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Category: Vegetarian [Edit]
Neighborhood: Flatiron23rd St-Broadway (R, W)
23rd St-Park Ave S (6)
23rd St-6th Ave (F, V)
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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To counter all the unhealthy junk I've been eating lately, I decided last week, to pass up the chance to dine at a Turkish restaurant and instead have a clean and fresh vegetarian meal at Bonobos.
A friend and I were both very excited over our delicious "nori veggie rolls".. there's a wide selection of pates which is used as the base spread in the roll. I went with the almond pate, and with that, a mixture of five different vegetables / nuts and an organic, house-made dressing. My nori wrap of zucchini, beets, carrot, sunflower seeds, tomato was marvelous. I loved the array of colors this medley of fresh vegetable created and the soft and crunchy textures was pleasantly noticeable. This was no puny roll, you'd be amazed at how satisfying a handful of raw veggies, rolled and tucked into a nori wrap can satiate a hungry belly.
As much as I enjoyed my first-time experience at Bonobo's something didn't sit right with me. I'm not sure if was the bland truffle ball that was our dessert, or the weird location of the bathroom (room within a room where within that room, a book release was taking place the night we were there and so having random people barge in to bee-line their way to the restroom at the opposite corner, must've been really annoying for them and immensely awkward for the one needing the john --- i.e. me!), or perhaps it was the vibe I got off the seemingly unenthusiastic server behind the food counter that rubbed me the wrong way.
In any case, if I had to describe my overall opinion of Bonobo's in one word, it'd be "lukewarm". The nori wrap and the coconut chai smoothie are both great and all, but I'm unconvinced that I need to go back and have another fix. Sadly, it didn't stir me enough.
Years ago, I went to a raw vegan restaurant. I picked some tofu things, some other rather unidentifiable things and sat down and chowed down - and my taste buds cried with sadness. I looked around suspiciously and thought "Wait, people PAY to eat here?!"
When I decided to give it a good old fashioned try again, I chose Bonobo's - and I am SO glad I did!
Bonobo's has a *huge* space. The front could seat about twenty people, but there's this huge seating area in the back that was so large I thought it was a Yoga studio or something. It looks like it is reserved mostly for parties since all the tables and chairs there were pushed to the side.
The staff is super friendly and patient. They're wiling to explain each item to you and they freely give free samples of everything, so don't be shy - try before you buy!
I had a salad of fresh greens with my choice of five additional veggies. I chose tomato, cucumber, zucchini, olives and beets. Choosing the ginger dressing was a no brainer. It's not something all restaurants carry so I try it whenever I can. It was delicious. Tangy, but not heavy and the veggies were all crunchy and fresh. On top of the salad I had a nut patty, which is basically a raw veggie "burger" with their in-house ketchup. It definitely had a nutty flavor, and the ketchup had a light, sweet, tomato flavor that I enjoyed a lot.!
As a 'dessert' I snagged one of the seed/nut crisps with a tasty pesto pate. The crisp lives up to its name. It was crunchy and tasty like a cracker and the pate was creamy and delicious!
As a word of warning, Bonobo's doesn't carry conventional drinks. They have their own line of water and drinks. I had the mineral water which was okay, but it had a "heavy" taste to it I guess I'm just not used to.
I was so stuffed from my visit I didn't get a chance to try dessert, so next time I'm going to try their puddings for sure. I can't wait to go back!
Yes, I'm a vegetarian to the grave.
But the raw food thing? Not so much.
Props to Bonobo's for changing that...
Where do I start?
**A TON of options from the both the salad bar and meal menu.
**Free samples. Can't beat that. Soups and salad blends are absolutely divine so be ready to make some choices!
**To-go drink blends are meals in themselves. So delish. So fulfilling. Go for the coconut-chai !
**Staff is so friendly and helpful, just feels like home.
Who knew that raw food could be so delightful?!
Way to win me over.
The only thing I didn't like about this place was the decor.
That being said the food was good. I had the nori rolls with salad, a sesame ball and a divine shake made of coconut milk, chai and agave nectar. I have to say that was the best part of the whole meal. I can't wait to try the rest of their food.
Went there tonight to catch up with a friend. He wasn't jazzed enough to order anything, but I did -- got the patty platter. Basically, it's a salad with five veggies on it, a nutmeg patty, and because I asked for it, some flatbread, which is really made of nuts and seeds.
Not bad, but not the best. Tasty, but basically a $10 salad. Again, it wasn't bad, but unless you live or work in the neighborhood, I don't see much reason to seek this place out.
First of all, did you know that Bonobos are (along with the common chimp) the closest relatives to human, and known for their kinky practices, and for resolving conflicts through sex, rather than violence? They also consume a primarily vegan diet. Correlation....hmmm?
Anyway, it's easy to connect to your inner ape here, as free samples of the nutmeat salads (and really anything) are not only offered but encouraged. The produce was fresh and the dressing I chose for my salad, garlic/ginger, hit the spot. My sister had a creamy mushroom pepper soup that went down like buttah. Also enjoyed the cold coconut water (the most refreshing drink evahh.) This is the type of place that makes eating healthy convenient and relatively cheap. New Yorkers, you are spoiled in having many places like this. I wish there were one of these in Chicago...
Bonobo's was a fantastic surprise. I was leaving a meeting and happened to see a big sign on some construction scaffolding that said vegetarian restaurant. Always being up for new things, in I went.
There was a lot on the menu and I was overwhelmed so I defaulted to the picture of the nutmeat salad. Good choice! They do let you sample, but I preferred the surprise and it was wonderful.
They make their own drinks, there aren't any mainstream offerings, and their drinks are totally overpriced. I had a Ginger drink that cost $3.95. That's just too much. I was surprised at the cost of the salad as well, $8.95. In the end the salad and the drink came to a bit more than expected, but it was a good deal of food. I sat there and ate it over the course of an hour.
I will definitely be eating here again.
I recently discovered this place and I LOVE it! I go there as often as I can. I usually get their salads (make your own) which are truly delicious along with fresh ingredients like shredded beets, zucchini and the usual salad offerings. They have delicious variety of "nutmeat pastes" and dressings which truly make the veggies pop.
I suggest you try the -
Mediterranean & sunflower curry paste
Open faced Veggie Pattie on Flax-seed Bread (more like a big cracker) w/ sauce & sprouts
Dressings- Diablo (spicy) Garlic-Ginger
Seaweed salad w/Tahini dressing
Their "Norri veggie rolls" also look delicious which I have yet to try but I will soon!
What makes this place special is that its truly Vegan and everything tastes great. They let you sample just about anything so that you're satisfied with whatever you order. I love that everything here is delicious and healthy which makes me feel great!
I usually visit Quintessence when I'm in New York for raw food but today I decided to try Bonobo's. It was great. A different experience than Quintessence. Enjoyed the Nori Roll and the El Tropical smoothie (YUM!)
Fairly inexpensive in relation to other raw restaurants. Will go back again.
The glorified salad bar that is Bonobo has commandeered the ice cream parlor's free samples policy and eagerly offer teeny tiny spoons of their tasty concoctions... so if you don't like what you've ordered its your own fault. This place is so NOT for the faint of stomach, but if your are adventurous, the following items are pretty tasty:
- Nutmeat Nappa Sandwich with Sunflower Dill Pate
- Sweet Bell Pepper Coconut Soup
- Moroccan Cauliflower Salad
- Herb Garlic Ginger Dressing (beware - the pungency will clear the room)
As a friend of mine said after we'd bought our lunch here, health food restaurants tend to have a sort of "religious" vibe about them, and here -- as in most such places -- the employees seem to have "drunk the Kool-Aid."
It's a little hard to figure out how to order in this place. Doesn't seem like you can just get a pint of this salad, a half pint of that salad, etc., but once you do figure it out, I think the food is tasty, although a bit expensive -- Salad $10.00.
I had a curry nutmeat salad (wish I knew what "nutmeat" is) on a bed of greens with garlic/ ginger dressing and it was very tasty, filling and -- as far as I could tell -- good for me.
An optional little extra item you can purchase to go with your salad are these big, square flaxseed crackers. They might at first seem a little too wholesome but they actually taste pretty good.
We got our food to go and walked across the street to Madison Square Park...where we felt righteous sitting among all the people eating at Shake Shack.
Now if only I could have gotten a milk shake and fries with my curry nutmeat salad.
As close to fast food raw food that I can find in the city (Free Foods is good too but they're not all raw). They let you sample everything on the salad bar before you throw down $15 for lunch. My fave is the nori roll with macadamia nut pate and sweet basil dressing on mixed greens. Everything else looks great on the menu and I always try something new when I'm there but at the end of the day, I always refer back to the nori roll.
I wish this place stayed open later (they usually close at 8PM). And it's kinda hard to find because it's been under scaffolding for months now.
Coconut Chai and Durian Lover are very awesome. But I love smoothies, esp. coconut ones. So maybe I would love all their drinks.
I agree with most reviewers that the ordering options are confusing. I still haven't figured it out. So I go with my default choice, the 11.99$ platter, where they fill up a whole plate of whatever you want. Def. enough food, so I get the smoothie to go.
The food tastes fine, some things are better than others. This is really more of a purist raw food spot. Very light on the nuts and fat, which is refreshing compared to every other raw food restaurant. My fav. is the asian slaw, very very good. The other stuff is just filler, honestly.
But if you go, try anything durian. You may love it or you may hate it. But it is an experience not many raw food restaurants can give you. (I love durian)
I love this place. You can sample anything before you buy it and I never felt pressured to buy anything I didn't like. Every time I've gone I've tried something different and have been happy with my order. It's surprising how raw food can fill you up. The coconut chai is delish.
Try the coconut chai agave drink
I don't think I've ever felt so healthy after having a meal than I did after finishing the lovely lunch I had at Bonobo's.
So very fresh. So very raw. So very good. And all for an affordable price.
I fell in love with the coconut chai. I wish I could have bought a gallon to bring back home with me to California.
Gotta love somewhere that offers Durian!
But I agree--I wish they allowed a little more creative license on the part of their patrons. If you set things up in a salad bar style, you should offer them for purchase that way!
At first sight, this place appears to be chock full of vegan and raw culinary wonders, with a sweet and helpful staff more than happy to offer samples of the extremely pricey food.
Tempted by the "salad bar" filled with nut pates and the like, I asked for a taste of the curried cauliflower, which because it was cold was very unappetizing and almost watery what with all of that dressing. No matter, I decided to go for their pre-packaged norimaki, which was a punch in the face when I realized it was $8.95. About eight pieces are given with a salad and choice of dressing (I chose agave mustard), and while this sounded like a good deal, the eventual tastes and textures I encountered were close to being unappetizing.
Filled with macadamia pate in place of sticky rice, and an array of chopped cucumber, sprouts, tomato and carrots for fish/egg/surimi, I was sad to discover that the normaki was incredibly mushy and too dense due to the presence of the nut pate. The taste too was rather plain, and though I finished it all to get my money's worth, I was turned off in the end.
I have to get it into my head that unless the food is a part of my everyday lifestyle, I probably won't be too crazy about it. A non-vegan, and anything but a raw foodist, I need a lot of time to get used to this cuisine, and at the moment just can't catch on.
Vegan food offered deli salad bar style. You point to the items you want and staff behind the counter sets you up with a nicely boxed or plated arrangement. Everyone's incredibly nice and patient here. You don't really know what each of these mashed up things tastes like or how the kale is prepared (other than that you know kale is gonna wipe your system out CLEEAAAN -- i mean why else eat that near indigestible stuff?) but the patient staff helps you navigate your best options.
Clean, somewhat sterile feeling environment. Plenty of seating.
Exotic freshly bottled juices ready-to-go from the cooler -- but pricey ($5). I recommend the young coconut water (this version is tasty as opposed to most canned brands)...They also have chai coconut and lychee and other such tempting flavors.
and whatever you do, DO NOT DRINK THE DURIAN JUICE.
One sip and you will be burping up the most vile, toxic, rotting-flesh-in-liquid-form smell and taste for 24 hrs. The gift that keeps on giving. I thought I could hang but no.
Queen: "Girl, here. No, get the chai coconut. What this durian crizap?"
Me: "No, no, is fine, durian is from my peoples. Smells kinda bad but it's tasty!" (seems i'm just a poser. i promise to return my card).
Me: Choking back the bile. "Oh my god. TASTE this. No, seriously, TASTE IT. Look, I'll give you this $40 right here. Just TASTE. Don't gimme that shit, your gay ass has tasted a lot of worse stuff. Come on! No, really. Just TASTE it. One sip." Meanwhile we're already in hysterics cuz im just about green in the face. The smell alone will vaporize kryptonite.
Truly traumatizing.
Eyes watering, gagging cuz you can't breathe from laughing and crying all at once, the whole thing. You know. One of THOSE moments. Totally priceless. Sure way to bond. But your friend will never trust you again.
OMG I love Bonobos!
Ok, so its a juice and salad bar but their food is FRESH and mostly ORGANIC (beats the crap out of processed fast food any day of the week).
I'm also stoked that when you eat in you get a bowl and real cutlery! No plastic one use chuck away container and plastic fork... REAL cutlery. Why New York, is that such a rarity?!!!
I only tried the durian pudding here.. so all my stars go to that. If you have no idea wtf a durian is, I'd suggest you not find out. Because... it is a highly pungent fruit that makes most people feel like barfing... Unless you're super adventurous and dare to taste something that will more likely than not leave you cringing involuntarily.. don't be a thrill seeker.
But that said, if you grew up with and love durian.. this scoop of pure pureed durian is a delicious treat. You can get your durian fix without having to trek down to Chinatown, or the need to cut it up and eat the flesh off the seed (and get your hands all gooey). Cup and spoon, like an ice cream! Be warned though, your burps will stink for the next 3 hours... I kid you not.
Ginger drink with lime-- fantastic. I wish I bought a whole box of these babies.
Patties made with nuts-- Not tasty at all even with the ketchupy sauce! Couldn't finish my serving. What my dad would call an "acquired taste" dish, related to cardboard whole wheat cookies.
Oh, how I love raw food.
I love raw kale, I love raw almonds ground up with carrots and god knows what else. I love raw young coconut milk chai. it makes me so happy.
It looks like a cafeteria, real simple, white tile, clean, almost boring.
They will let you taste just about anything, and the fruit salad is to die for.
If you like raw, I'm sure you'll like it. I don't. I was excited about the durian ice 'cream' but it was a little sharp, even for durian. You can eat in the park though, so that's nice.
Not bad for raw! The most tasty raw food I've had except for Pure. I had the curry nutmeat salad and it actually was very satisfying and somewhat yummy. I appreciated that they let you sample everything first. I felt like I was at 31 flavors. I think this is the type of place that might just seem OK at first but might really grow on you... unfortunately I was just a visiting.
An interesting selection of drink choices. I like the coconut chai, which is on the strong side in a good way. I've tried many of the salads and have liked the nut paté. Ample seating in the back and space to get some work done.
Perfect for a quick meal and easy to make salads! I enjoy just making my own salad or the delicious nori rolls and occasionally will get the coconut chai. The coconut chai is delicious but it is quite filling. This is one of the few places, if not the only place I can go to get durian ice cream.
I'm a regular here now. I think. I love to get the salads here with nutmeat-- macadamia and sesame are my faves. and can I just say how amazing the coconut water here is? It's actually from fresh coconuts---similar to ones you find on the streets in Chinatown, but I don't have time to go down there and haul back a whole case of coconuts and learn how to crack those things open myself, so for the time being I'll just come here and get nice refreshing coconut water. Forget Vita Coco or that other paper-packaged coconut water drink. This place has the best one hands down -- so deliciously good i haven't had time to try the other drinks here.
I come here for lunch sometimes. The rolls are pretty good with the fake pates. I also tried a… Read more »
We had a really great lunch here, and even my carnivore friends are still speaking to me after I took them! I enjoyed being able to pick all the ingredients of my lunch. Their dressings and pates are GREAT. They all taste very different and were not overpowering the veggies that we ate. Staff was attentive and kind. It was quite yummy and I will go back next time i am in town.
Bonobos is a nice place for fresh food and lots of coconut options! They are pretty much a raw restaurant with one slightly warmed soup and the food is quite good a little pricey but raw food usually is and its worth it. Its refreshing food and nice for lunch.
I visited this place for the first time recently, and wished I hadn't waited so long. Although I am not a raw foodist myself, I stick to a vegan-leaning diet and so raw food offers quite a lot of overlap. The food was fresh and delicious, the staff was friendly and efficient, and since I am personally such a fan of a "sampler plate" system where you are allowed to pick a little of this and a little of that, I was very satisfied. I also appreciated that you have the option of the nuttier dishes, but not evertything is loaded with nuts, which has sometimes been an issue for me in the past with raw food (the heavy feeling afterwards due to the richness from all the nuts). The only downside I see is that it is a bit pricey, (the sampler plate was $11 or $12 for lunch), however it was a huge plate of food that made for a large, satisfying lunch. There was an impressive array of vegetable dishes in beautiful colors, interesting sauces and preparations. I would definitely go back, but on occassions where I don't mind spending a little more for lunch :)
This place is so awesome. It's got all these different options & so damn healthy. The menu is kinda confusing but it's nice to have a variety of options. Their beverages are caffeine free & delicious. I wish I lived in NY to go there more often. You can taste just about anything they have which I think is very onviting to help make your choice.
Good basics for raw foodies - I enjoy the fresh coconut water or ginger aid and the green smoothie, also the dressings on the raw salads are great (tahini and garlic ones are my favorites) as are the nut pates (walnut is the best). I'm psyched as I work around the corner from here and I always can find a healthy, filling lunch here. The varied salads are also a good way to mix it up a bit from the regular green salad. I don't love the durian ice cream (and I love most all things raw) but the chai coconut milk is a desert onto itself. Oh, and fresh coconut "leather" makes for a great snack!
I was predisposed to love this place (a restaurant named after bonobos!) and it lived up to my hopes. It ain't cheap, but it's a good value for delicious raw organic food in a great location (big, beautiful park across the street) with free wifi and a spacious, mellow seating area. The fresh young coconut water is a real treat.
Love veggie food, but walked in--walked out. Perhaps it was too busy, or just not my day. Not impressed.
I love it here b/c it's pretty cheap, and it's cafeteria style so you can get a quick bite to eat. It's really tough to find a raw restaurant that isn't sit down or only take-out. The staff is really nice and patient (while you are sampling all of their nut spreads and salads), although one staff member was clueless and had no idea what any of the things were (not helpful). You can get salads, wraps, etc - a great way to introduce friends to raw foods. It's very casual - pretty large and easy to go with a group. I went for lunch, and had a delicious red bell pepper and coconut soup, and a sprouted salad. Their dressings and sauces are really delicious and truly raw. Spoke to the owner who is pretty cool - he is committed to the raw lifestyle and has invested a lot in making sure that all of the things on the menu are appealing to all foodies - raw and non-raw. Try their coconut chai drink - very thick and yummy and filling! I love this place - the only problem is that I'm rarely around the mid-20's...
This is a really interesting place. Totally Vegan and raw, with lots of flavors, and a lot of it is quite tasty. To be honest, the water was foul; they sell this really expensive "mineral" water that tastes like tears. Call me weird, but I don't actually like drinking tears. The coconut water was good though (At least my companion thought so, I'm allergic). I was totally prepared to give it 3 or even 4 stars... but I spotted a small uninvited visitor with a tail as we were leaving. This was many months ago (early march) so hopefully that problem has been solved.
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Live/Raw Food
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Juice Bars & Smoothies
Neighborhood: Harlem
Category: Vegetarian
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: Live/Raw Food
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Vegetarian
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