A Place at the Table, a café where no one goes hungry, opened its doors Monday in downtown Raleigh.

The pay-what-you-can restaurant is the first for the Triangle and is intended to provide fresh, healthy and affordable meals for all, regardless of their means. It is located at 300 W. Hargett St.

“The first day went better than we could have ever asked for,” said Maggie Kane, executive director of the nonprofit restaurant. “We had over 150 people, and people loved the atmosphere and food!”

The menu includes breakfast items such as waffles, quiche and buttermilk biscuits as well as lunch items like salads, paninis and sandwiches. The cafe is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Diners can pay for their meal in one of several ways:

• Pay what you are able to afford.
• Pay what you would typically pay for a similar meal. There will be a suggested donation.
• Pay what you would typically pay, with an additional donation. Patrons can also pay for another person’s meal.
• Pay by volunteering your time.

The concept, Kane says, is that 80 percent of the diners will be able to support the 20 percent who can’t afford to pay.

“Downtown Raleigh is the perfect spot for the restaurant,” she said. “We have a great mix of people, both people who can pay and people who will volunteer for their meals.”

For more information about A Place at the Table see https://tableraleigh.org/