Café Reconcile

Since opening on the corner of Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. and Euterpe, Café Reconcile has served as a cornerstone for the broader rehabilitation of the Central City neighborhood. Rev. Harry Tompson, S.J., a local pastor, raised the money to purchase and restore the space in the ’90s. Ever since then, this non-profit has been helping at-risk youths with job readiness and essential life skills through employment and training, so eating here nourishes not just the body, but an entire community.

The menu reads like a greatest hits collection of New Orleans comfort cooking, with gumbos, crab cakes, fried chicken, and red beans all on offer. The fried green tomato sandwich is perfectly balanced, crunchy and juicy on jalapeño cornbread toast, and the crispy turkey necks—tangy, spicy, and sweet from their chili glaze—are a customer favorite that can’t be missed.

Program alumni and current trainees are led by industry professionals in the front and back of house, and the lunch rush here brings in locals and travelers alike.

Central City is a far cry from the neighborhood it was at the turn of the century, and Cafe Reconcile has been leading its revival for over two decades. Walking through the front doors, you can see firsthand what it looks like when a community invests in itself. And with food this good, that’s something worth sitting down for.