Next Step Soul Food Cafe Opens in Dorchester

A cafe in Dorchester is already serving up soul food and will soon have plenty more space for both dining and community meetings. Proprietor Michelle White, along with her mother, brother, and family members, are behind Next Step Soul Food Cafe, which has been designated a community cafe by the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, according to the Bay State Banner.

Right now, White’s cafe seats eight, but early next year, the space will expand to seat 34. The menu is stocked with soul food, including fried chicken, steak and gravy, mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, haddock, potato salad, and much more. White worked with the Neighborhood Development Corporation to develop plans for the cafe at 657 Washington St., which will serve as a community gathering space, in addition to its function as a cafe and catering company.

Currently, Next Step Soul Food Cafe operates from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. White is preparing for an official opening in 2017, the Bay State Banner reported, at which point the additional seats will be available and the hours will expand.

• New soul food café for Codman Square [Bay State Banner]