Restaurants in Philadelphia are taking their mission of hospitality to new levels by serving both customers and the community. The city’s first nonprofit coffeeshop, The Monkey & The Elephant, teaches job and life skills to young people aging out of the foster system. The owners of a trio of watering holes (Hawthornes, The Cambridge and Tio Flores) match Philly’s soda tax with a contribution to a city school. Venerable Philly chefs Jose Garces and Marc Vetri have food-based foundations that make an impact too. Here are some of Philadelphia’s places to eat well and do good:
Pay-It-Forward Restaurants:
1. By George Pizza, Pasta & Cheesesteaks – The motto of this Reading Terminal Market vendor: “You have a steak in it!” With every cheesesteak sold, owners George and Kim Mickel feed a child in need. By George supports charities that focus their efforts locally (Philabundance’s KidsBites), nationally (Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry) and internationally (King’s Castle’s Feeding Program in El Salvador). 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 829-9391, bygeorgepa.com
2. Hunger Burger – Also at the Reading Terminal Market and also run by the husband-and-wife team behind By George, Hunger Burger gets in on the giving with its “buy one, feed one” initiative. For every burger sold, the eatery provides a meal to a child in need through support of the charities listed above. 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 922-2707, hungerburgerpa.com
3. The Monkey & The Elephant – Philly’s first nonprofit coffeeshop supports and employs local young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. The cafe’s M&E Program teaches employees job and life skills that help them transition to adulthood. 2831 W. Girard Avenue, (267) 457-5337, themonkeyandtheelephant.org
Donations Through Dining & Drinking:
4. Hawthornes, The Cambridge and Tio Flores – Restaurateurs and Philly parents Heather Annechiarico and Chris Fetfatzes own a trio of hip food-and-drink hangouts where they match all payments of the city’s 1.5-cent-an-ounce soda tax with an equal donation to the Andrew Jackson School, a public elementary school in South Philadelphia. Hawthornes, 738 S. 11th Street, (215) 627-3012, hawthornecafe.com; The Cambridge, 1508 South Street, (267) 455-0647, cambridgeonsouth.com; Tio Flores, 1600 South Street, (267) 687-2220, tioflores.com
5. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant – With a dozen brewpubs in the Philadelphia area, Iron Hill has racked up awards for its handcrafted beers and accolades for its bar food. Every time a customer orders a Triple Chocolate Hill dessert, Iron Hill donates $0.75 to the national CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and another $0.75 to a local charity selected by the location’s staff. Local fundraisers can take advantage of the restaurants’ Give 20 program, through which diners using the coupon donate 20% of their food bill to the featured charity of that night. Multiple locations, ironhillbrewery.com
6. Metropolitan Bakery – Since 1993, Metropolitan has given Philly communities more than just great bread and pastries. Owners Wendy Smith Born and James Barrett also train and employ people who’ve been homeless and/or recently paroled; donate to shelters, neighborhood associations and schools; cooperate with local farmers and purveyors; display works of emerging artists at its gallery: and compost waste. Rittenhouse, 262-264 S. 19th Street, (215) 545-6655; Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 829-9020; 4013 Walnut Street, (215) 222-1492; gallery, 250 S. 18th Street, Unit 102, metropolitanbakery.com
7. Parks on Tap – Every week from April through September, a family-friendly beer garden visits a different Philly park. Guests enjoy food, beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, plus games and entertainment, while supporting Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and each of the host parks. parksontap.com
8. P’unk Burger – Customers are encouraged to play—arcade games, that is—while they eat at this East Passyunk burger joint, offering a robust build-your-own-burger list and serving specialty burgers such as the Mediterranean lamb burger topped with feta, red onion and tzatziki. Every quarter from a play of Ms. Pac-Man goes to a different charity each month, including charities suggested by customers. 1823 E. Passyunk Avenue, (215) 468-7865, punkburger.com
9. Schmear It – This University of Pennsylvania food truck and on-campus store has a triple mission: Serve customizable bagel spreads and other breakfast treats, offer extra-friendly service—and support good causes. Every two weeks, the shop raises awareness and donates a portion of profits to a different local charity. Truck, various locations; store, 3601 Market Street, (215) 792-3892, schmearit.com
10. Rosy’s Taco Bar – Built upon the legend that Franklin Delano Rossevelt’s brother, James “Rosy” Roosevelt, traveled to Mexico and brought back the then-unfamiliar taco, the Rittenhouse-area Rosy’s serves tacos, tortas and tequilas and donates a portion of sales to the National Immigrant Justice Center, which provides pro bono legal help for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. 2220 Walnut Street, (267) 858-4561, rosystacobar.com
11. Zama – Those in the mood for sushi and Japanese fare can head to Rittenhouse Square to satisfy their cravings—and their souls. Chef Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka regularly partners with Philly chefs and other notable locals to create charity rolls. Recent collaborations: Marc Vetri’s Vetri Roll, benefiting Vetri Community Partnership; Pierre Calmels’ Bibou Roll, supporting The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; and Michael Solomonov’s Zahav Roll, with proceeds going toward the Police Athletic League. 128 S. 19th Street, (215) 568-1027, zamaphilly.com
Education & Health Initiatives:
12. Garces Foundation – Focusing on recent immigrants, this chef-helmed foundation runs programs addressing health, language, cultural skills and nutrition. Each quarter, the foundation hosts Community Health Day, giving uninsured patients free dental care, physicals and medical screenings. “English for the Restaurant and Everyday Living” classes help narrow the language and cultural gap for restaurant workers. Each summer, the foundation hosts Luna Farm Field Trips to chef Jose Garces’ farm, where children grow fruits and vegetables, cook their own healthy lunch from their harvest and engage in fun forms of exercise. The group also supports after-school and summer tutoring programs for children at Southwark School in South Philadelphia. At Garces’ Buena Onda taqueria in the Fairmount neighborhood, $0.50 from every guacamole and bottled water purchase goes to the foundation. Multiple locations, garcesfoundation.org
13. Siembra Azul Foundation – Not content to rest on the success of his popular restaurant, Tequila’s, and Siembra Azul, his handcrafted tequila, David Suro Piñera established and runs a foundation to provide clean water and solar energy to agave farmers, along with education to their children. 1602 Locust Street, (215) 546-0181, tequilasphilly.com; siembrasurofoundation.org
14. Vetri Community Partnership – Children at a dozen local schools eat well thanks to Marc Vetri’s Eatiquette initiative, a program that provides students with balanced, from-scratch meals loaded with fruits and vegetables. Serving lunches family-style, the interactive program enlists the students as peer servers and in doing so encourages respectful conversation, teamwork, patience and sharing, as well as basic table-service skills, an awareness of how healthy food makes them feel and other benefits of dining well. vetricommunity.org
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