Vegan-friendly
American
Beer/Wine
All Raw, Gourmet, Wine

Re-opened spring 2015 after brief closure. Upscale New York raw food restaurant; vegan except for honey. Features main entrees, starters, desserts, and teas. Dine inside or in the garden. Its One Lucky Duck Takeaway is around the corner from the restaurant. JULY 30, 2015 REPORTED SHUT AGAIN DUE TO EMPLOYEE STRIKE.


Venue map for Pure Food and Wine
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34 Reviews

First Review by kindlizard

JohnEzell

Points +115

Vegan
18 Nov 2022

Raw Experience

I made my way into this establishment in the summer of 2005. It was an all raw food restaurant. Why it doesn't qualify as vegan, I guess I'll never know. So after perusing the menu, I just ended up ordering the salad, which was $15, while although pricey for the time, it was a large salad and quite satisfying. The outdoor patio was beautifully decorated, which gave a nice contrast to the tall buildings looming overhead. After dinner, we, the vegan group I was with, were treated to a tour of the kitchen, where the process of how the food was prepared was thoroughly explained. Overall, it was an interesting experience, in that this was a restaurant where no stoves or microwaves were used.

Updated from previous review on 2022-11-18

luvs2EAT

Points +150

Vegan
06 Jan 2015

Love it! A great experience.

Nothing like a trip to NYC for excellent VEGAN food. Pure Food & Wine was definitely on my list and certainly did not fail me. Every course was tantalizing and excellent. The service was impeccable and the ambiance was nice. Greetings from the Burg. Love it! We'll be back.

Pros: Great food, Great Service, Great atmosphere

Cons: None

LukasB

Points +79

Raw
21 Aug 2014

Thank you Sarma

Pure food and wine sets the standards hight for vegan cuisine. It was a wonderful evening and very delicious. Truly inspiring!
I will definitely come back!

Only Con, I have is basically that I wouldn't name all those vegan meals after "normal" kind meals. The guy I was there with was confused and disappointed because it always tastes different if you try to cook a vegan meal after a traditional recipe.
I think most of the time it tastes even better, but of course different. You guys don't need to name them after traditional meals, they are way better ;)

Pros: friendly staff, nice vibe, delicious

nyctravis

Points +31

Vegan
10 Jun 2014

Pure deliciousness

Amazing place with stellar food that will make anyone's mouth water. We had a wonderful dinner out in the garden with excellent service, a nice crowd, and great vibe in an upscale setting. Can't wait to go back!

VeggieVisa

Points +484

Vegan
02 Jun 2014

Amazing Treat

The food here is beyond delicious. It is the kind of food that makes you happy to be alive and happy to be a vegan. The sushi and lasagna are two can't miss dishes.

Pros: Everything on the menu, Lovely wine menu, cool decor

Cons: pretty expensive

KaylaBarnes

Points +50

Vegan
08 Apr 2014

I love Pure Food & Wine

Pure Food and Wine is truly one of my favorite restaurants in the world, Pure is not specifically a "swanky" setting but the food is absolutely phenomenal. The raw cashew sundae is killer. Being a vegan it can be so difficult to find an amazing place, and Pure is your place. In the summer the "garden" or patio is open and the ambiance is beautiful. One of my favorite dishes are the cashew tamales.

Pros: Excellent Food, Great Garden

TraceyTrexlerJacobs

Points +83

Vegan
30 Nov 2013

Great restaurant if you like raw

My husband and I are always up for trying new vegan restaurants. This one fit the bill since he is now gluten sensitive. I was very happy they accepted our reservation 1 hour in advance. We were escorted through the kitchen and seated in the back private dining room. We preferred it much more than the main since it was very loud but that could be a positive due to the lively energy. We loved the Philly Roll. Our 2nd course included Zucchini Lasagna and Polenta. The desserts sounded amazing but we were too full. I tried the sangria and I didn't prefer it to my home made recipe but hubby thought it was good. He had the gluten free beer and really enjoyed it.

Pros: vegan, gluten free , raw

Isabelle Gosselin

Points +137

Vegan
25 Aug 2013

Over rated

Went to Pure Food for the first time on August 24, 13. We were expecting a lot given the price and the reputation. My husband and I had the Chef's tasting menu. Out of 6 different dishes, we liked two. Those were very good, but the rest lacked depth or harmony in flavors. The dessert we had between the two of us was one strawberry, a small piece of cheesecake (delicious), and 4 small scoops of different sorbets, some of them a bit too sour, like the (unsweetened) rhubarb. I don't know if it's because we're spoiled with the excellent raw restaurants we have in Toronto back home (Rawlicious and Live Food Bar), but this one left us disenchanted and emptied-wallet. Will not return.

Pros: Beautiful presentation, Outdoor seating, Bio-dynamic & organic wine

Cons: Taste not that great for many items, Very expensive, Not a good value

SonjaCPA

Points +5270

Vegan
22 Jul 2013

amazing raw cuisine

We had a late reservation with another couple and the place was still packed. Granted, it was rainy and everyone was inside, so the noise level was a bit loud as well. Other than that, everything was impressive. The service was excellent and the food was amazing. We had two orders of the hazelnut crostini, the zucchini blossoms, and the Dr. Cow cheese plate to start. All delicious, but the crostini really stands out. For entrees, we got two orders of the lasagna, the portabella mushroom and the tacos. Once again, all tasty, but the lasagna was especially lovely. For dessert, we got the cardamom spice cake with lavender ice cream. The ice cream was subtle and delicious. We were all stuffed and amazed by the raw cuisine here. Definitely a favorite of our trip.

Pros: amazing raw cuisine, good service, nice decor

Cons: loud

leslienyc

Points +35

Mostly Veg
21 Feb 2013

Overpriced and left hungry

I eaten at this restaurant 3 times; twice for dinner and once for lunch. Every time I have eaten here I left hungry and felt gouged. It's sad because I live on the same block and love to eat out.

I do have to commend them on their experimentation but the food does not taste good. Even the guacamole doesn't taste good. How do you mess up guacamole? I love avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro and lime.

Pros: Raw Vegan, Friendly Staff, Good for romantic date

Cons: Overpriced, Small Portions

shakes13t

Points +97

Raw
10 Oct 2012

What happened to Pure?

We have been to Pure several times and always loved it. The last time we went, however, the food was so bad that we left most of it behind, and we NEVER leave food behind. Our waitress (who was very attentive and as helpful as possible) suggested that maybe it was because we normally come for dinner, which is usually more intricate and refined, but it seems to me that any time of day the food should be consistent and tasty. The juice was very good. We will not be going back anytime soon. I hope this was an isolated incident, that we just came on an "off" day, but from the reaction of the staff, I'm not sure. We would have given one cow, but for a vegetarian place you can't give lower than two.

Pros: good service, delicious fresh juice

Cons: expensive, not tasty

Seakist

Points +71

Vegetarian
01 Jul 2012

Best Restaurant in NYC

I absolutely adore Pure Food & Wine. It spoils you for any other restaurant. The food is excellent and so is the service. If you want the most delicious food and to be treated like a king/queen -- go here! In the summer they have a beautiful garden to sit in too. It's wonderful that they have organic, non-filtered wines and sake.

Pros: Amazing Food, Excellent Service, Raw!

sglcklch

Points +2815

Vegan
27 Mar 2012

What an amazing experience

I took my omni BF here for dinner without telling him beforehand it's all raw because he's a raw food skeptic and I knew he wouldn't agree to it. So we arrived at the time of my reservation, had our coats checked and got seated right away. First thing, I was impressed with the decor. Very modern, great vibes, yet the lighting was dim enough to create an intimate atmosphere. Onto ordering...

My BF always lets me take care of this and I had done my fair bit of research on what to get: the tasting menu. Each of us got an amuse-bouche, a soup not on the menu, a salad, two entree items, and a dessert. Everything was half portion except for the desserts, which came in full size. From the salad course onwards we were served a different dish, great for first timers like us so we could sample more for a lot fewer bucks. I also put in a request for the lasagna, the tamale and the cheesecake, which everybody seemed to rave about.

Food was nothing but phenomenal. Out of the four entrees we received, we enjoyed the tamale and the cauliflower couscous the most. The famous lasagna was good but a bit too rich and heavy with all the nut paste despite the very flavorful pesto. Don't think I would want it in full portion. We also got the tacos, which I found to be the weakest dish. For desserts we were given the cheesecake and the apple crisp. The cheesecake was very tasty but a little too soft. The ice cream on the side was awesome. The apple crisp was definitely superior... I'm drooling just thinking about it!

The staff was very attentive without being intrusive. Throughout our meal our waiter checked on us multiple times and our glasses got topped off without even asking. Just great service.

The entire evening was truly a fantastic experience that I am going to have swooning memories of for years to come. Well worth the price, no doubt about that. My BF only commented that none of the food was hot and had absolutely no idea everything was raw until I told him after we finished and left the restaurant! Towards the end of the meal he even said that this was one of his best meals ever, ha!

Pros: superb food, excellent service, cool decor

pradipd

Points +347

Vegetarian
24 Jan 2012

What dining out is all about!

If you have not already been here, pick up the phone and make your reservations right away. This is among the top 10, if not the top 5, restaurants in NYC. The Michelin people should step down from their ivory towers and enlighten themselves on the fact that food is not about eating dead animals in French setting.

We were a group of 5, and even though we were tempted to try the tasting menu, we decided to create our own tasting menu, and ordered 5 appetizers, 4 main courses and 4 desserts, and ate family style. It was a bit of a challenge and jugglery on the table with the large sized plates, but we all wanted to make sure we tried out everything, and we did. Short of licking the plates clean with our fingers (there is no bread since there is no dairy or gluten), I can whole heartedly say each dish was finger licking good. There are not enough words to describe the awesome dining experience from the excellent pitcher of sangria to the salads to the soup to the main dishes to the desserts, along with warm and affectionate service and a very warm and intimate environment. My only regret is that we did not get to try the remaining items on the menu. Well guess what, I will back there soon. In fact Pure Food & Wine is the kind of restaurant that one wishes for one's neighborhood where I would eat at least once a week if not more often. And it is not inexpensive. For the 5 of us, with a pitcher of sangria and taxes and tip, the tab came to $320 which is steep by NYC standards for a vegetarian place. But then, good, wholesome, delicious, healthy, living food with ample doses of TLC does not come cheap.

Make a dash for it!

Pros: Creative, Healthy, Delisious

Meggie and Ben

Points +1786

Vegan
06 Jan 2012

Best restaurant I have ever been to

Pure is my husband and my favorite #1 restaurant of ALL TIME. Seriously, it is amazing. If you are ever in New York, you HAVE TO GO.

My husband and I got the 5-course chef's tasting menu as well as the Dr. Cow's cheese plate (I really wanted to try it). What we didn't realize is that when they said 5-course they meant just five types of courses, not five dishes. We were brought plate after plate in what seemed like an endless array of tantalizing dishes, each more extraordinary than the last. It was a seriously awesome dining experience and worth every penny.

The food was amazing, and it makes it even more amazing that it was all RAW! The prices are a bit high, but for what you get I think it's definitely worth it.

Pros: Great food, Healthy food, You get your money's worth

margypargy

Points +100

Vegan
15 Dec 2011

Desserts!!

I like this place. Our second visit this month was very similar to our first (in March 2011). The menu didn't seem to have changed much. We chose the plate of 'cheeses' for a starter and the sweetcorn and cashew tamales with chilli spiced portabella for one of our mains. The other main was a bit of a mystery: when it came we couldn't remember what we'd ordered and it was so unusual that we actually couldn't recognise it! Not bad unusual, but maybe not good unusual either. Just unusual unusual. The portion size for the tamales was fine, but the other main (the unusual one) was very small and as we like to share each other's dishes this wasn't easy - we ended up with about a teaspoon each! The desserts were FANtastic - salted choc caramel tart and mexican cinnamon mousse. With hindsight we might have just come for a salad and three desserts between two! The total cost for 3 courses plus wine was $170 and I don't think we would come back for a full meal next time we come to NY, because it's expensive and the menu isn't THAT original second time around. We'll try Candle 79 next time. 7/10

Pros: Desserts!!!, Cool ambience

Cons: Expensive., Menu didn't seem that exciting this time, Bathrooms were a bit grim!

bencamps

Points +580

Vegan
03 Jul 2011

Luxurious Restaurant

Visited on 26/06/11. We ate in the garden which was very pleasant. The food here is expensive but very, very good. This is an 'upper market' restaurant. My girlfriend had a pasta-less raw lasagna which she loved. I had courgette flowers stuffed with cashew cheese, absolutely amazing. For desert we shared a lemon 'cheesecake', again really nice. Nice wine and very professional service.

Pros: Excellent gormet food, Professional and knowlable staff, Ambiant setting

Cons: Expensive

vegified

Points +68

Vegan
06 Jun 2011

raw-licious!

i came here with my family for my birthday. let me just say, wow! we were fortunate to have nice enough weather to sit outside on the patio. we were lulled into a nice state with the wine and the AMAZING food. we all tried something different and EVERYTHING was delicious. yes, it's expensive, but it's SO WORTH IT! not to mention the desserts are outstanding as well. this place is awesome. so. very. awesome. :)

Loulou

Points +137

Raw
28 Apr 2011

Expensive but worth it

We'd heard so much about this restaurant that we had to try it, on our last evening of our Raw Food tour of New York. It is very much a fine dinning restaurant with a gourmet menu. We tried the 5 course Chef's Tasting Menu which was a great way to try the various items on the menu as they served for each course 2 different dishes. Each course is only very small but after the 5 courses (and 2 amusebouches) we where pleasantly satisfied. It's not a cheap place but well worth splashing out on.

andrea

Points +558

Vegan
18 Feb 2011

Still hungry.

I am developing this bias against raw food. I get that it's labor intensive, but I do not want to spend over $20 on an entree that doesn't fill me up. The food was good, even though nothing on the menu really appealed to me--I got this spinach thing, sort of Spanikopita. It was fine. The thing that impressed us was the dessert, a little chocolate mousse cake and caramel drizzle and tiny scoop of ice cream. But at $15, it's even more than Candle 79's $12 desserts. Just not worth it unless you are a committed raw foodist.

Lanky

Points +404

Vegetarian
04 Jan 2011

Good, but not as great as others suggest

The ambiance is definitely chic... a great vibe to take someone on a date, and a nice change for the basic/ take away vibe that many veg places have.
The pre-dinner cocktail (the sun tini) was average at best, and was lacking one of the listed ingredients (the server didnt mention it, just brought it without the ingredient). Certainly wasn't worth the $15 price tag.
The salad was very good.
The mains had a definite wow factor upon first taste, however the sauces used were so rich that it was actually difficult to finish the dishes. Eg, the lasange was like eating a pig plate of pesto. Amazing-tasting pesto, but nonetheless its not easy to eat a plate of something so rich.
One of our diners was ill after the meal. Not sure from what.
The service was acceptable at best. The only really friendly person was the girl at the coat-check.

Pros: Atmosphere, Great Flavours

Cons: Service not great, Price

clashbabi

Points +80

Vegan
01 Dec 2009

sexy, romantic, healthy, and cruel-free

I visit veg/raw food restaurants all over the US and this is by far my favorite.

The atmosphere is perfect for a date night or a girls-night-out. The music has always been just right. I could hang out at this place all night, every night.

If the food was expensive, we did not notice because we were indulgently enjoying in the goodness of everything else.

I do not want to recommend any one item off of their menu because I believe it is all worth trying.

JenniferF

Points +60

Mostly Veg
18 Aug 2009

To consider before you go...

I think Pure Food and Wine is good and to be experienced at least once, but I think for those looking at a review deciding whether or not to go, it's not whether or not to try it ever, but you should just ask yourself what your in the mood for at that moment. It's interesting that the raw food restaurants I've been to--Bonobo's, Pure Food and Wine, Raw Soul, Blossom, among others--are all quite different. This is like high end, gourmet raw food, and I think in the same way that "regular" gourmet can be too rich and not hit the spot when you're in the mood for something simple, Pure Food and Wine might not hit the spot if you just want a salad, or some steamed cooked veggies, or some faux meat dish. My only other thing was I don't know that I felt it was worth the price. It felt like I was paying more for the atmosphere and the cache rather than for the food.

Pros: can't get much healthier than this, tasty, outdoor garden

Cons: not a great variety, pricey

dwc840

Points +54

Vegetarian
17 Jul 2009

Jaw dropping BRILLIANT

Quite simply some of the best food that I have ever tasted. I really didn't think it was possible to create such an amazing menu without the use of a oven!!!

Give it a shot! You'll lose your pay cheque, but the atmosphere is second to none, the food is outstanding and it all accumulates in an utterly unforgetable evening

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Incredibly friendly staff

Cons: Price, Bug bites, Slow service

magdalenarte

Points +47

Raw
21 May 2009

expensive

The food is good, but I am not sure one really needs to spend so much money on simple and healthy food, unless of course you have lots of money to spare. I've been there with my boyfriend (only on very special occasions)and our meals cost about $170-190 (tip not included) I drink water, and we share dessert. If you have been raw a long time you will probably feel very dehydrated after eating here. On the other hand, this is the only truly gourmet raw experience you can have in NY, so every one has to try it, at least once. Oh, and if you see the owner Sarma(made famous by the millions of photos of herself in her book) you'll be dissapointed, she never smiles and looks uptight.

Pros: garden , relaxing, good location

Cons: expensive

Nelson

Points +48

Raw
20 May 2009

out of this world!

Hands down, the best (gourmet) raw food restaurant I have been to -- in New York, London, Amsterdam, San Francisco (and other northern California), Los Angeles (and other southern California), Edinburgh, Chicago. Simply divine. (Of course, it's also very expensive -- but well worth the splurge to treat yourself or a loved one on a special occasion).

Make sure to have the cheese platter and the ice cream sundae!

Unfortunately, the owner -- who is also co-author of a fantastic "cook" book -- who is sometimes visible in the place, seems to be rather self-absorbed and has no sense about how to give the place a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Pros: extraordinarily delicious food, culinarily innovative, elegant

Cons: expensive, pretentious

MadP

Points +39

Raw
28 Feb 2009

What an AMAZING Experience!!!

We came to NY JUST to go here and were not disappointed in the least. We had all sorts of juices and sakis, we had the worlds best stuffed mushrooms (cooked or otherwise...I don't even like mushrooms and I couldn't get enough), we had an amazing beet ravioli dish, and we had an incredible apple desert and a trifecta of perfect dark chocolate encased ice cream treats. A dipped ice cream cone, an ice cream sandwich, and a creamcicle!!

The proprietor, Sarma, who wrote my favorite cook book (again, raw or otherwise) took a picture with us and chatted with us for a while. A very pretty, sweet and down to earth lady.

PLUS we sat right next to Alicia Keys, but we didn't even know it!!! The wonderful waitress, Adrian I believe, was like "Oh you guys can tell your friends you met Sarma and sat next to Alicia Keys!" We were like, what?! lol

AMAZING experience. INCREDIBLE food. If you live in NY and don't go eat here every day, you're crazy. Period.

Pros: Totally Raw Vegan, Excellent Decor & CHOCOLATE, Beautiful and Delicious Food

Cons: Expensive but WORTH it!!




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