Dynamic Dish

 

36

39

tami h.

Decatur, GA

I have already written about Dynamic Dish...but I have to specifically mention Pizza Night again. On Saturday evenings, Dave and his peeps make these amazing thin crust (think cracker flatbread) pizzas with incredible combos of organic toppings. This past Saturday I had anchovy with spinach while a friend had a special "white" pizza - it has a fancy German name which I won't even attempt to butcher - with leeks, gruyere and emmenthaler cheese.

He also made a wonderful simple green salad with toasted sunflower seeds on it....and his gazpacho is always so clean tasting and freshly made.

Still my favorite restaurant in Atlanta...

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29

54

Kevin G.

San Francisco, CA

Location: In a seemingly abandoned part of downtown.  Lots of vacant storefronts + people loitering w/beer cans, etc.

Ambiance:  They did a nice job making the interior clean and modern - keeping the concrete floors + exposed steel a-frame rafters while adding warm wood tables + fresh-cut flowers to the table to make it feel welcoming.

Food:  I had a great mango, peach + white bean soup.  Very vibrant mango flavor - perfect for a hot ATL day.  For my entree, Had a goat cheese + asparagus quiche; the flavors didn't absolutely jump out at me, no memorable twist.  It was fresh tasting, not too buttery with a flax crust that stood up pretty well.  Also had a fresh cucumber + tomato salad.  For desert, a rhubarb and peach compote over ice cream; once again super fresh + light.  Definitely recommend.  

Service:  Friendly + relaxed.  Felt well looked after.

I'd go back to this place; fresh satisfying food + a warm yet crisp vibe.

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9

28

Hardy W.

Atlanta, GA

I'm not a vegetarian, but Dynamic Dish is my favorite spot in Atlanta.  David and crew put together fresh, creative, and wholesome food.

This is as casual as you can get-  Counter service, menu on a chalk board, etc.... but the food is exquisite.  

Dynamic Dish is BYO with zero corkage.  I find the food extremely friendly for pairing.  We usually pack in Champagne or sparkling wine, lighter whites- like Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, or Muscadet, or light bodied reds like Burgundy or Cru Beaujolais.

Saturday night is also Pizza Night.  Dave's pizzas are great, fresh, and usually topped with interesting cheeses and things like fresh peas, and arugula.

I love this place.

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3

11

Lily L.

Cambridge, MA

Ambiance:  Located in a rather shady area of the town, Dynamic Dish doesn't seem to stand out from the outside.  I didn't notice any parking lots, but there's off street parking.  We went to Dynamic Dish around 3:30PM and was able to secure a parking space rather easily.  Inside, the restaurant is very welcoming with lots of open spaces.  The walls are white with lots of giant paintings.  Tables were sparse with only 5 tables of various sizes out.  I'd describe this place as rustic chic.

Food:  The menu was hand written on a chalkboard.  Today's special was gazpacho as soup, a salad with beet carpaccio, gala apple strips, chives, and cheese, and two choices for sandwiches.  One sandwich had a variety of roasted veggies but we went for the Tofu "TLT."  The food was super fresh and delicious.  I could taste the onion and there were small bits of tomatoes in the gazpacho.  The salad, likewise, was fresh and well seasoned.  The sandwich had freshly baked whited bread.  The tempeh "bacon" was very crunch.  The entire texture of the sandwich was great with crunchy "bacon," meaty tofu, and fresh bread.   The soup + salad + sandwich combo only cost me $13.95 + tax & tip.

Service:  The waitress was extremely helpful and nice.  

Like all the other yelpers, I'd highly recommend this place if you like fresh, healthy food at a non-pretentious place.

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1

16

Alan P.

Decatur, GA

I don't know how to define this place. Trendy, but sparse. Order at the counter, but sit down and get served. Lots of organic and local ingredients. Menu changes daily.

The food was really amazing. We had a veggie antipasti dish and a pizza, followed up by 2 cookies. It was all outstanding. If only we had enough time to order more...

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13

108

Vy A.

Atlanta, GA

This is a place that I'm excited to recommend!  In fact, I'm very tempted to give it a five, but something about it didn't quite hit that mark.

We decided on Dynamic Dish after going on recommendations on Yelp.  I was skeptical because similar writers had ranked Sunflower Cafe a bit too high in my opinion.  The restaurant is located on Edgewood.  It is easy to miss if you're not looking for it.  It's simple storefront was much more modest than I was expecting, but I liked that.  It isn't pretending to be something that it isn't.  The environment is very welcoming and it would be a great place to have dinner with friends.

The menu is very simple.  There were really only two sandwiches, one salad, a few desserts, and one soup on the menu.  When we went up to order, there were a couple more selections offered, but they keep the offerings limited.  We had read about the BYOB policy beforehand and I wish we had.  

The dishes are simple looking, but have incredibly creative and good flavor combinations.  One of our dishes was a lentil pate and apple open-faced sandwich.  I don't think i would have ever thought to put these two food items together, but the combination was quite lovely and exciting.  The dishes here are very thoughtful and creative--textures, balance, and aesthetics are well combined.  

The service was nice too.  Our server was very good about giving us a heads up that it might take a little time since it is a very small operation, but we didn't mind the wait.  It really take so long either.

There are only a couple things that could have gone a bit better.  There  could have been a better progression of the food.  The food is just brought out when each one is ready.  Also, they ran out of some of the items.  This wouldn't have been a problem except that the menu was so limited already. Also keep in mind that the parking is on the street and the area can get pretty crowded.

Overall, I love this place.  It is my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Atlanta, hands down, and one of my favorite in this price point!   It is the first place that I've been excited about actively recommending in a while.  It is also refreshing to see such innovation in food.  I'd recommend this place to any vegetarian OR non.  I'll certainly be back.

More pics : http://atlantaskyline....

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0

28

Stephie Z.

Atlanta, GA

I just went to the Dynamic Dish on Edgewood today for the first time.  It has gotten tons of postivie reviews so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  It was so worth it.  

This small restaurant is very hard to spot on Edgewood in b/w Blvd and Jackson St (FYI: it's next to the thrift shop, across from ANIMAL EDGEWOOD or so the sign says) but when you walk inside the door you feel you have walked into a cute and simple cafe in a small town.  The tables and chairs (only a few so get there early) are mismatched and farmhouse style, none of the plates match, and the artwork on the walls are powerful sea scenes.  

My friends and I started off with iced green tea with sweetened with agave nectar.  Very fresh and delicous; perfect for a summer night.  The waitress then brought us water in these tiny candle holder looking glasses (be forwarned if you are a water chugger that you will constantly be thirsty).  We ordered 4 of the 5 entrees listed (The menu changes daily based on whats freshest that day.  The first thing we ordered was the gazpacho, which I was told was the least favorite thing- I hate tomatoes so I didn't even attempt to try it. We also ordered a rosemary-encrusted tofu and pest wrap that came with coleslaw (the wrap was fabulous, the coleslaw bland), a salad that consisted of raw turnip greens, lemon quinoa, and roasted pumpklin seeds (our favorite dish), and an antipasto (sp) plate that had roasted veggies, which consisted of eggplant, squash, and zucchini,  a tomato salad ( I didn't try, my friends loved though), and my FAVORITE, a grilled fennel sald with goat cheese.  Everything was absolutely delicious and the flavors melded together perfectly.  For desert we ordered ruhbarb compote that came with homade vanilla icecream with a dusting of black pepper.  I would never have tried black pepper with icecream and fruit, but it really worked.  

This restaurant was one of the best I have ever eaten at and that's not just in the veg category, that's all categories; veg, meat, seafood, whatever.  I will definitley be going back often.  

FYI: bring your own bottle of wine and a big group of friends so you can sit at the huge table in the middle of the restaurant.

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3

4

katie l.

Atlanta, GA

Yes yes yes. I love this place. I love the vibe, the food is fantastic, interesting, thoughtfully prepared, and it is so PC (local, organic all the way down to the rainwater toilet) it almost makes your head explode - but in a good way.

Though fully carnivorous, I have enjoyed their meatless salads, pizzas, vegan dinner specials,  and other dishes more than most other meals this year. (Note re: "meatless" - not all of their food is vegan, and they do on occasion prepare meat.) Also - the chocolate cake.

I am looking forward to picking up my summer and fall CSA vegetables there (they are currently the only intown business i know of that serves as a CSA pickup).

I only wish they were open more days, and longer hours!

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1

2

B C.

Avondale Estates, GA

The food was delicious.  The atmosphere was terrific.  The service was exceptional.

We were running late for a concert and asked the server if we could have the food in a hurry.  Ironic given that the place is known for being part of the "slow food" movement.  He was quite gracious about it and prompt.  This was especially surprising given there were only two staff members - the cook and the server.

The menu is limited to one salad, one sandwich, and one entree per night.  We split the salad and entree, and they were both delicious.  The decor is simple but tasteful and not the normal "Johnson Studio" look most restaurants have.  There are large tables designed to encourage "communal" dining.

I'm not a vegetarian or a vegan, but I thought it was tasty.  I hope people support this restaurant on this corner of Atlanta that's always on the edge of being the next EAV.

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Elite '08

27

123

Katherine D.

Atlanta, GA

Believe the hype. The only way to describe this restaurant is beautiful. Really, everything about it is absolutely beautiful. The menu is small but spectacular. Though most people say Dynamic Dish is vegetarian, David Sweeny has, on occasion, served meat. It's very rare (the service, not the meat) But it's as you would expect. Free-range, hormone free. Delectable. Still mostly vegetarian/vegan. Please support this awesome little spot. You won't regret it.

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6

17

Tony C.

Atlanta, GA

Dynamic Dish is always a pleasant experience. David, the Owner and Chef does amazing things with vegetables. He has created a unique atmosphere on Edgewood and I enjoy seeing what soups and entrees he creates out of local produce. Saturday's menu usually includes a couple choices of pizzas. The pesto and feta is amazing. You can also bring your own bottle of wine to enjoy with your meal. I enjoy the light fare as an alternative to BBQ, beef and typical Southern cooking. This is not your typical meal.

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16

16

Lily L.

Atlanta, GA

I love this place! Delicious organic, locally grown ingredients. Beautiful eco space complete with rainwater barrels and recycled materials...

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Elite '08

44

53

Sean M.

Atlanta, GA

Dynamic Dish - do it. do it.  

Cool little vegetarian place with maybe just a couple of items on the menu that changes daily.  The owner makes use of what is available locally, so don't expect to find the same thing each time you visit.

I went in with high expectations, as I've heard a lot of good things.  And this usually means that it can be tough to give a place a fair assessment after all the hype. But, I have to say Dynamic Dish came through.  

When I visited, there were a couple of specials and a soup on the board.  David (the owner/chef) told me that there were actually a couple of other items available as well.  I had the millet cakes, and the red cabbage salad.  The red cabbage was cut nice and fine, and had a great dressing that wasn't too overpowering, kind of like an oriental salad dressing type flavor.  Don't quote me on the type, as I'm not a big dressing fan, but this one I liked.

The millet cakes were served with a nice side salad, which had butternut squash slices on top, along with some sunflower seeds.   The cakes were flavorful, but some might think they are a bit dry.  I think that's the nature of these guys though.  The flavor definitely made up for it.

I was given a small bite of the orange chocolate cake to try as well, which was tasty, but I couldn't make a fair analysis as it was a small piece and a bit cool from either the weather or refrigeration.  BUT, I ended up getting the organic chocolate cake, and that was awesome.  Some berries on top made this one a winner for me.  

As I visited on my own, around 5pm on Saturday, I had a chance to talk to Paul my waiter, and also with David a bit.  They made my stay enjoyable, which was nice since I was the only person there!  I look forward to going back and sampling the latest dynamic creation.

If you're looking for something new to try, give dynamic dish a shot, you won't be disappointed.

Oh, and I believe Paul said Feb 2, they were going to have pizza or something.  Maybe this is their first actual dinner night?  Because they just started later hours (close at 9pm) on Thur, Fri and Sat.

AND if you are looking for them, Google maps doesn't show them very accurately on the map.  They are west by a few shops down Edgewood.

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2

49

NES R.

Oakland, CA

loved it. excellent black bean burger, excellent spaghetti squash soup, excellent tea. small menu but everything is great.

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2

46

Herman N.

Atlanta, GA

What a joy this little cafe was to discover. They have a super tiny menu (oftentimes just a soup selection, a sandwich, a dessert and another option) that changes every day, but with food this amazing (not to mention, organic!), it doesn't matter. The staff is very cool and talkative to boot. Keep in mind, though, that the restaurant is not open on Mondays, but is expanding to do some night business Thurs-Sat, which will be great. I, for one, am looking forward to having dinner here.

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16

31

Steakhead ..

Atlanta, GA

Its been three years since my one and only trip to Sunflower Cafe, and I still have not let my wife hear the end of "tofu mock chicken" jokes. So she was quite surprised when I told her yesterday of my visit to Dynamic Dish- a mostly vegan, organic spot on Edgewood Ave, near Downtown.

Dynamic Dish is a sparesely decorated place with just four tables. It's mainly a lunch place, with dinners served only Thursday-Saturday. All the food is locally grown, and pretty much adheres to vegan preparation rules (although Georgia trout will be on the menu for Valentine's Day dinner). The menu changes everyday, although you will always find a soup, a salad, a sandwich and an entree. You would think this is not a place that a Steakhead like me would venture into, and for the most part, you are pretty much spot on. But two guys I work with have been raving about this place, and one in particular is a true Foodie, so I had to check it out.

My overall impression was actually quite positive. The soup was a Carrot soup with a hint of habanero. Now since Steakhead likes his spicy food, this was a big hit. The entree was called "Tea Space" Tofu Balls. Jeez, more tofu. I guess Tea Space was the name of a similar kind of place in Little Five Points back in the day, and one of the chefs there occasionally helps out at the Dish. I did try them, and since the tofu was all ground up, it didn't taste like it sounded (which to me was a ball of solid tofu). I still don't know if I could eat an entire meal of it though. I went with this mixed green salad with a kind of cheese that I never heard of and can't remember, and sunflower seeds.

Drinks are another area of challenge for me in a place like this. Of course I wasn't expecting Diet Coke, but my only choices were hot espresso or tea, carrot juice, ginger juice, apple juice or bottled water. So bottled water it was. But here's the rub- the small soup, the salad, and the bottled water came out to $12. I wouldn't have thought such healthy living would cost so much.

So, I think Dynamic Dish will probably do very well. They seem to have a strong following, and I think the whole "locally sourced" food concept will just get bigger (see the sales of the book Omnivore's Dilemma for further proof). One thing that I liked about it was even if you are not living this kind of lifestyle, you will likely find other things on the limited menu that are very good in their own right. In other words, its not like you have to eat tofu.

Steakhead Recommends- Yes, for those looking for a healthy alternative
Price: $$

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1

4

todd b.

Atlanta, GA

This tiny little lunch spot exudes the feel of a gallery meets a hip minimalist restaurant in NYC's West Village.  Thoughtfully prepared dishes with no more that 6 choices appear on the ever-changing menu.  The owner attempts to acquire all food from local sources and favors organic above all else!  This care shows up in each dish and your mouth will rarely be happier...My only issue is the service can be somewhat confusing and intrusive.  They try so hard to make you feel at home, but it can feel too bothersome.  This by no means should keep any of you from showing up!  The food and atmosphere are spot on.

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Elite '08

33

58

Rebecca K.

Atlanta, GA

I had a late lunch at Dynamic Dish today, and no one else was there. Come on people: you gotta support this place. The food was fantastic! While there weren't many options, they were all exquisitely prepared with organic and, in many cases, local produce. In fact, a farmer from a local farm came into the restaurant while we were there and gave us his card. My companion had a kohlrabi soup with fresh Georgia horseradish, and I had a roasted butternut squash sandwich with apples and goat cheese. It came with a side salad that consisted of greens (which were picked yesterday at the guy's farm that we met!), carrots, sunflower seeds and raisins in a deliciously light vinaigrette.

It's kind of hard to spot -- if you're coming toward downtown/GSU on Edgewood, it's on the left on the block past Javalogy and the new location of the Corner Tavern. But, it's worth it. This was my first trip, but I get the impression that this could be a place that I could eat every day, and it would be different, healthful and delicious.

And, best of all, the service was amazing. In fact, I left a $10 tip because the staff was so sweet and helpful and attentive to us. They even brought us a complimentary dessert bite -- dried figs stuffed with cocoa beans. Yum! I haven't had both my waistline and my tastebuds be this happy at once in a long time.

The service is medium speed -- order at the counter and then sit and they bring your food. At the moment they close at 5, but I'm sure if everyone gets themselves out to support them, they'll soon be feeding us delectable, sustainably grown foods until all hours in no time.

EDITED TO ADD (1/23/2008): DD is now serving dinner on many nights of the week until 9pm (Thurs, Fri and Sat). Definitely go to check out this concept in action! It is both dynamic AND delicious! I keep wanting to tell people that the name of the place is the Delicious Dish -- seriously!

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13

27

J.E. K.

Atlanta, GA

Dynamic Dish is a small establishment located within a small storefront on Edgewood Avenue.  Some fellow classmates and I stopped by a few weeks back for a late lunch.  The food selections are minimal but well conceived and executed.  I ordered a slice of mustard green quiche that was absolutely wonderful.  Later, I discovered that the mustard greens were locally grown in East Point and that Dynamic Dish makes every attempt to utilize local food resources.  Atlanta needs more places like this and less corporate chains.

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13

13

Sunshine M.

Atlanta, GA

I stumbled across this place by accident, it is a market deli.  I had the tofu club sandwiches with tempeh bacon and a pumpkin coconut soup.  Everyone was very nice.  And alot of the packaging is biodegradable.  They also have a retail section.

I can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu.

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38

70

Blissful G.

Atlanta, GA

I am about as carnivorous as a person can get. I love it all-nose to tail. Loving meat does not mean that I don't like vegetables. I crave greens just as much as a juicy steak. When Cliff Bostock wrote about Dynamic Dish, I was intrigued--especially by the promise of a tagine made with organic veggies. I went for lunch yesterday to counteract the effects of the Korean fried chicken I had the day before.

Dynamic Dish is located on the small strip of Edgewood near Caf 458. I snagged a primo spot in front of the restaurant using my stellar parallel parking skills that I picked up while living in San Francisco. Upon walking into the restaurant, I was amazed how sleek the interior of the restaurant was. I wasn't expecting it. The owner, David Sweeney, has impeccable taste and all the eclectic pieces and furnishings somehow fit perfectly together. The persimmons tucked into a wire cubby near the cash register really tickled me. The man has a great eye.

The menu (located on the chalkboard behind the counter) is small, but it reflects the pristine organic ingredients he has on hand. I ordered the tagine made with pumpkin, squash, tomatoes and other goodies served on bulgur wheat. Moon ordered the arugula sandwich with Emmentaler cheese on buttered whole grain bread. We both got the beet salad. The beverage selection is limited, but I did not mind. Sodas would be out of place here. We decided to share a bottle of sparkling water in some tiny glasses that Sweeney brought to table complete with slices of lemon. As we waited for our food, I took in my surroundings and couldn't help feeling like I was in New York or Europe--not Edgewood.

Sweeney arrived with our dishes and the colorful food lit up the table. The ingredients of the tagine were very good and the combination just felt like autumn. My only problem with the dish was the lack of salt--I imagine he is trying to keep the sodium content down and I would rather add salt than eat a very salty dish any day.

Moon liked his sandwich and I was so tempted to take a bite, but my moderation mantra kept me from doing so. The beet salad was the undisputed star of the meal. The beets were julienne and tossed with dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, a little maple syrup, vinegar, and something else I cannot remember. Just a stellar combination of flavors that exploded in my mouth. I loved it and would go back for that dish alone.

Being the shopaholic that I am, I perused the mix of items for sale. Sweeney has some pretty neat stuff that he has collected from estate sales and other sources. I scored a gorgeous crystal dish on a pedestal for a mere $7.50.

Verdict: An adorable spot with some wholesome food that is well worth the trip. I hope that you guys get out there and support a restaurant with loads of heart that won't be bad for yours.

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7

40

Keith H.

Atlanta, GA

Dishing the "Dirt" on Dynamic Dish

Dynamic Dish
427 Edgewood Avenue, Downtown Atlanta  
404-688-4344    

Local, Organic Food for Your Heart!  I've heard so many wonderful things about this organic delicatessen, so you know I had to find out what's the scoop.  Being the health conscious person I am, all the reviews were impressive, especially knowing that the deli offers local, organic, healthy foods.  Be warned...the neighborhood(near Sweet Auburn & the Old 4th Ward)  is being redeveloped, so you might encounter panhandlers, so bring some extra change with you.  After reading a review in AccessAtlanta, I was really excited to try the Butternut Squash Soup with fresh ginger & the Lentil Walnut Pate', unfortunately for me, they sold out.  The menu is limited, offering soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, it changes daily, I decided to try the Veggie Quiche made with Quark(a soft, white, unaged cheese of central Europe) and  a side salad(Mesclun, with walnuts, julienne yellow beets and a light vinaigrette-like dressing), to drink, I settled for the Pomegrante Green Tea.... the food is both elegant and flavorful..a colorful and visually pleasing presentation(thank goodness, the food's not salty).  Dynamic Dish also has retro kitchenwares/collectibles and grocery items for sale.  Open 7 days a week, M-F: 11am-4pm  Weekends: 11am-5pm  very reasonable prices, $4-$12.   Do something Dynamic for your Life, Dine at Dynamic Dish.

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7

19

Erin E.

Atlanta, GA

Stopped in for lunch today and was quite impressed.  The menu consisted of a daily soup, a couple of specials (quiche and pasta) and two sandwiches, all vegetarian or vegan.  Prices were reasonable.  The food was very lovingly prepared and beautifully presented.  The lentil, coconut milk, and jalapeno soup was delicious.  The rosemary crusted tofu sandwich with pesto was fresh and satisfying.  The sandwich also contained carrots that were perfectly roasted - they still had the sweetness and crunch of a fresh carrot.  A special of the day was a carefully layered quiche featuring leeks, sweet potatoes, and cheddar cheese with a chickpea flour crust; it came with a side of braised kale with a splash of balsamic vinegar.  The owner is a really nice guy who has created a very welcoming place.  Currently he is open for lunch but will establish evening hours in the near future.  We'll definitely be back.  Soon!

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1

5

Jay G.

Atlanta, GA

Had lunch today at Dynamic Dish and had a very nice meal in a cool space. The menu changes daily and has a small set of choices based on fresh, organic and mostly local produce.  The veggie minestrone soup was slightly sweet and to my preference could have used a touch of salt/pepper, but still quite good. I really enjoyed the sandwich of rosemary roasted tofu and carrots with a fresh walnut pesto; very good!  Both the chocolate chip pumpkin bread and the lemon pound cake served warm were quite good.  Definitely planning on future visits.

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