Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

I have no idea where the time has gone, but its been six months since Candle Cafe West, an offshoot of the popular East Side organic and vegetarian/vegan eateries Candle Cafe and Candle 79, opened its doors on the Upper West Side (2427 Broadway, between 89th & 90th).

Unsurprisingly (given its pedigree), the restaurant has garnered very solid reviews since its March opening.

I recently came across a review of the restaurant by Upper West Sider @JensBestLife — you can read the full review here.

Jen dined with a friend and details their meal, but here’s the conclusion:

I’ll be back! I will be dragging my boyfriend to the cafe soon since it’s close to my apartment and the food is amazing. He’s always skeptical of vegan/vegetarian restaurants, but once he tries it he becomes a fan (this happened with Peacefood Cafe in the West 80s after he tasted their phenomenal chickpea fries!).

Jen’s review prompted me to check out the restaurant is faring on Yelp and OpenTable — it’s got solid reviews at both.

30+ Yelpers have bestowed an average of rating of 4-stars, while 200+ people have given the restaurant an average of 4.3 on OpenTable.

Coincidentally, the restaurant was featured in today’s “Weekly Yelp”:

“The food is so good, it’s almost unbelievable that it’s vegan! I’m a meat eater, but I’m never unsatisfied or hungry when I leave.”

As I mentioned back in February, my family and I went to Candle Cafe’s sister restaurant, Candle 79, for my sister’s birthday a few years back.  I remember really enjoying the meal, but perhaps an even better barometer is that my dad — who doesn’t even like the words “vegetarian,”vegan,” or “organic” — enjoyed his too.

Looks like Candle Cafe West has been a solid addition to the neighborhood.

Here’s the mission statement from their website:

We at the Candle Cafe are dedicated to your health through our commitment to excellent vegetarian cuisine. Our inspired creations are comprised of a seasonal array of organic ingredients. This means that the food is grown without the use of pesticides and other chemicals which have debilitating consequences for both our farmlands and our health. By supporting organic farming and avoiding animal products, we acknowledge the interconnectedness of environmental, spiritual and physical well-being. We are delighted to nourish your body with delicious meals served in a vibrant and friendly atmosphere. We invite you to enjoy the good foods that come fresh from the farm to your table.

Filed under: Food & Drink, Going Out, Manhattan, New York City, News, NYC, Restaurants, Upper West Side, Upper West Side Blog, Upper West Side Review, UWS 1 Comment »
Tags: 2427 Broadway, Candle 79, Candle Cafe, Candle Cafe West, New York City, NYC, Organic, restaurant review, Upper West Side, UWS, Vegan, Vegetarian