Avalon International Breads in Detroit

Last Wednesday, my mother, sister and I spent the morning exploring the D.I.A., catching a glimpse of Patti Smith's Camera Solo exhibition, as well as the Five Spanish Masterpieces exhibition before they leave the museum's collection. After working up an appetite from wandering around the huge museum, we decided to head over to Avalon International Breads, located on W. Willis in Cass Corridor. Avalon claims to have a Triple Bottom Line: Earth, Community, and Employees. They are committed to use "organic ingredients when possible, local ingredients whenever feasible, and environmentally friendly practices at every opportunity." Also, they hope to assist in making a "healthier, more vibrant Detroit" and offer employees "fair wages, good benefits and an environment that encourages growth." In addition to all of this, Avalon sells a variety of vegan sandwiches, breads made of 100% organic flour, and other yummy baked goods.

The outside of Avalon looked as sunny and friendly as the inside. It sat at the end of a little strip mall covered in pumpkin colored brick, which also held a health food store and a clothing boutique. In front of Avalon was a sprinkling of metal patio tables with umbrellas, a few of them occupied. The Avalon logo, a sun with what appear to be wheat stalks for rays, hovered above the double doors, sweetly attracting anyone who happened to walk by. And inside was a picturesque cafe. Colorful, handwritten menus hung from the ceiling, above the long counter, which held shelves full of tempting cookies, muffins, scones, and other different handmade sweets. Behind the counter were racks holding a variety of aromatic loaves of bread: sourdough, ciabatta, baguettes, and more. There were a few charming, mismatched tables placed against the walls, as well as a fridge holding drinks and "Grab and Go" sandwiches. The whole bakery smelled deliciously like coffee beans and warm sugary goodies. We grabbed a few sandwiches, some sweets to share, water bottles, a coffee and headed outside to sit in the sun.

I picked out a Gardenworks sandwich, which had "avocado, house-made basil walnut pesto, roasted red peppers, and Michigan-grown organic sunflower sprouts on Motown Mutligrain." The bread tasted fresh, though it had been sitting in the fridge probably since early morning. It was pleasantly chewy, aside from the hard crusts, textured by the seeds interspersed in the softness. The salty, basil pesto combined perfectly with the fatty slices of avocado, creating a somewhat messy, but tasty mix. A few of the sunflower sprouts added a surprising fresh, sweetness, with a bit of a crunch. And pieces of the red pepper made an occasional spicy bite. The sandwich had an overall earthy taste to it, but it was scrumptious and filling. My mother and sister loved their Tiger Time Turkey and Roma sandwiches, as well.

The vegan sweets we grabbed were Monkey Bread, a Date Bar, and a simple Oatmeal Raisin Cookie. The Monkey bread was similar to a cinnamon bun, with gooey icing on top of a chunk of dough scattered with raisins. But, it was a tad too doughy, under cooked in fact. The top half of it was indeed delicious, but the bottom half was inedibly raw. The piece of the Date Bar I ate, however, was perfect. Pureed dates, raisins, and cinnamon formed the inside of this tasty, gummy slab, crusted with oats. We all gobbled it up. And the cookie was a very good oatmeal cookie, sweet and chewy and crunchy in all of the right places. Though the Monkey Bread wasn't baked all the way through, I was overall pleased with the quality of the vegan baked goods.

What I most enjoyed about Avalon International Breads was the evident sense of community they project. The focus they place on rejuvenating their section of Cass Corridor and their commitment to environmentally friendly practices were especially admirable. It's good to know that Avalon serves their neighborhood so well, through offering wholesome foods, bike delivery services, and a friendly place to just hang out. I look forward to giving their other vegan sandwiches a try, as well as more of their sweets. I would recommend this place to anyone who's looking for a quick sandwich or is in need of a sugary snack fix, vegans and non-vegans included.

Avalon International Breads - 4 out of 5 stars

Cacao Tree Cafe in Royal Oak

This past week, my grandmother was staying with my family, visiting from Cape Coral, Florida. Since she would probably rather eat at a restaurant where the chicken was cleaned in front of her than at a self-proclaimed raw vegan establishment, I had to put off my Metro Detroit restaurant adventures until she left. Today, free from my adorably traditional grandma, I was able to visit the Cacao Tree Cafe in Royal Oak, right on the corner of West 4th Street, next to the railroad tracks. According to their menu, "EVERYTHING is made from scratch with love and kindness. All selections on menu are cooked below 108 degrees unless otherwise noted." So, this cafe appeared to be a pleasant place to get a taste of the raw food diet movement.

My sister and I parked our car at a nearby parking structure at around noon and swiftly made our way to the Cacao Tree Cafe, only about a block away. From outside, it appeared to be only a sliver of a restaurant, sitting on the very edge of the street separated by the railroad. With the halved cocoa bean and tree logo on the glass doors next to an open sign, it looked inviting. Upon entering, the cafe was more spacious than I had thought it would be, but still quite small. It was almost triangular shaped with a few tables lined up against one wall and the juice bar, cash register, and a freezer full of different health foods and supplies for sale along the opposite wall. There was enough room for a men's and women's restroom in the back, near a water cooler and plastic cups for the customers to use. The walls were painted in warm earth tones - orange, green, beige, and yellow. Inspirational quotes decorated some of the walls, accompanied by a large, vibrant painting of a bird and a cross-legged man sitting on either side of a tree.

We placed our order at the bar: two "On a Beach in Hawaii" Superfood smoothies and a half portion of the Mexican Salad. After seating ourselves at a slim table near the colorful mural, the salad was brought to us almost immediately. Though I only paid for a half portion, the salad I received was quite large. A pile of chopped romaine lettuce was topped with buttery slices of avocados, what appeared to be Daikon sprouts, and a large dollop of heavenly, lush cashew sour cream. Some slices of fresh cucumbers were mixed in and also lined the lip of the plate. A spicy and savory mix of ground seasoned sunflower seeds, walnuts, and almonds created an effect similar to bacon bites. The pico de gallo, a combination of tomato, yellow pepper, and onion (I think), added another notch to the spice factor. It was served with a side of a chipotle vinaigrette dressing, which was also quite zesty, but the dressing was not even needed, since the salad had such a variety of a textures and strong flavors on its own. Overall, it was enormously flavorful, pleasurably spicy, and surprisingly filling.

Just when I felt like I needed to cool down my taste buds from that fiery Mexican Salad, our "On a Beach in Hawaii" smoothies were ready. They were given to us in recycled plastic cups. Blended together, the "mango, pineapple, coconut mylk, spinach, spirulina, thai coconut meat, goji berries, acai" became a pine-needle green color. And while the pigments of the spinach and the spirulina (microalga) overpowered the colors of the other ingredients, the strongest flavor was the coconut meat and milk. In fact, the coconut was about the only thing I could taste. The pineapple, berries, and mango flavors were unfortunately absent. The Superfood smoothie was refreshing and obviously nutritious, but it was bland. And expensive, as it cost $8.49 for a 16 ounce smoothie. It did feel good to drink the smoothie, though. I felt healthy, which is always nice.

Though I really enjoyed my salad, I was a tad disappointed in the taste of the smoothie, mostly because it cost a pretty penny. The atmosphere inside was pleasant and the staff was polite, I must say. Also, I would like to try more of the items on the menu, such as the Falafel Wrap, the Tacos, or one of their daily Soups. And while I wouldn't order that specific smoothie again, I think that their other smoothie options would be tasty. Even more, the cafe allows you to create your own, which might be something to consider for next time. There probably will be a next time for me, yet something about my experience at the Cacao Tree Cafe makes me hesitant to recommend it to my family and friends, especially to those who consume meat.

Cacao Tree Cafe - 3.5 out of 5 stars

Amici's Gourmet Pizza in Berkley

While preparing vegan pizza is do-able, it can be difficult to actually perfect a dairy-free pizza on your own. That is why I desperately wanted to try Amici's Pizza & Living Room in Berkley, located on 12 Mile Road. Amici's gourmet pizza menu includes three different vegan pizzas, also offering a Gluten-Free crust as a substitute for any of the pizzas on their menu. Another attractive fact about this restaurant, other than receiving good reviews on Yelp and Urban Spoon, is that they have made terrific efforts to become a very environmentally friendly restaurant, using recycled paper products and energy efficient appliances. It seemed like a great place to grab an early Sunday dinner.

My brother, my sister, my friend Kayla, and I arrived at Amici's at around 4:30pm, only half an hour after they opened. The restaurant is sandwiched between two shops on a pleasant stretch of 12 Mile Road. It would be easy to miss this place if you weren't keeping your eyes peeled in order to find it. In fact, we would have passed it, continuing down the road, if one of us hadn't commented on the adorable little archway leading to the door of Amici's. We swiftly found a free 1-hour parking spot in a municipal parking lot behind the strip of local businesses.

Once we had entered the restaurant, we were a little confused at first. We entered on the carry-out side and were unsure of whether we should seat ourselves or wait to be seated or place our order at the carry-out counter. However, the perplexed looks on our faces were noticed by the staff behind the bar in the dining area, and they greeted us and told us to sit wherever we would like. Inside the Living Room, it was very modern-looking. The lighting was low and everything looked sleek, especially the fully stocked bar. Yet, the patio area was especially enticing and we opted to sit outside, in the warm air instead of in the completely empty and air-conditioned Living Room.

Outside was a lovely hidden garden. The walls surrounding the patio were covered in green ivy vines that stretched towards the sky. There were numerous colorful flowers and various plants that were potted all around the rectangular area. Blotches of pink, yellow, purple, and red excited my vision everywhere I turned. Also, leading out of the patio and into the parking lot was another archway, laced in vines and entwined in Christmas lights. I imagined how gorgeous this patio would look once the sun went down, when those twinkling lights would light up, joining the numerous lanterns that were placed on the walls.We sat in one of the eight or so patio tables, underneath a lime green umbrella. The weather was quite pleasant, luckily. It was warm, in the low 80's, with a gentle, rejuvinating breeze fanning our faces.

Shortly after we sat down, a waitress handed us menus. This Amici's location is known for its extensive list of martinis. While I'm not much of an alcohol consumer, I knew I had to try one. The waitress helpfully pointed out a few fan favorites for us. I decided to go with the Pama-tini, made with pomegranate liquor, grapefruit juice, and cranberry juice. My brother ordered a Mojito Martini, which was a new item on their menu. My other two companions were not 21 yet, so they simply ordered Coke. My Pama-tini was a bit strong, yet also sweet and tangy, the grapefruit flavor more prominent than the others, which I liked. It was quite good and very refreshing in the heat. I had a small sip of my brother's martini, as well, but I didn't care for it, finding the herb flavors a tad too pronounced for my liking. However, he thoroughly enjoyed it.

Though I had trouble deciding between the three vegan pizzas on Amici's menu, I decided to go with number 11, a pizza with pesto, roasted garlic, broccoli, slices of tomatoes, and tomato sauce. The rest of the crew wanted to experience a traditional plain cheese pizza, because, as Kayla said, "Trying a plain cheese pie is the best way to see how good a pizza place really is." She's from the East Coast, where pizza is taken pretty seriously, so I assumed she knew what she was talking about.

It did take a little while for our pizzas to get to us, maybe 15 to 20 minutes, but we did not mind at all. We were given complimentary bread sticks that seemed to be whole wheat and smeared in some sort of herb paste, served with house-made tomato sauce on the side. The bread was warm, doughy and complimented deliciously with the sweet, chunky tomato sauce. It was nice to try a slightly healthier bread stick option, contrary to the usual butter- and/or cheese-smothered slabs of bread that usually accompany pizza. While chomping on our bread, chatting, sipping on our drinks, and enjoying the weather, timed seemed to fly by.

   When the pizzas did arrive, they looked extremely appetizing. They were conveniently sliced beforehand, and each served with a handy pizza spatula so we could serve ourselves. The vegan pizza had crunchy broccoli served on top of a forest green pesto spread and decadently sweet tomato sauce. Some soft, flavorful roasted cloves of garlic and slices of juicy, red tomatoes were also arranged across the hearty, crunchy whole-wheat crust. It was a delightful combination. The broccoli was a very nice touch, with the tips slightly blackened, a pleasing, textured addition. Their tomato sauce was just perfect, in my opinion, so fresh and cleverly relying heavily on the natural flavor of the tomato. Though I didn't try any of the cheese pizza, the aroma tempted me tremendously. My brother, my sister, and Kayla all said that they liked it, but agreed that they have indeed had better.

Though I had found the vegan pizza to be scrumptious and satisfying, I think what made my experience at Amici's so fantastic was the wonderful outdoor setting. Periodically, either myself or someone else would comment happily, "This is just so nice, isn't it?" We decided we would return, only after sitting down for a few minutes in the gorgeous patio oasis. The prices of the pizzas and the martinis seemed to be a bit high when we received our bill. However, once we divided up the cost, it really wasn't that bad. Also, the waitstaff was definitely satisfactory, bringing refills and boxes without even being asked to do so. Like I said, I will be back, as I'm curious to try Amici's other vegan pizza creations and would love to kick back in that patio area again. I would surely recommend this place to other vegans who need a pizza fix.

Amici's Gourmet Pizza - 4 out of 5 stars

Inn Season Cafe in Royal Oak

Following a relaxing morning, Saturday afternoon seemed like the perfect time to venture down to Royal Oak and eat some vegan cuisine at the Inn Season Cafe, located at 500 E. 4th Street. Though it took about 40 minutes to make the trek to this restaurant, it received positive reviews on Yelp and Urbanspoon, so it sounded like a trip worth the time and gas money. Plus, their menu seemed to offer quite the enticing variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes.

With my sister at my side, I arrived at Inn Season Cafe at around 3:00 pm. It was very easy to find the charming yellow building sitting on the corner of 4th and Knowles Street. And parking was not a problem either, as we smoothly parked near a meter less than a block down the road. Outside of the cafe were benches that were protected from the sun by a brown awning, along with a lone picnic table placed in the shade of a few big trees.

After entering the building and walking through a very short, lobby-like hallway that housed a bulletin board covered in the cards of local businesses, we opened another door to find a friendly hostess waiting to greet us. She immediately led us to a table directly in front of the window. The large store-front glass flooded the entire dining room with natural light, only slightly complemented by some lamps and a couple of humble chandeliers. The lower halves of the walls were covered by green wood paneling, somewhat hidden by the booths and tables that lined the walls. A few black and white photographs were placed on the top halves of the walls, along with a colorful painting of a peacock that gently demanded my attention.  An interesting, white molded pattern concealed what would be a boring ceiling. The antique-looking, wooden tables in the center of the dining area sat on top of different oriental rugs.While the eating area was not very spacious, quite a lot of tables were strategically placed in order to create a high amount of available seating. Although there were occupied tables on either side of us in this small stretch of space, I did not actually feel cramped at all. Instead, I felt cozy and calm, relaxing to the pleasant variety of soft music wafting through the restaurant, never interrupted by the low hum of friendly chatter.

Our server approached us a few minutes after we had sat down and placed water and two menus in front of us, the lunch menu and a list of the day's specials, with a couple of items covered in a "Sold Out" stamp. It took us a while to decide what to order. The menu seemed to have everything from burgers to Mexican dishes to spaghetti, all vegetarian and most able to be prepared vegan. After a couple visits from our waitress inquiring if we were ready to order, I had finally decided on "The Big Brapawski" burger and my sister chose the Caesar Salad. I ordered my tempeh burger with vegan Daiya cheese and inquired whether the sides of coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing had dairy in them.

"Nope, the coleslaw and the dressing are both vegan, dairy-free," our server responded, with a smile.

And after my sister placed her order for the Caesar Salad, our waitress helpfully said, "I just want to make sure you know that that particular salad does have dairy in it."

Since my sister is not a vegan or vegetarian, she did not mind at all. Our server's knowledge about veganism, her familiarity with the menu items, and the kind courtesy of making sure we both understood what was in our entrees were all highly appreciated.

Only after about fifteen minutes, our meals arrived at our table, looking near heavenly. My Big Brapawski was a double-decker burger, made out of tempeh, which is sort of a cultured soybean cake, and topped with vegan cheese, onions, slices of tomato, and lettuce. It was served on a grainy, house-made bun, which was quite good even on its own. The tempeh burger itself was moist, flavorful, meat-like and very nicely enhanced by the warm, melted Daiya cheese on top. The sauteed onions, fresh tomato, and strips of lettuce combined deliciously and almost effortlessly with the tempeh patty and cheese. It absolutely hit the spot and didn't even need the Thousand Island dressing that was served on the side. The burger also came with some coleslaw and tortilla chips. I had actually been craving coleslaw for a while now, so this was a much appreciated side dish. The coleslaw was crisp and refreshing, not blanketed in a heavy mayo sauce as it normally is. Instead, the shredded carrots and cabbage were mixed with a very light, tangy sauce of some sort. It was tasty, yet a tad dry. However, the Thousand Island dressing was the perfect flavorful addition to the slaw. Also, the navy blue tortilla chips were good and not stale at all, they were quite obviously freshly made in house.

Although I did not try any of my sister's Caesar Salad, she told me, "This is definitely the best Ceasar salad that I have ever had."

We left Inn Season Cafe feeling relaxed and satisfied, enjoying a short stroll through downtown Royal Oak and discussing how much we had enjoyed our experience at the restaurant. My meal was simply delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the cozy, hospitable atmosphere inside. Those working were kind and helpful and, in my opinion, the menu items were fairly priced. The only negative I can think of was that my sister's water glass had a mysterious crumb in it, but that problem was promptly solved and quickly forgotten. I would definitely, without a doubt, like to visit this cafe again, and I will confidently tell my friends to try this place whenever they're in Royal Oak.


Inn Season Cafe - 4.5 out of 5 stars

The Root in White Lake

At first glance, the Root might seem like an unlikely place for a vegan to dine. Foie Gras? Fried Bologna Sandwich? A wide variety of different meat and seafood dishes? However, this 2012 Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year does include vegan dishes on its menu. Even their elaborate dinner tasting menu, which lists three courses and dessert, has one side labeled House, for regular folks, and one side for vegans. Another attractive feature of the Root, located in White Lake, is that the restaurant actively supports local farms and businesses, with the sources of all their meat, seafood, dairy products, and produce listed in the lunch menu insert and also available online. Moreover, I have been told multiple times from many of my friends, coworkers, and some family members that I simply must try this close-to-home restaurant.

                Last night, a friend and I spontaneously decided to finally experience the Root. We made online reservations, which was quite convenient, about a half an hour before the time we reserved and quickly freshened up before making the 15-minute drive. This fine dining restaurant is curiously located in a suburban strip mall, so parking was free and easy. Upon entering the restaurant, we were promptly  led to a table, which had a small, formal “Reserved” sign placed on it, making us both feel humorously important. Shortly afterwards, we were given tall glasses of ice water, from another polite member of the wait staff. It was evident early on that the service here was near impeccable.

                Though one cannot tell from outside, the interior of the Root is very spacious. Each large dining area is separated by a barrier of faux-branches, with white Christmas lights entangled on the bottom, somehow appearing sophisticated instead of tacky. In the back of the Root is an open, clean-looking kitchen, where one might get a glimpse of meals being made. The ceiling, similar to Seva, has an industrial, exposed look, but some areas of the ceiling are covered by hanging white, geometric slabs that hold small circular lights. These lights contributed to a low amount of lighting, as the restaurant was a bit dark, but in a calming way. The tables seemed to be made of smooth, dark wood, while the booths were made of some lighter woodwork. Certain parts of the walls were also covered in this same shade of light wood, creating a modern look.

                When our waiter approached our table, he kindly welcomed us to the Root and placed menus in front of us. Both of us wanted to spend a minimal amount of money, so we agreed that splitting everything would be a financially savvy way to enjoy the pricey menu items. For a starter, we got the Vegan Greenhouse Fattoush. We ordered the Vegan Michigan Cranberry Bean and Summer Vegetable Succotash as our entrée, sharing that, as well. After taking our order, our waiter asked us, “Are you ladies vegans?”

I replied, “Yeah, I am. Well, trying to be.”

He said that he would bring some bread out shortly, after putting in our order, and said that the bread was also vegan. However, just a moment later, he returned and asked me, “You aren’t against honey, right? The bread is actually made with honey.”

I told him that it was fine and expressed my appreciation for checking with me. The fact that our server was concerned enough to make sure that I wouldn’t object to honey was just a small example of how excellent our service was throughout our meal. Though I don’t actually eat honey, my friend is not vegan or even vegetarian, so she was indeed going to feast on the delicious-looking focaccia that came to our table almost immediately.

It wasn’t long until we were given our appetizer, which was conveniently divided up into two white bowls. I had never tasted fattoush before, but what I ate was scrumptious. The fattoush was a delightful combination of thinly sliced radishes, watercress, thick wedges of juicy tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, and pieces of yummy pita bread, all doused in a sweet, tangy lemon dressing. I quickly devoured this healthy starter, enjoying the fresh taste of each ingredient individually. On the contrary, my friend was not particularly fond of the fattoush. She forked all of her tomatoes over to me and ate around the radishes and cucumbers, yet she did continue to nibble on the focaccia, which she thought was quite tasty.

Only a moment or two later, our starter plates were cleared away and we were given our succotash. Just looking at the bowl of succotash on the table was visually satisfying. A red ring of “Roasted Tomatillo Vinaigrette” surrounded the creamy onion mousse, mixed colorfully with beans, corn, cubes of squash, dark leaves of swiss chard and topped with a couple thin shavings of radishes and an unidentifiable garnish. It looked too good to violate with a fork, but of course, I couldn’t help myself. The large, meaty cranberry beans were so savory and mixed wonderfully with the sweet corn and fresh-tasting chunks of zucchini and yellow squash. The rich flavors of the onion mousse and the tomato vinaigrette did not overpower each other and instead combined to form a luscious, thick medley to coat the other components of the succotash. Each bite was immensely enjoyed. My friend liked the succotash as well, not leaving even the smallest morsel in her bowl. Throughout the entire meal, we were checked on regularly by our server. Also, the minute our glasses of water became even close to being half-full, a friendly member of the wait staff was immediately at our table to provide us with refills.

After our server cleared our dishes, he mentioned that they had a vegan peach cobbler. We gave in and decided to split dessert, as well. The dessert was just as decadent as our other dishes. It was topped with a ball of frozen almond milk, which quickly melted to cool down the warm cubes of gooey peaches. The fruit was especially flavorful and tart, encased by a perfectly baked crust. We dove into the cobbler and finished it so quickly that I had completely forgotten to take a photo of it, hence the image of the empty dessert dish.

 Although the nearly perfect service at the Root was the best I’ve ever experienced and the irresistible food I ate was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before, I couldn’t get the price of this dinner out of my mind the whole time we were eating. We split the appetizer, the entrée, and the dessert, and both still had to empty our pockets more than we would have liked to. Since we did split everything, our portions ended up being pretty small. I do understand that this is standard for fine dining and that the prices were most likely more than reasonable for the quality of the food. However, for someone who is on a budget and who would like to have more bang for her buck, I don’t know if I could regularly eat at the Root. Also, there simply aren’t many vegan options at this restaurant, so if I were to return, there would not be much of a difference in what I ordered. Nevertheless, my experience at the Root was great and I would surely recommend this place to those who have a little extra spending money. 

The Root - 4 out of 5 stars

Seva in Detroit

All throughout this hectic week I’ve been looking forward to trying the vegetarian restaurant Seva, located on East Forest Avenue in Midtown, Detroit. Similar to L.A. Café and Java, Seva had received convincing reviews from Yelp and Urban Spoon. Also, their online menu proved to be very vegan friendly, with each item clearly identified as either vegan, able to be prepared vegan, or vegetarian. And almost every single dish sounded mouthwateringly scrumptious.

At around 1:30pm earlier today, my parents, sister, and I arrived at the location. Initially, we had trouble finding a place to park, but a space right in front of N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art opened up pretty quickly. Unbeknownst to us, there was also ample parking behind the restaurant. Taking cues from a cute, decorated chalk sign, we followed the sidewalk to find the entrance to Seva, tucked behind the gallery. You wouldn’t know it from the street, but between Woodward and John R, the exterior of Seva provides somewhat of an oasis. It houses a vast patio space, which is very appealing with large, light green umbrellas and charming horticulture. We almost decided to be seated outside, despite the sweltering heat of the early afternoon. Once we stepped inside, though, we were just as delighted with the interior.

Right when we entered, we were welcomed into a refreshingly open dining area. The natural light leaked in through the many windows and was complimented by some low, glowing lamps. Looking up, I gazed into an industrial, exposed ceiling and felt the gentle fans wafting the warm scents of cuisine into my hungry nostrils. The host, whom we later found out to be the manager, led us deeper into the restaurant to the bar area, just as bright and airy, with red brick covering half of the walls. Those seated in this area could watch as the staff turned fruits and veggies into nutritious juices behind the bar. On some of the walls, just enough beautiful and colorful art from the N’Namdi Gallery were displayed.  For a Sunday afternoon, the restaurant appeared to be somewhat busy, yet the noise level remained pleasantly low, only occasionally interrupted by the loud sounds of the juicer. It was quiet enough, though, for a small toddler sprawled across two chairs at a table behind us to remain sweetly asleep throughout our entire dining experience.

Once seated, we were almost immediately greeted by a friendly waiter who offered ice water, while handing us Seva’s regular menu, a brunch menu, and a list of this week’s specials. I made sure to place an order for the General Tso’s Cauliflower as an appetizer, since I had read from some online reviews that this dish was a must have. We did need more time to decide on our entrees, since every item on the cleanly organized menu was calling our names. Eventually, we all reluctantly made our choices. I ordered the Burrito, but without the cheese or sour cream in order to be made vegan. The server was not sure if this item could be prepared in this way, though the menu stated that it could. Just to be certain, he promptly checked with the kitchen, which was appreciated. My sister ordered the Seva club, also vegan, which had slices of Tofurky and smoked coconut, along with other typical club sandwich toppings. My father ordered the Omelet and my mother decided on the Spinach Enchiladas, both vegetarian choices. There was a long gap between visits from our waiter, which I attribute to the high level of activity in the restaurant. Yet, other members of the wait staff were happy to fill our water glasses while passing by, and the lack of faithful attentiveness from our assigned waiter was almost irrelevant to our experience.

When we did receive our appetizer, I must say, I was simply blown away. The General Tso’s Cauliflower looked fantastic when it was first placed on our table. Sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, the dish emitted the decadent scent of salty sweetness. Now, I love vegetables, but have never been a big fan of cauliflower. This appetizer may have changed my mind, though. The fluffy cauliflower was coated in a crispy, yet light tempura batter and smothered in the General Tso’s tangy sauce. It was unbelievably delicious. This savory dish could satisfy any vegan or vegetarian’s meat craving. My only complaint is that a couple of our small appetizer plates were a bit dirty. Yet, the uncleanliness of our plates was soon forgotten as we quickly devoured this well-portioned starter.

Later, we were given our actual entrees, which were just as attractively plated as the appetizer. The burrito I ordered was much larger than I had expected it to be, stretching from one end of a long plate to the other. It was coated with rich, red sauce that was almost flowing over the lip of the dish. Once I had cut into the burrito, I was a little disappointed to find that the contents of it were a tad cool, but not enough so for me to send it back to be reheated. The burrito consisted of a tasty combination of black beans, rice, corn, and fresh salsa, all wrapped up in a huge whole wheat tortilla. It was quite appetizing, yet a tad spicy. I suspect that the cheese and sour cream that are served with the non-vegan version of the burrito work together to cool down the spiciness of this dish. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this vegan burrito and the fiery flavors were not too overpowering.

Equally as pleased, my family happily dove into their entrees. I had a couple bites of my sister's Seva club and was very impressed with the way the faux turkey, mixed with the avocado, coconut, tomato, and lettuce, fooled me into thinking I was eating an actual meat sandwich. It was scrumptious, as were the yam fries that were served on the side. It is also worth mentioning that many, if not all, of the various breads that Seva uses come from the Avalon bakery, which is also located in Midtown.  I did not taste either of my parents’ main entrees, except for a tortilla chip from my mother’s meal, which was unfortunately a bit stale.

Aside from a few bumps in the road at Seva - such as the slightly inattentive waiter, a few dirty dishes, my sort-of chilly burrito, and some stale chips – I had a very enjoyable experience. I loved the pleasant exterior, along with the open, calming interior of the restaurant. The successful way Seva turns typical meat dishes into extraordinary vegan and vegetarian meals is especially noteworthy. Also, although the prices of the appetizers and entrees were moderately expensive, the portions must have been more than adequate, since we all needed about half of our meals to be boxed up and brought home for leftovers. I would love to visit Seva again. After the appetizer and entrées that I had tasted soared beyond my expectations, I am eager to return to try more items from Seva’s diverse menu. I definitely can confidently recommend this place to not only vegans, but to all of my meat-eating friends and family.

                Seva – 4.5 out of 5 stars.  

L.A. Cafe and Java in Waterford

As a result of poor planning and a very small budget, this weekend I needed to quickly find somewhere cheap and nearby for me to dine and blog about. After a quick Google search, the L.A. Café and Java located on Dixie Highway in Waterford seemed like a good place for my first vegan-friendly restaurant review. Usually, I would avoid anything with “L.A.” in its title. I mean, do we really need “A little Los Angeles in Michigan”? We’ve already had enough of that L.A. weather, in my opinion, and I prefer my streets not to be crowded with celebrities and paparazzi. However, the café received generally positive reviews on both Yelp and Urban Spoon, each mentioning that there were vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. So, I thought this would be the perfect eatery in which I could grab some Sunday lunch. Things didn’t go so smoothly, though.

Many times had I passed by this small place, on my way to the local flea market, the bank, or a Redbox location, but it had never really caught my eye. Upon closer examination earlier today, unfortunately, it didn’t look too promising from the road. Although the giant peace sign should’ve been reassuring – right? – the nearly empty parking-lot and shabby-looking exterior gave me a bad feeling. Yet, since childhood, we have all been told not to judge a book by its cover! So, along with my food snob of a brother and my hungry sister, I ventured inside, passing plastic, outdoor tables with dirty plates and napkins on them. Once indoors, I was pleasantly surprised. It smelled like delicious and warm coffee. The walls and shelves displayed crafts, photographs, and other art created by local artists. Upon first interior impression, the L.A. Café and Java was colorful, casual, cozy, and had the capacity to please my taste buds. 

After some short confusion on whether to seat ourselves or be seated by a hostess, we grabbed a tall table near the window and waited. The tabletops in the area we were seated in had collages of photographs of famous celebrities from the 90s on them, which I loved. As you can see, ours had a picture of Jennifer Aniston circa her Friends era, Ashley Judd, Katie Holmes and many more. Once we were given menus from our waitress, we ordered some drinks and pita chips and hummus before deciding on our main courses. I asked the waitress if there were any vegan options that I could order. She looked at me quizzically and asked, “What do you mean ‘vegan’? Like, no dairy and cheese?” And I replied with a “Yeah…”, while giving my brother a side-eye glance. Then, she once again asked, “Okay, so.. . What do you mean?” I pointed out that there was a vegan veggie burger on the menu, along with a couple of other things, but I explained that I wanted to know if there were more dairy, egg, and meat-free options available. She proceeded to take the menu from me and look it over, then saying that I could make things vegan by asking for no cheese.

Now, I don’t usually expect servers to be knowledgeable about veganism. Yet, the vegetarian and vegan options on the L.A. Café and Java’s menu were somewhat advertised on the restaurant review websites I read. Perhaps I had interpreted those reviews wrongly, but I have to admit, I was kind of disappointed that I had to explain veganism to the impolite server of a supposedly vegan and vegetarian friendly restaurant. I ended up ordering the West Coast burger, substituted with the vegan veggie burger and without the provolone cheese. My brother ordered the High Plains Drifter sandwich (a turkey and cheese sandwich) and my sister ordered the Good Earth sandwich (has cheese, but vegetarian). After taking our order the waitress returned to the bar to chat loudly with the rest of the staff. A little while later we received our hummus appetizer, but were given stale tortilla chips instead of pita chips. We decided to let it go because we were all pretty ravenous and were unsure of how long it would take to get the right chips that we ordered. The chips appeared to be store-bought, not house-made. And the hummus was somehow watery and bland, almost as if it had recently been thawed out from a previously frozen state. It took a while for our entrees to get to our table, but I had expected that, after reading the few negative online reviews. When we did receive them, all three of us were, once again, disappointed.

At first glance, everything looked good, except for the possible prepackaged, Dole fruit cup I was given as a side. As it turns out, that tiny fruit cup was the tastiest part of my meal. My vegan burger appeared to be appetizing, but when I actually put it into my mouth, I realized that I could have made a better burger myself, and I am not a good cook. The bun seemed to be a cheap, store-bought bun, which made me question whether it was ‘organic’ or even vegan.  Also, the burger itself was so over cooked, I had to resort to putting Heinz ketchup on top of the small amount of guacamole. I usually enjoy sprouts on sandwiches and burgers, but the alfalfa sprouts put on this burger just made everything unbelievably dryer and more unappetizing. In addition, the slice of tomato did not look or taste very fresh at all. My brother cut himself a piece of my burger and he described it as “almost inedible.” He and my sister barely ate half of their sandwiches, each claiming that they simply could not force anymore of the unpleasant food down. We did not get boxes to take our leftovers home and we only left a tip because we felt bad about possibly insulting the staff by leaving most of our meals on our plates.

Overall, I was not pleased with my dining experience at the L.A. Café and Java. I had desperately wanted to like this place, since it is so close to home and supports local artists. While the menu items were inexpensive and the interior design of the restaurant was quirky and fun, I don’t think I could dine there again or recommend this place to friends. Perhaps I should have tried some coffee or baked goods, since I suspect that that may be where this café’s strong suit, if any, lies. However, I don't believe any of the baked goods were vegan. Maybe my expectations were simply too high for menu items that were pretty cheap. Yet, I suppose I just couldn't help myself from hoping that a restaurant described as having organic, natural, and delicious food would actually be decent. Better luck next time, I guess. Hopefully my ensuing vegan-friendly restaurant experiences will not leave myself and my companions feeling sick to our stomachs.

L.A. Cafe and Java - 2 out of 5 stars