After months of anticipation, Taste Project is excited to announce the grand opening of its second Taste Community Restaurant in Arlington. Located at 200 N. Cooper St., just north of The University of Texas at Arlington, the new restaurant will open its doors to the public at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 5.
The nonprofit organization, which has served more than 250,000 meals since its inception in Fort Worth, continues its mission to feed, educate, and serve the food-insecure population in Tarrant County with its unique pay-what-you-can restaurant model. In line with its original location, the Arlington restaurant will offer healthy, high-quality meals made from locally sourced seasonal ingredients with no set menu prices. Instead, guests are invited to pay what they can afford, what they would typically pay, or a little extra to support someone in need.
“We’re thrilled to open our second Taste Community Restaurant in Arlington and welcome the community to be part of this opportunity to address food insecurity in a new and innovative way,” said Jeff Williams, founder and CEO of Taste Project. “Our vision for Taste Project has always been to create a place where everyone can dine with dignity, and we are honored to be able to serve the Arlington area.”
Taste Project's Taste Community Restaurant adds one of Yelp’s Top 100 Best Places to Eat in the US to Arlington’s growing list of dining options in Downtown. The new location features a 3,000-square-foot full-service restaurant with over 100 seats, a production kitchen, and a culinary training classroom designed to equip local adults with the skills and paid work experience needed to secure meaningful employment in the foodservice industry. The culinary training program has already proven successful with participants securing job placements at $16 per hour on average. Employment includes opportunities in full-service and fine dining restaurants, an area where demand is growing rapidly.
“Taste Community Restaurant in Arlington is more than just a new Downtown restaurant. We are welcoming a valuable community partnership that will provide access to healthy, affordable food for our residents while creating opportunities for those who need them most,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.
To celebrate, Taste Project will host a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, March 3, followed by festivities that include unique giveaways and tastings of the restaurant’s menu offerings. The public is invited to join the celebration and support this important addition to the Arlington community.
“We have been so fortunate to partner with the City of Arlington, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, the Amon G. Carter Foundation, and so many other supporters to bring this vision to life,” said Williams. “We can’t wait to share the joy of our mission with Arlington’s residents.”
In 2022, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation awarded a $750,000 grant to Taste Project to support the nonprofit's project.
Taste Project is located within walking distance of UTA, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, and numerous downtown businesses. The location is easily accessible through Arlington’s affordable citywide on-demand public transportation service, Arlington On-Demand.
Celebration Details
- Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: 11 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2025
- Grand Opening: 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Hours and Location
- Lunch Hours: Open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting March 5
- Location: 200 N. Cooper St. #150, Arlington, Texas
- Reservations: Reservations are not required but recommended. Reserve a table online at www.tasteproject.org.
Taste Project is a nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity and providing culinary job training to individuals in need. For more information, visit www.tasteproject.org.
About Taste Project
Taste Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit established to feed, educate, and serve our community so they may “…taste and see the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8. We believe everyone should have access to healthy nutritious food. Our vision is to see our community become the solution to the challenges our community faces as it relates to hunger. Our first project, Taste Community Restaurant at 1200 South Main Street in Fort Worth, focuses on healthy, quality meals made from fresh ingredients. Our menu has no prices. This is a give-and-take concept. We ask guests to do one of the following: 1) pay what you can afford, 2) pay what you would typically pay, or 3) pay what you would typically pay, plus a little extra. In 2025, Taste Project will open its second Taste Community Restaurant location at 200 N. Cooper St. in Arlington.
Downtown Arlington, Arlington Tomorrow Foundation
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