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Vegan
American
Organic
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Catering
Upscale sister restaurant to Candle Café. Vegan organic cuisine presented in a two-floor dining oasis with an organic wine and sake bar. Brunch on Sunday. LAST DAY DEC 31, 2019.
134 Reviews
First Review by Poundie
vegan_ryan
Points +3873
Racism experienced, won't go back - Edit
While attempting to dine here recently, my girlfriend and a friend of hers were the only 2 non-white people in the restaurant. This is what happened:
Read moreDespite having a reservation, the girl at the front door kept telling them that the restaurant is "very expensive" and was quite surprised they even had a reservation at such a "nice restaurant". I should add that they were wearing nice clothes, just like other people, so the only difference was their brown skin.
The girl at the door never sat them down at a table. 40 minutes after the time for the reservation, numerous other people had gotten a table, even though they arrived later. When my girlfriend asked when they would get a table, the girl at the door acted like she didn't hear them.
They also received dirty looks from employees and kept receiving comments about how "nice" and "expensive" the restaurant is--an obvious implication that the staff didn't think these 2 non-white people could afford to eat here.
After waiting more than 40 minutes and realizing that everyone but them was getting a table, my girlfriend and her friend gave up and left. They never got a table, despite their reservation, and never tried any food.
I've been vegan for over 10 years, and this is the first vegan business I've ever refused to support. I won't ever go here.
Cons: Racism
Brok O. Lee
This is horrifying and unacceptable. I hope that your friends will contact Candle 79 and let them know that this happened. At the very least, your friends deserve an apology and should be compensated.
Read moreMyVeganJoy
This must be a false review. We eat at Candle 79 regularly, and, HELLO this is New York City, it is such a melting pot, all races are welcome and Candle 79 is no exception, obviously, all races and all mixes of those races visit here regularly. What you describe, doesn't even sound like a realistic scenario. It's NYC in 2016. Come and take a look on any day. ALL sorts of people eat here, without problems.
Read morevegan_ryan
MyVeganJoy - 1. If you took the time to look at how many reviews I have on this site, you'd realize that I don't post fake reviews, so think before you question a "fake review." 2. You basically asserted that racism doesn't exist in NYC, which would be laughable, if it wasn't doing so much to entrench the racism many people in NYC face on a daily basis, despite being a melting pot. 3. You may have had good experiences. This is a review site. Other experiences vary. Sad that other people's experiences seem to be less valid than yours; check your privilege.
Read moreGuest
JanTheniceoneHirsch
Points +19
Nice for dinner conversation - Edit
The food is excellent, and this is the perfect place for dinner conversation, because it is much quieter than its sister restaurant, The Candle Cafe. The only problem is that it is more expensive, and that the menu has fewer selections. I am obsessed with the seitan chimichurris!
Read morePros: Great Food, Quiet Atmoshpere, Seitan Chimichurris!
Cons: Expensive, Less selection than cafe
Guest
jch
Points +33
always top notch - Edit
Hard to find better, a fav any time in town. If you haven't tried you must. Great food, great staff and creative.
Read moreGuest
NatalieHunter
Points +25
This place was amazing - Edit
We love this place so much that we ate at it twice on our four-day trip.
Read moreIt is a nice upscale restaurant to go out on a date with your loved one.
The staff was awesome and the food is out of this world. Some of the yummiest vegan food I've ever had.
Guest
adc1984
Points +72
Nice but expensive - Edit
I visited here for lunch. The food was nice but not exceptional for the prices. I felt the staff wanted us out quite quickly. Many establishments of equivalent quality for a better price and experience are available in New York. Suitable perhaps for taking non-veg friends and family.
Read moreGuest
steveveg
Points +3196
A Favorite - Edit
Candle 79 is one of my favorite restaurants. The food and service are dependably great. The menu always has many tempting options, plus the daily specials offer surprises. On our most recent visit, we had a grilled artichoke special appetizer and cornmeal poppers, which were superb. For entrees we had the special seitan, chanterelle crusted tofu, and fall vegetable & wild mushroom fricasee. All were quite good. For dessert we had a delicately flavored pumpkin flan, plus a delicious special caramelized fig. We thoroughly enjoyed this visit, as we have other times.
Read morePros: great food, great service, dependable
Guest
·X·
Points +28395
Candle 79 - Edit
I was taken to Candle 79 for my birthday in June. Based on most reviews of this place, we had pretty high expectations. While the food was good, it wasn't anything extraordinary. The prices are also out of alignment with the taste of their food as well as service provided.
Read moreThe Food:
- Live Heirloom Tomato Tartare: This was good, but nothing special
- Grilled Seitan Chimichurri: These were impressive, flavored and cooked well
- Moroccan Spiced Chick Pea Cake: Disgusting, we sent this dish back
- Seitan Picatta: Good, but too sour
- Spaghetti and Wheat Balls: Not bad, likely the best entree they have
- Polenta Fries: Average
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Bliss: Does not live up to all the hype, I'd never order this again.
The Service:
The main reason Candle gets 1 star (HC doesn't allow less than 2 stars for vegan places) is the AWEFUL service (which deserves 0 stars). We were there for 2.5 hours because our server was awkward, rude, slow, and highly inattentive. We had to get up several times to ask for things. The worst was when we were trying to leave we waited forever for him to come back to the table, after asking him for the check we waited another 15 minutes, and at that point I got up and asked him for the check (he was lollygagging in the back after I clearly asked him for the check). When we FINALLY left we complained to the manager, who did absolutely nothing about it. Definitely won't be back.
Guest
SonjaCPA
Points +5270
upscale vegan - Edit
We knew we had to try Candle 79 during our trip to NYC as it seems to be the most famous of vegan restaurants. We were not disappointed. We arrived for lunch when they opened at noon. As we had reservations, we were seated upstairs by the window. The service is impeccable from the waitress, manager, bus boys, everyone. The decor is nice as well. We started with a razzle dazzle cocktail and an iced mochaccino along with the seitan chimichurri. Yummy. Since it's famous for the seitan piccata, we ordered that with the summer fricassee. Both lovely and tasty. For dessert, we got the peanut butter bliss. It was bliss. Everything was. It was a pricey lunch, but very enjoyable.
Read morePros: lovely food, nice decor, impeccable service
Guest
bwolmarans
Points +90
Love The Picatta - Edit
Truly wonderful upscale NYC find. Hast review will post more later.
Read moreGuest
TRaeCH
Points +384
A Highlight - Edit
Okay, the price might put off some people and get their guards up right away. If you want a special night and price is no matter, consider Candle 79.
Read moreThey have a really good (and unique) wine selection, a menu that makes obvious the creativity and talent of their chef. The decor isn't incredibly upscale but they create an upscale ambiance through the professionalism and attention to service of the staff, the presentation of the dishes and, of course, the taste.
Back to price, which is the major gripe of most - the food isn't quite as good as the price would have you believe. For me, Candle 79 did enough to make up for that one knock against them.
My wife and I enjoyed our wine, meals and dessert thoroughly. I believe we had the Pumpkin Seed - Crusted Tempeh and Walnut Crusted Seitan. The carrot cake for dessert was transcendent.
If you can foot the bill, it's worth a try.
Pros: Wonderful menu, Good service
Cons: Cost of entrees
Guest
vegann
Points +50
Gourmet Vegan Culinary Experience - Edit
Candle 79 is a must for vegans that only the best will do. If you go and you can eat gluten, I suggest their signature dish the Seitan Piccata. If you can't afford Candle 79, you can buy their cookbook and try some of their recipes at home.
Read morePros: Amazing Food, Nice Vibe, Food Presentation
Cons: Expensive
Guest
CvETiKonline
Points +25
overpriced and plane food - Edit
The place is nice, but too expensive for the size and quality of food. Service is fine. Nice cocktail menu if you don't drink alcohol. Overall I was not impressed at all. The only thing i like about this place is that it is absolutely vegan and you don't need to ask questions about each ingredient. Won't go there in future...
Read morePros: service, environment
Cons: high prices, plain food
Guest
Astonangel
Points +198
Just perfect...... - Edit
Having eaten there twice, I find this the perfect place for lunch. Correct portion sizes and you feel right when you walk out! And of course the food is delicious....you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu....
Read morePros: Healthy, Delicious, Correct portion size
Guest
gr8vegan
Points +2357
Nothing comes close to Candle 79 - Edit
Candle 79 is the place to be in NYC. The chefs and staff are top notch, catering to all palates and preferences. If something goes uneaten on your plate they'll make sure they didn't mess up and take that into account on your following dishes (example, I'm not an avocado fan, they noticed and it was wiped from all following courses!) It really seemed like everyone from the bus boys, manager, waiters were keeping a close eye on the plates and communicating back to the kitchen to create a top notch experience beyond compare. I was treated to an amazing oil-free vegan birthday dinner here a week ago and I have to say it was the best birthday dinner I've ever had. The courses were custom created in the kitchen, from starters to dessert the produce was amazingly fresh, the seiten incredibly juicy and bursting with flavor, fruit and a special ice cream made just for me... I don't know where else in the world to get that level of service in a vegan restaurant. No trip to NYC is complete with out visiting Candle 79.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Wednesday December 05, 2007
Pros: service, accommodating, oil-free with advanced notice
Guest
happycowgirl
Points +6145
Get the Grilled Seitan Chimichurri - Edit
The Grilled Seitan Chimichurri appetizer ($10) may be the best thing I've ever eaten. I wish they would make this an entree and serve these skewers of divine-tasting delights over rice.
Read moreThe Grilled Kale salad is heavenly. Almost a meal in itself.
Note that the Tomato-Zuchini Lasagna is a raw lasagna. Nothing wrong with that, just that the menu does not state it is raw. I saw 'cashew cheese' was on it and assumed it was a hot dish. Nope.
The Spaghetti and Wheat Balls are wonderful. This may be a good dish for any meat eaters in your group who need to ease in to the world of vegan cuisine.
Located on the Upper East Side. They don't have valet parking but there is a parking garage around the corner at 80th Street between 3rd & 2nd Aves if you need it. Or if you're taking public transportation, I found the New York City MTA Trip Planner to be very cool: http://tripplanner.mta.info/MyTrip/ui_web/customplanner/tripplanner.aspx
Guest
dana5306
Points +48
Delicious food! - Edit
I went here twice for dinner in a 3 day period. The food is unbelievable. Make sure to get the Seitan Piccata it is mind blowing. It doesn't have that normal squishy textured; it's cooked like actual chicken. The cannoli also rocks! Wonderful place overall
Read moreGuest
jodielou
Points +83
Amazing modern vegan cuisine and organic wine - Edit
I wanted to visit Candle 79 for many years before finally making it on a trip from Australia to New York City a couple of years ago and it was so worth it! I love the fresh, modern vegan cuisine with thoughtful food combinations, delicious desserts and a great organic wine selection! I enjoyed lunch there with three omnivores and they all loved the food - win/win! The seitan piccata is to die for, try it!
Read morePros: Modern, thoughtful cuisine, Beautiful restaurant, Organic wine
Guest
sullivans
Points +41
Excellent - Edit
I am used to Vege and Vegan restaurants in Europe. i.e often pathetic, second rate, religion based, etc.
Read moreSo . . . fantastic to dine at a restaurant which is both vege and quality too. Marvellous.
We also loved Blossom.
Pros: Very high quality, Varied menu, Vegan too
Cons: Bit pricey
Guest
sglcklch
Points +3779
Just as good as expected - Edit
My BF and I came here on a Monday night. Place was quiet at first but filled up pretty fast. We ordered the spinach ravioli for starter, the chickpea cakes and the grilled tempeh for entrees, a side of polenta fries, the brownie off the dessert special and the house-made ice cream/sorbet trio. Everything was excellent, except for the ravioli (a little bland) and the ice cream/sorbet sampler (too soft and tiny portion). Decor was very intimate and romantic. Very friendly service.
Read moreWith all the hype around this place it's only understandable that one walks in with high expectations. Certainly it didn't disappoint in the least bit, but we weren't blown away either. It's just everything you would expect it to be, and I am not sure what that missing something might be. Even so, their recognition is without a doubt well-deserved.
Guest
Meggie and Ben
Points +1786
Not my favorite high end restaurant - Edit
My husband and I went there on Christmas eve. Everything was delicious, though we especially loved the entrees and the desserts. Candle 79 is definitely up there as far as restaurants go, they have superior chefs, their staff was great, and the atmosphere was lovely. It is on par with other high end vegan restaurants we have visited, and thus I am going to give it a 5/5. However, I would say it is our least favorite high end restaurant that we have visited.
Read morePros: Good for a night out
Cons: Expensive, Food isn't amazing
Guest
joseykitson
Points +44
Excellent food, excellent service - Edit
The food was fabulous but the service was even better! Our waiter reccomended local bars for us to check out and the bus boy did the Dougie for us (after a bit of heckling from us girls). It was great!
Read morePros: Food , service
Guest
andreacarioca
Points +58
Number one! - Edit
This is the fanciest vegan restaurant in NYC, in my opinion. The house-made desserts are SO good, I know the meal "should" start with the savory dishes, but if you go there you want to save some space for them. The food is very tasty, the dishes are elaborated, and the presentation is gorgeous. This is my favorite place for special celebrations, with fun and polite staff. It is not cheap, but the value is fair with what you will get - success in every dish!
Read moreGuest
estefinparis
Points +881
Excellent - Edit
I had been wanting to eat at Candle 79 almost since I became a vegetarian, as it must be one of the best known veg restaurants in the world. Finally, while on holiday in the US, we got the chance to eat here and the food was everything I had hoped for: elaborate, tasty, well presented, interesting. We had the steamed dumplings and roasted hummus (so good!), as well as the spaghetti and wheat balls (my least favorite), burrito 79 (very generous portion) and grilled kale salad. After all these treats we couldn't resist trying out dessert and had the chocolate peanut butter mousse with berry coulis, which was a great ending to our lunch. All this came to around 100 USD, with a couple of non-alcoholic drinks. Not a small lunch, either!! I hope I will get the chance to eat here again soon, in the meantime I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to eat here.
Read moreGuest
vegified
Points +68
my go-to place on the upper east side - Edit
my whole non-veg family is obsessed with this place! it's a classy vegan restaurant on the upper east side. the food is outstanding. the desserts are delicious. the vibe is great. nice people. my grandma is 80 years old and was a bit hesitant to try a "vegan" restaurant, but she's still talking about this place!
Read moreGuest
veganshmegan
Points +60
Candle 79 - Edit
My friends and I ate lunch here on a recent trip to New York. I left with a severe case of buyer's remorse, and feeling like I had just been conned. While the food was good, it was certainly not worth the price. I find the inflated prices unforgivable. I understand that it's New York, and that for some reason businesses there get away with charging ridiculously high prices for average food and drinks, but 15 dollars for a bland black bean burger is shameful. Seriously, there is a better burger at the bar down there street from my apartment, do not order it. I had the Pealla, which was good, but nowhere near worth 23 dollars. Yes, 23 dollars for a small portion of rice, veggies, and a few strips of seitan. [edit by staff - see ToS] I don't care if it's a vegan restaurant, I just think of it as another overpriced eatery that uses its undeserved reputation to take advantage of its customers.
Read morePros: good food, friendly service
Cons: prices, service can be slow, small portions
Guest
mendicant_crow
Points +43
Great experience if you make good choices - Edit
While I really enjoyed my experience here, I think it is fair to point out that some of the menu items are far more interesting and flavourful than others- which would explain why some reviews mention bland food. I highly recommend asking the servers here for recommendations- they appear to have tried most of the menu items, and will direct you to the tastiest choices, or those best suited to your likes, so that you get dishes that are worth what they cost.
Read morePros: Unique dishes, Lovely atmosphere, Great service
Cons: Expensive, Some dishes less flavourful
Guest
snowy11480
Points +106
Best Vegan Meal I've Had! - Edit
I must say - this was the best vegan meal I've had thus far. Where to begin? I've only been once so this entire review will be based on my 30th birthday dinner there! We had our reservation and were promptly seated with no waiting. After receiving our drinks, a manager stopped by to ask if we had dined there before. After finding out it was our first time, we received a complimentary appetizer - such a nice gesture and delicious too!
Read moreFor our main course - husband ordered the seitan piccata and loved it!! such flavor;) I had the moroccan spiced chickpea cake and liked it even more than hubbys. he loved it too. Our service was perfect - not too rushed but not too slow either.
For dessert - we ordered some sort of spiced chocolate brownie - can't remember the exact name. After learning it was my 30th bday, they also sent out a bday extra that was an apple dessert of some sort. Both were amazingly yummy, especially that brownie!
On a last note - I thought the restaurant was very fairly priced for a upscale dining experience in new york. I couldn't have been happier with the entire experience! And while we dined - who walked in but Kris Carr. I got to meet her too! amazing night:)
Pros: Wonderful Management, Fresh Vegan Food, Affordable Dinner!
Cons: NONE!
Guest
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