The Candle Cafe
Category: Vegetarian [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Upper East Side1307 3rd Ave
(between 74th St & 75th St)
New York, NY 10021 (212) 472-0970
- Nearest Transit:
77th St (6)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
61 Reviews for The Candle Cafe
I love food without meat. I was a vegetarian for many years. But my experience with vegetarian, vegan and macrobiotic restaurants have left much to be desired.
This restaurant defied the stereotype of bland, tasteless, strange textured food.
The food was delightful and I would highly recommend it. I had the special pasta entree so it is hard for me to repeat the ingredients. It was a sort of pesto made of lima beans and herbs. Very good. My friend had a black bean burger. The best part of her dish was the polenta fries. Yummy!
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I been here many times and I always love there food. Like other people say, it can be a tad pricy, but it's NYC and you should expect that. Very friendly service and I absoutly love there hummus there. The atmosphere is typical for this type of establishment, very earthy, and i love it that way, and the wait staff is always a pleasure. Hands down 4-5 stars!!!
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OK let me start by saying that I am not a vegetarian nor a vegan. I went to this establishment while I was visiting my vegan friend in NYC while I had a lull in my reality show production in Miami. That being said I've eaten at vegan restaurants in LA as well so I do have a frame of reference in this review. First of all I will say that it wasn't bad, it was actually quite pleasant. I think they could lose the "Love animals don't eat them" sticker from the front door. You can not eat meat and still be less militant! The Yelp sticker on the window made me immediately want to go home and review it although do to my busy nomadic lifestyle this summer I haven't been able to get around to it until today. I got some kind of spinach quiche/pie thing, obviously it wasn't quiche cause heaven forbid you eat eggs or milk or cheese! I mean I hear in vegan circles that they're poisonous...wierd I eat them and I'm still alive...oh well. My friend got some sort of sesame encrusted tofu thing that wasn't bad either although she said that they changed the recipe and that it was way better the last time she had it. I must say though without a doubt that the garlic mashed potatos were AWESOME and so were the mixed veggies that I got. OK so this brings me to my biggest beef with this place and every vegan place for that matter. They serve room temperature water. No Ice. LAME! I've heard it all before from you people "your body absorbs water better at room temperature..." Fuck that! It was like 95 degress outside with a like 400% humidity outside! I want ice in my goddamn water! We don't need to hear about how warm water is better for you. If you want warm water go stick your head in a lake or Turtle Pond over at Central Park...when I come into a restaurant I want ICE in my water and not have to ask for it. That being said...I would go back here when I was in NYC again and eating with vegan friends. The staff was nice and didn't try to preach their beliefs to me..because it wouldn't have worked. If you're a vegan in NYC I'm sure you'll love this place. For the rest of us omnivores, I would suggest only eating here with your vegan friends.
Awesome food! I had never really eaten vegetarian food like this and it really tasted good. I would definitely go back.
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A very good experience. Quite crowded for dinner, and there is often a long wait. The food is creative vegan and is very upscale. The only downside is the high fat content of the food.
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Candle Cafe has become my favorite north-of-14th St hangout and place to grab a quick bite and glass of green juice. I actually haul ass to the UES to come here. The service is always friendly and the food is really good. Be sure to get cake for dessert. The only downer, besides the uptown location (for me), is the price - I rarely spend less than $30 for lunch.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/29/2008
Why did I wait so long to try Candle? Organic, vegan and delicious - I'll be spending more time in… Read more »
I had delivery from this place, with a nice menu of juices and smoothies, salads and vegan fare I only had the sprouted salad. And while the salad was fresher than I've seen in a while, it was a tad small for the price. The hummus was good, but they did charge $3 for about 2 carrots and one celery stick chopped, and didn't include the chips (must have thought the order of crudites was meant to replace the chips :(
I know this place has consistently good food otherwise, maybe eat there and save the planet from more 'to go' containers.
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4-5 stars for vegans and veges (it's a bit pricey), 3-4 for carnivores (there's lots of weird tofu/seitan stuff, please don't be frightened).
Interesting to compare with sister restaurant Candle 79 - big entree portions here (often too big, too much of the one flavor); at Candle 79 you need app/ent & dessert to feel full. Candle Cafe's food isn't as fancy and tasty, but most dishes are yummy (to use a technical term). The Cafe is more homey (not as much as Angelica); 79 is classy and makes me feel uncomfortable and shabby.
The appetizers are particularly overpriced. The crystal rolls (rice paper rolls) were boring, but when a friend followed the recipe in Candle's book, the same rolls were moreish; I've never pigged out on anything so healthy. The ten or so entrees I've tried have all been good except the most expensive, the seitan, though there's a different seitan entree currently. A few years ago, Candle Cafe was patchy, but I've found it consistent the past couple years.
If only there was a West side location.
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The food is really good. It's my college buddy Meredith's Favorite Restaurant. Vegetarians love it. We ordered Crystal Roll,and Tofu Scramble. They are pretty tasty. It's in walk distance to Central Park. A nice walk to central park is recommend :)
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I found Candle Cafe totally underwhelming.
I went there with a friend and we split everything we ordered.
Started off with the crystal roll. I think maybe this would taste better if it was served hot. I don't know. Something was off about it. And the dipping sauce it came with was also too cold. Silly complaint, I know.
Next, we split the caesar salad with tempeh bacon. $3 extra for a couple of teeny pieces of tempeh? Sadly, it was worth it -- the tempeh made this salad. I wished the pieces were bigger and there were more of them, it had such a delicious flavor. I need the recipe!
After the salad came the Tuscan lasagna. Totally blah. I thought this came served with grilled zucchini, peppers and onions but I certainly didn't see any in my lasagna. Came served atop sauteed greens -- I thought they were good (it was broccoli rabe) but my friend thought they were too bitter, which is a common complaint for broccoli rabe anyway.
I'll give this place another try but I was definitely a little disappointed. Maybe next time I'll go with the paradise casserole.
I liked Candle 79 much better but Candle Cafe is very, very good also. It's really not that much cheaper than Candle 79. The atmosphere is a bit more casual which is nice. My friend had the Tuscan Lasagna which was the best lasagna I've ever tasted ever! Also, my friend is a serious meat eater and even she loved the lasagna (she was very scared of the tofu cheese). I had the Ginger-Miso Stir-Fry which was good but nothing too special. I would like to go back so that I can try some other things on the menu.
**UPDATE***
I went here again with my family and it really wasn't as good as it was the first time. I had the taco salad which was good but not worth $18. The service was really, really slow. I had the green goddess and it was way, way too gingery.
Would I come back again and give it another try? Yes. Am I in a rush to do so? No!
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Try the Tuscan Lasagna as it is amazing. However, the Ginger-Miso Stir-Fry my friend had and the special I had were so so. Nothing amazing like Red Bamboo or Candle 79. Candle Cocktail and the Amazon Mania were both good drinks.
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Have been meaning to go here for years and finally had lunch there because it was relatively close to the Museum of Natural History... which is how I spent my birthday.
Ordered the paradise casserole and the special of the day, a jamaican jerk tofu wrap, along with two lemon-ginseng iced teas. We loved the food, the atmosphere and the service. They give such big portions that unfortunately, we had no room to sample any desserts.
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ooohhh i thought i had it good in san francisco with millenium but this place blew it out of the water.
after picking this place based on yelper review, i had such a tasty brunch here with friends. i'm a usual dairy and meat lover but i didn't feel like i missed any taste at all with all of their dishes that i sampled.
it was all delectable. so no highlights since it was all good!
the space was cozy though comforting.
the only diss was the drone of the juice maker. i wish they had it in the back so i don't have to keep interrupting my friends by saying, "wwwhhaatt did you say??!!"
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If you are vegetarian and living in NYC, you have to try the Candle restaraunts- I liked Candle Cafe because it's cheaper (but only slightly). The atmosphere of Candle79 was more romantic and warm.
I shared the quesadillas, the cajun setain sandwich, and seitan steak-all very tasty (if you're not a vegetarian, I would go for a seitan dish- tempeh and tofu can be blander and seitan has a meat-like consistency). I liked the cajun seitan sandwich the best- it was huge and the avacado slices were a nice touch. If i worked in midtown again i would probably try to make it up here sometimes for lunch (one sandwich can serve as 2 lunches). The grean beans accompanying my seitan steak were a bit bland but the mashed potatoes were a good complement. The quesadillas were delicious- couldn't even tell they were made with soy cheese.
I had chocolate mousse cake for dessert- it was very rich. A little disappointment that all of the cakes were ready-made and refrigerated but I realize they can't just whip up a slice of cake for you in 10 minutes. And, because I love choc chip oatmeal cookies, I got one to go. It tasted like cardboard and cost $3. Hence the -1 star.
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Had lunch here today, and we're planning to try the slightly more upscale Candle 79 tonight. Crowded on a rainy day, the service was prompt and efficient and the food marvelous. Hands down, the best vegan Caesar salad I've ever had, followed by a wonderful sesame crusted tofu dish. Before I went vegan, I loved my tuna and Mahi-Mahi; the exquisite tastes in this dish brought back memories of everything I had loved about fish. A wonderfully diverse menu and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
I went here today for the first time. The staff were very friendly and smiley. However, the food wasn't so good and took FOREVER to be served. My sister has been here before and enjoyed it, but from me being here today, I don't think I will back anytime soon.
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i just had a great dinner here, gnocci with a cashew alfredo sauce, mushrooms and a buncha other veggies. It was delicious.
I am newly vegan, and was in the mood for some creamy pasta goodness, and this really did the trick.
I sat at the bar, the bartender was all smiles and friendly as were the staff members, and even the woman sitting next to me.
I got an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie to take with me, it was sadly a bit disappointing but still pretty good.
All in all, I love this place and I will definitely be back.
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HEY KIDS, today we're going to learn all about Gluten!
Aaaah, the land of make believe meat. Gluten, which is also known as wheat gluten, wheat meat, or seitan, is made from washing wheat flour dough over and over until you get all of the starch out. What's left is a rubbery, gummy substance--MMMM!
It's another meat substitute, an alternative to your soy or tofu based faux-meat. Depending on the preparation, gluten can come in many textures, I believe. I've had rubbery wet gluten out of a can that carries the texture of wet tissue paper dipped in soy sauce.
I'VE ALSO HAD CANDLE CAFE'S CABERNET GRILLED SEITAN. It's served with mashed potatoes and green beans, smothered in a delicious gravy, It's got the color of chicken, yet carries the bite of a thick mushroom. The taste is actually fantastic, and this is coming from a guy who's favorite vegetables is Ragu. This dish made me a believer that vegan dishes can taste pretty good. I believe in the vegan. I believe in the vegan. I believe in the vegan. And you will, too, kids. Now scram.
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The thing about Candle is...you just can't do any better for eats in this city, all things considered. This is both hands down the best and widest selection of creative, inspired, healthy, whole food. They just have to be upper east though, yes? Of course.
A little pricey dicey, agreed. Can't even cite actual prices beyond my $18 taco salad 'cause I typically just put on the blinders and jump. This is because everything I've ever had restores vestiges of my spirit about eating in New York. So I just go for it if I'm in the area--and even sometimes when I'm not, because I know I'll be satisfied. And that is so worth it.
Staff is friendly, knowledgeable, willing to help and inform you about ingredients. Substitutions are not discouraged (granted, at some of the prices, it should kind of be "your show").
Be realistic and make reservations if your party is larger than two and you're going at peak dinner time. It can be tight in there waiting for a table for more than a few.
And I love the wholly unassuming layout/decor/atmosphere. It's, well, organic. As everything should be.
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I went out of my way to go here on a friend's recommendation. I. Am. So. Glad. I. Did. Great meal. I had a super salad and a side of beets. Even ordered a second side of beets to go, b/c they were so good. Nice wait staff. Made me feel comfy as a woman dining alone. Anytime I'm back in NYC, I'll take time to go to Candle Cafe.
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i love this place. my absolute favorite thing on their menu (and maybe in nyc) is the carrot cake. it is amazingly moist and not overly sweet like a lot of vegan cakes at other places. other favorites are the paradise casserole and good food plate (i like the grilled tofu, sauted greens, beans, and potato-turnip mash). i am a fan of basic, healthy, yummy vegetarian food - and candle cafe delivers that for a fairly decent price. i agree that the portions are fairly large - i've shared an entree a few times and its been the perfect amount for 2 people.
i haven't made it to candle 79 yet, so i'm not sure how they compare.
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I am rarely ever in this part of the city and was taken here by a friend I was meeting up for dinner with. The Candle Cafe was recommended to her and so being that we were both unfamiliar with the options on the area, we paid it a visit.
We arrived a bit early for dinner time just shy of 7pm and so we were seated by a smiley host as soon as we walked in. Being that neither of us were familiar with the place, we weren't sure if it was a take-out only place or an actual restaurant with table seating. Upon our arrival, we were delighted to see seating available.
Our server came over to greet us and take our drink orders. We decided to go for their organic fruit drinks that was made fresh on the spot. I ordered a fresh carrot juice drink that had way too much ginger in it which I ended up being unable to finish! I think it's the Orange Snapple...
We ordered a Medi Hummus Plate as an appetizer that came out with toaste pita slices, green olives, hummus and a third spread that I can't describe. It was YUM!
For entree's, I ordered the Soba Noodle Salad and my friend had the special, Lemongrass Tofu with couscous. The orders came out soon after the appetizer plate was cleared. My Soba Noodle & Tofu salad was lovely with just enough dressing. My friend's special was quite tasty as well although we couldn't really taste the lemongrass.
We ordered the Carrot Cake for dessert and we BOTH had to contain ourselves from inhaling the entire slice! It was delish! The cream was just right and not overly sweet and the cake was moist and full of carrots!
Throughout the whole meal, our server was delightful w/o being overbearing. The busboys who cleared our plates were very polite and knew to come when we were actually done w/our food. During the whole time we were there, business was steady and a line began to form of diner's waiting for a table. Not once did we feel rushed by the server or any staff member despite the growing line.
I WISH there was one downtown that was closer to my hood! I do plan to return...
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My boyfriend and I went for dinner on a Saturday night, and there were a ton of people waiting outside. They accept reservations, but only for groups of 3 or more.
While we waited at the bar, we ordered a Berries -N- Cream smoothie. Blech..! There were a lot of seeds. I love berry smoothies, so seeds are to be expected but this one was a bit much. The taste was also subpar, too much like watered down vanilla protein powder and less like berries. The Classic apple, banana, berry smoothie was pretty good, but to be perfectly honest, it just made me miss Jamba Juice.
Dinner though was amazing! I ordered the BBQ Tempeh & Swwet Potato Sandwich, which I really enjoyed. The kale, the multi-grain bread, it was all very good. My only complaint is that after awhile, it got really hard to eat the Tempeh because it was a bit bland and dry.
My boyfriend ordered Cabernet Grilled Seitan, which came with delicious mashed potatoes and grilled mushrooms. His plate was definitely the winner. The griled flavor of the seitan was perfect with the potatoes and gravy. Mmm hmm!
The "decadent" chocolate cake is pretty good. The layers are very noticeable. The frosting is very rich and creamy - chocolate truffle meets fudge. A sharp contrast to the frosting, the cake was very, very dry. Thank goodness for the berry drizzle otherwise it would have been hard to eat all of that chocolate. Actually, we still didn't finish it.
In conclusion, the smoothies and desserts don't do it for me, but the entrees are absolutely delicious.
Great food, service, I will definitely be back.
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Really GREAT! Probably the best vegetarian mean I have had in NYC. By that I mean in a modern approach, not the deep fried fake meat/hong kong stuff, nor the traditional cheapie Indian/Sikh stuff (which I like too).
MOLE sauce + seitan tamales were great.
Anyway, FRIENDLY staff, GREAT FOOD, nice WINE/BEER LIST.
If i didn't live in Brooklyn I would be here all the time.
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Recommended for: vegetarian delights, brunch/dinner with friends, a date.
Food 5, Service 5, Ambiance 5.
I've been wanting to try Candle Cafe for the longest time as I pass by it nearly on a daily basis. Finally one lazy weekend morning, S and I agree that we should try this place to eat "healthy". I eat healthy, but agreeably, I have been slacking on the veggies and fruits.
We went on a sunday morning for brunch and was seated quickly at a table. The place has a calming ambiance and with candles lit, has somewhat of a romantic feel to it as well. She ordered a soy latte and I, going the healthier route, asked for a carrot, apple, ginger juice. My juice was fantastic and you could taste the ginger. Being a carnivorous man, I was somewhat gun-shy of this place, but I have to say, I left quite full and happy. I ordered the Tuscan Seitan Parmesan Sandwich. It was a breaded Seitan cutlet with melted soy mozzarella and tomato truffle sauce on a potato-onion roll. I had never tried Seitan before, and have to say, I really enjoyed it. It was filling and tasty. The soy mozzarella which I always make fun of (because its not soy milk, its soy juice), tasted creamy and rich. The mesclun salad which came on the side was ok, not fantastic, but the sweet potato we ordered as a side was cooked to perfection.
Calming ambiance, friendly and funny service with fantastic food made this dining experience one to remember. If I am ever in the mood for super healthy eating, day or night, Candle Cafe is definitely my top choice!
Sean Approved: Absolutely Definitely YES!!!
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A vegan friend came to visit, so we went up to the Candle Cafe on her suggestion. We were looking for a place that was actually vegan, and wasn't trying to play up their food as a substitute for non-vegan food, and I think Candle Cafe filled the bill nicely.
Food was really good otherwise. I'm not a vegan, and I thought the entire menu was rather accessible for me. Nothing too crazy or bizarre on there, just good stuff. The highlight of the meal for me was the pumpkin soy ice cream I had at the end, which was incredible.
She's also somewhat allergic to peppers, and she asked the waitress if her order would have peppers in them. The waitress said she didn't think so, but as it turns out, the plate did. Not that big of a deal, but still a bit of a pain.
Given all, it was very good, and worth checking out. If you're going with people who are picky about what they eat, have them glance at the menu on the Candle Cafe website to make sure that there's stuff on there that they'll eat.
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It's not an incredibly creative or fancy place, but if you're in the mood for some really good, solid vegetarian food this place is great. I loved the burger with tempeh bacon and avocado and the deserts are excellent. If you're looking for a place with a little more of a date/evening atmosphere head to Blossom on West 22nd, but if you're in the mood for really good lunch or casual dinner, head here.
Delicious vegetarian food and a good option for people who aren't used to eating vegetarian. The menu is extensive and the organic wines are great. I had the grilled bbq seitan sandwich and it was awesome. Very cozy and friendly staff but can be crowded. Worth the wait, though.
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Candle Cafe is a bit of a trek for me, but it was the restaurant of choice for my restaurant group, so I was game. I love veggies, and tend towards more of a vegetarian diet myself (more out of laziness than anything else) so I figured I'd like the food. We shared a few apps - the quesadilla, the dumplings, and the guacamole. All were very good, tasty, good textures. For my entree, I ordered the pistachio crusted tofu, which is served over quinoa and veggies, including red swiss chard. I loved this - the tofu was lightly crispy and flavorful, with a sauce over it that I really enjoyed. I love quinoa, and often make it at home myself, so this was a great choice for me.
Service was a little uneven. Our waitress was sometimes helpful, but then 2 different people in my party inquired about the stirfry dish, particularly what veggies are in it this time of year (assuming it would be seasonal), and they each received different answers. So one of them was terribly disappointed by what was actually in it. Otherwise, everyone enjoyed their meals, even the carnivores in the group.
I think it's a little pricey too. Maybe it's a misconception, but I always figured a vegetarian diet would be cheaper, but the food at Candle Cafe is definitely on the spendy side. Still, it's good, so check it out.
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At long last the bf and I made it out to Candle Cafe. We don't normally go to the UES, but with Thanksgiving being a holiday and Candle being so nice, we figured now was the time to make the trip. And I'm so glad we did.
I went for the Thanksgiving prix fixe and had chestnut soup, a vegetable napoleon, pumpkinseed crusted tempeh with a yukon gold mash, squash, and broccolini, and apple cranberry pie for dessert. Everything was delicious, my only complaint being that some of the sauces (which were made with nuts in place of cream) were a bit too rich for me. I'm chalking that up to the fact that it was a holiday for gluttony, however.
Hopefully, I'll get to try it out on a normal day to see whether they live up to their reputation, but it was definitely a wonderful Thanksgiving destination.
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Found this place through Yelp and decided to give it a try after work tonight, a Tuesday.
Got there at 6:50, when several tables were still open. A good omen, I thought.
Was shown to a two-seater in the well-lit dining room. There's not much in terms of decor, but I don't require much in terms of decor.
My waiter and the other waitresses who asked me if things were fine were very friendly and prompt, despite an eventual full house.
The place is midsize, I would say. Despite the fact that all the several "single seats" at the juice bar counter in the front were occupied by the time I left, there was at least one pair of women waiting for a table by then.
I asked my waiter which nights were best to avoid a wait, and he said pretty much any night was subject to a wait, "but you can always call." He said Candle 79 is "twice the size" of its sister, but there can often be "twice the wait." He also said the menu there is different from the menu at Candle Cafe.
I had no appetizer. I had the seitan steak, which came with sweet potato mash, caramelized onions and a healthy portion of broccoli. I also had a side of cornbread. Everything was tasty and hot, and there was a suitable gap from the time I ordered till the time the food appeared. The seitan looked like pork, but I guess that's seitan for you.
The tab was a little pricey. I had one iced tea and one "natural cola," both 16 ounces, both $3. The cornbread was $4, and the entree was $19. Total was $31 before tip. Yikes. I get the feeling if the same place were in a lower-rent district, the entree would have been about $6 or $7 cheaper, which would have been about right.
Oh, and desserts, which I hadn't room for, were, to use a term I have seen elsewhere on Yelp, "gy-normous," and I saw several different types go by my table. I didn't look at the dessert menu, but I would guess they wouldn't go for less than $7.
So, be prepared for a bit of sticker shock. But I overheard one newbie diner talking to a fellow diner as the latter left, and he said, "Enjoy. I've been a vegetarian for 30 years, and this is among the best places to eat in the city."
I have to concur.
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It's been several weeks since my dinner here, and I still remember the meal vividly. I am a fair-weather vegetarian, but I am very wary of veggie restos as I'm not usually a fan, but Candle Cafe is superlative.
I think Srini V. is spot on when he says everything was just right - service, food, atmosphere, prices (although I'm not sure I would go so far as to liken myself to a simian). I tried seitan here for the first time (when in rome) and it was delicious (although I have a sneaking suspicion it was due to their expert preparation and not the seitan itself).
Not only was everything I ordered terrific, I had to resist dipping my fork into my neighbors' dishes! Surely a good sign.
Can't wait to go back.
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I took my grandmother here on Saturday for her 87th birthday. We had the squash soup which was yummy (as squash soup tends to be) but nothing too special. However, my Tempeh and sweet potato sandwich was OOTW (out of this world) and she ate all of her Middle Eastern Plate. We finished off with a piece of the vegan chocolate pie (with a candle) which was sensational. The restaurant had great energy, the staff was patient and helpful, the food came out quickly and the soup was hot. As a vegetarian I would certainly recommend it for you and your grandparents.
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It was lunchtime at the office and my coworker Nisha and I finally had a day where we could escape from the building and eat a civilized hour long lunch! Where to go? Certainly not the usual boring diners & pubs nearby. We'd had enough of those! Then suddenly it dawned on us - we'd be wanting to go to The Candle Cafe for ages! I had gone there several years back with a veg friend and remembered how good this place was.
We were in luck! It's still just as good and the service is fast & friendly. We both had the mezze plate for lunch and it was so good. Just the right size too. This is not your ordinary one dimensional vegetarian restaurant that just serves a few of the usual boring veg dishes. They have a full menu of amazing veg dishes and a good selection or organic wines to pair them up with. The atmosphere is casual and quaint. You can choose to sit at a table or at the counter up front.
I'm not even a vegetarian and I would gladly dine here several times week if I could. This is a great place for groups of people to dine that have mixed dietary needs. Vegetarians will be in heaven and even the non veggies will be pleasantly surprised at the wonderful variety of tasty dishes this place has to offer!
I probably would have given this place 5 stars instead of 4 if:
a) I didn't have to listen to some overly loud hippy dippy spiritual wanna be teeny bopper (ironically carrying an uber expensive handbag that no true spiritually minded person would) going on about how her new spiritual advisor would make a great girlfriend for her Dad (thankfully, not ALL of the clientele are like this).
b) One of the waitstaff or maybe she was the manager (?) didn't collide with one of the servers (because she was walking really fast, but looking and talking in the other direction) and proceed to splatter the contents of the tray all over the floor next to us, causing some of it to end up on my friend's shoes.
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Here's a place that takes vegetarian cooking seriously, and pulls it off very nicely. The food is usually very good and the atmosphere is standard New York eatery (to the extent there is such a standard). One needn't be veggie to enjoy eating here.
My wife and I love this place. While the standard menu doesn't change much the specials are quite unique. the chocolate moose cake is also fantastic!
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a vegetarian HEAVEN. this menu has so many amazing choices, we could hardly decide on what to get. their specials list is fantastic...oh and alec baldwin was there when i went, so while trying not to be creepy and sneak looks over to his table, we concentrated on our meals...
even though the place was really busy, we got seated immediately. jackpot.
the smoothies are so tempting, i really wanted to order the PB & J one, but figured i'd get full before my meal so i passed on that. but next time.
i got the pumpkin-seed crusted tofu, with some veggies and black beans and a yummy but weirdly-colored pink sauce. my dining partners had the lasagna and the tempeh/sweet potato sandwich - which comes with a ridiculous vegan creamy sauce that i could SWEAR has dairy in it, but alas, it does not. which makes it even cooler.
the best part of this meal was undoubtedly the pumpkin-soy ice cream that we shared for dessert (yeah, i was on a pumpkin spree that night apparently). it was a special, so i'm not sure how often they have it, but it was life-changing. it tasted exactly like pumpkin pie. all you need is one scoop because it's so decadent.
im so glad this place is in walking distance of my apartment, i will be back soon for sure. non-vegs will like it too, because the menu is extensive...and hey, this shit is so good that it might just turn veg skeptics into full-blown vegans. whole-hearted 5 stars, baby.
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unless i'm reincarnated as a bunny rabbit and eating my own backyard, vegetarian cuisine/lifestyle is not for me. however, the divine dishes at candle cafe are so damn delicious that i don't even care that i don't know what i'm eating (seitan?!?).
On my quest to find an unpretentious, wholesome restaurant that is not too intimidating to my non-vegan friends, I came across Candle Cafe via another restaurant, Candle 79. Candle 79 is only about 5 blocks up, on Lexington and 79th. I checked out 79th's menu, which is all organic, vegetarian and very ethnic, and decided that it might be worth coming back for a special occasion since their prices were quite high, about $18-25/entree. I also found Candle 79 a bit uptight and formal, there was an air of smugness. It reminded me of an episode of South Park, in which everyone buys a hybrid but the town's smug levels get really high and eventually they decide that they can't drive hybrids without being all smug about it! Anyways, We were told by the waiter that Candle Cafe, owned by the same people, offered bigger portions of vegetarian meals at cheaper prices. Not all food at Candle Cafe is organic however but I believe a lot of its veggies are sourced fresh at nearby farms. Candle Cafe is unpretentious, laid back, full of average people with healthy appetites. Service is friendly. We had to wait for about 15 minutes, it was packed de