Café Reconcile set to launch curbside lunch service

By Clarion Herald staff
Photo courtesy of Café Reconcile

Café Reconcile, the locally acclaimed lunch spot at 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in New Orleans, announced late Friday that it will launch a weekday takeout lunch service beginning Monday, May 4 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. In addition to a daily catfish plate and daily specials featuring café favorites, Café Reconcile will introduce a “family meal for 4” takeout option.
 
Patrons can call Café Reconcile at (504) 568-1157 to place orders to be picked up curbside from their car along Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, or by walk-up at the café’s entrance. Meals will be prepared upon ordering. Payment can be made over the phone with a credit card (preferred) or with cash at the time of pick up. Delivery is available through Waitr.
 
Café Reconcile’s weekday takeout menu will include:
 
Daily lunch plate: catfish (fried, grilled, lemon pepper or blackened), plus choice of 2 sides ($11)
 
Daily lunch specials: Monday: smoked sausage red beans & rice ($7); Tuesday: smothered chicken with rice & gravy, plus 1 side ($9); Wednesday: pork tenderloin with rice & gravy, plus 1 side ($9); Thursday: white beans & shrimp ($9); Friday: Father Harry shrimp salad ($14)
 
Sides: macaroni & cheese, collard greens, sweet potato crumble
 
Dessert: bread pudding ($5)
 
Family meal for 4: whole jerk-seasoned chicken cut into quarters, plus choice of 2 sides (one quart each) ($35)
 
“Opening for takeout is one way we can begin the transition back to café operations when we can safely welcome lunch guests,” said Gerald Duhon, executive director of Café Reconcile. “While our doors have been closed, we have continued to be active and connected remotely to hundreds of Reconcile alumni who have needed our help to navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
 
Since its closure in mid-March, Café Reconcile, which trains young people for careers in the hospitality industry, has focused most of its attention on helping its alumni apply for unemployment, connect to food assistance and access mental health services. It has also provided alumni with direct assistance in the form of grants and gift cards.

In just six weeks, Café Reconcile’s program team, which includes a social worker, mental health specialist and social services coordinator, has connected with roughly 200 alumni through more than 1,200 individual remote sessions.
 
In addition, Café Reconcile has been partnering with community organizations on the front lines of community support during the pandemic. The non-profit has expanded the feeding capacity of Second Harvest Food Bank by producing more than 1,600 meals each week, and has provided “Meals of Hope” for distribution by the Greater New Orleans Caring Collective to hospitality workers and the homebound.
 
“Reconcile’s work and mission are rooted in service and support that can come in many forms to help our community, alumni and youth,” Duhon said. “Reconcile is family. Our alumni have already overcome many obstacles along their journey, and we will continue to be here for them to help them reach their potential.”
 
Donations help to fuel Café Reconcile’s ongoing work in support of its alumni and the wider community can be made at www.cafereconcile.org/donate.

To learn more about Café Reconcile, visit www.cafereconcile.org.

Café Reconcile was co-founded by the late Jesuit Father Harry Tompson.