How Our Cafe Operated
Our Cafe is Currently Closed
As we work to secure a new, permanent home for Sisters of the Road, our cafe will remain closed. While it pains us to not be able to open our doors to those in need during this period, we know this ultimately will allow us to come back stronger in a space that will allow us to serve even more people in a more dignified manner. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time of transition.
How Our Cafe Has Historically Operated
Sisters of the Road’s Cafe has historically worked as a barter restaurant where you can trade some time volunteering in the cafe for a fresh, healthy meal via our Barter Credit system. You could also pay $1.25 for a meal with cash or E.B.T. Sisters of the Road actually advocated for and got a law passed to allow E.B.T. benefits to be used for hot meals in our cafe back in 1987.
When we reopen the cafe in a new space, we will revisit our operational procedures and consider revising them based on staff, volunteer, and community input and needs. As this process unfolds, we’ll post more information here, but in the meantime consider this page a historical record.
How to Get a Meal
Step 1: Make a Reservation!
To eat in the Cafe, you’ll need to make a reservation. This helps us make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to eat with us and prevents long lines from forming outside the building.
Reservations can only be made in person and are only good for the day you make them.
We begin taking reservations outside the Cafe at 9:15am. After 10:00am you can pick up your reservation from the Reservation Desk in the Cafe lobby.
You’ll be given a reservation slip that looks like the image below.
Hold on to your slip. You’ll need it to order at the register.
Step 2: Order your Meal!
Line up at the register in the Cafe during your reservation time.
You can order up to $4.00 of items from the menu.
Take a seat, your food and drinks will be out soon!
How to Pay?
Sisters accepts cash, E.B.T. food benefits, and Barter Credits. We don’t take debit or credit.
First-time visitors always eat for free. It’s our way of saying we’re glad you’re here!
Families with children eat for free and don’t need a reservation.
Barter Work
Barter Credit can be earned by anyone by volunteering in the Cafe.
15 minutes of volunteer time covers the cost of an entré and a drink.
You can volunteer for longer jobs too. Meals are earned at the rate of 4 punch cards per hour of volunteer time.
Barter Credits are paid with green punch cards that look likes the image below.
You’ll need to earn Barter Credit before using it to purchase food.
FAQs
Where are the restrooms?
We have two, gender-neutral restrooms in the back of the Cafe. Please check your backpacks and bags with the restroom attendant before using the facilities.
Does the Cafe offer meals to go?
We don’t offer to-go options or provide to-go containers. You can bring your own containers to take meals with you. Please know that to uphold the food safety compliance, we don’t serve food directly on your containers.
If I’m still hungry after I eat or don’t like my meal can I order again?
We want to make sure that there is enough for everyone, so we can only allow each reservation to order once, and we are not able to take food back and send out something else once an order has been delivered.
Can I bring my animal in?
Well-behaved service animals on a leash are allowed in the cafe. Well-behaved non-service animals are allowed in the lobby only
Is there a place to store my things?
Unfortunately we don’t have the room to offer storage to customers. We have lockers available for people who are currently doing barter jobs.
Safer Space Guidelines
Sisters of the Road is designed to be a safer space for everyone, and radical non-violence is one of our core philosophies. That means that we cannot accept:
Using or selling drugs or alcohol in the Cafe or on the sidewalk in front of the building.
Verbal threats or aggression towards other guests, staff, or volunteers. If you feel that someone is acting inappropriately toward you please let a member of staff know right away.
Sexual assault or sexual harassment.
Racist, sexist, ablest, transphobic, homophobic or similarly inappropriate comments, actions or symbols. (If you have tattoos or clothing that makes other guests or staff uncomfortable because they are racist or sexist you will be asked to cover them up while dining here.)
Trying to convert someone to your religion or political opinion without their permission.
Folks who violate our Safer Space policies will be asked to stop the behavior. Serious violations, like fighting in the Cafe, threatening others or using racial slurs, etc. may result in a guest being asked to leave the Cafe for a length of time ranging from a day to indefinitely. We are always willing to welcome anyone back if they are willing to engage in a conversation about their behavior and create a plan with us to avoid problems in the future.
In 1991, Sisters of the Road produced a guide on how to create an organization like ours. The "Dining with Dignity" manual defines Sisters' community, mission, history, and goals—the key ingredients that enabled Sisters to distinguish itself as a social justice organization from the very beginning.
Download a pdf version of the manual