Café Reconcile on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in New Orleans' Central City neighborhood is a nonprofit restaurant with a mission that shapes everything about the experience of eating there. Founded in 1999 as part of the Reconcile New Orleans social enterprise, the restaurant employs at-risk youth aged 16 to 22, providing them with fourteen weeks of culinary and hospitality training before placing them in permanent positions in the New Orleans food industry. Trainees take every guest order, prepare every dish, and manage the dining room under the supervision of professional chef mentors. The menu is rooted in affordable Southern and Creole comfort food: red beans and rice with house-made andouille sausage; pan-fried catfish with a seasoned cornmeal crust; daily plate lunches that rotate through classics like smothered chicken, stuffed bell peppers, and shrimp Creole; and a bread pudding with whiskey sauce that holds its own against more celebrated versions across the city. Prices are intentionally low — most entrees fall well under $15 — making the restaurant one of the most affordable hot meals in New Orleans without sacrificing quality. Service is part of the educational experience; patience and encouragement are part of being a guest. Café Reconcile is open Monday through Friday for lunch only. The Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard corridor has been a center of community revival in Central City, and the restaurant is a visible anchor of that regeneration.
Signature dishes
- Red beans and rice with sausage
- Fried catfish
- Bread pudding
- Daily plate lunch
Good to know
- Known for
- Nonprofit job-training restaurant for at-risk youth; affordable Southern lunch with heart
- Hours
- Monday–Friday 11 AM–2:30 PM; closed weekends
- Reservations
- None — walk-in only
Location
1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113
29.9412, -90.0844 View on map
Highlights
- Nonprofit job-training restaurant teaching culinary and hospitality skills to at-risk youth aged 16–22 since 1999
- Affordable Southern and Creole lunch — most entrees under $15 — with proceeds funding the training program
- Red beans and rice with house-made andouille sausage, a benchmark of the New Orleans plate lunch tradition
- Pan-fried catfish with cornmeal crust and classic sides, cooked by trainees under professional chef supervision
- A community anchor on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, one of Central City's most important revitalization corridors
Tips for visiting
- Arrive between 11 AM and 12:30 PM for the widest selection of daily specials before popular items sell out
- Service may be slightly slower than at a commercial restaurant — this is part of the training environment; patience is appreciated
- The bread pudding with whiskey sauce is worth saving room for; it disappears before the 2:30 PM close
- Lunch is the only service (Monday–Friday); there is no dinner and no weekend service
- The restaurant accepts all payment methods; tipping generously supports the trainees directly
When to visit
Weekday lunches between 11 AM and 1 PM offer the freshest daily specials and the full energy of the training kitchen in action.
Accessibility
Café Reconcile is located in a street-level building on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard with step-free entry. The dining room accommodates wheelchairs. Street parking and a small lot are available nearby.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Who runs Café Reconcile?
Café Reconcile is operated by Reconcile New Orleans, a nonprofit organization. Professional chef mentors oversee the kitchen and dining room while trainees aged 16–22 learn culinary and hospitality skills through a fourteen-week paid training program.
Is the food quality affected by having trainees in the kitchen?
Generally, no. Professional mentors supervise preparation closely, and the menu is designed around Southern and Creole dishes that the training program has refined over more than two decades. Most visitors find the food comparable to the city's best casual lunch spots.
What days and hours is Café Reconcile open?
Café Reconcile is open Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 2:30 PM only. There is no dinner service and the restaurant is closed on weekends.
Can visitors learn more about the program while eating?
Yes — information about Reconcile New Orleans' mission and the training program is available in the dining room. Staff are happy to discuss the program, and guided visits can occasionally be arranged for groups by contacting the organization in advance.