Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    FareStart

    4.4 (369 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    FareStart Photos

    Business Info

    FARESTART ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - FareStart

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Marielle J.

    I ate here for lunch on a Friday! I heard and saw that they recently reopened. You pretty much order up front and you get a number. The guy that took my order was running around and had to catch his breath bc he asked me what I had wanted again and he thanked me for being so kind to repeat. (Hey, I get it! It's all good) The crispy chicken sandwich and fries is what I ordered -- and their spices they used were phenomenal, something that is different from a regular plain old chicken sandwich. It was really crispy too and was so fresh, flavorful with the juice coming out. All with pickles on a brioche bun. I wanted the original and glad I stuck with this choice (they also make a Nashville hot one.) LOVED the fries! Soft yet crispy and slightly burnt. They also have kombucha with 4 flavors and I got the jasmine Ginger hibiscus to ease my stomach (time of the month lol.) Refreshing and delicious! They have tables and a long table for single eaters. Two things I did notice: Their plates and such were cute but it was a rectangle so needed to make sure I didn't spill anything. It was a bit hard and they didn't provide napkins upon receiving your order so you need to make sure you get napkins at the front on the side or ask the server for it. Literally didn't think about it until my order was received haha.

    Farestart Guest Chef Night
    Carol C.

    This is one of my favorite events of the year - Guest Chef Night at FareStart (1/9/25). My company was given the opportunity to volunteer as restaurant servers for the first Guest Chef Night of 2025! We also recently remodeled FareStart's space. It was a fun evening enjoying delicious food alongside my co-workers and dining with new and old friends. Zac Reynolds from Cook Weaver was the guest chef. I thoroughly enjoyed each course and wished the servings were bigger. I think it's good to leave wanting more ...

    NY steak with chard garlic sauce
    Tom E.

    What a great experience! People with barriers to employment do a 12-week culinary course working in this innovative restaurant. Guest chef evenings are fun when students get mentioned by a local renowned chef. The venue is tall and spacious and the standard of food is high. A really enjoyable evening.

    Sesame Tofu Noodle Salad
    JoeAnna M.

    My employer ordered box lunches from Fare Start. The food was really great and fresh. The flavors went together really well, the meal was well thought out. I was full and satisfied from the generous but not exorbitant portion, and felt like I was provided a great balance of protein, carbs, and greens. I hope our employer continues to use their service, it was great! Can't wait to try out the Fare Start restaurant next!

    A place setting.
    Tony B.

    GUEST CHEF NIGHT WITH ETHAN STOWELL. I have never been to the FareStart restaurant, but my in-laws arranged this dining event. There were six of us! This is a social enterprise non-profit organization recognized by a James Beard award. They typically serve light fare and coffee drinks. Two or three times a month, a featured guest chef serves a full three-course meal in an evening fundraiser, all for $50.00. Wine and beer are extra. Our first course was a Tavolata Salad with a red wine vinaigrette. It was delicious. For our main course, we had a spicy sausage Rigatoni. The pasta was al dante, and the sausage was spiced to perfection with a little bite. It was so good, and I was filled up too soon, probably because I was eating too fast. No worries; a box was provided for take-home. Dessert was an elevated Ice Cream Sandwich. There was a delicious cookie on the bottom and vanilla gelato on top. Excellent. The wait staff were all volunteers from the firm that remodeled the restaurant space for FareStart. It is decidedly modern, with a full view of the kitchen through a large glass window. There is also a balcony-level dining area. All told we all had a wonderful time, with great food worth far more than we paid, excellent service provided by the volunteers, and a pleasant environment. No need to deduct any stars here. You can be sure I will be back for another guest chef experience! If you've read THIS far, you must have enjoyed my review. So please say so, by clicking one or more of those little Useful Funny or Cool buttons. And while you're at it, go ahead and friend me! I Just moved to the Seattle area last October and I need all the friends I can get. So, go ahead, press that button, and never miss even one of my epic reviews in the Seattle area and beyond. Excelsior!

    Caesar Salad
    Alan Z.

    Came here for lunch and got the caesar salad. It was pretty good, lots of varieties of leaves inside so it's not just a boring lettuce salad. Chicken was a little dry though but the dressing was pretty good. Croutons were crunchy and they go along well with everything else. Order at the front, and bus your own table.

    Oliver G.

    FareStart is back! Reimagined as a gorgeous cafe with chill music and delicious drinks. The cortado was smooth. My vegetarian breakfast sandwich hit the spot. I decided to work here for a while and enjoy the vibe.

    Steak Frites
    Yegee L.

    Every time I walk by this restaurant the smell invites me in. I finally got to check the place out this week for lunch. I ordered the steak frites with the steak done medium rare. The steak was okay. A little rarer than I would have liked, but it wasn't bad. The side of kale was surprisingly good. It had a nice flavor and it wasn't bitter. The fries were my favorite. They were potato fries but I thought I tasted a little bit of sweet potatoes? In any case they were delicious and fried to a crisp.

    Vegetarian risotto
    Erik B.

    Had a great dining experience here. And the history was related to us by our waiter. This restaurant was first started in 1992 by David Lee, a famous chef. He started it by first serving hot meals at the various shelters, but then turning it into a business called common meals. As the business grew, he knew that he could TRAIN them and give them sustainable full-time jobs. The restaurant also has multiple adult and child culinary programs to help sustain the community. Yes; there is actually a social mission for this restaurant. I ordered a salad with Gorgonzola cheese, cherry tomatoes and well seasoned vinaigrette. The main course was a finely cut steak, and an order of vegetarian risotto. Dessert shortly followed- chocolate mousse cake with raspberry syrup. Really nice taste!

    Main course 8/31/17
    Teri T.

    The restaurant is open for lunch Monday-Friday and then for dinner on Thursday nights. Add the Thursday night dinner to your bucket list and you won't be disappointed. Honestly, you will probably want to become a regular. The Thursday night dinner experience was fantastic! My husband and I went last week and left happy, full and with a heart filled with joy. Every Thursday night a guest chief creates a three course menu which is then executed by members of the farestart program (providing culinary skills to the underprivileged). And get this, you receive this 5 star meal for only 30 dollars per person!! Service is made up of volunteers and no service charge (at least for dinner). Just a spot for a voluntary donation to the program. I love farestart's mission and the work they do. Always happy to support their cause! This experience is just the icing on the cake--fantastic meal, stellar value and it all goes to a great cause! That's one way to not feel guilty for eating dessert! :)

    Kitchen Prep Volunteer Event
    Pam A.

    This is a review for FareStart's weekend Kitchen Prep volunteer event. I came here recently with a small group to help some of the chef instructors and regular volunteers prep shelter meals in the community kitchen. After checking in everyone watches a short video on kitchen safety. Hair nets, aprons, and gloves are provided for each volunteer. Volunteers are randomly assigned various duties such as assembling sandwiches, packing sack lunches, and washing/prepping vegetables. A typical shift starts at 10am and goes to about 3pm. The time goes by fast when you're in the kitchen because there's always something to do. There is a short break with lunch provided. Lunch for us that day were leftovers made by students in the adult culinary program. After lunch we swept and wiped down the kitchen before heading out. This is a great volunteer opportunity for those looking to give back to the community and to brush up on your kitchen skills! Things to know: * Wear closed toe shoes, pants, and no sleeveless tops * Lockers are provided with combination locks (it's like being in HS again!) * Parking is free on Sundays downtown

    Super busy with few open tables. Wait a bit

    See all

    7 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of FareStart F.

    FareStart F.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Corey G.
    196
    1545
    1676

    17 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gail D.
    38
    55
    3

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of FareStart F.

    FareStart F.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Daren D.
    906
    1977
    1104

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stasiya S.
    195
    26
    84

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jon K.
    6
    110
    77

    19 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gordon F.
    131
    15
    132

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Thy N.
    20
    26
    157

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rich W.
    269
    161
    1840

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Liz C.
    12
    102
    159

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ata N.
    208
    116
    36

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 10

    Ask the Community - FareStart

    Do they serve wine?

    The FareStart Restaurant serves a variety of beverages, including wine.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for New American 64,026 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Grillbird - Boom boom - spicy!  Sesame chicken  Gyoza  Mac salad

    Grillbird

    4.2(29 reviews)
    4.5 miPhinney Ridge

    I've had Grillbird bookmarked since it opened in Greenwood. Today my husband and I were in the area…read moreand stopped by for lunch! It is a take out spot only! Ordering kiosks inside, not a lot of in person contact. (Perfect for some) The menu options are great. They have a "create your own" plate option, which I got. I ordered 1/2 teriyaki chicken and 1/2 sesame chicken, with brown rice. The meal was $14. If you ask me, that is a hell of a deal! The portion size was pretty hearty. Wait time said 14 minutes, but it was only around 10 minutes. The teriyaki was my fave of the 2 chicken entrees. The meat was thick, juicy and flavorful. (No gross fatty pieces!) The sesame was good too, but next time I would get a full order of the teriyaki alone. In, out, delicious food, good portion size and a decent price! What more could you ask for!!?

    We came here for takeout recently and ordered the bang bang chicken and the spicy garlic chicken…read morewith edamame on the side. My husband, who prides himself as being a Korean who can handle a high spice level was SWEATING eating the spicy chicken. Granted, the menu does warn that it's very spicy, but he was not expecting this level of heat. He was only able to get through about half the meal and commented that he was glad he didn't have work the next day. (If you know, you know.) I'm not sure if this was just an exceptionally spicy batch, or if it's normally this spicy, but be warned! They're not messing around when it comes to the heat. The edamame was also just so-so. It's a bummer that out of the two times we've come here, we've only enjoyed 1 out of their 4 sides. Combining our first and second experience, I think this is a solid 4-star spot. Good for a takeout meal, if you order the right thing.

    Photos
    Grillbird - Order & "dining" bar.

    Order & "dining" bar.

    Grillbird - Sesame noodles (too salty), cucumber salad (too sour & salty), teriyaki chicken with no sauce (just right!)

    Sesame noodles (too salty), cucumber salad (too sour & salty), teriyaki chicken with no sauce (just right!)

    Grillbird - Menu and pick up area

    See all

    Menu and pick up area

    Mendocino Farms

    Mendocino Farms

    4.0(74 reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown

    I have to admit that when Mendocino Farms came on the scene, I scoffed at it and thought I'd never…read moreeat there. Mendocino is a cool little artsy town (actually unincorporated area) in coastal Northern California and I am just not into the name being associated with a sandwich place. But I ate here twice during the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in February, and doggone, if I didn't turn into a Mendocino Farms fan. First, if you're ordering at lunch, I highly recommend ordering online and then doing a pickup. Thanks to the Yelpers that gave me this pro tip in their reviews! My hubs and I did this twice and we only had to wait 5 minutes or so for our orders while the people who ordered at the counter had to wait A LOT longer. I liked everything I ate here on both days and so did my hubs. The nice and efficient sandwich maker fellow here is really good at his job! We've had the Farm Club, Turkey Avo Salsa Verde, and the Build Your Own. We both like how you can choose what bread you want, whether you want it toasted, pressed like a panini, or regular. You can adjust your toppings. For someone with a few food allergies like me, this is super helpful. We ate our sandwiches there as the place has good seating, is clean and airy, and the sandwiches are really tasty when they're freshly toasted or pressed. Very satisfying and all the ingredients looked and tasted like QUALITY. Next time I need a delicious lunch in downtown Seattle, I will be ordering again from Mendocino Farms.

    Great spot for a delicious lunch in downtown Seattle. Though expensive I have never had a bad meal…read moreat this or any other Mendocino Farms. My favorite is their club sandwich but am also a fan of their Not So Fried Chicken sandwich which basically has crispies to simulate a crunchy batter. Portions are huge and quality is great, so you get what you pay for. Oh, and their lemonades are all so refreshing, pomegranate mint is my favorite. Highly recommend ordering online beforehand because they make each order fresh which can take a while, especially at peak lunch time.

    Photos
    Mendocino Farms
    Mendocino Farms
    Mendocino Farms

    See all

    Local Tide - Dover and Fries ig @snapped.by.neel

    Local Tide

    4.6(501 reviews)
    2.7 miFremont
    $$

    I came here with a friend today around 2pm! There was a line to order but we didn't mind waiting,…read moreSunday afternoon on a sunny day so we expected it! I've been wanting to try this place for awhile and I am so glad I finally did! We ordered a few things to share and every single dish was delicious! Shrimp toast: this was a great appetizer to share! Very crispy and the sauces on the side gave it a more complex flavor! It came with a sweet mayo and chili sauce. The chili sauce is definitely spicy if you can't handle spice so beware on how much you're using if that's the case. I also really enjoyed the slaw that came with it, it was very refreshing and it had a bit of sweet mayo flavor to it, I think it's the same as the dipping sauce but I could be wrong! Fried oysters: these were delicious! I think fried oysters can be a hit or miss for me, sometimes the interior can feel too dry and feel kinda of mushy-like, like I'm eating bread rather than seafood. But this had great texture on the inside while being crispy on the outside! The sauce on the side tasted like a pepper aioli which gave the oyster a nice tang *the fried dishes were great but after having a few, it definitely felt heavy, so this would be something I share with someone else vs eating it on my own Smoked salmon belly dip: I really enjoyed this! It was creamy and had chunks of salmon in it. It wasn't too dense or thick so it was perfect for scooping onto the kettle chips. The kettle chips were lightly salted so it was the perfect combo with the dip. Clam chowder: wow I absolutely loved this! This is different than any other chowder I've had. While I love a white creamy chowder from your typical seafood places, the base being a fish stock definitely brought out the seafood flavor vs a white chowder feeling like a cream base. This chowder still felt creamy and rich without the seafood flavor being overpowered. Rockfish bowl: the crab rolls were sold out by the time we made it to the register so we opted for this instead and I am so glad that we did. I didn't really expect this to blow me away but this was such a refreshing dish that balanced out the fried dishes we got. It used viet flavors that you may typically find in a banh mi which made it refreshing and had great texture from all the different fresh ingredients and fried garlic. I also loved how the fish came in patty form mixed with pork, it was flavorful and moist. I love any type of fish tofu/patty, I think it really makes fish flavorful when it sometimes can have a really mild flavor. I'll definitely be back to try the crab rolls!

    On the higher price-end, Local Tide has a small menu of gorgeous healthy and fresh dishes!…read more The shrimp toast is 100% in the top 3 bites I have had in Seattle, absolutely no doubt!!! Just be mindful that the portions are a little small for what you spend though

    Photos
    Local Tide - Inside

    Inside

    Local Tide - Fried Oysters

    Fried Oysters

    Local Tide - Smash Burger

    See all

    Smash Burger

    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne - Soba Salad

    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne

    4.3(476 reviews)
    1.8 miQueen Anne
    $$

    My meal and tea were perfect! I'm not sure why I didn't know this place existed and it was…read moredelicious. I loved the atmosphere and amazing customer service. I will be back many many more times! This is definitely a spot for myself to enjoy a breakfast alone or with a girlfriend's. I don't think I would bring my 3 boys but I would definitely bring my daughter. My meal was very Light and perfect for what I needed but it wouldn't fill up my 6ft tall football playing boys. It's like 4-5 mins from the college campus so I continue to come here for my lunch breaks because I want to try more of the menu! You order at the counter and they bring you your food after. Only thing I would change is my meal included potatoes and I barely had any potatoes at all. I mainly ordered the dish for the potatoes. Still satisfied thought because the toast was also delicious. One thing I appreciated was they offered me milk,oat or almond milk for my tea and no where else has done that. I usually have to ask. So it's the little things because I love a milk substitute in my tea with honey!

    Staff friendly enough. Bowls were $20-$22. Lot of brown rice which seems undercooked. Beef bowl…read morewas salty. Both bowls did not have a lot of protein and the beef was shredded - a bit weird. Quiet as hardly anyone was here. Doubt we would come back again.

    Photos
    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne - Back behind the cadhier

    Back behind the cadhier

    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne - Clockwise: apple pancakes, breakfast sandwich and scramble

    Clockwise: apple pancakes, breakfast sandwich and scramble

    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne

    See all

    B-Side - Avocado toast

    B-Side

    4.6(113 reviews)
    0.7 miCapitol Hill
    $

    ONE OF THE BEST KITCHENS IN SEATTLE, BSide inside superstar Analog Coffee is consistently putting…read moreout gorgeous on-point healthy yum lunch & breakfast. They are famous on Capitol hill for their egg sandwich on pillowy toasted English muffin with optional adds of ham or mushrooms. We go for their veg options - BSide is the master of roasted + fermented vegetables and they have exquisitely balanced hands with sauces, broths & herb compliments. We are devotees of the RICE BOWL (we add eggs & extra "bowl sauce"). The Toasts are piled high on thick cut fresh Sea Wolf Bread. Yesterday we enjoyed the massive Curried Sweet Potato Toast with tofu, cucumbers & the most flavorful fresh green herb sprinkle. Fun cozy soups or dishes show up seasonally - currently the brothy beans are warm & rich & comforting. ANALOG COFFEE & BSIDE are tiny, mighty & supercool. Kind folks, true culinary gifts and great music. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

    Saw a review by someone I respect who listed B-Sides in their top-ten breakfast sandwiches from…read moreacross the country...top-ten! So since I am in the area I had to try. Order 2 of their breakfast sandwiches and let's say my colleague was not mistaken, this sandwich is memorable and addictive. It is a masterpiece in flavor and simplicity. Its bites are DEEP and yet BRIGHT. Smokey ham or mushrooms with potent Beecher's cheddar. The surprise bite was due to the pickle onions (do not order without them)! I guessed I missed out as I said no to the hot sauce for which I was spanked soundly and sent to bed for declining.

    Photos
    B-Side
    B-Side - Veggie toast

    Veggie toast

    B-Side - Oatmilk Mocha and Bran Muffin

    See all

    Oatmilk Mocha and Bran Muffin

    Sweetgreen - Caesar Salad w/ Bread

    Sweetgreen

    3.6(21 reviews)
    9.9 mi

    After a long drive to my nephews birthday party, I needed something sustainable for lunch and in…read moremood for something healthy as well. Since so many new spots been popping up on the eastside, it was kinda fun to see whats near and quick to grab a bite to eat. This mall was packed...! even after the holiday season, so if you can strategize parking on the fly as you drive in, you should be fine ;) When I walked in, there was hardly a line but a couple in front of me & some people dining along the windows. Theres no signage but start the opposite end of the cash registers to go through a line similar to Chipotle or Panda Express. After several of us lined up, some of the staff came out to get our orders. They have a lot of great choices which I had difficulty narrowing down but ended up with the Chicken Pesto Parm. So good! I appreciated the overall variety of flavor, like the sauteed seasoned broccoli as well as the heated up quinoa and amount of parm, pesto, & hot sauce added so much to what would be 'just' a salad. The side of sourdough bread was great addition as well.

    I wanted to like this Sweetgreen location in Kirkland because the salads themselves are actually…read moretasty and the ingredients seem mostly fresh. But everything else about the experience makes it not worth coming back. First, the portions are disappointing for the price. Don't expect a properly sized salad. They also seriously skimp on protein, very similar to what you see at Chipotle. And if you politely ask for the correct portion, be prepared for eye rolls, sighs, or visible annoyance from the staff. The biggest issue, though, is the lack of customer service. It's easily some of the worst I have experienced. The employees come across as completely uninterested and disengaged. I don't know if they are overworked or just don't care, but the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. I placed an online pickup order and specifically requested the dressing on the side. When I got my order, there was no dressing cup inside. I went up to ask whether it had been mixed in or simply forgotten. The person at the counter literally shrugged and walked away without answering. I had to double-check that I wasn't imagining it. She just walked off without giving a response. I then asked another employee who came up to the counter. He was busy on his phone and chatting with a friend waiting nearby, and I couldn't get a proper response there either. At that point, we just left with our order, frustrated and disappointed. Honestly, I would much rather go to Mendocino Farms just a block away. It costs a couple dollars more, but the staff is friendly, the service is professional, and the food is significantly better overall. Really disappointing experience.

    Photos
    Sweetgreen - The fresh additions to their menu!

    The fresh additions to their menu!

    Sweetgreen
    Sweetgreen - Sweet green

    See all

    Sweet green

    FareStart - newamerican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...