Brighten Your Day

A Central Texas Restaurant Is Offering Free Meals, No Questions Asked

February 22, 2021

A restaurant in Texas is struggling to survive under coronavirus restrictions, but the owner is putting the community first, offering free meals to anyone who asks.

La Riv / Credit: Megan Vanselow

La Riv owner, Vira Chudasma with her husband, daughter and two visiting chefs opened the restaurant during the winter storm with a limited menu based on what items they had available.

Chudasma says she wants to give back to the community that has supported her three businesses for seven years.

She posted the offer for free pasta meals on social media, and was immediately overwhelmed with requests.

"The community backs me up at a good time and I have a kitchen full of supplies," she told KWTX. "Why would I not cook?"

The restaurant filled 150 orders in the first two hours after making the offer, from single mothers who weren't able to explain to their children that spaghetti wasn't available at the store to families needing to feed 10 or more people.

Anyone who needs a hot meal is able to call the restaurant and ask, no questions asked.

La Riv

"We want everyone to know that we are still offering free meals to anyone in need, no questions asked or limits, just a simple phone call to 254-231-3661," Chudasma wrote on the restaurant's official Facebook page yesterday.

"Given the week we all have endured we know that supplies are limited and warm food can be scarce. Please don't hesitate if you or a friend could use a hot meal. We are so blessed and thankful for this community and want to give back anyway we can."