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This Restaurant Is Inviting Only The Homeless For 5 Days Of Fine Dining

July 13, 2015

For most restaurant owners in the city of Baltimore, Restaurant Week (July 20-25th) marks a key opportunity to regain lost business after taking a massive hit during the city-wide curfew in April and May.

Michael Tabrizi, owner of Tabrizi's Restaurant, has a different plan.

Credit: Baltimore Magazine

Rather than electing to cash in on the potential increase in customer traffic, Tabrizi is opening his restaurant privately to the city's homeless.

"These people don't only suffer from hunger, but also from hopelessness, they feel that they don't have any dignity anymore," Tabrizi told Baltimore Magazine. "We want them to come in and feel like they're cared for."

The restaurant will be closed to the public during the five-day period so that Tabrizi and his staff can focus on serving elegant meals to those who are displaced.

While the menu is still yet to be fully confirmed, Tabrizi says that the meals, which will be served at 1, 3, and 5 p.m. each day, will most likely consist of chicken or beef with vegetables, sparkling cider served in champagne flutes, and ice cream for dessert.

"The main goal is just to show people that actions do matter. Baltimore has a long way to recover and we can’t just rely on other people to lead. It's our city," Tabrizi said. "My dad used to always say, 'You can't control what people do and say, but you can control how you act.' My reaction is bringing people together and showing them that I care."