My first raw food resturant

[girl007]

Well, tonight was the big night...I would finally try some of the much talked about "uncooked raw foods". We have this raw food restaurant here in San Diego. it is about a 20 minute drive or so for me to an area I hardly visit. So, this was going to be me and hubby's big intro into the world of "uncooked raw" as well. I thought for sure I would sell him on the lifestyle when he tasted all the yummy food. You see, I have been raw for a month now and have had great results and found it very easy and pleasurable. I have mostly just kept it simple. Eating green smoothies, salads, veggies, juices, nuts, and fresh fruit and flax crackers and rawnola I have purchased. Oh not to mention Alissa's famous basic salad dressing recipe I found in her book. ( I love that stuff) Anyways,for me the transition has been easy for the most part. I love the simplicity. I don't have a dehydrator and haven't been sold on it because the recipes all seem like work. Besides I have not craved any old cooked foods for the most part. So, I figured I would get a dehydrator in the future once I proved to myself that this is the lifestyle for me.

So back to the resturant. I was utterly dissapointed. I felt like the food left me thinking about old cooked food I eat and even thinking about having a hamburger, something I haven't even considered. It was like a tease and left me wanting more. It was really weird. I found that if I were to eat that way it would keep me closer to the cooked world ...so needless to say I don't think I will be back. I still may get a dehydrator so I can make some of my own dishes in an attempt to get hubby to come on board. Anyways, that is my experience......... Curious to know if anyone else has had the same experience. :)

[karenisraw]

No, I love my raw restaraunt, (ecopolitan). I just went there twice today. For lunch I had a piece of savory cassarole. I tasted just like it had real cream cheese in it but it is vegan so it was probably nuts and stuff. It was sooo good. Tonight for dinner, I had a bowl of raw soup. It was made of avacodo, celery, apple, herbs and tomato. It was really good too. There are so many things to try and I have not been disapointed.

Maybe there is something else to try if you go again. :confused:

k :) :rolleyes:

[berrienoire]

wow... that's the first time I heard of an experience like that :( I've not had the opportunity to eat at a raw restaurant yet, none in my area. Maybe that particular restaurant caters more to the cooked crowd than to those that eat closest to nature?? Since you've been eating so simply, maybe the fare was not per se "for you" ?

I am curious about what you all ate at the restaurant. If you feel comfortable sharing... Maybe you could try something else (if you go back), like karenisraw suggested.

[DrPr]

I really liked the raw food restaurant I visited because it opened my eyes to the possibilities of a raw lifestyle. Before the restaurant I basically lived on hummus and taboule. Now I am trying new foods, have a recipe book and have a whole new outlook on what's possible! The one quibble I have is that so many raw foods are given SAD names (spaghetti, meatloaf, bread, pizza, etc.). I prefer not to think that I am emulating SAD because that implies that raw is second-rate rather than an improvement!

[RawTruth]

I like the sampler plate at Cilantro Live! (which is where I figured you went since it is the only decent raw restaurant in SD). Most everyone I know who's eaten there loves it, although a few ventured in without having been told what dishes to avoid, and they did not like what they ordered.

I enjoy good raw restaurants very much ... although my body usually likes eating more simply. It is definitely a treat to go and taste delicious dishes made by someone else. However, for me, the social aspect of dining with raw friends is the biggest draw at this point. When I was first raw, however, I ate at them for the food and learned a lot about how to stay raw by seeing the wide variety of things that could be done with raw ingredients.

No, eating at a raw restaurant has never made me want SAD food. It's just the opposite, actually. I'm always even more thrilled that I eat raw (well, if the food is good, of course :) -- I have had a few meals that were not good at all, an occurrence that's certainly not restricted to raw restaurants!).

[girl007]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping hope alive for me.
To answer your questions I did go to Cilantro Live
I had the following.

Cilantro Live! (Cup) ( It was okay)
Served warm with diced tomatoes.


Sampler Platter ( it was okay)
2 Nori rolls, 1 Spring roll, 1 Buenos Vida Wrap, 2 Raw-violis, 1 Mini Pizzzaza and Small House Salad


Royale Cheeseburger
Our house burger served on freshly prepared almond pulp/flax seed/buckwheat buns. The patty made of sun-dried tomatoes,flax seeds, red peppers, garlic & mushrooms. A layer of cashew cheese, all topped with ketchup, mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado.

2 waters and 1 raw margarita.

$50.00 later - definitly not worth it.

My husband and I shared both. Eveyone I know that has been there really liked the place. I just feel like the food was off in flavor. Perhaps the usual staff/cooks were not there. They are in the process of opening another location. Anyways, we shall see. I know there is better out there, perhaps it is a matter of just trying something else. Also, I felt really heavy after eating that kind of food. I did not eat a lot, afterall I was with hubby so we shared everything in a 2/1 fashion :). I didn't feel as light and "springy" this morning either. So go figure. Maybe it depends how you start out with the raw food life. In any case, I'm so into the raw desserts so as long as I have fudge balls I will be forever happy. A girl has got to have her emergency kit!

[Lady Green Jeans]

Girl007,

I ate at Cilantro live with five friends. We had all ordered something different. Three liked the food; three were not impressed. I was in the latter group and never went back.


RawTruth,

My opinion, but seems you should not have to be warned of "dishes to avoid" at a raw food restaurant. Especially if it is supposed to be the best representation of raw cuisine in the area. I heard of a new restaurant in the Lemon Grove area, although have not heard any feedback yet.

Personally, I will continue with Alissa's recipes and some of the other gourmet listings. Sad, because I do enjoy the social mix of dining out.

[rawredbone]

Do you think maybe your taste buds are not ready yet? I remember starting off nothing tasted good to me for at least two months. I started eating the foods you mention. I remember my co-workers made a comment about how they would get burned out on just eating salads. I thought they were crazy, I remember thinking I could not get enough of salads.

I would just give it another try or maybe try another place.

[RawTruth]

Why would a raw restaurant be any different than a cooked food restaurant? Nobody's tastes are the same, and different dishes have different tastes. Whether it's cooked or raw, what I may like is not what you may like and vice-versa. Right?

The heavy feeling is not unusual - raw "gourmet" cuisine is not really for eating daily; it is a "treat" and/or for when people are transitioning from eating cooked food dishes. That's why they resemble cooked food dishes. I don't know many raw fooders who've been all raw for over 5 years who eat raw gourmet very often (some not at all). If I eat something as complex as their Royale Cheeseburger (which I don't like), I would have a stomach ache afterward and wake up the next day feeling heavy. I know this from experience. I usually stay within what I normally eat -- salads or other lighter dishes. Sometimes, though, I will deviate -- knowing ahead of time what I'm doing -- and just keep in mind that my worst eating is still light years better than most people's best eating.

I like Cilantro Live, Au Lac, and Cafe Gratitude the best of all the raw restaurants in California. However, at each of them, there are things I don't like. No big deal. When I was eating at ... say, Macaroni Grill, there were things I didn't order there also because I didn't like them. Seems normal to me.

By the way, Coleur Alive (in Lemon Grove) is not someplace you want to go. Trust me on this. If you wish to know why, you can PM me, but I'm not going to discuss it in a public forum.

Ya know -- eating fresh at home -- just the way you like it -- can't be beat IMHO!!

[cattzeye]

I also ate at Cilantro Live! early on in my raw journey (several years ago). I was so looking forward to going, but I ended up being really disappointed. I ordered the pizza, and had one of the raw cakes for dessert. I didn't care much for either, and felt it was highly overpriced for the amount of food I got. Especially, I was disappointed in the "salad" that came with the pizza. I thought a raw restaurant would serve an awesome salad with their entrees, but all it was was a few baby lettuce leaves and some tomato. The pizza was so heavy and salty to me, and the dessert just didn't taste good.

But, I have heard many people rave about the restaurant. Everyone has different tastes, and I think that I am one who just naturally prefers more simple dishes. I eat very simply on a daily basis, just basically fruits and veggies, and a few condiments. I am used to very clean, fresh tastes. So the saltiness and heaviness of the prepared recipes is just not to my liking.

Everyone is different, and we just have to find out what our "style" is.

Christine

[Guydiane]

I ate at Cilantro Live! there was 10 of us all like it except for 2 people. My husband, sister and I went back that night for more.

[Sheryl]

Au Lac in Orange County (or there abouts) is the BEST raw restaurant I have ever ever been to (and we've tried about 10). I definitely recommend it. It was a magical experience and we left a 100% tip it was that special a night. We spent hours with the owner, travelling magician and also the chef. Magic!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[RawTruth]

Well known on this board including pictures from various visits there. It's in Fountain Valley. http://www.aulac.com

[wolfieandbetty]

I just ate at Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco for the first time and LOVED it. Reasonably priced, and I ordered too much food so had to bring some home. My husband is taking me back this week for my b-day. Can't wait to have the olive tapenade and a "chai" tea with almond milk yum!!

Perhaps a different restaraunt might help. Also, may help to check in with yourself and figure out if you are attaching old feelings and expectations to your eating out experience. Sometimes that can be the cause of disappointment. On the other hand you may have just had a bad meal.

Hope the next one is better.

Catherine

[greywolf]

I just ate at Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco for the first time and LOVED it.

Catherine

my favorite too. i go over to the location on 9th and Irving as often as i can. not too pricey, in fact pretty reasonable for lunch, and the staff and food are great.

matter of fact, if i remember right, they open their 3rd location in Berekely TODAY!

[wolfieandbetty]

I haven't been to the one on Irving - I went to 10th and Harrison. They opened the Berkeley one last week - that would be a fun one to go to. Maybe we'll try the one on Irving this week - we're going to GG Park and the Asian Art Museum so it's probably closer.

C

[Revvell]

I went to Cilantro Live awhile back and found it quite good for lunch. Went back for dinner, had the Royale Cheeseburge and disliked it muchly as RT said. There were some things we absolutely loved ~ and some ~ not so hot. I did a review on it on my Dancingdragon site.

Have also been to AuLac. I think out of all I've eaten there, there was only one dish I didn't like.

Have also been to Cafe Gratitude ~ twice. I like the names of the dishes, the atmosphere and also the food. Last thing I had was a kale salad. A bit overwhelming. Other than that, enjoy the place.

Jade in Silverlake is quite good; Taste of the Goddess ~mixed reviews from me although many love it; Leaf, also mixed from me ~ mostly because I don't do any of the heavier things. Went to the new one in Sherman Oaks recently and got a veggie wrap which was excellent and a berry smoothie. Bo enjoyed his wrap as well (can't 'member the name though).

I've been to Juliano's raw which literally knocked me out before we got on the freeway. That was interesting. Can't remember if we even liked the food or not.

The best place I've been for raw so far was Roxanne's in Marin. The food, the atmosphere ~ everything about it. *sigh* closed now.

Been to Go Raw in LV as well ~ twice. First time, enjoyed what I had; second time ~ no. Smoothie was quite good though.

Revvell

[girl007]

Wow.......... tons of good feedback. After thinking about what you all have said. I think my dissapointment stemmed from eating recipes from Alissa's book. Everything I have made has been so good. Upon first tasting it, I always beam with sheer excitement. So, I think when I went to the resturant I was expecting things to be even better. For me it was about a c-.
You know, like Raw Truth said like all resturants some things will be better than others. I will try them again, just to see. Oh, the ice cream was good though :). I will have to read Revvell's review first.

This post has actually turned out to be a good resturant review for me. Now I have a few places to try when I travel up North :) YEAH!

Buon Appetito :)