Janet Z. Capua developed her love of cooking while growing up in Chicago as part of a close-knit Italian-American family. As she spent the next 40 years raising a family of her own and working as a dental hygienist, her enthusiasm for the art never flagged—but she didn't indulge it completely until she opened Z's Cafe. Here, Janet and her son, Carlo, have created a cozy refuge in which visitors can relax and enjoy the cafe's renowned chicken salad, homemade quiche, and sandwiches. The menu even has a Chicago-style section, complete with authentic Windy City hot dogs that, when stood up next to each other, sort of resemble the Chicago skyline.

Z's Cafe represents far more than a place to grab a bite, however. It also collaborates with the Fort Worth-based Samaritan House, a nonprofit organization that provides permanent and temporary housing to low-income and homeless individuals with special needs. Z's Cafe hires exclusively from the Samaritan House, going so far as to provide full training to anyone who needs it.