earlapricot
Reviews written by earlapricot
there were not a terrible lot of vegan options on their menu. i had one of their vegan burritos and found it to be passable but unexciting. there are definitely better places in SF to get a vegan burrito (see Papalote).
the bright lighting, religious pamphlet section, and church-like atmosphere were a bit unsettling too.
They certainly have a lot of veg and vegan staples there, but their produce is really not very fresh. try golden produce just a few blocks away for fresh organic produce.
sadness abounds that they do not have vegenaise or any kind of veggie mayo. but if you have your own supply of vegenaise (or can be bothered to pick some up at the whole foods market one block lower on haight), this sandwich place is fine fine fine.
this place seems anxious to become known in the vegan and vegetarian communities, apparently aiming to become a household name on a par with millenium (as the owner pointed out to us that their restaurant beat millenium in some type of food competition). they are *very* attentive to customers' individual tastes and dietary requirements and are eager (arguably too eager at times) to please.
the owner's day was evidently made when he found out there were vegans at our table. He bent over backwards to impress with his special vegan desserts and repeated assertions of the freshness and veganness of everything on our table. he was so attentive we felt a little stood-over at times, though. we were the only people in the restaurant at the time, though, so i'm sure he is more tolerable when spread out over multiple tables.
the atmosphere was cozy and the food was excellent, esp the fried-banana dish and the vegan dessert. i recommend checking this place out.
finally a place with veggie split-pea soup! but it is "smoked", which strikes me as unimaginative.
This is the perfect place to spend a lunch break - collect some necessities, peruse some yoga books, look at all the colorful kitchen utensils, pick up some odwalla juice, grab a sandwich piled high with avocados and nayonnaise, sit and eat with all the other cool people, and visit the recycle bins on your way out. the customer service desk also offers up no resistance to requests for quarters, in case you're needing to do laundry later or pay muni fare.
I like to wear red when I go here - to blend in with the pleasingly red decor. The place is small, and the tables are skillfully arranged to be very condensed, so your elbows are everybody's elbows, and your conversation is likewise communal (esp if you're sitting near the front). but everybody is friendly (including the servers), so it all works out ok.
Don't miss their garlic tomato green beans.
This place is huge and cozy. They've got the best Vege sandwich around. The garlic beans are super too. All this while getting to see some really amazing local talent on one of their many stages. Food is served in all of the rooms. If you're looking to learn Tango, Line, Swing, or Salsa dancing, they have classes and dancing nights nearly every night in the upstairs ballroom. And I highly recommend their Acoustix shows - in the Tavistock and Shakespearean Globe rooms. See their website for details and listings.
The food is amazing. The service is a bit hit-and-miss. The way they have things organized there can be confusing (you can only sit here if you're ordering from that menu etc), and you will be corrected and instructed if you appear unmethodical... or like you might be thinking about becoming disorganized. And you may even be escorted around by a woman extravagantly dressed and ornamented in traditional afro-brazilian style (this to my mind covers a multitude of sins).
The deli makes a grilled tempeh sandwich option that's positively delightful. The first time i ordered it, i was unprepared for the rosemary they put on it, but i have since discovered they are correct in doing so. And it's called the Laura Ingalls, which makes it all that much more bewitching.
I only wish it came with better side options than their standard potato-salad or chip-and-dip. Those i find unimpressive.
the delivery alien shows up at your door in a space ship and hands you a vegan pizza just like the one you described to himmer over the phone. enchanting!
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Feb 27 05
it can be a trick getting in. the place is very small, and they don't take reservations, so it's best to arrive right when they open to avoid having to stand around outside for potentially a very long time.
once you get in, though, you'll be glad you waited. the food and service are superb, and they have lots of vegan desserts to choose from.