Best Raw Restaurant in California

[douglas novack]

My favorite restaurant is 118 degrees. http://www.shop118degrees.com/ I have been a customer of 118 since they opened. The owner is Chef Jenny. She creates the most amazing, nutritional and beautiful raw food ever. 118 is located in Costa Mesa, California . The food is always organic, the staff is very knowledgable and friendly, the atmosphere is pure healthy and raw. I especially like the salads and the creative entrees...the deserts are really great too. I have been to every raw and vegan restaurant in California and 118 degrees sets the bar as their standards and quality are of the highest integrity. Chef Jenny is writing a book and she just had a baby too so she really has her hands full. But the staff is like family and the quality of the food is the best there is.

[luna99]

ooooh, this will be a good thread! I'm hoping to go to southern cali this summer and want to try a few raw restaurants while I'm there so this will be good for me to figure out which ones are best..

btw, I thought 118 was in winter park, florida? :confused:

[RawSar]

I checked out the menu and wow! They have a big selection to choose from!!
If I'm ever in Cali I'll definitely be checking out that restaurant ! :)

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

I have to divide this between Northern and Southern CA, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to choose!

NorCal: Cafe Gratitude
SoCal: Juliano's

Both are absolutely fantastic.

[spicyfull]

Everything L@@ks RAWsome.........Thanks for Sharing.

[Jenifae]

My Husband and I went there for our Wedding Anniversary and I loved the food. It was truely Amazing!
We felt like we were Vibrating from it.......on a spiritual high :)

[Stephie]

I guess now I know where my husband is taking me for our anniversary!! Thanks for sharing.

[lynnc72]

Sorry, I would have to disagree.

I tried 118 Degrees twice and the food is bland both times. I will never go back!

I'm a regular at Au Lac and I'll go to Cru when I'm up in LA. Most raw foodists I know in this area will rave about Au Lac and Cru.

Hope that helps.

[Eva]

btw, I thought 118 was in winter park, florida? :confused:

That's Cafe 118. :)

[Revvell]

Has anyone noticed that the person writing the review has only been here once and that's it? Hmmmm. Wonder what that's about. :confused:

[Jenifae]

Sorry, I would have to disagree.

I tried 118 Degrees twice and the food is bland both times. I will never go back!

I'm a regular at Au Lac and I'll go to Cru when I'm up in LA. Most raw foodists I know in this area will rave about Au Lac and Cru.

Hope that helps.


I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it. My experience was that it was absolutely amazing!
I havent' tried Au lac but, heard it was good, too!

[shesnotthere88]

I have eaten at 118 in Costa Mesa SEVERAL times (at least 5) since it opened. The food is either extremely flavorful and delicious or EXTREMELY bland. Blander than anything I could imagine. Not to mention that everytime I go there, I get severe stomach upset. Its cool to try it, and I highly reccomend the pesto tortellini and the coconut curry cones. It's cool that the restaurant exists, though, and the good dishes are amazing.

[TaupeRawMan]

I have eaten at 118 in Costa Mesa SEVERAL times (at least 5) since it opened. The food is either extremely flavorful and delicious or EXTREMELY bland. Blander than anything I could imagine. Not to mention that everytime I go there, I get severe stomach upset. Its cool to try it, and I highly reccomend the pesto tortellini and the coconut curry cones. It's cool that the restaurant exists, though, and the good dishes are amazing.

Any idea what caused the stomach upset?

[shesnotthere88]

My theory is that they don't sprout their nuts and seeds. Unsprouted nuts and seeds usually do not digest well with me at all. Either that or they're using an ingredient that just doesn't settle with me, however I don't know what it could be. It has happened every single time, and though I really liked a few things that I ate there, I am completely scared of going back. Paying for an upset stomach makes me feel like an idiot.