Home to a 1920s-inspired jazz supper club and a youth violence prevention program under one roof, Old Skool Cafe sits in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, training teens ages 16 to 22 in restaurant jobs while serving Southern soul food with global influences.
Established in 2004, the restaurant has become known specifically for its fried chicken, award-winning shrimp n’ grits, and nightly live jazz performances.
What Makes This Nonprofit Restaurant Worth Seeking Out
What separates this spot from a typical soul food restaurant is the mission woven directly into every table, since every server, host, and much of the kitchen staff are teens working through the restaurant’s job training program.
One diner captured that dual identity perfectly on Facebook, calling it “a hidden gem” that offers more than just a meal.
The food itself earns plenty of praise independent of the mission behind it, and The Infatuation specifically highlighted the restaurant’s fried chicken and gooey mac and cheese as standout comfort dishes worth the trip to Bayview on their own merits.
A reviewer even noted staff walked them to their car at the end of the night, a small touch that speaks to the restaurant’s genuinely welcoming atmosphere.
If you’re looking to score a reservation, it’s best to aim for the 5:45 PM to 8:30 PM timeslot, as those hours are when the full jazz supper club experience is out in full force rather than just the regular dinner service.
Food Highlights
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Jordan’s Fried Chicken: Named after the very chef who developed it, buttermilk-brined and fried until the skin shatters into golden, crackling shards, this Fried Chicken comes served with a tangy, crunchy coleslaw that cuts through the richness, and with 49 photos and 168 reviews, it’s by far the most talked-about dish on the entire menu.
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Abu’s Peanut Butter Stew: A West African-inspired recipe passed down from a staff member’s grandmother, this Peanut Butter Stew simmers coconut milk, sweet potato, and cherry tomatoes into a broth that somehow lands both light and deeply creamy at once, earning 28 photos and over 100 reviews from diners who keep coming back for it specifically.
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Sweet Potato Pie: A silky, warmly spiced filling sits inside a buttery, flaky crust on this Sweet Potato Pie, finishing the meal on a note of cinnamon and nutmeg that tastes like it came straight out of someone’s family recipe box rather than a restaurant kitchen.
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Short Ribs: Braised low and slow in red wine until the meat falls apart at the gentlest touch of a fork, this Short Ribs plate rests over garlic mashed potatoes that soak up every last drop of the rich pan sauce, and one Tripadvisor reviewer specifically called their portion “really good” after ordering it alongside cajun shrimp.
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Abu’s West African Stew: Fresh herbs and bright cherry tomatoes cut through the richness of this coconut milk-based stew, and this West African Stew carries a distinctly savory, almost peanut-forward depth that separates it from the rest of the menu’s more Southern-leaning comfort dishes.
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Bayview Baby Back Ribs: Smoked, then braised until the meat pulls clean from the bone with barely any resistance, these Baby Back Ribs arrive with a tangy house-made slaw on the side, and the smoke flavor lingers just long enough to make the whole plate feel like a genuine backyard cookout brought indoors.
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Blackened Catfish: A crackling, heavily spiced crust locks in a flaky, tender interior on this Blackened Catfish, giving diners a bolder, more peppery alternative to the milder shrimp n’ grits while still keeping that same Southern seafood soul.
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Brussels Sprouts & Toasted Pecans: Charred, slightly caramelized sprouts get tossed with crunchy toasted pecans and a savory sesame soy dressing, and this Brussels Sprouts salad brings a nutty, umami-rich contrast that makes it an easy standout even next to the menu’s richer entrees.
Atmosphere
The restaurant leans fully into its 1920s supper club identity, and The Infatuation describes it as a genuine dinner-and-a-show experience rather than a standard sit-down meal.
Reviewers consistently point to the warmth of the staff as a defining part of the visit, a detail that carries extra weight once diners learn the servers are teens gaining real job experience through the restaurant’s program.
Parking is available directly in front of the restaurant’s entrance, with additional free spots along Oakdale Ave and Third St for diners who arrive during a busy dinner service.
Bottomline
Old Skool Cafe earns its hidden gem reputation twice over, first through a soul food menu strong enough to stand on its own, and second through a mission that makes every dinner reservation feel like it’s contributing to something bigger. Whether the draw is the fried chicken, the nightly jazz, or the restaurant’s genuine impact on Bayview’s youth, this supper club rewards anyone willing to make the trip.
Address:
1429 Mendell St, San Francisco, CA 94124
📞 +1 415-822-8531
🕔 Open Wed–Sat 5:00 PM–9:00 PM (Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday)