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