Candle 79
Restaurant, Caterer
$$$ - expensive
American, Eclectic (Varied)
Swankier Version of Candle Cafe
Veg*n only macrobiotic and organic restaurant. Serves wines, beers, and has four courses available.
Near Lexington Avenue.
- (Mostly) Organic
- Delivery
- Macrobiotic
Added by inah on May 11 04 (updated Aug 5 06)
Reviews
Very interesting food combinations that are beautifully presented. It's really difficult to choose just one entree so be sure to go with someone who likes to share. They use wine in a lot of the dishes, so watch out if you're straightedge.
i went here for the first time on a snowy night in 2004. the atmosphere was so cozy and inviting. among top-notch gourmet vegan restaurants i have been to around the country (millennium, san Francisco; greens, san francisco; horizons, philly) candle 79 is the best one. i had the seitan piccatta, it was to die for. we had appetizers, wine, deserts and coffee and everything was fantastic. of course it is a special treat to go here (we spent $160 for 2 people), but once every few years, it is worth it. if you are going to spend a lot of money, this is the place to do it.
I took my sister here for her birthday and although some food was tasty, she got food poisoned and ended up getting IV fluids in the ER the next day. She also missed work. They refused to refund us and said it was 'that bug going around.' Who needs seitan if it is gonna give you food poisoning?
This place is fabulous. I had a butternut squash risotto dish with a cream sauce. My boyfriend had the pasta special of the day, which was alfredo with vegetables. We both enjoyed the food but our favorite thing here was the chocolate and peanut butter mousse cake dessert. Dining here is pricey, it ran us about $60 for lunch including a tip, but well worth it for something out of the ordinary.
I visited Candle 79 with my family and had an absolutely delightful experience. The atmosphere was uplifting and the food was elegant. I had an incredible quinoa-crusted tempeh over maple sweet potato mash with caramelized onions, cranberry glaze, and haricots verts. My family and I shared a delicious salad. My mother had a hearty home made veggie burger and my step-father had cashew cream and vegetable ravioli. An absolutley first rate vegetarian dining experience!
My absolute favorite vegan restaurant! So many vegan places are self-serve/cafeteria style that Candle 79 is a refreshing change. This is an upscale eatery where the waiters recite long descriptions of the daily specials. Soy candles are on the tables as well as real cloth napkins. The food is fabulous and yes, a bit pricey, but comparable to other Manhattan restaurants. If you want cheap, eat somewhere else. If you want class, go to Candle 79.
Way over priced for food that is good, but not great. I have been to much better vegetarian restaurants and paid half as much for similar dishes. The pad Thai was basically a giant plate of coleslaw with peanut oil and it was $19. Totally outrageous. The only indulgence here is the price. If you are looking for something better and lot cheaper go to the Candle Cafe instead.
Possibly the best western style vegetarian place in New York, the seitan and snow pea starters were to die for. A less adventurous choice for main course (pasta) was still pretty good but I kind of wish I had gone for something more unusual.
Upmarket but friendly staff. A little too expensive for regular dining but a great place for a special occasion.
I just ate here for the first time today and it was great. I had the black bean soup, seitan piccata with creamed spinach and mashed potatos, and the mexican chocolate cake for dessert.
The soup was very tasty, but the highlights were the seitan and the cake. The seitan was lightly fried and served with a delicious lemon-caper white sauce which was rich and tasty.
The cake was fantastic, served with chocolate ganache on top and a light coconut milk broth. The cake itself was perfectly moist, and very rich, with a strong cocoa flavor and a hint of cinnamon. The ganache was also very rich, but the coconut broth was light and not too sweet, which made for a nice contrast.
The service was excellent, attentive and friendly. I also liked the decor, and even though they played some Christmas music, it was Louis Armstrong, so it was ok.
I went to Candle 79 with high expectations. Ultimately, I found most of my meal to be bland and uninspired, especially considering the price of the place. The avocado-black bean salsa appetizer was heavy and dull; the main dish, a fava bean puree with tempeh and morel mushrooms, was bland and unsubtle. Finally, the ice cream sampler, while tasty, came in a tiny portion (and cost $8). The service, while friendly, was slow and inattentive. Decor and ambience don't make up for bland food, high prices and poor service. Go to their sister joint, The Candle Cafe, instead.