American/New American

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Proof aplenty of the old adage: Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; teach a man to make a fish sandwich and feed his customers really, really well. The nonprofit that trains homeless women and men in food-service jobs didn't need shiny new digs to earn our esteem, but the lofty blond-wood and raw-raftered room with a sweeping orange curtain and black tables located at the downtown portal to South Lake Union does nothing to diminish it. On weekdays it's a lunch-only menu full of big flavors, including a flat iron steak with Gorgonzola and onion rings, and the aforementioned feisty fish sandwich—blackened salmon with lemon-caper aioli, that is. On Thursdays it's open for dinner, when an impressive roster of guest chefs donate their time to empower students and wow diners. Either meal, it's worth a peek through the window into the kitchen, where you'll see opportunity cookin'.

Reservations required for Thursday dinners.

Lunch

Child Friendly, Reservations, Takeout