Redemption Foods (1253 Vine St., Hollywood, 323.463.4166), is a new restaurant which employs “ex-offenders, men and women who have been sentenced to serve a term in prison.” Much in the way Homeboy Cafe and Homeboy Industries downtown hires/rehabilitates former gang members. The restaurant is run by nonprofit New Horizon Community Reentry Center, a home for those released from prison.
Tucked away in the back of a Hollywood mini-mall, this cafe space with concrete tables, tiled walls, has their menu on the blackboard daily, and includes stuff like roasted shrimp with polenta and tomato jam; and Asian ribs with “garlic mash”. Lunch includes sandwiches like toasted Thai-pesto curry-chicken dillio; and a corn-rye reuben. There’re also a bunch of starters, like sauteed-garlic edamame; and bacon-wrapped jalapenos, stuffed with cream cheese, dates, and garlic. Check out the Cali fusion menu.
