Heading To Karyns, Cousins and Borrowed Earth Cafe

[IamLoved]

Tomorrow I am heading up to Chicago with our oldest daughter to go on a raw restaurant tour. We plan on hitting Karyns, Cousins and Borrowed Earth. I have seen a lot of mixed reviews online. If anyone has been there and has any advice on what to order, what not to order ect., I would appreciate it. I am packing my camera and plan on taking lots of pictures and lots of notes on our visit. :)

[rawviveyourself]

I will be heading there myself in 10 days and have never been, so please post up pics and reviews! I only knew about Karyn's - not the others.... looking forward to it!:)

[IamLoved]

Yes, I plan on posting pictures and an account of our experiences.

[VeganMainstream]

Thanks for the review! Looks great. I wish I was in Chicago!!

[Eva]

There is an all-you-can-eat super gourmet buffet at Karyn's on Sundays ~ hit that up AFTER the others (if you do it the other way around you'll be too full of gourmet food to go anywhere else).

So yummy!

[IamLoved]

Yes Eva - the all you can eat at Karyns was amazing! We loved it. And for someone like me, who lives very far from any raw food restaurant, it was perfect because I got to try a wide variety of items. It was really great. The only thing I didn't like was being served, I would have rather helped myself. I wanted more food and I was embarrassed to keep going back up to get more or to ask for bigger servings. But that's just me. But the food was fantastic! DD and I both loved it. When we left DD said that Karyns food was the best she had ever eaten. Period. Best ever, raw or SAD. Pretty awesome huh?

[BlackKat]

I'm going to try Karyn's tonight!!! Cannot wait. The menu looks phenomenal. :p

[Zennifer]

Love, love, love Borrowed Earth Cafe in Downers Grove!!!

Kathy and Danny (the owners) are great. I go there at least once a month. For me this was the restaurant that put me on the "raw" path.

I am dying to go to Cousins. I just haven't had any time and its much further from me than Borrowed Earth. I've heard conflicting reviews on Karen's, but plan on trying them as soon as time allows.

My favorites at Borrowed Earth are: Burrito Loco , "Its not really egg salad egg salad" and their apple pie.

Now I'm hungry......:)

[Lavendula]

Karyn's was delicious, but many dishes are nut based, so very filling.My hubby used to go far out of his way, to get my wheat grass, and other raw goodies from Karyn's. I met Danny and Kathy before they opened Borrowed Earth, they were still hosting the raw food meetup at there home. Then we only made to a few at the cafe, but never got to go back after they opened. We had alot of fun with them, they featured a sunflower seed spread we made, on their early menu, not sure if they kept it. Now I'm in GA , out in the sticks.

[Mary Kay]

IamLoved,

Thanks for starting this!

What do you mean that they "serve you" at the buffet?

I have both a niece and a nephew going to college in Chicago and wanted to get them a gift certificate for one of the raw restaurants. Do you think that getting one for Karyn's and telling them to try the buffet would be the best way to go? Neither is raw, but are open minded - I think!

Thanks again,

Mary kay

[Raw,Raw,RawGal]

I'm sooo jealous!! We don't have any raw food places in our area. :(

[HikerGirl]

Borrowed Earth is so amazing! I'm originally from Downers Grove and I was so excited when they opened up. I cannot wait to go back home in November! My favorite dish was a burrito but I cannot remember the exact name of it. They have yummy desserts too.

I haven't been to Karyns or Cousins, even though I lived in Chicago for years... I will definitely have to try those when I am back. Especially that buffet!

[BlackKat]

Karyn's is delicious. I've been there a few times now. I also checked out Cousin's. I wasn't as pleased with the service or the quality of the icecream but it could have just been an off night for them. I don't really judge restaurants just from one visit.

Karyn's pasta dish was amazing. Their water is even delicious. Cucumber and lemon... YUM. I've also tried their falafel, and it's amazing. I couldn't even finish the whole thing it was so filling.

I also enjoyed Karyn's little shop attached the the restaurant. Lots of goodies.

[IamLoved]

Hello

Sorry for the delay in response.

Mary Kay - yes, they serve you at the station. They have a large table set up with all of the food displayed. You go up to the table and they ask you what you want and give you the food. The samples are all very small. Everything was yummy and I wanted MORE!! :) And I am self conscious so I didn't want to have to keep asking for more. But that is just me. I loved her food though and would go back in a heartbeat if I could. I actually really want to go back again. It is a 6 hour drive one way so not very practical, but I want to go back soooo bad!!

[Saria]

Wow...I live in Chicago and am so excited to find out there really are raw food restaurants! Karyn's and Cousins are both withing 5 miles from my house. I am so excited to go! This will really help me stay on the path toward staying raw!

[ReneeH]

I loved my Karen's experience!!! My favorite was her Pizza!!! Yummmy!!! It is heavily nut based, but you all know how addicted to nuts I am!!! Hehehe!!

[streetsurfer]

Cafe called RAW in Ogilvie transportation center. Its within the farmers market there. Green Spirit another new raw place- 7551 N. Ridge Blvd. Chgo.

Hello Renee!

[ReneeH]

Hello Surfer of the Street!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :hug

[Saria]

I found RAW just the other day! They were offering samples, which i tried a lot of them. too many at once, i think since it kind of gave me a slight stomach ache later. but that may have also been because I got some raw walnuts and trail mix and ate quite a bit of that. A lot of their food I liked, though. I can actually taste live food, dead food is so boring once you learn to love raw! I bought some of the bavarian rye sunflower bread. How long do you think that would keep in the refrigerator?

I have not heard of Green Spirit yet, though. I'll have to check that out. Is it a sit down restaurant, cafe, or store?

[streetsurfer]

I'm sorry, I cant answer to type of place. My wife goes or is up on it and iI'd asked her for places I could share with you. I have not been. I stay out of restaurants for the most part, due to multiple food sensitivities and the high risk of cross contamination. I will ask the mrs today if shes been there and what its like.

[BlackKat]

Cousins Zoom burger and Beet Cheese cake was delicious. I went only once about a year ago but it was good food, I had bad service that night but I try not to judge on only one experience. I'd go back...

...even if just for that cheese cake :drool:

Next to try is Borrowed Earth but it a bit of a trek for me. Maybe that will be a Holiday gift to myself and a friend. hmmm..