOUR MEAL (instead of work time): - check out the daily choices on the white board (usually one or two soups, salads, and pizza options) - place your order (one of each - if you want to try both pizzas for example, they ask that you come back up when your finished with your first plate to order more) - put your cash donation in the little box or process your credit card in the little tablet self-service station - take your food plate and soup mug and grab a table inside or out (sit-alone tables or join the crowd at the big community table) - pour some water, iced tea, or coffee from the self-serve drink station - enjoy! HOW MUCH TO DONATE "Pay what you can" is the concept. Here's my guideline: - if you had breakfast this morning, donate $10 per person - if this is your third meal in 24 hours, donate $20 per person - every once in awhile up your donation to MUCH, MUCH more. It's worth it. I'm surprised that when I mention S.A.M.E Cafe, a number of folks are hesitant because the don't understand how it works. So here you are, process laid out. Now get yourself over there, it's delicious food and you'll feel good about it. read more

SAME Café - Street view - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I cannot give a full review at this time, as I did not have a real meal here. The food that I saw them preparing and that I saw a couple people eating looked really good. I popped in here in the morning looking for a cup of coffee on a stretch of Colfax decided lacking in caffeinated options. They gladly sold me a to-go cup of coffee (with sweetener and 1/2 and 1/2). I tucked $2 in the "pay what you want" slot and was out the door. For those not familiar, the business model here mirrors that of Cafe 180. I really appreciate the concept and would go out of my way to come here again in the future. read more

SAME Café - Storefront - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Everyone (!) (except one visitor from out-of-state) either says they're a fan of the SAME Café or they give 'em a "Woohoo! As good as it gets." The reasons why are clear. At most restaurants you consider the food quality, the service and the ambiance. SAME wins, almost by definition, on all three. But at SAME there's an added factor that most other restaurants cannot compete with--it makes you feels great just going there. It's not 'cause the folks who run it are so special (they are). It's not that the surroundings knock your socks off (they're simply done in utilitarian and communal fashion, with some big shared table seats and some small ones along the walls). And it's not that the food is spectacular. It isn't. The food is very good. It's locally sourced and organic. It's prepared with love and kindness, and that's what gives the food a delicious spice that no other place can duplicate. But, here's the biggest difference . . . no other restaurant let's you set your own price for your meal, or, if you don't have any money, no other restaurant let's you volunteer your time to work in exchange for your sustenance. Because that's what food is, and sometimes we forget that (or at least I do). We forget that it is our life. Without it we wouldn't be here. It's our air. It's the warmth of the sun. It's love. And those who established SAME so many years ago know they have the secret sauce; the thing we all want and appreciate. SAME gives to us the cherished blessing of giving us life by giving us food, and then letting us contribute whatever we think that precious thing is worth. No wonder it rates almost 5 stars. The place is a rock star of the universe. If god didn't create it we would have had to because this place needs to exist. It makes us better than we sometimes act and it reminds us that some things can't be sold. They can best be shared. And I've never said that about any restaurant I've ever visited. Sign me, David "Thank you so much SAME Café" M read more

This is one of my favorite spots. Not only is the wait staff always SO kind, the food is extraordinary. They always have local, fresh produce, and use tons of creativity in making their dishes. They are mostly a donation based restaurant. $2 for food costs, $5 is the regular donation, and $12 to pay for the staff and food. You can also donate your time in exchange for food. You get as much food as you want, too (within reason). read more

A culinary rescue mission There is a give give mentality here. If you are willing to work you are elligible to receive a gift of exquisite food. The price point a meal comes at a suggested donation of $5 USD or a half hour of volunteer work. In honest, I couldn't afford this food anywhere else. My wallet is usually very empty so tasting these ingredients offered back to vagabonds and displaced people made me happy for their "mission." Their work and passion may not be in the name of Jesùs but it certainly was recieved to my taste buds as some major saucy "good news." Sign up to volunteer to enjoy an intimate kitchen galley experience. read more

I wish I could give this place 6 stars! Such a lovely concept, this nonprofit serves anyone who needs a meal and allows you to pay what you can -- or volunteer your time or share produce if you can't pay. The organic, locally sourced food was delicious and they have vegan and vegetarian options and a menu that changes daily. The portions are on the smaller side but you can order as much as you'd like - I'd recommend trying a little bit of everything! :) I got a slice of each kind of pizza available that day, one of the soup cups and one of the salads and a cookie, and an iced tea, and left happy! :) Good food for a good cause is all wins in my book. read more

As the first couple of reviewers have already described: Same is truly different. I stopped by Same Cafe on a recent trip to the mile high city, given that it was one of the top reviews for lunch near my iPhone (and me). I was a little bit unsure if I'd be comfortable inside given that a bunch of college aged kids (wearing tight jeans and looking like skaters) were congregated outside. I guess I felt old. Anyway, the folks behind the counter were all very friendly and there were plenty of places to sit inside. They seem to offer a fixed menu each day consisting of one or two entrees, a side salad, and a dessert. This past Friday they were making two kinds of tasty pizza - tomato basil and California chicken - a great couscous salad, and cinnamon sugar cookies. Everything was good, and they offered to give me more a couple of times (I didn't want to be greedy, so I just had one serving). I did have a refill of the excellent agave soda; I really want to find that in the Bay Area. The whole vibe seemed very different from the usual cafe. Sure, some folks there might have had less than plenty of resources, but everyone got some good food in an absolutely clean and comfortable environment. I would definitely go back if I lived in the area. We left about $14 in the collection box for our two small lunches -- by "small" I mean "what a normal person should eat" as opposed to what you'd get at the average chain. This seemed fair for a total of 2 pieces of good pizza, two servings of salad, and two sodas. Really interesting to pay what you think is reasonable for food, and I'm pretty sure that most people on Yelp will pay a bit more than they might actually need to... Check it out, make sure this place succeeds. read more

SAME Café - Same Cafe, Denver, CO - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Absolutely disgusting food. The place smells like homeless people and I was very uncomfortable with the welcomed drug dealing going on outside. I have never tasted worse pizza in my life. I paid nothing because you shouldn't have to pay for inevitable food poisoning. read more

"So shines a good deed in a weary world."-spoken by Gene Wilder as Willie Wonka. SAME cafe' is amazing in the benefits it shares with so many. Walk inside the now-expanded space and friendly, smiling faces greet you from behind the counter. There is a menu board which lists the menu for the day. Usually there are two soups, two types of salads, and two different kinds of pizza available each day. You are free to choose what you would like to eat, and if it is ready, they will serve you promptly, or in my case, bring a fresh slice of pizza to you at your table. The food here is quite tasty, organic, and fresh. Diners bus their own table, contributing to the cleanliness of this wonderful space. There are several small tables around the restaurant, as well as one large, community style table. People who come here tend to come from all walks of life, and the regulars are known by name. While sitting here having lunch, one cannot help but notice the quotations on the walls..."Needs are great, but your possibilities are greater,"..."The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,"..."Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told 'I'm with you kid. Let's go'," Just go... read more

Stopped at their food truck in the parking lot of Joy wine & spirits. AMAZING!!!! I got a quinoa bowl with beans, seasonal veggies and jackfruit! Spectacular!!! I will most definitely be supporting this wonderful place that is based on donations. What an outstanding concept! Thanks you guys for wonderful food read more

Date of visit: Mon. 11/10/14, around 12:30pm Love the concept, love the food, and so glad I was able to get out to Denver to support this amazing cafe. There's no way I couldn't give it 5 stars. There was no wait and it was calm and quiet. I had pizza, panzanella, and tomato bisque soup. My husband had the butternut squash soup. Everything was obviously homemade, so fresh and delicious - simple but hardy, just like a good meal should be. I could barely eat all of it, so there was plenty! They also told us to come back for more salad and soup if we wanted, but we were stuffed. The pizza was good, the panzanella was amazing, and the soups were both delicious. It's rare that you feel like you're helping the world and living according to your values just by eating lunch, but here it's possible and it feels great. Loved this place!!!! read more

SAME Café - Pizza, panzanella, and soup - loved that they served soup in coffee mugs! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This cafe is lovely and bursting with love to boot. This idea is heartwarming, pay what you can for your meal or volunteer some time in exchange for it. It's centrally located and offers a varied menu that changes depending on whats fresh and readily available. The staff/volunteers are friendly and helpful and I could see there wasn't an ounce of judgment in them. Today the offering was 2 different kind of soup, 2 kinds of salad, pizza and cookie deserts. I had the African peanut soup and it was warm, rich and tasty. The community it serves is varied and I'm happy to count myself as part of it now. Yay for good souls doing good works in the world! read more

Close to my house, staffed by friendly people. brimming with great vibes and delicious food. I actually signed up for a few shifts. Only downside is no wifi. read more

SAME Café - SAME Cafe in Action - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

5 stars for a big heart, a heart which once was home to a big big dream; but now that dream has come true and become reality. The story of this place, this safe haven is unique, the challenges were formidable, as this is the first of it's kind in an urban setting. Food here was probably 3.5-4 stars for taste, but I could really sense the freshness. I come here for the atmosphere =D read more

SAME Café - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

SAME Cafe is now my go-to spot while back in Denver. I love being able to eat an affordable, healthy, community style meal. You can pay $2 or more for your meal. They have a tablet set up that allows you to enter the amount you would like to pay. I like it like this so that you don't feel bad about the donation amount. They also allow you to pay for the food by volunteering. This is such a beautiful idea! Every single time I've been here the food is amazing! The menu changes daily and there are always two options for soup, salad, and pizza. They even offer vegan pizza which is always full of fresh local veggies. I love everything about SAME Cafe and how it is impacting the community. Thank you for everything that you guys do! read more

SAME - So All May Eat You pay what you can pay. If you don't have money, you can work for an hour and pay off your lunch bill. What a cool place. The food is very fresh and delicious as well! They change every day to keep things interesting! The owners are super friendly and you can tell that they care about their customers. read more

SAME Café - Pizza, salad, and soup! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The same Cafe is a tremendous idea. I genuinely wish they had one of these on every corner. If I were being 100% honest, the food is more like three stars to four. They get the bump up because of the good they are doing in society. The menu varies from day to day, with each day offering a couple of options. Most of the time it's pizza and salad, which is a great lunch so I'm not complaining. The pizza is pretty good, they do use high quality fresh ingredients. The salad is, well, a mixed green salad. What is really great here is the environment. You are dining with people who share your concern for their fellow man. As other reviewers mentioned, there is no set price for the food. You give what you can. Also, people who do not have any money can give a little bit of their time in exchange for a meal. One hour of sweeping gets you one generous lunch. I would say that the food here is just as good as many other places that I have tried that do not have a social conscience. If you work downtown, bring your co-workers over here for lunch one day. You will be glad you did. Dining here includes mingling with all walks of life which is something I find fulfilling. There are plenty of artists, activists and business people Milling around. If I'm going to be anywhere near here for any reason at lunch time, I usually insist we go here. Nourish your body and your soul! You will definitely leave here feeling just a little bit better about Humanity. read more

Living in Lakewood, my options of unique, independently owned places to eat are somewhat limited. I'm always excited when I can experience the offerings of other parts of Denver. This place didn't disappoint. Not only is the menu unique and fresh, its delicious. My soup and salad were excellent and portion sizes were good, too. I saw pumpkins being gutted and prepped for future menu selection. I love that the menu changes with not your basic options. Not to mention the community minded goal they base the restaurant on. I feel really good eating lunch when I typically hate spending money on lackluster restaurants. I'll be back! read more

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DELICIOUS!! I was at Botanic Gardens with two friends today and noticed they were boxing up some of their garden fresh lettuce. They told me they were taking it to Same Cafe for their lunch crowd...so to top off our fun morning at the Botanic Gardens my friends and I walked the 6 blocks to the Cafe for lunch and WHAT A DELIGHT! Simple menu offered two types of soups, two salads and two types of pizza. Absolutely the best pizza crust i have ever had...we topped it off with a scrumptious little cookie and iced coffee...i'll be honest, the food was better and fresher than most fancy high priced restaurants in Denver and the volunteers working there were very helpful and really made the experience so nice..im going back with other friends for the wonderful fresh food and to support this boutique little community service organization! read more

Being at SAME Café just makes you feel good about yourself no matter if you're volunteering or eating and donating. Trust me, I've done both. As for volunteering you can sign up for a one-hour shift starting at 10 am (where you'll prep most of the food for the day) until 2 pm Monday through Friday and 8 pm on Saturday. The prep work is fairly simple as the menu only consists of 2 soups, 2 salads and 2 pizzas each day. If you aren't prepping you'll be serving food or cleaning up, i.e. bussing or doing dishes. You see a wide variety of people come through the door; some are clearly down on their luck while others are there just for a quick and easy lunch. As for the eating part, while the menu is simple it is also delicious. For instance, the day I ate I had a potato and arugula soup, taco salad and pizza with bacon, dates and blue cheese. The owners here use fresh ingredients from local people to make the healthiest food you can have. Also, both of the soups and salads were gluten free and they had a vegetarian choice for all the options. When you get your plate you get an envelope and you put whatever you feel your meal was worth in that envelope and drop it in a chest. Or you can volunteer instead of paying. And they even give you a cookie for after lunch. I can definitely stand behind that. I think their motto should be Do Good, Eat Good, Feel Good. So what if it isn't grammatically correct? read more

Places like SAME Café show that the spirit of generosity is still alive and kickin. Have an hour to spare, extra kitchen supplies, or a little extra cash? Or maybe you're just looking for a quick place to grab a bite? Then you can be a part of this little Colfax restaurant that provides meals on a donation basis to anyone who walks through the door. So All May Eat. Indeed! The menu changes daily, and features natural and organic foods. Choose from soup, salad, and pizza, all created by hand. Speaking from the volunteering side, I can attest that everything is fresh and high-quality. The day I worked, the menu featured bbq chicken pizza and artichoke pizza, coleslaw or spinach salad with pear and gorgonzola, and either chili or minestrone soup. If you're not on food prep, there's plenty to do: serving, cleaning, dish duty, organizing, and general chores. Even though it's a small kitchen and staffed by volunteers, everything is really well organized. Check out their blog to see their wish list items, and examples of their menu items. Feel good about yourself, and eat well at the same time! read more

Looking for lunch with a yummy side of karma? SAME (So All May Eat) Cafe gives you a heaping helping of feeling good on top of a yummy meal. With amazing organic ingredients prepared lovingly, you can get your fill of soup, salad, pizza and other tasty treats and you simply pay what you can. Good for you. Check. Good price. Check. Good for the community. Check. I spent a lovely morning/afternoon here in exchange for my meal. I've worked in a few kitchens before and this was by far one of the best experiences. The vibe is upbeat and sunny. The work can be fast paced and I occasionally had no idea what I was doing, but I didn't feel in the way or lost. I felt like a visiting chef help prepare the scrumptious 4 course meal for all the King's men (and women). Helping cook made me famished. I really enjoyed grubbing down on that meal though because I knew awesome people had made it and that only the best ingredients were used. The owner fellow learned my name and really made me feel welcome! Topping it off with cupcakes donated by the Shoppe had me on Cloud 9. While dining, I learned they had wifi! Sweet! Whether you want to volunteer or not, I urge you to dine here. You'll feel good about it and you'll get a good meal at the same time. read more

SAME Café (So All May Eat) exceeds all my expectations I had! I was lucky to volunteer in a larger group (your favorite Yelpers) size allowed, got to know people that actually help SAME Café regularly, helped on chores, and since I had the morning shift (from 10:00-12:30), I helped with some chores, organize their drink fridge, and make some pizzas. This place has an amazing positive energy feel to it, all the staff is happy and greeting diners with a smile! Food: I was expecting food to be simple and boring, totally wrong. All food prepared from scratch, with wholesome ingredients, very simple ingredients but well combined. Today's menu had a choice of salads, coleslaw or spinach pear salad, made with baby spinach leaves, pears, blue cheese crumbles, and balsamic vinaigrette. Two options for soup, a chili for meat eaters and minestrone for vegetarians, it's awesome seeing that they have options! Couple kinds of pizza, both of them using wholegrain pie crust; barbeque chicken pizza, and feta with artichoke hearts pizza, both of them very simple yet delicious. Food was good but my review goes for the work they do, in helping less fortunate to eat. At Same, I'd served families with small kids, well dressed people, few executives, and less fortunate people; regardless, you should go to SAME get to know their culture, maybe eat some, maybe volunteer, maybe donate some, but most importantly, get involved with this great concept and be humanitarian! read more

This is the year I told myself I would stop being a selfish bastard. So I don't have a lot of money, but I do have a bit of free time. I want to give back. At Same Cafe I found out giving back is not only fun but also a bit of a confidence builder. I helped to prepare the lunch options for the day including cutting romaine lettuce, onion, cheese, making cookie dough, and my favorite using the salad spinner. These may seem like mundane tasks but I don't cook. My idea of cooking is unwrapping a packaged meal and putting it into the microwave or oven. Let me tell you a secret I actually enjoyed helping to prepare a meal! DON'T tell anyone and for the love don't remind me of this fact. The last thing I would like to say is that Brad who runs this amazing restaurant is such a asset. He is remarkable at multi-tasking with cooking, preparing, clients, and handling our questions all at the same time all with a smile. I am humbled and thankful to have spent time with him. Thanks! I will be back to give of my time again and I encourage you all to do the same! read more

What a wonderful place. I spend all of my spare time at the metaphysical store within the same block but had yet to be introduced to this place until an acquaintance asked me to meet her there. There I was exposed to the concept of SAME Cafe and fell in love. They have a daily menu of balanced and filling meals and it is all volunteer run. The food isn't free but it is donation-based and, if you do not have the funds, you can volunteer an hour of your time to make up for the cost. The food is exceptional. It's not chow line slop by any means. All entrees are made with organic, quality components. I have tried to get on as a regular volunteer here but even their volunteer list has wait list. I know they now do volunteering in two shifts- am and pm. If you are a customer, the hour shifts are available to you. read more

Can you change the world over your lunch hour? Yes. Just go grab a bite at SAME Cafe. Just by EATING there you're making a difference. How? The owners have a very simple philosophy. Pay what you can afford. And if you can't pay, you can volunteer time in the kitchen in exchange for a healthy, organic, all-volunteer-prepared meal. So you go, you eat, you pay what you can - and know there's someone in the dining room who paid less - and you just helped buy them lunch. Volunteering there is a GAS too! The owners are awesome, the people you'll meet are fantastic, and you know you're doing good work for a good cause. Go. Eat. And put a little extra in the box on the counter because you can. read more

I'm totally supportive of the concept of SAME cafe, but I have to say, the one time I've eaten there, I left disappointed and still hungry. I understand the cafe is funded by donations from its patrons and run by volunteers; however, I felt that the food was worth less than the few dollars I plopped in the jar. Tiny pizza slices, about the size of a small hand, with dry crust and hard cheese. Next was a coffee mug full of watery tortilla soup with some corn chips sprinkled on top. My date got the asian-inspired salad, which was essentially peanut butter smothered chopped lettuce. *gag* It was comperable to a poor college student dormitory meal. I'm not sure what to think of this place - maybe it was just an off day. read more

From the outside, you'd hardly know what this restaurant truly offers. Completely unconventional. Unusual. And hard to understand just how this restaurant stays open -- since you don't have to pay! You walk in, look at the simply laid out menu and tell 'em what you want. There are no prices, no menus, no waitstaff, no tipping and they proudly offer organic and locally grown (as much as possible) food. Still hungry? Go back for seconds; you get it with a smile. If it's a tall & lean bald guy, it's probably the owner Brad. I caught his wife, Libby in the corner chatting with a customer. What sets this restaurant apart from all others is that you pay what you can afford. That's it! By our own compassionate default, we of course then want to pay at least what it is worth, but really you'd be inclined to pay more than that. Or, you can sign up to volunteer for any amount of time. I signed up and can't wait to bring my 2 teen boys to volunteer and my husband. Their blog shows what they serve each day. If they have a specific need, they'll note that on the blog as well. For instance, at the moment, they are in need of napkins. I know that I have excess kitchen supplies of all sorts that could be used for far better purpose than that of my overfilled and underused kitchen cabinets. In a dignified manner, someone hard on their luck can come in and eat with no worries about paying, because 5 minutes later, someone will come in and pay double or any other amount because he "can." God bless this couple for their over abundance of compassion and vision to do what is needed and appreciated. Today I had the pizza, house salad and very nice ice tea. The crust was truly really good, I didn't expect that. The pizza sauce stood out for me and the green salad was not the cheap iceberg lettuce that most restaurants offer. My balsamic dressing reminded me of my time in Italy, not bad! No kidding, it was good. Even better because I knew what it all meant. Love this place. Please frequent it and pay more than YOU can! read more