Cafe Veg

I LOVE the food here. The plates are large and the food is beautifully presented. When you order an entree (which is usually a mock meat and a side like potatoes or rice), you also get to choose 2 sides (collard greens, mac and cheese, various steamed vegetables, fried plantain, etc).

I was very surprised at how involved and flavorful the food was. I've had various veggie meats but the curry mock duck with brown rice is my favorite. I've had most of the sides but the vegan mac and cheese and collard greens are my favorite. The okra is also pretty good. The brown rice wasn't the plain rice I was expecting the first time I came; it was a delicious rice mixture with chunks of carrots, herbs, and seasonings. I've been served plain brown rice during subsequent visits. The collard greens also were sauteed with onions, carrots, and seasonings (sometimes a bit too oily, but very good). This huge plate of food was only $8!

I also tried the "Harlem chicken nuggets", which were 4 crispy soy chicken chunks for only $2.50. They were SO good, but I was upset that they came with two plastic cups of ketchup instead of a good sauce. The waitress said they usually have a sauce but were out. They have a number of $2-3 appetizers, like spinach rolls (delicious!) and eggplant fritters.

The first couple times I went here, the service was terrible. The guy who greeted me and another lady (manager?) were very friendly, but my waitress seemed annoyed to be working. She was really slow, went around taking other people's orders before even giving me a menu, didn't bring water until my food came, and didn't bring my check (I had to go get it myself after waiting 10 minutes). My most recent two visits have included very good service, however.

We wanted to like this place, we really did.

Our next door neighbors HIGHLY recommended the joint, and even ordered the take-out for us. I really wasn't wanting fake meat or veggie burgers (just wanted VEGGIES), but it seems the veggie meat is a specialty of this place, and it's included in almost everything they sell.

We were supposed to get a veggie burger platter and a burger burger platter, but when we got home and opened up our plates, they were both regular veggie burgers.

I was unpleasantly surprised to find ketchup already on the burger (ew), and the whole burger just didn't smell very appetizing to me. The fries were decent, but completely unseasoned (salt and hot sauce from my kitchen fixed that). The burger was bland, rubbery, and generally unimpressive (and I've had AWEsome veggie burgers before, so please don't think it's 'cause I'm a meat-eater)

Most unfortunately, we got food poisoning.
The other food we ate that day (not much) and the timing make us about 99% sure it was from the Cafe Veg. food.
After travelling around the world, eating all kinds of strange meats and fruits and things, drinking some potentially questionable water and never getting sick... it's the veggie burger in Harlem that does it. *facepalm*

This past week, I was in from Chicago and staying at the Harlem YMCA. Was I stoked to find this place just around the corner! Large menu with lots of non-meat "meat" items, from chicken nuggets/strips to turkey to fish to veggie burgers and other assorted tofu concoctions. And it's not just sandwiches and wraps (which they do have); they do entrees ranging from baked yams and potatoes with soy chicken to BBQ chicken/beef with mashed potatoes to pasta and cold salads. Like some other places around, they also do freshly-made juices and smoothies.

I was only in for a couple days, and of those only was able to stop in once. I got the veggie chicken wrap for carry-out. So good. I plowed through that thing by the time I was down to 127th. Warm, fresh, full of big chunks of chicken, lots of tomatoes and lettuce, and their "goddess dressing," which is a nice smooth tanini/garlic/lemon-ish blend that really brought the whole thing together. And the wrap was an amazingly soft and warm corn tortilla. Mmm. (Not being vegan, I did get it with cheese... although I'm not sure if it was dairy or not. Didn't think to ask.)

Clean little dining area; just a couple rows of tables stretching back. Brick walls, glass front, simple lights. Looks like it would be a nice place to sit down and eat.

My only complaint: I was getting up and around for my day and was thinking their tofu scramble for breakfast. Said they opened at 8, but calling at 8.30, I got no answer...

As a wise monkey once said... yum yum yum yum yum delicioso! (for all my dora the explorer fans out there)

I live in the neighborhood, but am leaving Harlem soon, and Cafe Veg will be sorely missed. The deliciously scrumptious spinach rolls, the fresh and inventive smoothies and juices, and the eccentric staff make this small restaurant more than a memorable experience. As far as Harlem is concerned, this spot may be one of the best kept vegetarian secrets.

Now open, this sister restaurant to the Uptown Juice Bar is located near 135th and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. It has quickly become a favorite of the Meet Up Vegetarian group and is gaining popularity with local vegetarians for their meatless options like vegetarian ribs and other soy alternatives.

I went in on a rainy Saturday afternoon with a friend. I had to wait a bit for my friend, but the waitress and other staff were quite nice and let me sit. She even chatted a bit with me. They have a large flat screen tv, which is a bit wierd. But it wasn't even playing the Mets game. And they said they couldn't change it until the manager got there.

It was my friend's second time there, and she was quite pleased. Their sides are the most yummy looking things on the menu. Each meal comes with 3 included sides. I'm not a fan of fake meat, so I was pleased that they had some other things on the menu. I don't even remember what I ordered, but the collard greans and chick peas were yummy sides. The mac-n-cheese wasn't that great though.

The waitress has a good mind for names and faces though, because she recognized my friend from the last time she was in there. She also randomly recognized me on the street today, from her car! I think she should get extra stars because of that!

Vegan friendly!

Pros: The food quality is the best in the neighborhood, period.
Quiet.
Fresh Juice Bar
Reasonably Priced

Cons:
The Waiter that talks too much and believes he is more intelligent than anyone. He has long hair and very light skinned and skinny. By the way if he's on staff and a single woman is there too, do not expect any service.
One weekend he turned me and 2 of my guests away at 8:30pm on a Saturday because he said they were short staffed. Meanwhile there were 2 small parties dining inside. We asked him if it was his policy to turn away patrons. He responded by explaining to me how hard it would be to let people that travelled 10 miles to eat there. He offered us a "take out " option that we rejected. I have similar stories about him from my friends but none were turned away. I do have friends that wont eat there if he's there. I hate to see people out of work, but I much rather that than see a great restaurant out of business.

Closes early 9:30 on weekdays, and 10pm on the weekend.

I was a vegetarian for years and still love veggie foods, so I was thrilled to find this, in Harlem of all places (and here I thought our only options were uber greasy soul food or oily Chinese!). Even my meaty significant other will get cravings for this place. I love the texture of the "duck."

I subtract one star because it seems to be a bit inconsistent. One day I love the eggplant, the next time its too soggy, the next time it's wonderful again. And that applies to other things as well. But there is always enough on my plate that is just right that I keep coming back despite the inconsistencies. We tried the garlic potatoes only once and they were so salty as to be almost inedible (and I'm not someone who shies away from salt). I'm willing to give them another go, only because it won't likely be that way next time.

Speaking of next time, when we tried to go there last night they were closed, with a sign taped to the door saying they would reopen "when?" What does that mean? Does anyone know what's going on? We went to their Uptown Juice Bar next, and they were also closed. We didn't get out of the car to inspect the signs on the grating.

Excellent smoothies. Excellent menu. Excellent atmosphere.

The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I'm reserving that for something truly mind-blowing. Don't let that fool you, this place is wonderful.

Love this place! The food is good and I like the juice bar because there are so many things that you can try.

The dessert is really good! I've had the carrot cake myself.

I have also taken carnivore friends here and they enjoy the food as well even the mock meat selections (so that's saying a lot).

Anytime I am in Harlem and near this area I try really really hard to stop by :)