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Cafe Gratitude
Categories: Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Live/Raw Food Restaurants Gluten-Free Vegan, Live/Raw Food, Gluten-Free [Edit]
2400 Harrison St(between 21st St & 20th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 830-3014
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
910 reviews for Cafe Gratitude
Review Highlights
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"mind you, i don't normally care for Key lime pie." In 34 reviews -
"YO SOY MUCHO - Mexican Bowl -- A delicious go-to meal." In 12 reviews -
"I think it was $9.50 for the nut milk ice cream bar." In 7 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
910 reviews in English
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Review from Cathy K.
5/21/2012 1 photo
My server asked if I wanted a Question of the Day ~ it was: What are you grateful for?
I am grateful that I finally dined at CG before this location closes on 5/25/2012 (according to GrubStreetSanFrancisco).
Upon entering, I instantly felt comfortable, welcomed with a kind smile and seated at a rustic, communal table. Their menu is broken out into: Soups & Salads, Raw Specialties, Cooked Specialties, Breakfast, Beverages (including beer & wine).
- I am Bright (kombucha from Be Love Farm)
- I am Fortified (sauteed seasonal veg with quinoa + sesame-ginger sauce - I liked the al dente crunch of the vegetables, albeit a bit too salty for my palate)
- I am Awakening (a key-lime torte, on pecan-butter crust with creamy avocado-lime custard topped with whipped cream - I enjoyed this especially)
- A bit on the pricey side, but I think of it as a health and environmental investment.
- Their Berkeley and Santa Cruz locations will remain open, as well as their affiliate, Gracias Madre in San Francisco.
* * *
With much Gratitude, thank you for nourishing our bodies and for your positive vibes. Wishing you all wellness, happiness and peace of mind ~ -
Review from RJ D.
Champaign, IL
5/7/2012
...so they had some legal troubles...
whatever.
their food rocks.
is it a little pricey? sure. but it's local and organic and hella tasty, so it's worth the splurge.
the service was friendly, but i was a little put off by all the touchy feely garbage. when you go into a cafe and order something called "i am special".... honestly, what do you expect, though? just because i'm vegan doesn't mean i want to sing kumbaya around a fire with a bunch of strangers. it also doesn't mean i want to sit with strangers either. which brings me to seating. i didn't like the long picnic style tables that had me and my party sitting with a couple out on their first date. we didn't chat or anything, but we were sitting right next to each other and could over hear every word of their painfully awkward first meeting.
the food... well, it gets five stars despite the sappy titles. i had the raw falafel, which was awesome. i also had the nacho cheese on red potato - which was fantastic. i can't remember what the name of what i had as an entree, but it was polenta and red sauce -- and it was also.... delicious. i loved this food so much i went home and ordered the cookbook online. i find the recipes aren't that hard to recreate... but i don't have anyone repeating my order to me... "you... are.... special." sigh.
i guess if i need a hug and some vegan food, i'll return. -
Review from Allison B.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2012
Came here with a friend who has been talking about this place for some time. Being a fan of vegan fare and locally grown organic produce, I thought it was about time we checked it out. Upon entering, the staff was enthusiastically singing "happy birthday" to one of the customers, which automatically put a smile on my face. There weren't any seats at the tables, so we sat at the bar.
After looking over the menu (which I guess has changed according to my friend), I decided upon the cooked "I am Fortified" with the Thai-almond sauce. My friend went with the raw "I am Terrific". My dish won. I am actually a fan of the kelp noodles that made up my friend's pad thai dish, but he was not so pleased. I felt bad that he was less than thrilled, so I suggested we split our dishes and share. I found his to be light and refreshing, a great summer weather dish. Mine was heartier and warm and definitely filling (I had the combo quinoa and rice). The sauce on mine was fab. I would 100% order it again.
I'm not overly familiar with what legal actions have been transpiring, or why some cafes have been closing. Or if this one will also share the same fate. I hope not, because I had a good experience. The servers were friendly. The food was healthy and delicious. My only regret is that I didn't have room for dessert. -
Review from michelle h.
Santa Monica, CA
5/20/2012
I grew to love this place after moving to the bay area in 2009; I was spoiled by living five blocks away from Rawvolution in Santa Monica, my first love in the raw food world. I'm really bummed Cafe Gratitude is closing in San Francisco, it's a huge loss for the vegan community here, and very unfortunate the family who runs the business has decided to make this decision, so many people in SF loves this place, it's a huge let down.
-
Review from Ed H.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2012
Amazing vegan food: everything from their drinks (try the "I Am Effervescent" if you love ginger) to the deserts (awesome milkshakes), and of course their entrees. It's sad they're closing, but at least there's still Gracias Madre. Check them out before May 25th!
-
Review from shanestar h.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2012
I can't help but think that the ongoing dilemma with whether Gratitude will close down has affected the employee morale in this restaurant, but what I wasn't expecting was MAJOR menu overhaul to the point that items that were on the Original Menu, like the Live Falafel Plate, are gone! No more live guacamole and today they were also out of the amazing cocoa-coconut balls, ALSO a staple item from their opening days.
Many of the new items are taken from Gracias Madre but I'd have preferred that they return to the old menu and bring back the various types of vegan cheeses once made here and that made you unique.
I also had the WORST coffee of my life, if you can imagine screwing that up. at a price of $4.95 extremely high even for SF, you'd think you could at least let it brew so some of the coffee flavor could be extracted.
Basically, I left feeling ungrateful, taken advantage of and out $50 for two small plates of food. AT least my friend liked her meal!
one good word, we had a really sweet waitress with adorable hair. She was pretty slow though, but we helped her by asking to place our order and again to please have the check to leave. -
Review from Javi V.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2012
I was really surprised with this place. And disappointed. I could not understand why they failed to commit to their vegan culture. I am a true vegan that tries hard to avoid all the bad things that come from eating animals or exploiting them to get their products, something that they need to live. It is sick. And they just tear everything down having HONEY. What? So bees are not animals? Do they deserve to be in a cage only to produce their food that we are going to steal from them? It is sad that this happens. When I asked the waitress she told me that "there are different levels of vegans". I don't think so! I paid and left.
Of course I am not vegan! And I am someone who thinks that people that pretend to show off their "better style of life" and their "true values", as vegans do, are annoying people. It is easy to talk.... Therefore, if people at cafe Attitude want to keep showing their true commitment, they need to get rid of honey, because I don't see the difference between honey and milk of eggs. Or just stop showing off. -
Review from Cody A.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2012
This place is OK. I gotta give em credit for all the creative drinks and food they come up with, but its definately over priced and my experience with some of the workers are horrible.
I can't take this place seriously especially when they have coconut water for $9 in a small bitchy sip cup. Soe of the other drinks are really expensive. I ordered an almond milkshake for the exact same price in a not much bigger cup.
The food is alright. had a few soups and salads.
The workers are nice i guess. Some of them would just shove their faces into my face and ask me "what are you grateful for?". I say its personal or i dont have any, and the lady says, well you can just tell me in private or before you leave.
I can't sit down and enjoy my meal without having a worker as me that.
I'm sort of glad they're being shut down, actually.
As for the coconut water-its basically the coconut shavings that are found in supermarkets, and this time its in regular water, not coconut milk, just plain water. I could do that at home and save myself some money, and not buy something that i think is worth jacking off for because it's so special. It's hard to take this place seriously. -
Review from Lily C.
Manhattan, NY
5/4/2012
Absolutely delicious and nutritious meals. It's always a pleasant dining experience. I crave their desserts and hot chocolate. My favorite dishes are the tamales, nachos, enchiladas, BLT sandwich, breakfast bagel, and caesar salad. Highly recommended for dates and a cozy, dimly lit place to unwind for dinner.
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Review from Jeannine C.
Pioneer, CA
4/9/2012
I love the SF Cafe Gratitude. First, I love ordering my meal by the names on the menu like I am Loved then getting it repeated back to me "You are Loved". How wonderful is it to have that type of positive communication especially from people ready to feed you?
So, I'd like to leave my recommendations for those that have never been to a cafe gratitude. First, the chocolate shake (which contains almond milk ice cream) and no dairy and all raw vegan ingredients is my top pick. Next, you can order a milk shake and desert and that is a better meal than most cooked healthy meals because the ingredients are nuts, seeds, fruit, raw cocoa, coconut, etc and all raw. When you are raw it is good to avoid sweets but it's not deadly like the typical American diet is.
Lastly, I can't say enough good things about CG. The environment is very friendly, very community, and social responsible.
I'm looking forward to seeing Cafe Gratitude up in Sutter Creek or the Jackson area where I live. It's hard to drive 3 hours for you guys even though it is completely worth it! -
Review from B F.
Long Beach, CA
5/18/2012
The food here is really great. As with any raw restaurant, the desserts are amazing. Also as with most veggie restaurants, you need to bare with a bit of high prices and "alternative" ambiance, but it's worth it. A real treat.
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Review from Aesara L.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2012
Great food, nice people.
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Review from Berna T.
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I know that this place has a weird cultish reputation, and yes, it makes me uncomfortable when they try to ask you the "Question of the Day", but I like their food a lot.
The Live Nachos were life changing for me...then they took them off the menu! Regardless, I bought the CG book to learn how to make more of these goodies myself (soak, puree, season). Their house-made kombucha is excellent, and if I could afford to eat here more often, I'd pretty much choose this for lunch almost every single day!
CG is supposed to be closing within the next couple of months, so I'm going to try and get my raw on until I can't anymore! -
Review from Christopher R.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I can't get enough. Such delicious food and a fun friendly atmosphere.
I am Elated is my fave dish here. Its a raw organic enchilada filled with sprouted goodness. My boyfriend had the I am Sustained last time and we've made a modified version at home several times as well.
Also, meals can run a bit pricey if you're on a budget. I usually drop about $50 each visit for 2 people, BUT this is Cafe Gratitude! If you're light on cash, get the gratitude bowl and they let you pay what you can. It's hearty, filling, and healthy!
Side note: This last visit, I tried the Ice Cream Sandwich. AWESOME. Almond cookies with a whole lotta vanilla vegan ice cream packed in between! Totally recommend! -
Review from Pimms H.
San Francisco, CA
4/19/2012
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I randomly found this place in Austin, just look at the pictures and decide for your-self if Cafe Gratitude is all that raw food can be.
Just sayin' -
Review from Lynn M.
Washington, DC
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
People who are quick to dismiss & mock the hippie stuff: why? What harm comes from taking seriously that we should love each other like brothers? And develop our planet so that it can sustain future generations? Life is more fun if you embrace the hippie inside. Likewise, Cafe Gratitude is best enjoyed with a positive spirit, although the strictly vegan (and very extensive) menu is ripe for cynicism. Yes, it's a little weird that everything on the menu is in affirmations. No, it's not normal that they give a dish to patrons who cannot afford a meal. But just because something is odd doesn't mean that it isn't right. And while everything wasn't perfect, most of it was really good. The communal tables are fun--especially since the menu is so large, it's nice to able to see what other people order, and how they enjoy it.
My two cents:
I am sassy.
(Champagne margarita with mint leaves = amazing!!!)
I am extraordinary.
(Vegan BLT with avocado and chipolte aioli, made with coconut facon!!)
I am bliss.
(vegan chocolate hazelnut mouse = a little short of bliss. I don't think that I care much for vegan chocolate. The coconut mouse was much much better, but I don't remember the name.) -
Review from Jena D.
Santa Rosa, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yummy! Sad they are leaving. Food is healthy, I always leave feeling energized.
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Review from Sarah M.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
I am grateful I never have to eat here again.
So is my colon.
Sorry, folks, but the food was mostly bland and, if not bland, the texture was uncomfortable and the flavors... not appealing.
That all being said, I really was intrigued by the place and wish I had better things to say. The woman next to us, of course, LOVED it and raved for about 5 minutes on how it changed her life and how she was so much healthier because of it (yeah, well whatever helps you sleep at night). -
Review from Chirag V.
San Francisco, CA
2/23/2012
The menu has interesting names, everyone had a laugh when I was ordering over the phone.
The pizza was surprisingly flavorful with a nice aftertaste and made me feel super healthy.
The enchilada also made me feel healthy. Both tasted very earthy and very salad like.
The negative for me was that although it was great food, I wasn't full (that just might be because I like bread/meat at each meal) I think its a great place for a nice healthy snack and if you are a vegan this is a great place to go for something different.
I would recommend this place for people who are vegan or interested to see how flavorful vegan food can be. -
Review from Carissa H.
Hayward, CA
4/5/2012
I came here this week with my boyfriend. I have been wanting to try it because I am nearly-constantly reading great reviews of it in various local newspapers and magazines.
We stopped in and were instantly greeted and told to sit wherever we like. The wooden bench seats have little pillows to prop up against the wall, or to sit on! They also lay out little cards with pictures on one side and on the other is a question, sort of a conversation starter amongst table members (some of the tables are quite large, able to seat 6 or more people, so they seat patrons next to other ones if they need to)
After browsing the menu for what seemed like forever (Overwhelming! In a good way! So many interesting options, I had a very hard time choosing just one thing to get!) I noticed an employee taking an order over the phone. I'll mention at this point that every menu item name starts with "I Am..." and is finished with an inspiring adjective... for example, by boyfriend and I both ordered the hazelnut latte, called "I Am Loved". Now the employee taking the order over the phone, she read the order back to the customer as "You Are Extraordinary", "You Are Dazzling", "You Are Warm", etc... which I think is just adorable beyond words. Forced self-appreciation is what more people need in life! So often we forget to say nice things about ourselves, and here, when you order, you are required to :) unless you're one of those sad macks who doesn't play into it and simply order the "miso soup". Bummer!
The menu consists of some soups, many different variations of rice bowls, some tacos and sandwiches, like a billion drink options (milkshakes! fair trade organic coffee! tea!) and even some raw food choices, which I am dying to try next time I go.
Anyway. I got the brown rice bowl, I'm not even sure what was in it, suffice to say it was probably the most satisfying meal I have ever had at a restaurant. It was understated, yet so flavorful. Fresh and made my tummy so happy. I know there were sprouts, kale, and cucumber in it, other than that, all I can say is it was magical. My boyfriend got the tacos and he was very happy with them. We both dissolved with happiness when we took our first bites, no joke, it was that good.
Everything here is organic and vegan. Anything that looks like it has milk in it, is actually made with nuts instead. Hazelnut and almond milk choices for the lattes! They even have a BLT that is made with coconut as bacon. Yes. I said it. Fried coconut somehow basted and flavored to work as "bacon". It's intense! They have shelves lining the walls with some of the menu ingredients for sale, as well as shirts, hoodies, books, etc. The only sad part of this place is it seems they sell out of most sizes of hoodies really quick!
I love the happiness and "gratitude" floating around this establishment, the food is divine. It's what all food should taste like! I can't wait to go back and try some more things. If you're willing to spend around 40 bucks for two people, have a cute and fun lunch with a different atmosphere than the norm, and want to leave without feeling bloated, sick, or nauseous, this is the place for you, definitely. I have nothing but great things to say about Cafe Gratitude. -
Review from Jessica K.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2012
They have great raw food and pretty much saved my life the first month I was eating raw. Prices are definitely up there, but it's worth it. The raw pizza is definitely the best as well as all of their desserts and the cool mint milkshake and the almond butter young coconut milkshake!
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Review from Dave H.
5/9/2012
I liked the atmosphere in the old rustic building, and the food was ok for raw vegan stuff I had. The chocolate items were the tastiest, such as the smoothie or vegan ice cream. The raw mains I had were so so, but it was worth the visit.
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Review from Elaine C.
Santa Rosa, CA
4/17/2012
I'm bummed that many of the Gratitude restaurants are closing! I LOVED my quinoa dish, mint chocolate shake, and garlic potatoes. Vegan, raw food aat its best! The atmosphere is creative and comfortable for close friends or a date, and everything on the menu looks delicious. This place is pretty pricey, but you get what you pay for- good portions and healthy excellent food. I did a Google search on them, and it turns out they're closing several locations because the management were unfair about distributing tips to waitstaff, and a big lawsuit erupted.
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Review from Yanny S.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012
I am happy, I am warm-hearted and I am cherished.
Oh how I rolled my eyes the first time I saw their menu. But I do get a warm feeling when I tell people what I ate: "I am happy, I am warm-hearted and I am cherished." Darn it, I think my inner hippie is peeking through (btw, I know an amazing vegan walnut rice loaf recipe if you'd like it).
Eat here with an open mind. If you go expecting to not to like it, you probably won't. If you go expecting to have your mind blown, you probably won't like it either. I won't bother describing exactly what I ate because the menu may change when you do eat here. I was somewhat frustrated that the delicious pictures and descriptions in other people's reviews were not on the menu. But this is a sign of how fresh and seasonal Cafe Gratitude is.
Eat here with an open wallet too, maybe. For dinner, my friend and I only spent $30 total which isn't bad for SF. However, we ordered what a person usually orders alone: appetizer, entree and dessert. I must also admit that nothing really jumped out to me on the menu. It's a bunch of veggies on grains which I eat a lot of at home. But sometimes, it's nice to have someone hand you a dessert and say "You are cherished." -
Review from Giovanni B.
Baldwin Park, CA
3/27/2012
I will admit: I entered this place with a certain cynicism. I have never had the impulse to pursue an alternative lifestyle and I am 100% okay being an omnivore. I have had experiences with raw and vegan foods that left me feeling extremely underwhelmed, as if the recipes were just a marked up, inferior imitation of the real thing.
Once I got the food, however, I was relieved. The flavors and textures were unique and overall my dining experience was good. Maybe not worth the exorbitant prices I paid, but I understand that a certain level of care and preparation goes into the food and yadda yadda. The deserts were especially good.
While I won't say I am a fan of this place, and I may never go back and order another too-thin slice of delicious cheesecake ($8), I recommend you go if only to people watch and enjoy a unique meal. -
Review from Russell H.
Pacifica, CA
12/22/2011
I'm grateful they've gone out of business!
Goofy place where the dishes all had these cooky affirmations as names (and the wait staff made you say them, then repeated them back to you). Like, "I'd like the My Boobs Are Precious," "...My Vulva Embraces World Peace," and "...Gaia Is Watching You, You Hedonistic Bastard." O, the times we live in! "Yes, your boobs ARE precious!"
I ate here only once (went out with a group of former co-workers, one of whom who was vegan and allergic to everything under [and including] the sun), and while the food was okay--it took two hours for them to prepare it. TWO HOURS... FOR RAW FOOD! There's no cooking involved. How could it take so long?
At one point the conversation died and we felt pressured to read the "conversation starter" cards they have on each table. Question: What objects do you currently have in your life that you truly don't appreciate, and why?" My answer: Mismatching throw pillows--they cause me nightmares.
The best thing on the menu were the desserts. They made soy and cashew surprisingly delicious.
But they're gone now. And I can say I'm truly feeling honored about that! -
Review from Andrea B.
2/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I'm slowly growing to accept that I am a food hippie. Secretly, I do care if something is local. I love sprouts and the taste of veggies in my juices and smoothies. I used to think I would rather trade my firstborn child for my dairy and gluten vices. Alas, I am happy now to live (mostly) with neither.
With that said, I can't help but to really like Cafe Gratitude. I think their mission is noble, and I feel really good when I eat their food. Actually, I think the star of this establishment is their smoothies. Holy mother of God, try "I am Cool" - their dairy-less freak of a delicious creamy decadent smoothie with raw cacao and fresh mint and voodoo. My meatasaurus fiance even admitted it was damn good. All of the smoothies are awesome. The juice combos are OK, not a Juicey Lucy creation, but classic and nourishing.
I am partial to their Latin-inspired entrees - I usually get the tacos. Their guac is yummy. I've tried 3-4 other dishes, and they are all good, though it takes time to get used to the textures. I prefer brown rice and quinoa mixed.
I have heard only great things about their desserts, but I've never tried them. I heard they make vegan wedding cakes, but I'm afraid my family would vote me out if I ever did that.
The service is sweet, and it's nice having carafes of room temp water to guzzle during your meal. I don't really mind the questions or having to order dishes as they are written- it's really not awkward, and you can be as unenthusiastic as you like. I think it's sweet that when the staff communicates with one another, they use it as opportunities to tell each other they are beautiful, empowered, kind, etc etc.
My 4 stars is due to...price. It's pretty pricey, and I usually base my stars on Quality : Price. I have lunch here when I want to treat myself and nurture my inner budding hippie. -
Review from Claire b.
Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA
2/23/2012
I, like many others, do find this restaurant kindof creepy and hippy-pretentious... The strange smiles and groomed pleasantness just don't sit right...
That being said, I'm definitely an omnivore but I do like to eat healthy every now and then, and I do like to get take out from here when I'm in the mood. Most of the dishes have a lot of the same ingredients, flavors, and textures reconstituted into different combinations... They happen to be flavors that I like though! Everything has been pretty good and does make you feel great and healthy.
I understand the priceyness as you can see the care that goes into everything they make, especially the raw stuff.
The desserts I've tried have been really excellent... Most recently the lemon poppyseed cake which is very different from a baked cake. I don't think its trying to taste like a baked cake and it doesn't need to. Fabulous! Especially the frosting, I'm wondering how they do that??
I will continue to come here every now and then when I'm in the mood for a clean healthy meal, despite the atmosphere (take out only for me). -
Review from David G.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012
It took me years to really understand, value and appreciate Cafe Gratitude for what it is. To me it is now a place to unwind, feel at ease, enjoy exceptional food, and improve my outlook on nutrition, health, and life in general.
At first the affirmations drove me a little bonkers, but i developed a sense of humor, and, yes, gratitude, when told that I'm "enlightened" or "fulfilled". Of course it's a bit sad that i'm catching on to this way of eating, or at least including this approach to eating, just as stores are closing due to legal problems.
Really encourage trying a few recipes from the Cafe Gratitude cookbook, or Piece of My Heart, A Collection of Vegan Recipes and Cooking techniques, by one of the chefs, Mielle Chenier Cowan Rose. You can can get these books at the restaurant or elsewhere.
Recently, my Sweetie made the raw carrot soup from the cookbook, and took it to a potluck hosted by a chef - the chef, not at all a raw foodist or food faddist, complimented that item, it seemed, the most of the several great dishes brought by all the guests.
Really hope that Grat transitions and in some way survives. In the meantime, highly grateful for how it's helped me savor fresh food, raw food, all food, balanced textures and tastes, amazingly fresh salads, veggies juices, and imaginative dishes, as part of my overall health awareness and restaurant going experience. -
Review from Loren C.
Roslindale, MA
5/9/2012
Ok, dislikers, you are right. If you are not psyched for a kinda aggressive hippy dippy peace, love, joy & harmony philosophy, you will be happier elsewhere. For me, love this place. Love the vibe, love the delicious fresh organic food, love being able to go somewhere as a dairy/meat/gluten-free eater and feel pampered. Don't mind paying the extra you do for the privilege. If you can't, they have a Grateful Bowl for seven bucks. I've had the raw veg sushi, I am Energized and I am Worthy juices--sushi and I am Worthy especially yummy.
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Review from Carry H.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2012
Cafe Gratitude in SF is definitely one of my go tos. The wait staff never disappoints and the food - amazing! Its true that its a bit pricey, but if you have ever tried to make raw food, you will understand that it is worth the price!
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Review from linda b.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2012
I love the food...... it's hard finding fare as conscientiously prepared as theirs!
While I'm not into the "I am grateful" culture that they promote I dont have a problem. I AM grateful that they are there... and hope they don't close! -
Review from Gabby R.
Pinole, CA
12/12/2011
I visit a restaurant for the food. I don't want to be preached at. I visited this location to appease my partner--who RAVES about the grain bowls. I'm game for trying anything once--usually so I can shut someone up about their claims.
I really wanted to be surprised about this place, but I wasn't. I felt like I had been transplanted onto Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley with the number of wanna-be enlightened patrons dining near me. I guess I find it really silly to see Caucasian kids with dreads and wearing a bunch of scarves, etc. trying to act like they are so spiritual. You and I know that mommy and daddy are footing the bill to their "enlightened lives" and that's why they can afford to dine at a place like this. But I digress...
The first thing that floored me about this place was THE PRICE! If you're not going to have any meat in your dishes, then your price should adjust accordingly. Do they go out and talk to the plants as they are growing in the field? Why on earth does a bowl of cereal and kale cost close to $12? I can get a great burger at any other restaurant in the area for that amount or less...Cereal/grain is cereal. I ended up ordering their version of a BLT. I knew it wouldn't taste like one, but I wanted to have a sandwich like item. It didn't taste anything like a BLT, but more like cheese and some other stuff in between two slices of bread. Was it good? It was merely ok. I didn't think it was worthy of purchasing another time.
Everything about this place says RIP OFF to me. They obviously have their servers brain-washed into their philosophy and their patrons seem well on their way as well. Anyone who regularly pays those kinds of prices for grains products is just stupid to me. I guess you vegan folks don't have a lot of choices. I really feel sorry for you--but that's another story. More meat and leather for me.
The server asked me if I wanted to hear the question of the day. I said NO and the look on her face was priceless. The question of the day to me is: Why would you return here? Save your money and find another place that has vegan entrees that doesn't preach to you while you're dining. -
Review from Katie R.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2012
Though I crave very "crunchy" healthy food, I was a little hesitant of this place, hearing mixed reviews. Came here on a rainy day, and immediately loved the laid-back, cozy atmosphere. Ray LaMontagne playing in the background, pretty busy but not too loud, a menu that takes care of your daily affirmations for about a year.
I had the "I am whole" bowl. It was absolutely delicious with a garlic tahini sauce. The brown rice was moist and the perfect chewy texture. The veggies were fresh and cooked perfectly. I also had cold-pressed low acid coffee, which was quite tasty and didn't need anything added. I didn't experience any of the usual side-effects, tummy discomfort, hot flashes, jitters. I would definitely go back. I want to try more of the raw foods and smoothies.
Only bummer is the prices are about $3 more per plate than I've seen at other similar spot like Plant Organic, Herbivore. -
Review from Kate S.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2012
Kool-Aid, and you know it.
What an absolute farce.
I have worked to tolerate this place for too long and tonight, I am waking up out of the manipulative stupor....for good.
I was the third person to buy their credit cards to help them grow, I ate breakfast and dinner there when I could afford over the years. I dealt with childlike servers who would forget their name if someone wouldn't call them over to do something they had forgotten to do, the ridiculous and downright offensive mark ups on food products one can purchase for less in other stores or on line, the cult trance most of the employees are under which makes simple ordering such a task, the suggestive add ons without any correlating discussion of increased cost of entree, the dirty tables, the legal issues, the slug fest between two servers on the sidewalk one day as I was walking in the door (the never allowed shadow forcing its way out through violence), the grandiose hippie dialogs that you can not help but hear when you must share your table, the tales of corruption and forced forum courses and on and on...all to eat organic food and to support any restaurant that would serve it. As a GF/dairy free person, for 21 years, such a place was in the end worth it...and bc of this I would pay for the over $100 bday cakes for myself and friends ...
Well tonight this all ended.
I came in to get food to go and after several attempts at up selling me on the phone, the server could not even stop focusing on hugging her gal pals while I stood there waiting to pay. Once she could refocus, she handed me my boxes of food, asked me if I wanted a bag (when I had five boxes-are you kidding me) and handed it to me when I replied yes. She then rang me up which was a task plagued by molasses of the brain for her and then let me know that the $7.00 kale/brown rice dish isnt coming with the black beans tonight, with a cult smile. No offer of something else, no consideration of check in with me about that, no mention of increased kale...no NOTHING.
I got home, at my partially stuffed dish-nourish...and then opened up my brown rice and kale box...for $7 -picture below- and realized ....this relationship is over. If you could see this measly helping of brown rice, an ice cream scooper, from the 1950'2 worth, and the kale, which looks like dried oregano, in a serving size akin to the amount of grass I take out from between my cleats after a game of soccer on a city field. Down right insulting and truly...bad business. Its clear, you do not care.
I join so many people who have stepped away from the kool-aid that have wondered how I have managed to continue to go there and trudge through all the BS...well, that is no more.
Joke is on you.
Im out. -
Review from Shauna B.
Burlingame, CA
3/18/2012
Great service, great food, organic, eco-friendly, sustainable, farm fresh and local...what is there not to love? I'm sad that this location will be closing its doors come May.
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Review from Lynn m.
San Francisco, CA
10/15/2011
I have really tried to like Cafe Gratitude, but their meals always leave me needing a real meal afterwards (& I've been vegetarian for 20+ years). I do like their key lime pie though.
Their suggested topic of discussion & the names of their meals "I am abundant" etc. feel condescending. They are trying way too hard. That said I know a ton of people who love it there -- i just don't know why.
The prices are also extremely expensive, especially considering I need to eat again right afterwards.
Much better is their vegan Mexican cafe, Gracias Madre -- I went in expecting typical Cafe Gratitude fare/ambiance but was more than pleasantly surprised. -
Review from Anne-Marie R.
Oakland, CA
11/19/2011
Just a tip: If you called it "salad on a cracker" I'd have not been disappointed. But when you call that "pizza," um..... disappointment ensues.
Plus the whole "I am blah blah blah" seriously made me laugh. Only in America. -
Review from Elgian H.
San Mateo, CA
12/3/2011
We just recently fell in love with this place and are deeply saddened by it's planned closures. Apparently, Gracias Madre is also going to close. :(
They aren't perfect, there's no question about that. None of us are. In truth, they are a little heavy-handed with their philosophies and idealism but I don't think they deserve to be put out of business by a few former employee lawsuits. Their beliefs are a part of what makes them great too. They may deserve to be sued and need to change some policies, to find a better balance but they're certainly worth giving another chance. Their overall contribution and vision brings so much to the table...
Having said that, I'm a huge fan of the tamales, the BLT and the sea vegetable bowl. -
Review from Cassandra E.
San Mateo, CA
1/29/2012 3 Check-ins Here
If you've read any of my other reviews at all, you would know that I am a big fan of all the Cafe Gratitude restaurants-- This particular location is certainly included. There are fantastic raw vegan dishes available, similar to the other locations. There are also delicious cooked items like their soup and tamales.. and so on. One sad thing about this particular Cafe Gratitude is--it's up for sale. As soon as there is a buyer, the countdown to shut the doors for good, will come shortly after (according to our waitress tonight). :-(
