Vegan except for honey. Plant-based, farm-to-table organic food with appetizers, salads, bowls, breakfast, brunch, plus juices, teas, smoothies, and shakes. Affiliated with the Cafe Gratitude restaurant group in Los Angeles/San Francisco. Open Mon-Fri 11:00am-10:00pm, Sat 10:00am-10:00pm, Sun 10:00am-9:00pm.
Categories: Vegan-friendly, American, Organic, Raw, Juice bar, Beer/Wine, Take-out, Fusion, Honey
37 Reviews
First Review by Justin K.
Contributions +53
good food - Edit
when we travelled to kansas city as a inbetween stop on our vacation this was a dream spot to find. The building is one of a kind, has industrial vibes to it (In a good way). The staff all look like super hipsters, and that was neat to see! I love their poem on gratitude hanging up. The restaurant was so busy it appeared to have a line up outside. I got warm hearted as a dish, and it did not leave me disappointed. Dayne had cashew alfredo, and he said he liked ours better, but it was still great. The meals were not too heavy, and the presentation was excellent. The whole experience felt like fine dining, so the price is worth it. I was really impressed!
Contributions +20
This was awesome! - Edit
This is the first completely vegan restaurant I've ever been to, (except for honey in some of the coffees) and I absolutely loved it!! I got a second meal to go, for my little brother's wedding tomorrow, and I can't wait to try it also. I'm going to the vegan bakery here in KC tomorrow as well. It's so exciting to be able to pick anything off the menu without being a pest to the waiter(ses) and cook.
Pros: So many options!, Flavorful., Well prepared and presented.
Cons: Honey, Expensive
Contributions +30
Solid burger - Edit
Usually places try to throw a giant veggie burger at your to compensate for it not being beef. This was a perfect sized, juicy black bean mix burger. It came with a side of rice and beans. Everything tasted well. Also got the nacho potatoes. Good, but nothing overwhelmingly good. Stay away from the sweet potato tacos. Wasn’t impressed. Overall great place!
Pros: Full vegan , Friendly staff, Local friendly vibe
Contributions +78
Love this place - Edit
I discovered cafe gratitude when I visited San Diego last year. The Kansas City one only increased my love for this restaurant. Every single item I have ever order has been great. On this trip I had the sweet potato tacos and the summer squash soup. Both items were savory and filling. I also got the local kumbucha, which was a cherry lime flavor. I was unsure about the flavor when ordering, but the waitress let me sample beforehand and the flavor was not overpowering to the tastebuds.
Pros: Local support , Great dessert , Inside art was beautiful
Contributions +46
Just Right for Dinner - Edit
Didn't find this on the free Happy Cow app, but found it on Google.
Very convenient to the hotel we were staying at (Home2 Suites by Hilton Kansas City) We were looking for Plant-Based, Whole-Food and found it with plenty of selection to meet our needs.
The price was reasonable to the atmosphere and food presented.
It is on my list of places to try again if/when I am back in Kansas City.
Pros: Good Selection of Foods, Socially Concious
Cons: Possibly finding Parking.
Contributions +231
Great Vegan Dining - Edit
Vegan restaurants are like unicorns - rare to find and always magical in nature. This cafe is a gem in the heart of KC, serving up a yummy all-vegan menu.
Pros: Fully vegan, Great tasting food, welcoming atmosphere
Cons: a bit expensive , hard to find parking, a bit too woo
Contributions +41
I’m grateful for Cafe Gratitude - Edit
I LOVE Cafe Gratitude! I’ve been multiple times and have had great experiences every time. They have such a cool menu concept, great service, and delicious food! Highly recommend!
Contributions +32
Great for vegans and non vegans alike! - Edit
New non vegan friends brought us here. They were surprised at the abundance of flavors. It was excellent - both service and food! I had the warm-hearted...soo good. A must stop in KC!
Contributions +185
two trips in 24hrs - Edit
We're passing thru KC and definitely had to stop in as our customers who visit our restaurant in Breckenridge CO tell us this is the place to visit when in KC.
I've eaten at the original cafe gratitude in SF way back in the day. Then again at an underwhelming and disappointing visit to the San Diego location as honey to us is not vegan. Not sure why they don't go with agave and rid the honey but that's not why we didn't give a five star.
Firstly THANK YOU UNIVERSE for any vegan restaurants (or almost vegan) restaurant anywhere. May we all THRIVE and stay ALIVE!
Last night we had an absolutely solid five dinner! Ok. 4.5. Kids had grilled cheese and (slightly spicy black bean) tacos. Loved it although stuffed from appetizers of roasted potatoes and super yummy olive oil brushed toasty bruschetta with cheese spread and basil and fresh tomatoes. Knocked it out of the ballpark for starters.
Then my husband had an underwhelming eggplant sandwich. He was expecting larger eggplants in the sandwich. Tasty though. What eggplant he could bite into. I had the Indian curry bowl. Huge portion. Brought it home and never made it as the girls stared to nibble on it in the backseat.
So we went back today for Sunday brunch and they were out of anything w avocado. Fair enough. It happens. And Ben our waiter was giving us the heads up. He seemed more upset than we were. Nice guy. So we ordered the a veggie burger. My husband said super tasty but it was like a sloppy joe. I tried it too and fell apart. Maybe it was missing the avocado? I asked Ben to order his fave for me that wasn't the Indian Curry Bowl or any raw dishes and he hit a grand slam in ordering the polenta and spaghetti squash fish. Fabulous!! Our little girls liked it too. And we mixed it up a bit with the kids plates. One Alfredo Spaghetti Squash dish was pretty yummy and the other was the grilled cheese (again) but this time it was so underwhelming they took it off the bill. The bread was soft not grilled and the cheese was barely there or somehow melts to a crisp. Maybe the grilled cheese guy from the night before wasn't there. Or just an oversight. Or Ine of these days.
We own a restaurant too and sometimes it's just that. A one off. Something just wasn't jiving. So today's brunch was not as incredible as last nights visit. So it goes.
Would we go back? OFCOURSE
would we recommend this place? OFCOURSE!!
alas....we're going east. Hopefully tomorrow once our RV gets fixed. Otherwise we will be back tomorrow.
Grateful for Cafe Gratitude and any vegan restaurant that's open. Blessings.
Contributions +34
Great Find in KC! - Edit
Cafe Gratitude is a plant based restaurant with many menu options. I thoroughly enjoyed my Gratitude Bowl, and look forward to trying other items in the future. I found it reasonably priced and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. The service was quick and polite and the portion size was perfect for lunch.
Pros: menu variety, tasty food, tap water bottle left on table (Australian style)
Contributions +1377
enjoyable - Edit
I'm so happy my boss took me here. This place is definitely worth a visit. It was difficult to choose exactly what I wanted to eat because everything sounded so good. Anything with the garlic tahini sauce will be an excellent choice!
Pros: variety, gives back to the community
Contributions +46
Fun Place - Edit
The interior of the building is adorable. The menu is huge and very diverse! The presentation is great and the food is fresh. They have juices, smoothies, tea, coffee, alcohol, etc. I would love to go back and try all the different dishes they offer.
Pros: Many Options, Great Atmosphere
Cons: Location
Contributions +583
Organic vegan with gluten free and raw options - Edit
I was severely disappointed with Kansas City's vegan scene as well as just veg friendly restaurants in general. Was literally turned away from "The Antler Room" because they were unwilling to turn their vegetarian options vegan. Came here and was SO happy, literally made my trip. Got the "Awesome" which is herb crusted eggplant with cashew cheese on chibatta with a side salad. SO good. Also got the live nachos... was kind of deconstructed and nothing like nachos but was yummy. Definitely come here.
Pros: Vegan/organic, Live/raw/gf options, Alcohol menu
Cons: Parking
Contributions +18
what I was looking for - Edit
I'm wfpb and also do not eat oil. I ordered their Caesar salad, dressing made from cashews and oil free. It was soooo very delicious. I also ordered the fortified, which was steamed veggies, brown rice with a tahini dressing, also delicious.
Contributions +508
Delicious - Edit
I've always wanted to try Cafe Gratitude and I was not disappointed. The portions were not too big and felt relatively healthy. I didn't feel overly stuffed or weighed down. Be sure to ask to see the dessert tray! Their cheesecakes are not to be missed.
Pros: Good portions, Fresh ingredients, Amazing desserts
Cons: None!
Contributions +31
Tasty Vegan Food - Edit
My husband and I love Cafe Gratitude. We stopped eating meat four months ago and this is our favorite place to eat out. We always get the bruschetta as an app and it is always delicious. The last time I got the kombucha milkshake and it was out of this world. One of my favorite entrees is the CLT or the eggplant sandwich. I always leave this place feeling full and happy.
Pros: Great Food, Friendly Service
Cons: Parking, Little Pricey
Contributions +164
Lovely plant-based restaurant - Edit
Cafe Gratitude is now 100% plant-based and offers a menu that has such a wide variety that everyone can find something. From butternut squash tacos to spaghetti squash alfredo to all-day breakfast to smoothies and elixirs, I am still working my way through the menu to try everything. On top of that, it's a cool location in the Crossroads, the staff is so nice and positive, and they have killer desserts.
Pros: Food quality, Service, Additional parking available a couple blocks down
Cons: Crowded on weekend nights, Some food is very salty
Contributions +155
perhaps the best in KC - Edit
One of my favorite restaurants in the world. In my opinion, easily the best that I’ve tried in Kansas City. They are strong on fresh, local, healthy ingredients and creative, yet simple, recipes. A pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant offers a wide variety of well-made bowls, salads, and other dishes. I can easily look at the menu and find a dish with an appealing set of ingredients. In previous visits, they have let me look at complete ingredient lists for a particular dish on request.
I enjoyed a late-night meal at Cafe Gratitude on my last night in town on a recent business trip. I noticed an interesting breakfast scramble on the specials menu and also had a Caesar salad that was excellent. My visit was one of three during the trip to Kansas City. I did not regret any of my visits to this vegan gem.
Pros: excellent, healthy food, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful wait staff, vegan except for honey
Cons: location remote for some
Contributions +494
First of three great Kansas City veg restaurants I tried! - Edit
I recently spent three days in Kansas City - my first ever - with two local resident longtime friends who are perhaps best described as flexitarians. They made a point to research local veg restaurants in anticipation of my visit - and Cafe Gratitude was the first of three they picked for our meals out. I was really impressed - and my flexitarian friends were, too! My friends and I all ordered from the special "Taco Tuesday" menu the day we were there - and all of us were happy with our choices. I had "Taco Option 1" - two corn tortillas filled with roasted potatoes, pica de gallo, avocado and salsa verde; served with a goji chipotle side salad. It was truly delicious! I guess the $12.50 price tag was a wee bit on the pricey side - but in my opinion a good value for the obvious quality and freshness of all the ingredients.
Pros: Fresh, delicious food, Friendly staff, Nice decor
Contributions +2135
less than mucho - Edit
I was excited to try this location as I have been to the ones in california and enjoyed them. We started with a cinnamon roll for an appetizer. It was dry and had more in common with a biscuit; it was not worth $6. We also had coffee and chai smoothies. They were also good, but not worth $9. Finally, we each had a bowl. The whole and the mucho. The mucho was not a ton of food as the name might imply for the $12. It was billed as spicy; it wasn't. the mucho was beans, rice, guac, pico de gallo, and some sad lettuce. It reminded me of a smaller, less salty chipotle bowl. staff was friendly, and i liked the atmosphere. With both fud and mud pie in the area, I will be skipping this in the future. The other two are much, much better taste and value for money.
Pros: all vegan food, friendly staff
Cons: expensive, meh on the food, parking
Contributions +20
Yum Yum Yum - Edit
Cafe Gratitude has become a favorite of mine in spite of prices that stretch a little higher than other local spots with similar fare - for instance, a vegan milkshake that's several dollars more than another local vegan joint. Every dish I've tried has been delicious and filling - not in the bloated, stuffed way, but in the feeling great, satisfied way. Their version of bruschetta is a particular favorite. My only issues, aside from high price points, are the goofy item names (though that's their schtick) and how frequently they run out of ingredients. On three visits in a row, months apart, they were out of eggplants - necessary for several dishes - and mushrooms were MIA on another trip. Those issues aren't anything that prevent us from returning, though, and I leave feeling happy every time we do.
Pros: flavor, satisfying portions, variety
Cons: cost, running out of ingredients
Contributions +133
pit stop lunch - Edit
While in San Fransisco I kind of actively avoided going to CG, but when traveling across the country and you hit KC and you want a quick lunch that is more on the healthy side than some questionably vegan options in the plains, CG is your choice. The bowl I got, I don't recall the name, was satisfying yet simple.
Pros: vegetarian
Cons: cult
Contributions +309
Good food, never fills me up - Edit
I like Cafe Gratitude... but never seem to leave the place feeling full. That's probably the point, as we shouldn't be over-eating anyway. Good flavors, and some interesting combinations.
Pros: Good food, Great service, Friendly atmosphere
Cons: Expensive for portion size, Never get full :(
Contributions +165
My favourite place with raw options - Edit
This is one of my favourite places to eat in Kansas City with a lot of alternatives for those who are not too crazy about raw food since they also offer cooked options. I have been going to this place for several years everytime I stopped by Kansas City and it is the better option for vegans.
When it comes to my favourite food choices, the desserts are amazing! I recomend anyone to try their chocolate or coconut mousse. Maybe some killer prices but worth every dollar extra. However if you compare these prices compared to elsewhere with other organic raw food places it is pretty reasonable. Also it is the first raw food serving place where I actually enjoyed the meals compared to elsewhere. At least when you eat there the place has a great chill vibe and people working there are always nice and friendly.
I also love their inspiration blackboard with a new topic every day where anyone can write something to aspire others with.
Updated from previous review on Tuesday May 12, 2015
Pros: Selection, Desserts, Atmosphere
Cons: Bland main courses, A pain to find good parking spots
Contributions +18
My Most favorite restauraunt of all time - Edit
Everything I have tried on the menu I have loved. The service is friendly and informative without being pushy or overbearing. The atmosphere is very cool and calming.
Pros: Service is good, Food is amazing, Earth friendly
Contributions +42
Delicious! - Edit
Our family of 5 ate here today. I had a dish called Warm Hearted and it was amazing! My son got the grilled cheese, he's not usually a fan of vegan cheese but said this was the best grilled cheese he's ever had. It is expensive but you can tell the ingredients they use aren't cheap. The desserts were insane! It is a great place and makes me wish I lived closer to Kansas City. I would be a regular.
Pros: delicious food, nice atmosphere, fresh ingredients
Cons: expensive
Contributions +512
Pretty Good - Edit
This location is pretty cool. I looks like an old industrial building inside. The staff seemed very friendly and provided a great service. The reason I gave this place a 4 star is because of cost and some foods not being offered. The typical plate averages around $12-$14 which is kind of steep and for that you don't really get a big portion. For me I also need things like tempeh to fill up and this place doesn't over vegan proteins.
Pros: Cool location , Friendly staff
Cons: High price
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