3404158774_a97d0b57cbThursday marked the opening of Cafe Options, a fast-casual restaurant that offers more than just handcrafted eats. Grabbing breakfast or lunch here means furthering the mission of Work Options for Women (WOW), a local nonprofit dedicated to teaching impoverished women culinary skills for lifelong employment and independence.

The downtown spot employs five women who have successfully navigated WOW’s 16-week food-service training, and 100 percent of profits go back to the 11-year-old organization.

The mission is noble, but for any restaurant to succeed the eats have to measure up–and these do. The menu (created by Craig Dixon and former Vita chef Max MacKissock) offers gourmet-inspired items such as earthy ratatouille soup, a roasted-tomato baked caprese sandwich, and shaved roast-beef bistro salad. Cafe Options is a notch above the typical sandwich joint, and eating here is an investment into our society.

Mon–Fri 6:30 a.m.–3 p.m., 1650 Curtis St., 303-573-0733

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.