Taste Community Restaurant offers a priceless menu — literally.

Taste is a 501(c)(3) non-profit restaurant that opened on Dec. 5, 2017, with volunteers making up 80% of its staff. Its goal is simple: “To provide something that gives the community a sense of normalcy and makes people feel like they are part of something,” said Julie Williams, who co-founded the restaurant with her husband, Jeff Williams. Taste offers a healthy and hearty menu that changes seasonally, roughly four times a year. They try to prioritize local food whenever possible and serve an array of menu items, including avocado toast and oyster mushroom birria tacos. Jeff credits the idea for Taste to his dreams. “It was just a recurring dream that I had,” Jeff said. “I just knew it was important. I think God was trying to tell me something.”

Taste was established as a restaurant that would defy the laws of what was considered normal in the restaurant industry: Customers would no longer have to wonder if they could afford a seat at their restaurant. In addition to this all-inclusive concept, Taste offers an apprenticeship program for aspiring chefs. The program is all-inclusive and tuition-free. Chefs-in-training will earn an American Culinary Foundation certificate with compensation, offering them an opportunity to gain real-world experience within their community. The program is made possible through Taste’s monthly donors and grants. Taste also works closely with Texas Health Resources, which provides additional grants and wages for its apprenticeship program. Jeff and Julie’s dream took off. Taste serves an average of 200-250 people per day, and 76% of customers in 2023 received a free or unsubsidized meal.

“It really is a place where people are treated with just the utmost kindness that we can provide,” said Morgan Pocock, Taste’s business manager. “Seeing someone who decides they want to come in as a guest and then come back and be a volunteer is a really special moment. It’s great to see that cycle.” A common misconception is that Taste takes food away from local food banks. Taste purchases 99.99% of its food, excluding its outdoor garden’s fresh-grown produce. Julie reassures the community by restating their goal, “Our goal is not to interrupt with your thing but to be able to come alongside you and provide a different solution.” Through this dream, Jeff and Julie have been able to open doors for community members to feel welcome and for volunteers to be a part of the impact. “I think it’s impacted my life in a way of seeing the goodness in people,” Jeff said. “Just people’s willingness to put themselves out there to service other people in the community who they don’t know.” Taste Kitchen is located at 1200 S Main St, Fort Worth, Texas, and is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., weekdays for breakfast starting at 9 a.m., then lunch ending at two and on weekends for brunch from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.