November 29, 2018

We all enjoy supporting Philadelphia's renowned restaurants, but did you know that many of these restaurants partner with local charities to give back to the community? Here are a handful of restaurants in Philly that pay it forward while serving some of the city's best food.

1. Rosa's Fresh Pizza

Located in Center City, Rosa's Fresh Pizza's business model is based on giving back to the less fortunate members of the community. For every dollar that is donated through their website, one hot slice of pizza is given to a homeless visitor of the restaurant.

Fun fact: You don't have to dine-in at Rosa's to support the cause! Check out their website and sign up for their recurring donation option!

2. Jack's Firehouse

Every winter, the owner of Jack's Firehouse, Jack McDavid, donates a portion of the restaurant's proceeds to a Philadelphia charity. Last winter, $10,000 was donated to Philabundance, a local hunger relief provider. Jack's Firehouse has donated to various organizations in the past such as March of Dimes, Meals on Wheels, American Farmland Trust and many others.

3. Normandy Farm Hotel

Located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Normandy Farm Hotel and Coleman Restaurant offers a great opportunity for local charities. The dine and donate program allows members of organizations to dine at the restaurant or stay a night in the hotel. In turn, Normandy Farm gives 10 percent of the bill back to the non-profit organization. In addition, these organizations may also invite members of the public to partake in this program through invitation provided by the hotel.

4. The Rooster

Owners of The Rooster, Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook donate 100% of their profits from the luncheonette to Broad Street Ministries Hospitality Collaborative. During its first year open, the restaurant donated $16,000 to the organization and plan on continuing to do so.

5. EAT Café

EAT Café, which stands for "Everyone at the Table" Café, is a pay-what-you-can restaurant in West Philadelphia. The restaurant was founded by the Center for Hunger-free Communities in collaboration with West Philadelphia neighborhoods. Located at the intersection of diverse neighborhoods, folks who dine there are given a bill with the suggested amount they should pay. They can pay the whole amount, pay half or pay nothing at all. EAT uses this method as a way to battle food insecurity in the city.

7. P'unk Burger

This South Philadelphia burger joint donates all profits from their arcade machines to various charities in the area each month. They often take charity suggestions from guests and partner with various neighborhood groups for charitable purposes.

Next time you're out trying to find a place to eat, consider supporting these restaurants which have taken a vow to pay it forward this holiday season, and all year round!

Jana Plutnick, Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship, Communications