about us
Wish Tree is a vegetable-forward, fine/casual, first-come-first-served, counter-service restaurant with inclusive pricing (we are tip free). We make the best food we can primarily with ingredients sourced from the area (aside from the occasional green and chiltepin chiles from New Mexico).
Why counter service?
The conventional restaurant model is flawed, particularly for small establishments like ours that often operate on extremely narrow profit margins. This financial constraint makes it challenging to offer fair wages to our team members. We’ve implemented counter service to streamline labor costs, enabling all hourly team members, whether they work in the kitchen, dish station, or dining room, to be equitably compensated.
We deliver food to and bus dishes from your table. You’re always welcome to make as many trips as you want to the counter to order more food and/or drink.
Why don’t you take tips?
The practice of tipping has a troubling history rooted in post-Civil War policies that perpetuated racial inequalities stemming from slavery. This legacy has persisted in the hospitality industry, where tipped workers often depend on the generosity of customers to make ends meet. This dynamic fosters inequities and contributes to a work environment prone to harassment and hostility. Tipping also enforces stereotypical societal preferences, especially with respect to female servers.
The tipping system has historically divided restaurant staff, creating disparities between front- and back-of-house workers despite their equal importance in the restaurant's operation. This practice undermines the diverse skills and emotional labor that hospitality workers contribute daily.
We reject this outdated model. By eliminating tips and implementing a fair wage policy, we aim to protect our workers from unpredictable earnings and ensure stability both at work and in their lives outside of it. We believe in valuing the comprehensive skills of our service team and are committed to fostering an ethical and supportive workplace environment as we continue to grow. Our food and drink menus are priced such that we can pay our employees a living wage.
If you want to read more about racism and tipping, here are some great articles:
Consumer Racial Discrimination in Tipping
At the Tipping Point: Race and Gender Discrimination in a Common Economic Transaction
What about dietary restrictions?
Everything we serve is vegan. We have gluten-free options and are always working on adding more. Many of our menu items contain soy and some contain nuts. Please let us know if you have allergies before ordering. You’re always welcome to contact us ahead of time at hello@wishtreenorthadams.com or 413-398-5017 to discuss accommodations.
Do you serve alcohol?
Yes! We serve beer, wine, and are rolling out a small selection of cocktails.
Did you call me?
No. Our phone number is being spoofed. In our ideal world we’d never call anybody (no offense to anyone but phones).