Summer Nights & Light Bites are back!·Live Music 8–10 PM · Catering & Private Events continue as normal
Where Would You Like to Go?
Everything Carpenter's Has to Offer
Scratch-Made Daily
The Menu
Explore →
Two Brands. One Roof.
The Commons
Explore →
Coming Soon✦Coming Soon✦Coming Soon
Starting at $30/mo
Membership
Join →
Events & Happenings
Upcoming Events
June 12 · Audra Scott Music
See What's On →
Visit Us
Catering →
Stories & Recipes
The Soulful Table
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Fan Favorite
The Signature
The Smoky Chick Sandwich
One stubborn brine. Three generations of technique. The sandwich that turned customers into family — and made Fort Worth pay attention.
Our Story
Scratch-Made. Soul-Driven.
Chef Katrina Carpenter co-founded Carpenter's Café & Catering with three generations of recipes, one stubborn brine, and the kind of hospitality that turns customers into family.
She survived a pandemic launch, Winter Storm Uri, and the years that closed most restaurants. Now she's building something bigger — a café whose business model is as soulful as the food.
Private Events & Venue Rental
Your Event Deserves a Soulful Space.
Whether it's an intimate gathering, a corporate lunch, a milestone celebration, or a community event — Carpenter's Cafe is available for private bookings. Two spaces. Three generations of hospitality.
✓ Private Room — up to 12 guests
✓ Full Cafe — up to 70 guests (inside + patio)
✓ Full menu & beverage service available
✓ A/V on request
Available for
Meetings • Celebrations Receptions • Community Events
Stay in the Loop
Get the Soulful Table in Your Inbox
✓ You're on the list! We'll see you at the table.
★ Online Orders Coming Soon — Check Back in August ★
Our Menu
From Our Hands to Your Plate
All menu items are prepared from scratch daily. Selections may rotate based on what's fresh and what's good.
Soul Food Saturdays is coming soon. Drop your email and we’ll let you know the moment doors open — and what’s on the menu.
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You're on the list! We'll see you at the table.
Available Options
Come See Us — Online Order Coming Soon!!!
Your Order
The Commons
Two Brands. One Roof. One Mission.
Carpenter's Café is partnering with Soul Tea to build something Fort Worth hasn't seen yet — a café whose business model is as soulful as the food.
Carpenter'sThe Kitchen
The menu hasn't changed. The recipes haven't changed. The soul hasn't changed. Carpenter's Cafe is still Chef Katrina's kitchen — scratch-made food, Big Mama's recipes, the Smoky Chick, and the kind of hospitality that turns first-timers into regulars.
Same menu & recipes you love
Scratch-made soul food & Big Mama's recipes
Catering & private dining
Chef Katrina's hospitality & legacy
The Commons
Soul Tea brings the organic craft teas, proprietary water filtration, membership model, weekly programming, and staffing support — all rooted in our mission to steep our community in Love, Hope, and Opportunity.
Organic craft teas & proprietary water filtration
Membership model & community programming
Staffing support & second-chance employment
Mission: Steep our community in Love, Hope & Opportunity
"Carpenter's Cafe has always been about more than food — it's about gathering. Partnering with Soul Tea means we can now offer our community a place to sit down, slow down, and stay a little longer. That's everything to me."
— Chef Katrina Carpenter, Founder · Carpenter's Cafe
"Katrina has been feeding this community for years. Soul Tea is here to help her feed it for generations — and I'm grateful that in doing so, Soul Tea finally has a home."
— Samantha Renz, Founder · Soul Tea
Executive Chef & Kitchen Partner · Carpenter's Café
Chef Katrina Carpenter
Co-founder of Carpenter's Café & Catering. Three generations of recipes, one stubborn brine, and the kind of hospitality that turns customers into family. Survived a pandemic launch, Winter Storm Uri, and the years that closed most restaurants. Rotary Club Minority Business Award finalist.
Known For
The Smoky Chick sandwich
Award-winning chicken salad
Grown Folks No-Nana Pudding
Founder & Chief Love Officer · Soul Tea PBC
Samantha Renz, P.E., CFM
Beyond engineering, Samantha is the Chief Love Officer of Soul Tea, PBC — a mission-driven tea company — and its nonprofit arm, Soul Tea Foundation, which creates second-chance opportunities for individuals who are opportunity-challenged. Her ventures are united by a belief in the power of mentorship, steeping hope, and building bridges for others to thrive.
Known For
Soul Tea PBC · mission-driven tea
Soul Tea Foundation · 501(c)(3)
Licensed P.E. across 8 states
This is not just a café — it is a declaration that businesses can heal communities. Every membership, every plate, every Mastermind Monday funds a real person building a real future.
Hospitality That Heals
Every plate is crafted with love, served by people who've been seen, in a space designed for connection.
Second-Chance Employment
We hire opportunity-challenged individuals at a living wage and walk them into lasting hospitality careers — through life skills, financial literacy, and the dignity of work that matters.
Programming with Purpose
Weekday programs that turn the café into a place where founders mastermind, nonprofits gather, and corporations invest in their team and their community at the same time.
Ready to take a seat at the table?
Coming Soon✦Coming Soon✦Coming Soon
★ Membership Signups Open Now!No Fees Until Launch — Click to get notified
Membership
Pick Your Seat at the Table
Four ways to join the Commons. Every membership feeds a second-chance hospitality program — and gets you something soulful in return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Membership
Get Notified When We Launch
Be the first to know when The Commons officially opens. Sign up below and we'll reach out the moment memberships go live — no fees or charges until launch day.
Reserve Your Spot
No fees or charges until launch day
✓
You're on the list! We'll reach out the moment memberships go live.
★ Membership Signups Open Now!No Fees Until Launch
Events & Happenings
Upcoming Events
What's happening at Carpenter's Cafe — community gatherings, live music, and special events.
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Past Events
Looking for something more exclusive?
Book the Cafe for Your Private Event
Meetings • Celebrations • Receptions • Community Events — Two spaces, full soul.
Carpenter's Cafe
Book the Experience
Indoor seating for the party size selected is sold out. Patio seating is available on a first-come basis.
Note: joining the waitlist does not guarantee indoor seating, and we may not be able to contact every guest.
Prefer not to wait? Grab a spot on our patio and enjoy great food, signature drinks, hookah (if requesting, please add to special requests so we can best serve you), outdoor music in a relaxed atmosphere while the live band plays inside.
✓
You're all set!
Thank you for reserving your seat. We'll be in touch within 24 hours to confirm all the details. Check your inbox for a confirmation from us.
We're using this summer to redesign our menu, refine our craft, and return to you with something truly special. What's coming is worth the wait. Thank you for your patience and your loyalty — it means everything to the soul of this family establishment.
Whether you're hosting an intimate gathering or filling the whole house, Carpenter's Cafe is available for private bookings. Two distinct spaces — one intimate, one expansive — both rooted in the warmth and hospitality this place was built on.
The Private Room
Intimate. Focused. Yours.
A conference-style room that comfortably seats up to 12 — perfect for private dining, team meetings, workshops, coaching sessions, and small celebrations. Quiet, intentional, and fully supported with meal service so your group can stay focused on what matters.
Seats up to 12 guests
Private dining, meetings & workshops
Full menu & beverage service
A/V available on request
The Full Cafe
The Whole House. All Yours.
Book the entire cafe for your event — up to 50 guests seated inside with an additional 20 on the patio. Ideal for milestone celebrations, corporate gatherings, receptions, community events, and anything that deserves a full table. Full service, full soul.
Up to 50 seated inside
Additional 20 on the patio
Beverage service included
Celebrations, receptions & corporate events
Inquire About the Space
Let's Plan Your Event
Fill out the form below and our team will be in touch within 24–48 hours to discuss availability, menus, and everything that will make your event unforgettable.
✓
We received your inquiry!
Thank you! Our team will be in touch within 24 hours to discuss your event. Check your inbox for a confirmation email.
Corporate lunches, weddings, family reunions, church gatherings — we cater across the DFW Metroplex with menus built around what your people love. From boxed lunches to full buffet service, every order honors three generations of recipes.
Hand-packed with love and shipped directly to your door. Every sip supports the Soul Tea Foundation — empowering opportunity-challenged individuals to thrive.
Free shipping on orders $50+
Shop All Teas
Click any product to shop on drinksoultea.com — checkout is handled securely on the Soul Tea site.
Herbal Tea Blends
Calm
Lavender, chamomile & clarity — for your quiet mind
Herbal Tea Blends
Energize
Ginger, citrus & soul fire — beat the 3pm slump
Herbal Tea Blends
Focus
Mint, lemongrass & mental spark — power through your day
Herbal Tea Blends
Glow
Hibiscus, rose & radiant vibes — beauty from within
Black Tea
Black Teas
Bold, rich black teas sourced from around the world — 4 options
Green Tea
Green Teas
Organic green teas with powerful antioxidants — 4 options
White Tea
White Teas
Delicate, light white teas from the Himalayas — 2 options
Holiday
Holiday Teas
Seasonal blends to warm your heart — 2 options
Bundle
Sampler Box
Try a variety of our most beloved blends — perfect gift
Ready to Drink
Ready to Drink
Grab-and-go Soul Tea — 4 bold flavors, single bottle or six pack
Bring Carpenter's Cafe and Soul Tea to your next event. Choose the Mobile Bistro, the Soul Tea Concession Trailer, or pair them together for the ultimate experience.
🍵
Inquiry Received!
Thank you for reaching out. Our team will review your request and get back to you within 24 hours to discuss availability, menu options, and pricing.
With warmth & gratitude, The Carpenter's Cafe Team
Soul Tea Foundation
Love. Hope. Opportunity.
We believe every person is worthy, valued, and loved — regardless of where they've been. The Soul Tea Foundation exists to be the bridge between where someone is and where they could be.
Our Mission
Empowering the Opportunity-Challenged
The Soul Tea Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals facing adversity — homelessness, reentry from incarceration, human trafficking survival, disability, and veterans transitioning to civilian life. Our goal is to provide a holistic support system that combines job training, mentorship, and love in action to help individuals achieve long-term stability and success.
We don't just offer programs. We offer belief. We see potential before we see circumstance — and we walk alongside people until they see it in themselves.
Why This Exists
We Were Homeless in 14 Minutes
At age 15, our founder Samantha Renz watched her family's home burn down in 14 minutes. She dropped out of high school to support her family. Then one person — a consulting engineer — looked at her and said: "You should be an engineer. You truly have a mind for it."
That single act of belief changed everything. Today Samantha is a licensed Professional Engineer, CEO of a civil engineering firm, and founder of multiple businesses and nonprofits in Fort Worth — all built on one conviction: opportunity changes lives.
Soul Tea was born to give others what was given to her — someone who believes in them before they believe in themselves.
"Someone believed in me, and that belief became the catalyst for me to believe in myself. His support and mentorship changed the trajectory of my life forever."
— Samantha Renz, Founder & Chief Love Officer
Our Programs
The Soul Tea Success Path™
Many people carry invisible weight — old wounds, insecurities, and negative self-talk that keep them stuck. The Soul Tea Success Path™ is a six-workshop self-discovery series designed to break those patterns and help participants step into a future filled with clarity, confidence, and possibility.
Workshop 1
Who Am I?
Break free from negative self-talk and rediscover your strengths, identity, and potential.
Workshop 2
What Do I Want?
Gain clarity on your desires in every area of life — personal, spiritual, physical, family, and career.
Workshop 3
What Is Standing in My Way?
Identify the barriers and beliefs that hinder your progress and learn tools for healing and renewal.
Workshop 4
Accountability & Ownership
Build boundaries, embrace responsibility, and align your choices with your values.
Workshop 5
Passion & Purpose
Uncover what energizes you and learn how to live with meaning, confidence, and direction.
Workshop 6
Life Plan
Integrate everything into a clear, actionable, measurable life plan — celebrated with a graduation ceremony.
After completing the program, participants take the Path Identification Assessment and move into one of three next-step pathways:
Carpenter's Cafe & Soul Tea Commons is more than a restaurant. It is the living expression of the Foundation's mission — a place where love, hope, and opportunity are not just words on a wall but the daily operating system of everything we do.
💚
Love in Action
Every event, every meal, every seat reserved is an act of community care. The cafe creates a space where people feel seen, welcomed, and worthy — regardless of their story.
✨
Hope Through Community
The Summer Nights & Light Bites series, the Soulful Table, the Commons membership — these are not just programming. They are proof that a better life is possible and that community is the vehicle to get there.
🔑
Opportunity Created
The cafe provides employment, mentorship, and a platform for artists, entrepreneurs, and community members who are building their next chapter. Every dollar donated at checkout funds the Foundation's Success Path programs.
Join the Cause
Whether you donate, volunteer, sponsor a SOUL, or simply show up — you are part of the movement. Together we are building a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
A sponsorship is more than a donation — it is a direct investment in someone's transformation. Your support funds their journey through the Soul Tea Success Path™ and beyond. Fill out the form below and our team will reach out within 24 hours.
💚
Thank You for Your Heart!
Your sponsorship inquiry has been received. Our team will reach out within 24 hours to walk you through the next steps.
With love & gratitude, The Soul Tea Foundation Team
Soul Tea Foundation
Make a Donation
Every dollar plants a seed of Love, Hope & Opportunity. Your gift directly funds the Soul Tea Success Path™ — workshops, resources, and mentorship for people rebuilding their lives.
💛
Redirecting to Secure Checkout...
You're being taken to Square to complete your donation. Thank you for planting a seed of opportunity.
We don't just give you a space — we give you our community. Tell us about your vision and we'll make it happen.
✓
We Love Your Vision!
Your inquiry is in. We'll be in touch within 24 hours to talk about how we can make your event unforgettable — and get the word out to our whole community.
This is what Soul Tea Commons is about: building each other up, one event at a time.
