Since 2006, SAME Café has been an oasis for the diners along East Colfax Avenue, and anyone hungry can have a solid meal. Founded by Brad and Libby Birky, the full name of the restaurant is So All May Eat Café, or SAME Café, and it truly allows all to eat whether they pay for it, volunteer to work, or trade supplies.
Leading the kitchen we find chef Kim Brazile, who will be taking over the DiningOut Denver Instagram stories on Thursday, February 27. Learn about the chef, SAME Café, and more by following along.
The Restaurant
Committed to the stated mission of, “creating community through healthy food access,” SAME Café operates unlike a traditional restaurant. For starters, it’s a nonprofit where meals are exchanged through three ways. First, have a meal by donating fresh produce and other ingredients to help prepare meals. Second, diners can volunteer for 30 minutes to support café operations. Or, simply make a monetary donation to keep the mission going. This way the café ensures that anyone, regardless of financial means, can enjoy a fresh, healthy meal.
Based on the number from 2023, it’s amazing to see the impact SAME Café has made. During that year it served 20,720 meals, welcomed 1,128 volunteers who contributed 7,409 hours, and received 9,484 pounds of donated produce. Its continued success has allowed the Birky family to expand the model to Toledo, Ohio, as well as launch a food truck and introduce the Cook to Work job training program, which helps students prepare for entry-level jobs in kitchens and restaurants.
The space is bright and welcoming, with individual tables and a long community one. Framed art decorates the walls, adding warmth to the cozy spot. It’s a nice place to be, especially at a time when many face poverty and isolation. Overall SAME Café is not just a place to eat, but a space for connection and dignity.
The Chef at SAME Café
Kim Brazile started cooking at 16, working a regular Saturday shift at the now-closed Johnny’s Diner. It was here an unassuming moment ended up shaping her career, she said. As the story goes, the restaurant was overwhelmed with orders, and former owner Doug Beck pulled her from the dining room and placed her on the toast station.
Watching the fast paced energy of the kitchen gave her a new sense of self, and she felt an undeniable pull towards becoming a chef. As she gained more experience and confirmed her joy for the industry, she transitioned into cooking for retirement and nursing homes, asking questions and learning more about food and kitchens along the way.
Brazile often read cookbooks and deepened her love for the craft. But after five years in the nursing home, the emotional weight of losing residents, especially one named Shirley, began to take its toll.
Ready for a new challenge, she started working for the Denver Country Club in 2018. During Brazile’s stint at the country club she fell into the world of elevated dining, learning how to craft amuse-bouches and create artful plating. While there she found she needed her own set of knives, which she later sourced from local vendor Elan Wenzel’s Element Knife Co.
By 2020, in the midst of a shifting political and social climate, Brazile felt drawn back to community focused work. That led her to SAME Café, which she has worked at since 2021. There, she said, she finds fulfillment not just professionally but personally. Drawing from her own struggles, she fosters meaningful conversations with diners, creating a space where food is more than just nourishment, it’s a bridge for empathy, connection, and joy.
The Menu
SAME Café keeps the menu simple yet inventive, offering two soups, two salads, and two pizzas daily, always with gluten-free and vegan options to accommodate dietary needs. No dish repeats weekly, ensuring each visit brings something new. One day, you might find a comforting bowl of Creamy Tomato Soup, and the next, a bold Grilled Chicken & Mushroom Curry. Guided by seasonal ingredients, donated produce, a partnership with We Don’t Waste, Brazile crafts meals to nourish both body and spirit. As she puts it, “We all eat, so why not eat good food?”
As a sweet finish, Café Cookies are always on hand, including a lemon shortbread made from owner Libby Birky’s grandmother’s recipe. Keep an eye out for the vegan chocolate chip and tahini cookies too, we hear both are a real treat.
Beyond the daily offerings, SAME Café also hosts special events that bring the community together through food. On February 28, chefs Alexi Mandolini and Taylor Herbert of Easy Vegan will take over the kitchen, serving up creative plant-based dishes. And to kick off Mardi Gras, the café will host a seafood boil, offering both traditional and vegan options from 12 to 6 p.m.
The Same Café Takeover
Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 27, as Brazile takes over DiningOut Denver’s Instagram stories. During the day-long stint, she will show us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at her day. Watch as she and her team bring SAME Café’s menu and mission to life.
Comment, follow, like, and share on Instagram for a chance to win two tickets to the non-profit’s annual fundraiser, SAME Table at the Space Gallery on March 6. Everyone is welcome to experience the café daily whether by dining, donating, and/or volunteering. SAME Café is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 2023 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, soallmayeat.org
