• CLOSED: Pura Vida by Brandt

  • (10)
    17

    Closed

  • White Veg-options
Vegan-friendly
Lacto
American
Fusion
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. Upbeat and modern eatery in downtown at the public square. Offers a separate, vegan/vegetarian menu. Uses fresh, local, sustainable ingredients. First Tuesday of month is a vegan club which features events including social vegan happy hours, wine tasting, and cooking classes (reservations required). Has Wi-Fi. Prices moderate for snacks more expensive for main plates. Reported closed October 2022.


Venue map for Pura Vida by Brandt
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10 Reviews

First Review by AdiVedi

kjwcanary

Points +36

Vegan
08 Aug 2019

Great vegan options

Would have been 5 stars if it was pure vegan but a great option if you are looking for a nice sit down place downtown. Approximately 10 different vegan options on the menu. I had the mushroom sharing plate and it was outstanding!

Pros: Lots of vegan options , Nice ambiance , Friendly staff

Cons: They serve meat

BEETxBEET

Points +107

Vegan
19 May 2019

Nice vegan options

Sat at the bar and ordered the chicken fried cauliflower. It was good but I wish the presentation was better. Also wish it was a little less salty. Not sure it is worth paying $19 for this dish.

Pros: Creative dishes for vegans

Cons: Expensive, Smaller portions

milos99

Points +671

Vegan
02 Oct 2018

Amazing vegan options!

I visited Pura Vida on a recent trip to Cleveland and was extremely impressed with their vegan options. Whilst there is not a separate vegan menu, but the options are clearly marked. On the suggestion of the server, I got their Crispy Falafel Bowl which was simply amazing! I only got the small size since I was meeting a friend later, and it was a generous portion and very filling.
It had warm Couscous, tomato, and Parsley with Kalamata Olives and an unbelievable Vegan Tzatziki. The restaurant is conveniently located just 1/2 block from Tower City so you can take the RTA train directly there. A wonderful gem in downtown Cleveland :)

Pros: Vegan options clearly marked

Cons: Closed between lunch and dinner

VeganUSA

Points +7454

Vegan
01 Sep 2018

Gourmet vegan options; many choices

The menu at Pura Vida features something for everyone, but especially so for vegans. Rest assured, the vegan options go beyond roasted vegetables. We enjoyed a Big Mac made with two black bean patties from an in-house, made-from-scratch recipe, and a potato samosa-like turnover with flaky crust. If we had had more room, we would have tried the vegan peanut soup or the cauliflower chicken entree with green beans. We look forward to our next visit.
Service was excellent: attentive without hovering. We ate late afternoon on a weekday. Staff told us the restaurant’s busiest times are at lunch. Dinner is reported less busy. Outdoor, sidewalk seating is available. Indoor seating is in a sleek, modern, spacious setting. The restaurant is in the heart of downtown Cleveland.

Pros: Numerous vegan choices, Unique vegan recipes, not the usual fare, Excellent service; willingness to veganize options

barnyardbob

Points +390

Vegan
30 Aug 2018

Everything was good

Tried a few things for lunch. The crispy mushrooms were amazing. Everyone raved about them. The fries were great. The chopped salad was good but not terribly flavorful. And the nachos were very good. We got the chocolate cake for dessert. Good flavor, if a tad dry. The caramel could have been more pronounced too, but overall it was a great meal with a few minor negatives. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

Pros: Great staff, Good food, No dud dishes

Tots

Points +285

Vegan
20 Dec 2017

Nice decor, Okay food

We were excited for upscale vegan offerings, but ultimately found the food underwhelming. The vegetarian Big Mack turns into an average sandwich when requested vegan (different bread and no special sauce), and the vegan nachos were served cold with brownish guac.

Pros: Friendly and knowledge staff, beautiful modern decor, upscale vegan offerings

Cons: A bit on the expensive side, underwhelming flavors , gets crowded quickly

jc5960

Points +22

Vegan
06 Dec 2017

An Oasis in a Vegan Desert!

I love this place! When I come to Cleveland I come here. First, even though I'm Vegan, I want to go to a real restaurant with real napkins, great bar, and of course-great vegan food. This place fits the bill. Try the fried cauliflower. Super hearty and yummy. Vegan nachos were great. Many more things to try. Next time!

Pros: Great atmosphere, Hearty vegan options, Real bar

Cons: dessert (don't like chocolate)

BiljanaD

Points +86

Vegan
02 Aug 2017

awesome vegan options

One of my favorite restaurants. Lots of vegan options. African stew is a must

Loretta

Points +107

Vegan
10 Apr 2016

We will return to Pure Vida!

I had the browned cauliflower dish that came with a delicious gravy, biscuit, and spiced kale. It was SO YUMMY! Reasonable for $18. My husband had the spaghetti squash sandwich that had a lot of barbecue-tasting sauce; $12. We also tried the dark rice/brussel sprout dish. It was OK but the brussel sprouts were a bit undercooked.

There is a single menu with clearly marked vegan options. In addition, the server offered to turn a vegetarian sandwich into vegan with substitutions. The decor is snazzy yet casual. We are eager return to Pure Vida!

Pros: cool atmosphere, very good service, reasonable prices for quality of food

AdiVedi

Points +21

Vegetarian
13 Sep 2014

Pricey but plenty of veg*n choices

The restaurant has a dedicated vegetarian/vegan menu which is great. We got a Tofu dish and a Polenta dish - the food was good and tasted freshly made. The waiter brought a second glass of wine even though we didn't ask for one which was annoying. The restaurant is also quite pricey - plan on spending around $100 for a dinner for two (1 appetizer, 2 drinks, 2 entrees, 1 dessert)

Pros: Good food, Good location

Cons: No parking (Valet, Street or Public lot), Pricey




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