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Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Pacific PalisadesMon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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My favorite local restaurant. I usually make a trip to Vida within 2 days of coming home. It can get really crowded inside so sometimes a later weekday lunch or breakfast is key to avoiding the screaming kids or hordes of gossiping housewives.
If anyone ever asks you what California cuisine is, take them here. Everything here is delicious and believe me, I've tried everything on the menu. My all time favorite items are the breakfast quesadilla, the tuna salad, and tuna melt. And of course the sweet potato fries. Please please do yourself a favor and get the green lemonade it sounds weird (lemonade with spinach) but its actually amazing.
Stopped in here for a late lunch after hiking nearby Temescal Canyon.
Got a nice seat outside and enjoyed the beautiful November weather.
I had a breakfast wrap (score to a place that serves breakfast all day) and my friend had the grilled veggie quesadilla. Both delicious! The sweet potato fries were a-ok and the fruit was plentiful and fresh.
The menu items aren't that exceptional, but the quality is great!
Always serving up fresh, delicious and healthy food, Cafe Vida is such a welcome part of the Palisades restaurant list. Their salads never disappoint, and to me the best comfort food they offer is the brown rice, chicken and vegetables...Try it you won't be disappointed!!
I happen to like that it is usually busy, it makes it more fun for people watching, and a good sign that the food is going to be fresh. They serve up some pretty tasty breakfasts as well. I go as often as possible to Cafe Vida!
What I really like is that the menu is filled with a lot of healthy, organic options. While the dishes themselves are nothing out of the ordinary, the quality of the ingredients makes them really stand out.
Service is good, the staff is very consistent and able to work well even when the place is real busy. Likewise, the quality of the food is consistent as well. Consistence is the main thing I look for in a restaurant, so that's definitely a plus.
Considering what you get, the prices are reasonable.
The egg dishes are really good, since they use cage free organic eggs. The only thing I really suggest you skip are the Mexican selections, they're far from authentic and you can get much better Mexican food in LA.
I highly recommend anyone who goes there tries...
$11.25- The sauteed shiitake mushroom, onion, green pepper omelet with mozzarella and feta and a tomatillo sauce. Get the hash browns and organic greens with it. Also order a side of the chicken-cilantro sausage($3.50) if you want some meat with it, it goes great with it.
$10.50- The roasted turkey sandwich with avocado, organic greens, tomatoes, red onion and jack cheese. organic greens, garden tomatoes, sliced red onion, jack cheese . Its better without the sauce. I recommend the side caesar salad or the fries.
$10.25- The organic turkey burger. The basil mayo and Dijon mustard give it a nice twist, as well as the fact that the patty is flavored with a hint of rosemary. Again, go with the fries as a side dish.
This 4.5star is a great spot for breakfast! Their organic foods and incredible orange juice are a great way to start the morning. Unfortunately, lots of people know this is a great spot which leaves 2 viable options: Early breakfast or late breakfast.
If you want a large breakfast, Cafe Vida makes a combination eggs and sausage plate with very fresh eggs and an organic chicken sausage which is "best in class". In fact, the sausage and orange juice are so good, they make my mouth water just thinking about this.
The place is really crowded but I keep going back!
We went here for an afternoon weekday lunch. Not too crowded. We sat outside. I guess we went at the best time according to comments by the other reviewers.
I had the roasted turkey & avocado sandwich. My husband had the grilled chicken burrito and of course he gave me a bite of it. It was delicious! I will order that when I go again, tangy but with a deep flavor because of the red enchilada sauce ( which was more like a mole sauce) Really good.
All the ingredients were fresh. We had the sweet potato fries which were recommended and didn't disappoint.
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My experience with the food he is that it is good. The service is passable but not great.
Cafe Vida specializes in organic fare with some Mexican flare thrown in on some dishes. Recently, I went and got the Rosemary Turkey burger. It was good but I couldn't really taste the rosemary which was allegedly cooked in. I also got the watermelon lemonade which was good though a little pulpy. My husband got the turkey wrap which he liked a lot, so perhaps I just ordered badly.
The waitstaff was a little slow and preoccupied. We had been waiting a while for our food and someone asked if we would like some chips and salsa which we did since we were hungry. However, by the time we got chips and salsa, our actual food had come out. And when they brought the check, we tried to hand the waiter our credit card but he had already become distracted by friends coming in and walked away even though my husband was trying to hand him our card so we could pay.
Another downside is the inside portion is very small and the sound travels so it can be very loud.
I would go here again, but probably try to go when it was less busy, like a weekday.
Homemade granola. If it's on the menu there's a very good chance I'm gonna order it. So I was very pleased to see homemade granola on Cafe Vida's menu. My homemade granola was delish, came with a nice organic plain yogurt, and very fresh tasting fruit. Why can't I get fruit like this in Chicago??
While we were lucky enough to score a table for 3 right away the service was a tad bit on the slow side. This wouldn't have been a huge deal, but we were in a rush to get ready for a bridal shower where we'd be soon eating again. I let the slowness slide though...afterall, they have good homemade granola.
The food is pretty good but not great, which actually puts it on the high end for the Palisades which has some of the blandest restaurants in Los Angeles. I would probably have given it 4 stars if it weren't for the downbeat service. I don't know whether the waitstaff is chronically depressed or if there is some emotional drama going in the kitchen but it always brings me down. Perhaps they should steal some of the servers from Mayberry (who are always friendly and helpful) or put their staff on Prozac. Narcissism thy name is Cafe Vida.
Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT try and come here on the weekends. All the creepy locals are out in their designer labels and their terribly behaved bratty children. Your meal will be spoiled by your constant need to want to smack them.(Both adults and children alike) Sure, you'll leave with a belly full of good food, but you'll be hating on these children and their obnoxious and demanding parents so much so, you won't consider having your own children for weeks thereafter. I haven't been this annoyed by lines, bad service, children, babies, and dogs for ever since I can remember. And I grew up here.
Something has gone horribly wrong in Pacific Palisades--and it's something straight out of a horror movie where the monsters who have had too much plastic surgery all congregate on weekends at Cafe Vida. My father commented on how everyone here looked like Paul Mcartney.
This place is balls to the walls GOOD! Healthy, tasty, outdoor seating options. It's what all of… Read more »
Changing my rating, food has gone downhill a bit. Also, avoid going around 5 to 6:30 or so... Cafe Vida becomes a nursery! Loud, screaming kids running around with apathetic parents.
Everything looked really good. I really liked how health conscious the menu was. I had a grilled chicken burrito that was wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla, had low fat cheese and brown rice. There have been some other healthy ingredients but I cant remember them. Anyway, I think you can be confident that whatever you order here should be pretty tasty.
They also have this green smoothie that looks vicious. I didn't have one but I saw another patron drinking one. I believe that the ingredients include things like wheat grass, spinach and kale? Anyway I'm not about to rush over for one but I'm curious to know how good it really is.
the acai smoothy keeps me coming back to Cafe Vida. I also enjoy the healthy hamburger with their special sauce and a nice array of vegetables. I've always been a fan of fresh food and Vida serves it, although the service can be a bit slow and it's on the pricey side.
Ritz Rating:
6.5/10
A favorite for weekend breakfast and lunch. Well worth the wait and perfect to sit outside on a sunny day. The balance bowls are the best thing going and the fresh juices and organic coffees are essential.
A little know fact; they also run the food bar at Spectrum Club on the corner of Sunset and PCH.
The tuna melt (in a wrap!) and sweet potato fries I got were excellent and the prices were decent but my only complaint really was with the service. A BIG complaint. They were so slow and indifferent. Definitely not the place to go if you only have an hour for lunch.
First we signed the clipboard to get a seat but then when we saw a couple of unoccupied seats and no one getting seated we asked the server how long the wait was. Turns out that no one had been minding the clipboard. When they realized their error they started seating people.
The wait staff was slow to react and very, I'll say it again, indifferent. Like we were just numbers. I felt like I was at the DMV.
On another note, did see Speidi (Spencer and Heidi of The Hills there). Meh.
This place is just okay. The food is alright. The service is pretty good. It's always crowded on the weekend. The place is just decent. It does have very healthy food though.
We had read about this cafe in the New York Times a while back. Yesterday we decided to go there for lunch before going to the Getty Villa.
It was totally worth it!
We were there while breakfast and lunch were being served. There were many things on both menus that I wanted. I had the blueberry cornmeal pancakes and my husband had the Brazilian grilled chicken salad. Everything was super tasty! Healthy and fresh! I would make the trip back for sure. There are many cute stores surrounding the cafe, you could make an afternoon of it.
Cafe Vida is very reliable and always delivers fresh food at reasonable prices.
The tuna melt and the chipotle chicken quesadilla are my two favorite items, always make sure to order the sweet potato fries.
Only reasons I didn't give it 5 stars are: attracts a lot of teenagers (probably the low pricing) and they don't offer Sweet-n-low for the ice tea.
organic, delicious, amazing and tasty!!
i love this place.
My favorite thing about going to the Palisades is being able to go to Cafe Vida. I love their mix of healthy yet flavorful food in a friendly, warm atmosphere. It's just perfection. The service is really great, with nice, attentive waiters who are committed to making your Vida experience worthwhile. My favorite thing to get here is the Balance Breakfast Bowl with Tofu. It's absolutely delicious, as is everything at Vida. I highly recommend Cafe Vida, and it's enjoyable for all palettes.
After a nice hike in Temescal Canyon, Cafe Vida was a great lunch choice. We were seated quickly and our food was served quickly too. I had the roasted turkey and avocado sandwich and my boyfriend had the chicken burrito. Both were really good. I like that everything on the menu is a healthy option without compromising flavor. I saw some pancakes go by topped with blueberries and strawberries that looked delicious. I do think that their dishes are just a little overpriced, maybe a buck or 2 higher than they should be, but oh well. I would definitely come back.
The spot for breakfast for sure, but the place isn't a secret so it gets real crowded. In spite of the size, tables move though. pretty good variety and they've got good specials generally. Eggs rancheros are surprisingly flavorful. The mixed juice drinks are also worth it.
Cafe Vida is a great place for breakfast and lunch. On the weekends it gets really crowded so you might have to wait a bit. The food is consistently delicious here and I love the jalapeno chicken sandwich with their sweet potato fries. I get cravings for this sandwich! They also make a good veggie burger and the breakfast sandwich is tasty. The food is kinda pricy but very satisfying.
A friend took me here and we had the warm steak salad, organic herb salad, and sweet potato fries. The best part was the peach iced tea. Literally amazing!
Oh and if you love reality tv..."Speidi" was there. Aka Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag. Those losers from The HIlls. Yeah that could have quite possibly ruined the experience but other than that great service and lovely food.
My favorite restaurant!
Really tasty, healthy food! Absolutely everything is good! (My favorites are the spinach chicken caesar salad and the tuna melt). They can accomodate dietary needs. Great for takeout. You'll see Heidi and Spencer from The HIlls there a lot.
The friendly service is slow at times but the food is delicious. It's generally packed whenever I go but well worth it. I feel badly for the restaurants around there because they never seem to be as busy as cafe vida!
It's a great place to walk to with the dog and sit on the patio to enjoy a fresh spinach and celery juice with mexican inspired eggs.
I've been to Cafe Vida more time than I can count. I returned yesterday for the first time in about 3 years (I moved away in 2006). The food was still good (not great), the service was still good (not great) and it was still a good (not great) place for breakfast and lunch.
Mmmmmm.
Cafe Vida is delicious. The breakfast wrap is my favorite item on the menu although the chipotle garden burger comes as a close second. They also always have at least one vegan soup which is always a good option as well.
Overall, great place for health freaks, vegetarians, and their boyfriends. The wait can be ridiculous on weekends and even randomly on weekdays so be prepared. The wait it worth it though. Trust me.
I love the fresh sandwiches, soups and smoothies. The patio is very inviting and relaxing was to spend lunch breaks. The people are nice and the prices are good.
The food is always consistently great. I have not had a bad meal or bad dish there yet (and we go a lot).
The ingredients are mostly organic and always taste really fresh.
I really love this cafe, although forget going there on the weekends when every person in the Palisades decides to descend on the place. It's best if you going during the week. I love their fresh-squeezed juice and corn and blueberry pancakes. It's a little pricey, but it's ALL good.
this place was awesome...the service was fast and the employees were very nice. the price is reasonable and you get FREE REFILLS with ANY DRINK. they have a great vegan selecton if you're into that also.
FYI, park on the street and if you're coming with a group, keep it small, vida is a pretty small place.
Very similar to Mayberry.
Great food (get the sweet potato fries!), great service, and a great menu.
Only downside is the outdoor seating is awkward and stuffy.
Everything is so Fresh~ Healthy~ YUMMY~!
specially, I love Breakfast wrap w/ scramble egg white...melting mozzarella.. spinach tortilla ...guacamole... yum,,,, so good!!
OMG... Sweet Potato Fries~!!!!!! crunchy-chewy-tasty!
you gotta try Veggie Burger! Chipote sauce ... TDF!
everyone is so friendly!~ Nice lunch spot~!!!
i love this friendly neighborhood cafe. we usually go every weekend after hiking in temescal canyon. it get's pretty crowded though, but not if you get there early. my friend's and i love the 2 plus 2 plus 2. it's 2 eggs, 2 pancakes (you can choose from multigrain with banana and blueberries, blueberry corn pancakes, or buttermilk) and turkey bacon or regular bacon. my friend's love the coffee, they ask for fresh milk on the side, and i really like the fresh squeezed orange juice. i've also had the lemonade which i thought was a little watered down.
all in all a great place to gather for a saturday or sunday morning brunch. the place is also dog friendly. they will provide water for your dogs too.
this place is really great. terriffic food, and very reasonably priced. I eat there all the time.
Cafe Vida is a great health food that is good for any meal. The only problem is that it can be very crowded and you may have to wait, but the food is great and good for you.
I have been working on a project in London for the last 2 months. I thought I would make my first outing back to L.A. towards the beach. I am so glad I went here. The food is so fresh and the smoothies picked me right up. If you want to feel refreshed and get out of the grimmy city with bad attitudes and unhealthy food- come to Cafe Vida.
Cafe Vida is fantastic. Great, fresh food, a menu that fits everyone, and great management (Dave).
Neighborhood: Pacific Palisades
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Neighborhood: Pacific Palisades
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