Vegan
Western
Beer/Wine
European

Former squat turned into an alternative/leftist bar, cafe and music venue. Fully volunteer operated and hosts concerts, DJ nights, an open stage, dance nights and more. On the weekends there are guest groups serving vegan food made mostly from skipped produce which is free but donations are accepted. The groups are “Taste Before you Waste” on Saturdays and “the Barricade” on Sundays. Can also bring food on weekdays (only vegetarian and vegan allowed) and can request a plate and cutlery. Check the schedule on website for up to date info. Reopened September 2021. Open Tue 20:00-00:00, Wed 19:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 20:00-03:00, Sat-Sun 18:00-00:00, Sun 18:00-23:00.


Venue map for ACU
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31 Reviews

First Review by yvo

crystsal

Points +85

Vegan
05 Sep 2023

Anarchist delight

We got served rice with a red sauce, some watermelon and some banana pudding. Everything was delicious and vegan. It's all donation based, so you can pay as much as you think it's worth, for me, it was a lot. The atmosphere was also fantastic. Will be coming back for sure!

Pros: Food, Athmosphere, The people

kj33

Points +98

Vegan
13 Aug 2023

Amazing people

Amazing people and food

RugbyNerd

Points +611

Vegetarian
31 Oct 2022

Anarchist SoKü

Schon bessere SoKüs/VoKüs erlebt, aber trotzdem fünf Sterne fürs A 😁

Nasrha

Points +26

Vegan
24 Aug 2022

It’s ALL LOVE and VEGAN

Nice Vibe, Lowest Price Ever

Elz

Points +197

Vegan
12 Nov 2021

(Almost) free vegan food

Visiting ACU is a must when in Utrecht - for the politically engaged folks. The restaurant is currently open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday the menu is around €5 and the other two days it’s donation based and you can also pay nothing. The food on Friday and Saturday comes from dumpster diving, and donations are used to support other progressive initiatives. On Sunday The Barricade cooks and manages an anarchist library with often events.

Albertusbcn

Points +110

Vegan
27 Jun 2021

Vegan food Vegan philosophy

Good food for a good price. All vegan in a political respectful atmosphere. ACU is much more than a restaurant. It is the Mecca of the vegan and the libertarian philosophies in Utrecht. Don't miss it if you are around. You will meet lovely people and enjoy interesting conversations. Long life to ACU!!

Updated from previous review on 2015-08-23

Pros: Nice food, lovely atmosphere

EmmyVD

Points +4365

Vegan
27 Jun 2018

Great food for great price

ACU has quite a funky feel but if you are ,illing to embrace the cool house rules and the somewhat loud music you can enjoy some great meals here.

They have a dailuly changing menu. I tried a spanakopita and the main menu of the day (pasta pesto with lentil quiche, eggplant and a salad). Both were very filling. The quality is amazing, and I can't imagine the whole organisation is run by volunteers! Great job guys!!

Pros: Delicious food for a low price, Chaning menu

Cons: Quite loud music

AdrianaMatsufuji

Points +220

Vegan
03 Jun 2018

Always great food for little money

I really love ACU - the food, the concept of it and the fact that is very cheap. I have been there several times and the food is always delicious. The menu changes often and dishes are quite creative.

The place is a bit too noisy and it's always crowded - unless you arrive very early, but it will probably get crowded soon anyway - which may be a bit uncomfortable since the tables are very close to one another. As other people pointed out, it's good to make a reservation.

Pros: creative and tasty food, cheap, concept

Cons: a bit too noisy when crowded

Betty123

Points +23

Vegan
10 Aug 2017

great food, great place

We went there with, vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters and there was something for everyone, all the food was really delicious and the place itself was lovely to, they had anti-racism posters everywhere and though it was small it was cosy and all the staff were nice, we made a reservation which was a good idea because it got pretty busy, only problems where that a lot of food was sold out and it did take a while, but apart from that a great place and would definitely go again.

RomaDhanani

Points +409

Vegan
22 Jul 2017

cool place

Completely volunteer based restaurant! Cheap and TASTY food. Tiny but cozy place, they always have events going on and are usually quite interesting! Love this place 😍

Eefje

Points +192

Vegan
12 Jul 2017

Overrated

I had high expectations considering the reviews I read, but was sadly disappointed. First of all, I wasn't able to make a reservation, since nobody pickd up the phone all evening or replied to my e-mail. We decided to just show up at 6pm and hope for the best, and luckily the place was practically empty. The menu sounded really good but the actual dishes tasted kind of off. We didn't like the tofu starter at all, but the main course and oven dish were okay. The service was also very slow (45 mins per course) and the waitress looked kind of confused and apalled that we didn't completely finish our food. Would not recommend, go to Gys down the street instead.

Pros: Cheap, Interesting atmosphere

Cons: Food not tasty, Slow service

RickK

Points +36

Vegan
20 Jun 2017

great food!

Great dishes. We had to get used to the setting (a little punky) but the food was great and the staff very kind.

Barney Big Ears

Points +358

Vegan
16 Apr 2017

Reserve table or show up when it open

Great place. English menus and English speaking staff. Mostly old-school vegan menu items but prepared with lots of flavor.

Pros: All vegan, Laid back atmosphere

LvB

Points +30

Vegan
22 Feb 2017

Lovely dessert

Ate a lovely pannacotta dessert at ACU yesterday! I love ACU, due to it's rich history but you it's not a place I would recommend to anyone who's not into anarchism, punk and a liberal worldview.

Pros: Vegan, Relaxed atmosphere, Nice staff

Tiest

Points +314

Vegan
30 Jan 2017

Great food, great atmosphere

Went here to have diner before a concert in Tivoli (which is practicaly around the corner). We made a reservation at 6 (when they open). I think this was a smart move, because the place filled up quite quick.

I had a starter (a 'cheese'croquet), main (ricenoodlesoup with grilled veggies and tofu wrapped in nori on the side) and a dessert (the first vegan creme brulee). My girlfriend had a main dish that consisted of three starters and a desert.

Everything was super tasty, and you get served really nice and big portions! You can also choose a range of beers (we took regular tap-beers, but you can also choose local beers, like 'Black Flag' from Oproer brewery).

For all our food, and 2 beers each, we payed a mere 38 euro's, which is really really cheap.

I can reccomend everyone to go here. They also organise concerts, bookclubs and political discussions

Pros: Great atmosphere, friendly staff, Great food, Amazing price

Cons: Maybe a bit on the smaal side, gets crowded easily

Sternanis

Points +626

Vegan
10 Jan 2017

ALWAYS tasty!

We've been here several times (almost every time I visit Utrecht) and was never disappointed! You can get creative and delicious food for not-so-expensive price (8-10 euros)

The menu changes monthly (1 main, 1 oven dish, 1 dish of the day, 4 starters, desserts). Everything is always tasty (except for the oven dish sometimes.. a bit bland or heavy for me; but other people liked them) and the menu changes often so totally worth visiting every time. The menu of the day is slightly cheaper (8 euros) and could be a bit less unique than other super creative menu but still tasty. But most of all the starters were always really creative and tasty! And the desserts are good as well and the tiramisu we had last time was super delicious. I would always go for 3 starters a a main dish (really the best of the best!) or the main dish (not the oven not the dish of the day). If they have vegan mozzarella on the menu, go for it!

Staffs are friendly and the place is charming; nice place to meet up with friends/families or celebrate birthdays. The place is a bit small so better make a reservation! ACU also holds many events (also foodsharing events!) and is a bar/club in the evenings.

Updated from previous review on 2016-04-20

Pros: super tasty & creative, very reasonable price, charming, friendly, in the city center

Cons: a bit small. make a reservation!, only cash!!!!!!

zoilala

Points +105

Vegan
03 Jan 2017

You should go here!

The food and the atmosphere are very good! You should make a reservation in advance or if you're alone you can sit at the bar. They work with volunteers only and they are always very nice. If you have eaten here you can also stay, because they also have music and a lot of other stuff to do! The food is always very good, but if you are late they might run out of a certain dish.

Pros: Good food, Nice atmosphere and staff

LinaVlek

Points +66

Vegan
04 Dec 2016

My absolute favourite

Best vegan spot in Utrecht. Old squat with still that no-nonsense mentality. Food is good and the chefs still surprise me with new inventive menus. Besides that the prices are really good: starter is 4,- and main dish 8-9,50.
In the summer they have a really nicr garden where you can sit.
I do advice to make a reservation though, it can be quite busy. Also they cook everything fresh, but the down side to that is that sometimes they run out of certain dishes. So getting there early can also be a good idea!

Pros: All the food is vegan, good and diverse, Good prices, Placed in ACU, a bar and venue which also has band

Cons: Can be very busy

Serge'tHoen

Points +101

Vegan
27 Oct 2016

Great Food!

I had dinner and enjoyed the fabulous kitchen! Especially the coconut rice is great and also the burrito and fried dumplings.

Pros: Great Food!, Cheap drinks.

Cons: Not so fancy. , Not too big.

K Lala

Points +132

Vegan
13 Feb 2016

Never fails

Food is always great, surprising and affordable. Best vegan food in Utrecht.

StephenEamonn

Points +616

Vegan
28 Jan 2016

Friendly and Delicious

This cool bar that serves vegan food is the first veggie place you should check out in Utrecht! Prices are very reasonable and the staff are very genuine and friendly. I had a meal which was simple but felt home cooked in the best of ways.

Pros: Delicious , Friendly

kitterific

Points +13

Vegetarian
26 Nov 2015

Delicious!

Delicious food, great prices and super friendly staff! Remember cash, they don't take credit cards.

Rezaline

Points +77

Vegan
23 Jul 2015

Vegan heaven

All-vegan places are pretty rare in the Netherlands, especially when you're outside of Amsterdam or The Hague. This place in Utrecht is EVERYTHING you've ever wanted. It's the cheapest vegan food I've found anywhere around here so far. The setting of the venue is great, too. Anti-racist stuff on the walls, consent posters everywhere. As a feminist, I totally love all of that stuff.

They have a weekly changing menu with three main courses, three starters and a dessert. They have an option that you can pick the three starters as a main. I really recommend this cause it gives you the oppertunity to try different kinds of dishes, and it's the same price (E9,50). They also have a daily menu, which is pretty cheap. I've been there three times now and so far only had delicious food. GO EAT HERE.

Pros: Cheap food, Delicious, creative dishes. , Friendly, feminist environment and staff

Cons: Closed in August

nnemanuela

Points +71

Vegetarian
16 Dec 2014

Do not miss it!!!

ACU is simply the Mecca of the vegan and alternative crowd in Utrecht. Do not miss it! Check their website and previous reviews for more info..

Pros: friendly all-volunteer staff, excellent vegan food, excellent program besides food

HelenaS

Points +40

Vegan
10 Dec 2013

Will definitely come back.

I had dinner in this place tonight, because I already went there once and the volunteers explained me that everything was vegan, they where very friendly.
I had the three starters together- 9 euros-, mushrooms, seitan cutlets,and a kind of pie with mashed potatoes inside and bittersweet spicey sauce, it also comes with a great fresh salad.
All of them were very nice, but If you're only going for one of them, definitely go for the mushrooms! They were delicious. The curry in the mashed potatoes was not very easy to notice, but I ended up eating it without the sauce and used that for the seitan instead... I left the plate empty.

After that I saw someone sitting next to my non-vegan-but-very-pleased friend, eating pineapple/ananas vegan cake, so I was tempted, and my veredict is also positive: For three more euros its the kind of dessert you cant really resist, even if you're too full. It was soft, sweet and tasted delicious.

Also, by the other reviews I was concerned about the time it will take... Not extremely fast, but not long enough to get us wondering where our food was, so I would not say it took too long.

Im sure I will come back!

Pros: Great menu and even better dessert, Friendly people and interesting place, Inexpensive

Renee1137

Points +45

Vegan
15 Apr 2013

My favorite place

This is my favorite vegan/vegetarian food place in the Netherlands. What you get is lots of great food for very little money indeed. It amazes me how a staff of volunteers manage to turn out a new and extremely creative menu every month. The atmosphere is informal, relaxed, a little bit 'alternative', but not as much that you wouldn't want to bring your parents there. Well, depends on your parents maybe.

I also like that your tip goes to charity, they have vegan chocolate milk (hot or cold), and they have a lovely dessert every time (no fruit platters here - vegan cheesecake, apfelstrüdel...)

Pros: great food for a ridiculously low price, new menu every month, creative cooks

Cons: if you're allergic: dogs are allowed

j8)st

Points +49

Vegan
19 Oct 2012

Great food for small price

Fair portions of quite good vegan food for a fair price. The staff is no-nonsense, friendly and often international. Oh, and they also have good beers most of the time.

Pros: Nice atmosphere, Diverse clientele




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