This place is rather small but has great ambiance. The waiters were so friendly and accommodating, it was a pleasure to dine there. The food was delicious. We had chipotle grilled tempeh and some sort of delicious mashed potatoes with walnut crusted seitan. So good, mmmm. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Pros: Ambiance, Location, FoodWhile visiting New York City for the weekend, I was overwhelmed by all the vegan restaurants and wanted to try them all! I went to Candle Cafe on my last day in the city and it was definitely my favourite food destination. The prices are moderate and the quality is 5 star. They have a HUGE selection of food and it took my forever to decide because everything sounded wonderful. I finally went with a chipolte tempeh over quinoa and kale in a mango salsa, and an order of spring rolls to go (for the trip back). Both were delectable. Only con was that the service was slow.
Pros: Great selection, TasteReally good, big, delicious sandwich!
The quality of the seitan was unpredictable, but it seems they worked it out. Phone folks uneven, too - could be super nice or just nasty.
$16 sandwich and they charge you $2 extra for a tiny container of extra sauce - is there any way to explain that as more than greedy?
Juices are good.
Lots of the main courses are mediocre and way overpriced.
On a trip to New Jersey, we went into the city to visit Candle Cafe and it did not disappoint! The porcini crusted seitan was awesome, as we're the chimchurri seitan appetizer and the carrot cake for dessert. Being from DC, we have limited options for vegan fare, so this was definitely a fantastic treat.
Pros: Nice staff, Awesome foodI finally convinced my mom to go to an all vegan restaurant and I wish I had chose a different restaurant. The fries came out cold and mushy almost as if they warm them up in the microwave and lacked flavor big time. I also got one of their "shakes" but it was somewhat icee instead. My mom ordered the mac n cheese and it tasted awful. It was almost as if they just took some noodles and warmed some Daiya cheese on top.
The Candle restaurants have consistently been some of my favorite dining options in the city. Everything my friends and I have tasted has been excellent and some of my omnivore friends said they enjoy the food enough to consider becoming veggie- score(!). These restaurants are my first vegan and gluten free experiences in New York City, they have never disappointed and raise the bar high for others to try meet- the perfect dining introduction to NYC. I love that the menu changes seasonally, they support the local farmers and buy organic produce, their menu is inventive and delicious, they are eco conscious and give back, they have a great selection of beverages of all kinds, too. Yummy!
Pros: Amazing, seasonal menu, friendly staff, cater to food-allergies, tooI love the canjun seitan sandwich. It is the most amazing sandwich in recent memory. Get and you'll be good for the rest of the day.
I've also tried the seitan appetizer. It is good but different than the one served at Candle 79.
Candle Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in town. They have tasty and hearty food, affordable, and in a fun/informal place. I specially like going there for brunch, even if I usually just order from the regular menu. The deserts come in large portions (good for sharing) and with beautiful presentation. Most of the people who work there are warm and helpful.
If they have enchilada DO ORDER IT - you won't regret!
In short: The food is very good, but doesn't justify the price---not even close.
In long: Had the Cajun Seitan sandwich and the Tuscan sandwich. Regarding the Cajun Seitan: The side, coleslaw, was weak. Some spices and what looked like precut cabbage with veganaise. The sandwich was actually the best thing we had. The seitan was flavorful and the caramelized onions were a good match. But the Tuscan sandwich was much worse---I'd call it a "vegan pizza burger." They say it's topped with "tapioca cheese," which I'm also certain is a euphemism for Daiya cheese, a way to charge $15 for a small sandwich. The sides for this dish were bizarre: plastic bag french fries (Tuscan?) and a small salad.
Look, the food is good, but not that creative, not that homemade, and not that generous of portions. I would love to pay $7--9 a dish. Unfortunately, they're asking $15-20.
Pros: Pretty good foodI have been to Candle Cafe about 5 times and have never been disappointed in the food. Lack of planning on my part made for a longer wait than I would have liked but it was quality food and service every time.
Love the entrés, juice, salads and side. Love Candle Cafe and even chose it to celebrate after running my first half marathon!
Pros: well crafted menu, taste sensations, fresh and wholesoe foodFirst of all, the waitresses don't seem to want to be there. They have a blah attitude which made me feel like they didn't care about serving good food, just in it for the money.
Secondly, the food for those high prices is not very good. Sure, it is descent food and well balanced but the quality was not aligned with the price. A little bland too.
Third, it took a long time to get the food. I don't mind waiting for amazing food, of course, but when it is only so so, it makes me wonder what they were doing to take so long.
I am NOT one of those complaining people who always give bad reviews. I was just unimpressed and wanted to share. Hopefully they can raise the quality or lower the prices.
On a positive note, the menu is awesome. They have a great selection of vegan food to suit anyone who goes. Wow, they really love seitan there! They have good juice and tempeh.
Pros: Juice, Good Menu, TempehI have been to the restaurant twice now and the menu is always changing. The juice bar is amazing and vey welcoming. I sat by myself and read a book. Another time I went with my family and it was delicious from start to finish. I even own the cook book from this restaurant "The Candle Cafe Cookbook" and I use it often. It is a little pricey but hey you are in NYC.
Pros: Welcoming, Delectable , FriendlyIf you go here, you MUST try the Tuscan Seitan parmesan sandwich (it's vegan), it's simpaly the best burger in NY! The "bread" is made of potatoes and oinion, and their "parmesan" sauce is just amazing!
Cheesecakes were excellent too, and the prices were raisonable. Will go back next time I'm in NY!
Pros: burgers, cheesecake, all food!This place is so great. The food is fantastic and the staff was extremely friendly. Although the prices are high, it is totally worth it!! I will be dreaming of the sandwich I had for a long time to come, mmmm so yummy!
Pros: Great Food, nice atmosphere, great staffI can't say enough about how wonderful this cafe is. We live in PA so when we go, its been a planned visit just so we can eat here. I love their fresh juices and knowing all things are vegan! I have tried some of the green juices with ginger - yum. Hubby usually gets a seitan sandwich of some sort. I have tried various salads - their dressings are wonderful. Last time, I tried the tofu club (very good but i missed my yummy salad). We had our two year old with us on the last visit and he had a 'cheese' pizza - ate every single bite!
Pros: fresh juices, ALL VEGAN, excellent pricesIt's such a cute and cozy cafe with a menu filled with vegan goodness. The first time I ate here was for lunch with my husband a few years back and we thought the food was delicious!! Couldn't forget the amazing soup and seitan burger. So yummy!! We recently came back to the NY area and stopped by once again, and we were disappointed this time around. The cafe itself hasn't changed in terms of service, atmosphere and having a nice selection on their menu. It was the taste of the food that has changed a bit. The soup and sandwiches this time around were bland and not what we had remembered it to be.
Updated from previous review on Friday October 29, 2010
I went to Candle Cafe for the first time this weekend and it was great! The service was amazing, and the food was incredible. Prices were a little high, but for all vegan, organic food stuffs, worth it. And they had very cute shirts for sale, I couldn't resist buying the one that said KALE on it :)
Pros: tasty, great service, dessert!Candle Cafe was a huge disappointment. The service was inattentive, slow, bad. That would have been fine if the food was exceptional, but it wasn't. I dined here four times (once delivery) each time hoping to have a different better experience. All the servers seemed to be preoccupied with themselves and each other. I almost had to refill my water cup after the only good server I had had a shift change and I got the most oblivious server on the planet.
I had a crumble cake that was dry, cold and stale. The tofu in the wraps had no flavor. The best was the delivery meal and my last meal the Tuscan burger. The food is incredibly overpriced.
Pros: locationCandle cafe is so close to being great , but alas ther are some problems. It is also so close to my apt but I confess I do not go there too often. The food is generally great but the staff is generally not. The seem completely unprepared for the crowd which is odd because the crowd shows up daily and nightly. And when you come during the off time the staff are happily not being busy and don't seem to appreciate having their leisure time interrupted. It's also a tad overpriced. But, again the food does not disappoint. The atmosphere is also terribly lacking. I suggest going to the sister location Candle 79.
Pros: Great food, Good soups, Very tasty saucesThis place was the dining highlight of our entire trip to NYC. Fabulous food and friendly staff. A great selection of food to choose from and made with love!
Pros: Great location, Healthy Cuisine, Good valueI had a good experience here and really enjoyed my food. We shared the crystal rolls and grilled focaccia for starters, then I had the Tuscan seitan parmesan sandwich and my friend had the BBQ seitan sandwich. Everything was delicious, but I am glad I ordered the Tuscan seitan, and I highly recommend it. Since we ordered sandwiches instead of entrees, we were able to afford two apps and not break the bank. The staff was also friendly. I also enjoyed the fries served with my meal. Overall, a pleasant dining experience.
Pros: good portions, tasty sandwichesI went there during lunchtime. The food was excellent. My friend had the Indian plate and I had a noodle dish. The dessert was also delicious. It was worth the price.
What I didnt like was the service. The waitress looked overworked and when we asked for advice she answered very hastily. After we finished the dessert, not even 5 minutes have passed, the check was laid on our table without us even asking for it.
This may be a restaurant with excellent cooking. But the atmosphere was way too hurried and thus felt uncomfortable. It is not the place to have a good talk with your friends and relax. We had barely spent 35 minutes inside just because they wanted to make more money.
ok so i finally made it to candle cafe and i must say it was well worth the shlep up to the UES. i went on a saturday afternoon and it was packed. i never sit and eat alone so of course i took it to go which i was quite happy about cause of the crowd. i ordered the cajun seitan sandwich and man it was delicious! it had avacodo and carmelized onions which were great. the sandwich was very filling and i was full pretty much the entire day. i don't know if i would make the trek and eat there being crowded and on the UES(not my favorite hood to say the least) but if i happen to be nearby i would definitly swing by.
After hearing the rave reviews from the local vegans, I was excited to give this place a try. My dad and I went here for brunch on our last day in NYC and were not impressed.
We each got the Green Goddess fresh juice. It was served warm, on the verge of hot. It was gross. I had to ask for ice on the side. Once the ice cooled it down a bit, I was able to get it down.
For meals, I got the breakfast burrito and my dad got an indian dish. My burrito was huge but very plain tasting. I don't even think there was any salt and pepper added to this, nevermind any other seasonings. I could barely even eat it. I tried to be polite and took it home. But it ended up in the trash. My dad's indian dish was pretty good but nothing amazing. He felt that his dish lacked seasoning as well.
Unfortunately, after having a weekend full of delicious vegan food, Candle Cafe was a big disappointment. :-/
Pros: veganI go whenever I'm in the neighborhood, and I haven't been disappointed (although I haven't tried the Cajun Seitan sandwich. I think I steer clear of their sandwiches because they're so pricey.) I submitted the third picture, of pan-seared tofu with polenta and greens; I believe on that trip I also got an obscenely huge piece of their chocolate layer cake--their desserts are easily sharable, but I was dining alone--and commented to the waitress that I was totally blissed-out from the meal. I ended up taking home half the piece of cake.
I've never gotten delivery from them, so I can't say anything pro or con about that. They use local produce, and apparently most or all of it comes from Mountain Dell farm, a long-standing organic farm in upstate New York.
Interestingly, they're right next door to a steakhouse; when you walk in, the juice bar is to your left along with an array of cookies and muffins. I usually get one or two muffins or cookies, and this last time, one of the muffins I got was hard, dry, and burnt on the bottom; since I live way downtown from them, I didn't bother to bring it back. Normally their baked goods are great, and this had never happened to me in my several years of going there.
Pros: reasonable for upper east side, friendly staff, big portionsI made a point of trying out Candle Cafe while in NYC and was not disappointed. The circumstances of my visit were not ideal but the food was so good I forgot about the rest. I had the BBQ tempeh and sweet potato sandwich and simply loved it. I also liked the location and the atmosphere in the restaurant. Wish I had had more time in NYC to try out other items in the menu!
Candle Cafe was one of my favorite places in NYC. It's a restaurant that's a bit nicer so you can dress up if you'd like or wear something casual (we wore what we walked around in all day). We ordered the Cajun Seitan Sandwich and the Tuscan Seitan Parmesan Sandwich. I highly recommend both; however, the Cajun sandwich was the winner out of the two. The best part of the entree was the Cajun sauce that came with it! I can't wait to move to NYC, this will be a regular eating place for me.
I had heard so many good things about Candle Cafe, but I wasn't impressed my first time there. I don't think I'll be back - given the fact that there are so many other great vegan restaurants in NY. The place is busy, and the seating is very close to each other. The place was smaller than I expected and definitely a 'cafe' and not a restaurant. The split pea soup we ordered needed salt, and the little pieces of pita or flat bread on the side were tasteless. Not a good way to start out our lunch. Our entrees were definitely lacking something, and neither of us finished our meals. The service was as lackluster as the food...disinterested and too busy to care. Prices run about $14 for a sandwich - which I think is pricey considering that it's a cafe and not a real dining restaurant. I'm bewildered by all the great reviews this place gets.
kindlizard
you knock all the great places... how much space in NYC should there be? Some cities have all one big table!! You'd really hate that. Being busy is a blessing; you know your food is fresh, doesn't have time to go bad, and you are in NYC!!! You want a room w a view, a room alone, in quiet? Wrong town.
Kell Bell
Dear Kindlizard,
Thanks for the response to my review.
If you care to re-read my review of Candle Cafe, you'll see that I am not knocking the fact that it is busy or that tables are very close together. I am merely making an observation of the environment and surroundings. However, what I am knocking is the tasteless food. Split pea soup is one of the easiest vegan dishes you can make. I've had it in countless restaurants - all better than the Candle Café. Our entrees were bland, unoriginal, and after a couple bites, quite boring. It's rare that we ever leave food uneaten on our plate, but it happened at this place. Maybe they were training a new chef, maybe they had a mishap with the seitan, maybe I have just high standards, or maybe, just maybe, I'm opinionated. But isn't that what writing a restaurant review is all about?
I used to work and live in Manhattan so you shouldn't make judgments about people you don't know. I know a little about cramped quarters... a 375 sq. ft. apartment is luxuriously spacious in NYC. I also managed a busy casual dining/catering joint, so I know all about customer turnover and how it relates to food freshness. However, being busy is no excuse for poor service. We saw our server at Candle only once when she hurriedly took our order. Runners served our food, and a busboy filled our water glasses and cleared our table. We had to flag down another server down to ask for our check. She was clearly in the weeds. Maybe our server was new, maybe they were under-staffed that day, or maybe... you know what, I'm through with making excuses for them. I really wanted to like this place, but the bottom line is that the food wasn't tasty. That's my review, and I'm sticking to it.
kindlizard
You do knock it for being busy and cramped. Again, not the burbs, NYC is a premium of space especially so, you don't know what you're talking about in that regard. Also, I can see how the Candle CAFE could fool you into believing it would not be a CAFE experience, which you also knock it for being. Many cafes employ an all-hands on deck approach where water is filled by back waiters and so forth. Having read all your reviews it is TASTE I think you lack most however and think if it came to you likely would your appreciation of this and some other pretty good spots. There are some flaws to this CAFE, but not anything you mentioned.
I eat here fairly regularly and always enjoy my meal. It is an excellent menu and the food is always tasty. It is always crowded and I don't think it is cheap at all..... in fact, I think it is rather pricy. That said, I always have a good experience when I am there.
Pros: good food, pleasant serviceMy friend and I went there last month and enjoyed our dinner. I had heard alot about this place and since I was in the city for a night, I thought we'd make our way there. Nice atomsphere. The tables are a little too close together, but, hey, it's NYC. But the food was really good. I only wish the portions were a bit bigger because the pricing is on the higher side. But I will return. It was an enjoyable night out.
Pros: Flavors, Location, StaffI had a banana cake and my boyfriend had a chocolate cake. Both the best cakes I have tasted. Had a very tasty burger as well.
Pros: excellent food, friendly staff, nice atmosphereSo I'd been to another vegan place the night before and was really let down. I was afraid this might be the same, but nope, a total 180.. LOVED it.
I ordered very similar to the night before at the other New York Vegan restaurant... I got a veggie drink (delish) and a fruit smoothie (awesome) and a shot of wheat grass. My friend had a beautiful tofu dish which was on a bed of broccoli (perfect and I barely like it - but not overcooked -really tender and green) with lentils and on the top was the most tasty tofu I'd ever eaten (luckily she shared it!) No it wasn't raw but it was good! I'll definitely be back here. If they hadn't rushed us I'd have had dessert but as luck would have it my other gal friend stopped by with raw desserts from Pure.. What a treat. And then I caught my plane and went home.. feeling happy after my perfect meal...
Pros: excellent food, quick service, ambianceThat's it, just amazing.
Pros: AMAZING Foodfood was excellent and fresh...this place was packed and rightfully so...the menu was extensive, creative and staff was friendly...wonderful experience.
We went to NYC last summer for a week. We went to Candle Cafe on our first day there because it was one of the places I wanted to visit the most. By the end of the week my wife was slightly embarrassed that we were such regulars there! You must experience the dishes yourself. The seitan is so tender and delicious and all of the spices are just right. The lasagna was perfect. The hummus plate made a great "on the way back to the hotel" snack at the end of a long day of sight-seeing. This place became our home away from home and I can't wait to return.
Pros: awesome food, friendly staff, large portionsJust like Candle 79, the Cafe lives up to the hype. It's a little less expensive but the food is just as amazing. The staff is really friendly and attentive and the presentation is beautiful. Can't wait to go there again when we are in town!
Pros: Food, Service, AtmosphereI had a very tasty Asian wrap. Restaurant was crowded but I was able to sit at the bar as I was solo.
Pros: Fresh food, Good variety, Good serviceArrived and were seated quickly, service was friendly and upbeat. There was a good menu selection and a good atsmosphere - little crowded :) Ordered the Tofu "BLT" and was pleasantly surprised with the faux bacon. Would recommend and return.
Pros: Good Selection, Friendly Staff, Good Food
kindlizard
"Crowded" as being the only flaw is actually a good thing, I think. Crowded means the food is always fresh. Crowded as a negative though, welcome to NYC!!! Personal space is at a severe premium here and they couldn't afford you the luxury of any more space, or you'd be complaining about waiting outside. Somewhat spacious for some places in NYC.
I had a delicious Vegan BLT Sandwich w/ potato salad it was truly a treat for my first meal in NYC. Also, the Seitan Kebabs were very tastey (also served at Candle 79). The atmosphere was fun as well, I liked observing the Upper East Side culture with all the skinny, wealthy and good looking people..totally different from the mid-west:)
I LOVE Candle Cafe. I used to go there with my boyfriend quite often, but I have been going less since I've been so busy with school. Every time I go there, whatever I order is absolutely delicious. The Tofu Club is great, and so is the BBQ sandwich with sweet potato. Their salads are super fresh, and the dressing is scrumptious. The limonade is very good if you don't mind sour tastes. The only thing I have tried that I did not like was the chocolate peanut butter shake. I was expecting it to taste like a Reese's, but it just tasted like a peanut in liquid form. As for the food, I think it's the best! I would highly recommend this restaurant.
Pros: Amazing Food, Friendly Service, VegetarianIt was our favorite restaurant on our trip to New York. The food was fresh and delicious. We had a group of five friends, only two of us were vegans. Everyone loved the food and we were passing around our dishes for each other to try. I had the best vegan lasagna I've ever had. The only setback was that the restaurant was very crowded, but if you're visiting New York you should definitely try it out.
Pros: Delicious food, friendly waitstaff, great dessertsIts a little crammed, but the review below says its affordable, and I wouldn't use those words :) The good thing is you can probably split what ever your getting with your significant other or close friend.
The food is great and affordable. It is kind of cramped and the blender gets a bit loud, but you'll be pleased once the blended drink lands on your table.
Pros: good prices, generous portions, friendly staffI took my mom here for lunch before headed off to the airport. The portions were large enough for left-overs for dinner during the flight. The dining room was a bit crowded; I felt crammed in. It's not cheap, in fact the lunch bill for two was a bit more than dinner (sans the vino) for two at Candle 79. The service was mediocre to good. We were in a hurry to catch a flight and it took a while to get our courses close together and containers for the left-overs. In their defense it was VERY crowded.
Pros: Delicious, Large Portions, Good ServiceI ordered their veggie burger. The bun was so dry and dense I had to take it apart and create two mini burgers. Great vegan mayonnaise though! That really made the burger taste good. Their banana cake was awesome. Best part of the meal. My husband got a cajun sandwich that he enjoyed. He agreed that my burger was very dry and bland and you could build a house with that bun. I'm sure the food there is good but I didn't get something good. Avoid the soy burger. Get the dessert.
I ate here last year for my friend's birthday and it was amazing. The food was delicious, the menu was very extensive, and the service was cordial and friendly. I had one of the specials, which was an Indian dish of assorted vegetables, beans, and curries; it was so good! Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well. Plus, the restaurant is in a very charming part of the Upper East Side. I will definitely eat here again.
Pros: Delicious food, Great service, Extensive menuThe specials are always exciting and they have HUGE portions for all the food. I enjoy it everytime we go, and always get something new- can't say that for many other places.
It's a must go to if you're in the area.
Pros: Good food, nice staffCandle cafe is a great place to relax with some friends and grab a bite to eat. The food is always great and they have a wonderful selection of organic wines and beer.
Additionally they also have a bar where you can just sit down and have a snack and a drink if you prefer.
Candle Cafe has great ambiance, though it's a small place. The service was attentive and friendly. Their chocolate peanut butter smoothie was too liquidy for my tastes, but their Tuscan lasagna was layered, tasty and filling. Prices are high, sadly.
Pros: Taste, Ambience, ServiceGreat food, staff, menu. Go there, be happy.
Pros: food, staff
kindlizard
This place is so consistent. We go here more than any other place in the city. Seemingly whenever we can go here because they are so consistent and the food always rocks. One of the top 3 in the country, easily.
The "lower priced" candle cafe, lower priced is relative, but since an entree can run close to twenty dollars it's still alittle pricey. The atmosphere is fine...a little cramped for the cash. My friends like this place best because the food reminds them of "normal" food and they can order burritos, burgers, sandwiches and other things that don't intimidate them. The daily specials are good, and menu changes a little bit seasonally. The vegan rehash of regular foods can get a little tired, but the food is still delicious and runs the gamut from big saucy entrees to snack-y appetizers.
Order: Matzoh Ball soup (so good!), indian plate, macrobiotic plate, tofu club, rice pudding, mezza platter, daily specials
Skip: it's a matter of taste, but I could take or leave the casserole. Also, anything involving cheese actually contains casien (it is marked on the menu) but it eliminates several choices.
Joy and Barry are also really nice, and if you're a NYer who misses traditional Jewish food, you can get some pretty good imitation =)
Pros: "normal" food, tasty as all get outVery casual atmosphere, great service, delicious food. I got seitan kebabs and was not disappointed. Three of us dined, each getting a different meal and sampling the others' and all of them were delicious. Desserts were delicious as well.
Pros: delicious, good value, good atmosphereI have eaten here many times since it opened, and always love the food here. It is healthy and good tasting. It is less expensive than its cousin Candle 79, though not quite cheap. The place tends to be crowded and cramped. Still, the food makes it worthy a visit.
Pros: Healthy, good taste
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they make their own seitan, as do I, and I can tell you it is an inexact science. I'll save you the process details, but their seitan is the best, and if yours was not as good, try something else, perhaps. Their menu is extensive and sure to please anyone!