The Center for Head Injury Services will open Destination Café

Following the success of its food truck, Destination Desserts, The Center for Head Injury Services will plant its mission firmly in the Tower Grove South neighborhood with the opening of Destination Café. 

Kyle Gunning, PR and marketing coordinator for The Center for Head Injury Services, said the 64-seat restaurant will open for dinner service in late October or early November at 3182 Morgan Ford Road in what was previously Plaza Café Grill & Bakery. 

Gunning said the new location is expected to offer a full dinner menu of “contemporary American fare” from executive chef Thomas Hayes. Dishes will include shrimp and chipotle-cheddar grits, a gyro burger, a pork porterhouse, a chicken confit flatbread with caramelized onions, roasted garlic, grapes and pickled red onions, as well as rotating soup and salad offerings.

Truck favorites like gooey butter cake, cookies and more will also available for dessert. Diners can pair their dinners with beer from local St. Louis breweries, as well as an assortment of wines.

Gunning said the opening of Destination Café will provide employment opportunities and vocational training to those with brain injuries, autism and other disabilities. The Center for Head Injury Services’ clients currently learn how to bake to prepare desserts for the truck; Gunning said they will learn new kitchen skills like knife work, salad prep and stovetop cooking.

“Being able to offer more than just baking and expand those skills that they’ll be able to explore, practice and master is only going to improve their marketability as employees and future candidates for jobs,” he said.

Gunning said the restaurant will also allow the Center to work with more St. Louis city residents; its current location is in Maryland Heights. All the restaurant’s proceeds will support the Center for Head Injury Services work. 

Brenna Sullivan is an editorial intern at Sauce Magazine.