Café Momentum, located in downtown Pittsburgh, is more than just food outside of Market Square. If you Google “Food Near Me,” it will show you the Momentum Menu, but delving deeper into what accelerates this restaurant makes you want to come back for seconds. Opened in March 2023, Café Momentum was started by Chad Houser with a mission to help justice-involved youth with the support that they need through food. The second location in the United States, Momentum transforms young lives by equipping young people with life skills, education, and employment opportunities.  

Previously, I’ve been there for their dinner service, and their coffee aged ribeye that was once on the menu (it’s no longer there) left such an impression that it may have ruined steak for me in a good way. When I say cooked to perfection, it melted in my mouth and was seasoned perfectly. In March 2025, Momentum opened its doors for lunch service and the menu has everything that anyone could want ranging from burgers and risotto to pizza and baby back ribs. Lunch is served 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday through Friday. 

I stopped in and opted for the Farro and Leek Risotto. It had king trumpet mushrooms, smoked mushroom jus, and celery root frizzle on top of a celery root puree. It was absolutely amazing in every bite I could taste the layers of flavor. It was the only vegan thing on the menu and in no way am I vegan but I’m a sucker for a great risotto and it was cooked with care. The service was quick and Layla my server was nice and attentive. Sitting in a booth near the open kitchen it was great to see where the magic happened. The serving size was enough for the moment and dinner later on in the day. Although I showed up for lunch it was the dessert that was the star of the show. The coconut bread pudding was phenomenal. It had little flakes of coconut on top and the caramel drizzle at the bottom was a midday pick-me-up. The texture of the coconut flakes and the bread were a marriage made in heaven. It was amazing to realize that I was helping an organization change lives. The dinner menu includes Korean chicken wings, pizza, smoked fried chicken, duck breast, and salmon just to name a few. The atmosphere gives fancy casual yet come as you are. The alcohol situation is BYOB and as far as parking, there is a parking garage next door.  I will definitely return because a meal with a mission is always a great thing especially when the food is consistently good. Momentum lives up to the hype and is not only out here feeding bellies but changing lives one bite at a time.