Best Raw Restaurant in Manhattan?

[daisyduke]

For those of you that are familiar with Manhattan, can you please tell me about the best raw restaurant there? I follow 811 so I don't want a place with many dehydrated, complicated recipes. Thanks!

[sungoddess]

If you want LESS gourmet, go to Bonobos on 23rd between Park and 5th (I think... they have a website). It is simpler, and they have a great salad bar. But it is much more casual, more of a cafeteria style.

Pure food and wine is AMAZING, but far too difficult to go to for a 811er. I just started 811 and went and could hardly eat anything. I had to just eat when I got home.

[AvoMama]

I agree with the PF&W assessment. It's also crazy expensive.

Caravan of Dreams is still my favorite. They also serve cooked vegan food which is perfect for a mixed crowd.

[PositiveEnergy4U]

My favorite is Quintessence...lots of great salads. My favorite is the Buddha Bowl.

[yeahbethany]

In my opinion, Caravan of Dreams may be your best bet. They serve huge salads and smoothies and things like that, and you could easily tailor it to fit 8-1-1.

[Sunshine9]

I second Caravan of Dreams. They have delicious and simple salads.

[Naiad]

This is my take on some of the raw places I've visited.

Caravan of Dreams - My mother and I went on a pretty crowded night and had to sit in a very cramped and DARK room in the back. The food was expensive and only average. I might give them another chance, but, both my mother and I left there far from happy with the experience.

Quintessence - I had the most fantastic raw pizza with nut sausage and they convinced me to give up my beloved coffee with a DIVINE mate latte with steamed cashew milk and agave nectar. Good prices and terrific food. The restaurant itself is small yet quaint with a neat, little shop next door.

Lifethyme Market - They have a pretty decent selection of ready to go raw items. Their pizzas are completely different from the Quintessence ones, but, pretty darn tasty. Also, though not raw, their vegan Tollbooth cookies are soooooooo good :p

One Lucky Duck - The shop itself is jarringly tiny the first time you visit it. However, I will suffer anything for the pleasure of being able to stop buy and get pints of their heavenly ice cream and chocolate pudding. As far as entrees go, I got their raw pizza once and it paled in comparison to the Quintessence one. Back to the icecream - if you have dinner at Pure Food, the icecream for desert is $14 for two wee scoops. Skip that and go around the corner for a half pint for $7 at One Lucky Duck. My friends and I now go grab dinner at PF&W and then walk around and enjoy the city while we eat our desert.

Pure Food and Wine - What a difference a day can make. My first trip to PF&W was beyond blissful. It was transcendent. My friend and I went, savored biodynamic wine and appetizers. I had the super fantastic rawviolis and then we went nuts over our mutually spectacular desserts.

The next time I went, I was with a co-worker who had barely slept and was VERY cranky. Mix in a snotty waitress, super slow service, being told that 3 out of 6 entrees couldn't be prepared and paying $30 for something so salty and terrible I couldn't even eat it... let's just say it was only the fond memory of the first visit that made me ever go back.

Yes, PF&W is very expensive, but, it's the entire package you're paying for - beautous space included. If you go on a night when everything is going your way and you get one of their better waiters (who will sometimes bring appetizers on the house,) you'll be very, very happy.

If I had to choose a place to take someone, I'd probably pick Quintessence and stop by One Lucky Duck for some pudding or ice cream afterwards. Quintessence had a great dessert sampler, but, the stuff from the Duck has taken over my brain.

If it was a fancy dinner or a hot date, I'd pick Pure Food and Wine - especially if it was the other person who would be paying :p

[daisyduke]

THank you for all of your help! I can't wait to try some of these places!

[Sharon in Colorado]

I would say since you are eating so simply, virtually any type of restaraunt would cater to your needs, maybe even better (and cheaper!) than a raw restaraunt. Usually they have the best simple salads and fruit plates.

But even if you did go to a gourmet raw place like Pure, it would probably be no problem to ask for a plate of fruit or greens, as I'm sure they get the best. Don't be hesitant to order off the menu in those types of places.