The pay-what-you-can business model focuses on providing goods or services to folks in need by relying on the generosity of those who are enjoying the same type of goods or services. Customers pay what they can afford if in need, pay what they would typically pay if not in need, or pay a little extra to help someone in need. Typically, customers mentally determine what they will pay before goods or services have been performed.

In contrast, pay-what-you-want asks customers to pay what they determine the value of the product or service is worth to them, typically after the services have been performed.

Potager Café was focused on a pay-what-you-want concept to educate the community about where their food comes from. Owner Cynthia Chippindale asked patrons to “ask for only as much as you can eat, and pay what you feel it was worth.”

Potager Café closed on October 31, 2015. The building was crumbling and in disrepair. According to owner Cynthia Chippindale, “It was no longer a safe place for my friends to gather for some genuine food and friendship.”

Taste Project purchases and negotiates all food and produce served inside Taste Community Restaurant. Our goal is to end hunger in our community. Which is why we don’t want to dilute or divert donations originally intended for the Food Bank. Accepting donations would shift resources from the Food Bank versus creating additional solutions to end hunger.

The Tarrant Area Food Bank and the North Texas Food Bank are phenomenal organizations also working to solve hunger in our community. Please direct all food and produce donations there.

Our point-of-sale system at Taste Community Restaurant is focused on removing any guilt and shame someone in need may face when they come to eat. But this also makes it difficult to spot abuse. We are focused on not letting these concerns keep us from helping those in need.

There are 60 nonprofit cafes across the country, and many combat abuse with education. A solid education plan of the pay-what-you-can model is essential to ensuring people in our community who need help can get help, and people in our community who want to help can help. And together, the community ensures the long-term success of Taste Community Restaurant.

Our menu is flexible and will change as often as the seasons. Chef Jeff works hard to focus on local and seasonal ingredients to keep food costs low and food quality high. Even as the menu changes, we are committed to always have vegetarian options for our guests.

We do not serve alcohol; however, we are BYOB. Please no open containers.

80% of our team at Taste Community Restaurant are volunteers. As we scale the pay-what-you-can model, our only limitation to dinner service is the availability of volunteers. We would love to set a date for dinner service, but this will be up to the community. You can help expedite our timeline to dinner service by signing up to volunteer.

Become a Taste Bud

Indeed! The outdoor patio at Taste Community Restaurant is now open! This space doubles the restaurant’s limited occupancy by providing an additional 8 dining tables each spaced 6 feet apart. We want to be sure everyone in our community has a place to go for a healthy meal. With the current health and economic crisis, food insecurity is on the rise. Making space for our community allows us to feed, educate, and serve more people, so they may ‘…taste and see the Lord is good’ (Psalm 34:8).”

Our design also includes planters to support an herb garden for use in the restaurant. We are looking for donations to complete the garden. You can help make Taste Community Garden a reality, by donating today.

Donate Today!