Vegan
American
Organic
Raw
Juice bar
Fusion
Fully raw, gluten-free, soy-free, nightshade-free, nut-free cafe surrounded by mountains, cactus, and hiking trails, 30-minute drive from Phoenix airport. Reported closed Sept 2017.
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6602 E Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, Arizona, USA, 85331
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Last update on 20 Sep 2017 by Gcaz2019
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15 Reviews
First Review by MerrillKay
Lisalee
Points +22
YOU HAVE TO GO HERE - Edit
Ok so basically this is the besttttttt vegan food you will ever eat, I take that back, it's the best food period. Not only is the food amazing but Sara and her chefs are so sweet and have the best energy. Everything about the place made my boyfriend and I happy and satisfied. Also you definitely have to try the coffee cake it is no joke.
Read moreCons: absolutely none 👌
Guest
phesselmann
Points +16
Tops! - Edit
I've eaten at Chef Sara's Raw Vegan Academy and Cafe twice, and both times the meal was better than any other I've eaten. Not only is the food delicious, but, at the end I couldn't help notice how 'happily' the food was sitting in my stomach. No desire for more to eat, no cravings and no 'unease'.
Read morePlus Chef Sara is a wonderful guide to your meal, which is superbly prepared.
Pros: Great food, extremely satisfying and tasty.
Cons: A bit pricey - it's an 'occasion' restaurant., Hard to spot - look for the Janey's Coffee sign.
Guest
Tigra220
Points +10713
Sometimes You Need It Raw - Edit
TURMERIC/CILANTRO/HIMALAYAN PINK SALT $4.50 - I started my meal with this hot, caffeine-free, herbal drink. I couldn’t decide between this drink and the Cayenne drink, so Sara added cayenne to my turmeric drink and it was amazing. The menu lists all of the active properties and benefits of each ingredient. (See photos for details.)
Read moreSPINACH PATE $9.95 - A very tasty appetizer made up of spinach, various nuts, garlic, and black pepper. You get one medium-sized scoop, and it is served with raw crackers. The pate didn’t taste nutty, which was pleasant; the raw crackers do have a nutty taste. Served cold.
PESTO PASTA w/ ZUCCHINI NOODLES $16.95 - The menu pairs the Pesto Pasta with cucumber noodles, but Sara graciously allowed me to get zucchini noodles instead. I received a large bowl filled with fresh raw zucchini noodles, arugula, spinach, walnuts, and Himalayan Pink Salt. It was very satisfying and very filling. I ended up taking 1/2 of it home. Served cold.
Chef Sara brought out a dessert tray and explained each dessert option in detail.
CHOCOLATE CANNOLI @ $13 - 2 chocolate crepes filled with banana ice cream and what seemed to be a date-based caramel. My dish was missing the chocolate drizzle that they show on the picture, but it was delicious nonetheless. The chocolate crepes were very rich and sweet. It was like biting into pure cacao. I’m not a banana fan, so I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the banana ice cream was inside the crepe. Excellent dish, and it’s unbelievable that it’s raw.
KEY LIME PIE $9.95 - It was creamy and the key lime flavor was very strong. It was a little too tart for my liking, but if you are into desserts that aren’t too sweet, this one’s perfect.
Chef Sara is also Dr. Sara. She is a kind, sweet soul who is passionate about the vegan lifestyle, promoting healthy eating choices, and “nursing” people back to health the natural, holistic way. You can read about her story in the cafe, where you’ll also find advertisements for her Back to Health Program, which if I over-heard correctly, is $5000. Contact her directly to inquire about the price and program details. I hope that in the future she offers a detox retreat or camp. I’d totally join that!
I left this cafe feeling full without the drowsy “itis” that typically follows a meal. I felt energized and didn’t get hungry for the rest of the day.
I won’t always eat raw, but when I do, it will be at Chef Sara’s Raw Vegan Academy & Cafe.
Pros: healthy food, good desserts, excellent service
Cons: pricey
Guest
GaryHart
Points +32
A must visit place for the best raw vegan meal! - Edit
Wow! Best raw vegan meal ever! Chef Sara rocks!
Read morePros: Raw vegan!
Cons: None!
Guest
comahony
Points +336
so amazing, I had to get a duplicate order to go! - Edit
First is the beautiful setting with precious indoor and outdoor seating. From the moment we arrived Chef Jose was all smiles and welcoming. He explained the entire menu and was wonderfully patient even though we took forever to decide. Everything looked that good! Chef Sara prepared our entrees and was so enthusiastic and feels passionate about what she does. The meals are so innovative and flavorful--and the presentation is beautiful!
Read moreWe got 2 apps, the burger and ravioli. My husband loved his burger (yay! Since he's not into raw as much as I am). My ravioli was so delicious, that I actually ordered another to take on the plane home! We just finished 2 desserts and are taking 3 to go. Who knows when we can get back again?
Pros: unique flavors & nice portion size, awesome staff & owner, precious seating areas
Cons: none
Guest
vallonicka
Points +195
Fantastic fresh raw cuisine. - Edit
We have now been living in Phoenix for about 3 years, and finally got out to Chef Sara's in Cave Creek, and the long wait was worth it.
Read moreAs long-term vegans, we aren't really into eating fried vegan food, or prepackaged vegan meat products accompanied with some actual cooking, and to our delight, none of that was present on the menu.
What we did get was a wonderful raw meal starting with the Rawgasmic Sandwich, this was fantastic. My partner and I ate it up instantly, and would have shared another one easily. The gluten-free raw vegan bread they make is wonderful, and the combination of seasonings and fresh ingredients including sprouts, bell peppers, zucchini, etc...worked very well in this dish.
We also ordered two cold teas, not sweetened, I had the ginger tea and it was fantastic, the perfect brew for a warm October day.
Then we shared a serving of the Ravioli meal, stuffed with pesto and spinach in young coconut crepes, these were also fantastic. I can't pick a winner, between the Ravioli and Rawgasmic Sandwich, try or share both when you go.
After that we shared the Happy Cow Burger, 3 on pumpernickel bread and 3 on onion bread. We did 3 served Italian style and 3 served Mediterranean style. These were similar to the Rawgasmic Sandwich, but I enjoyed the seasonings and ingredients used in the Rawgasmic Sandwich more, and enjoyed the Italian style more. I did love the pumpernickel and onion breads, they were also fantastic.
We took home some desserts, wasn't thrilled with the desserts, I think there are others in the Phoenix metro-area doing better tasting desserts at the moment, but if you enjoy raw, healthy, slightly sweetened desserts, then you'll be pleased.
Outside of the great food, Chef Sara herself is a great host, wonderful energy, full of knowledge and passion, and the restaurant is located in Cave Creek. A very beautiful town, nestled among hills and small mountains. The outdoor patio in the back of Chef's Sara is a wonderful place to enjoy the view on a nice day.
Pros: Great raw real vegan food, Great atmosphere, Good variety
Cons: Desserts aren't my favorite, Could be pricey for some
Guest
christinabombina
Points +11
Chef's Passion Shines' - Edit
Chef Sara's passion for helping people to embrace a healthy lifestyle is expressed through her delicious preparation and beautiful presentation of her broad vegan menu choices. What a jewel of a restaurant! The portions are generous, the food is local, fresh and delicious and the atmosphere permeates good energy. The time she spends preparing EVERYTHING from scratch is apparent from the first bite. In all my travels, I have never tasted such wonderfully prepared food. From appetizer to dessert, you will not be disappointed!
Read morePros: Stellar food/amazing chef, Great energy with positive vibe, Generous portions
Cons: Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Guest
hungryveg91
Points +350
very good but not great? - Edit
I really liked the atmosphere of this academy and cafe. I was very excited for my first raw restaurant experience. Obviously I was expecting the food to be expensive, but for the price I paid I would've preferred the meal to be great not just very good. I ordered the pizza and wasn't wow-ed. I think the ravioli and lasagna are better. I was also disappointed with the cheesecake - they use coconut (instead of cashews) and the texture was off, even after letting it thaw (as the waiter recommended). It didn't taste like lavender either - the flavor we ordered. It also kind of stinks that you are given this huge, magnificent menu and then a lot of items aren't available. It makes sense, since raw gourmet food requires a lot of work, but then maybe they should have a daily menu instead.
Read morePros: healthy, quality, good atmosphere, good info, staff
Cons: expensive, lacks wow for $
Guest
Nutty4nutrition
Points +19
AMAZING! - Edit
I can't put into words how amazing my first time was eating here! I will definitely be back and cannot wait to take a cooking course to learn all of Sara's wonderful recipes! She is full of so much knowledge and is such a shining light of joy! You will definitely not leave disappointed!
Read moreGuest
beingRaw
Points +20
Chef Saras Raw Vegan Academy and Cafe, health and flavor... what more can you ask? - Edit
Chef Sara is the real deal. Had huge health concerns including but not limited to: Total loss of my senses of smell and taste, unimaginable production of mucus on a constant basis, dyslexia and much more! Chef Sara suggested a total detox and presented me with a list of ailments and complaints and asked me to circle the appropriate maladies. I had quite a few items circled which she said her detox program would fix within two weeks or less. I must here and now make testimony and state that within 14 days on her detox program 90-95% of my complaints were completely gone AND by 21 days in addition to 100% recovery, I noticed that some life long problems I had given up on and was not seeking help with, also improved with some eliminated entirely!! Please keep up the good work Chef Sara. We all need you and your wonderful world of raw vegan foods. You are a shining example of living the raw life daily.
Read moreOh yeah, forgot to mention her recipes are fantastic and (she has several books and supplies) the food Chef Sara serves at her Raw Vegan Academy & Cafe is outstanding!
Pros: Super healthy foods, Super tasty foods , Beautiful presentation
Cons: Can't get there often enough
Guest
olldock
Points +56
Fantastic! - Edit
I discovered Chef Sara's when visiting Cave Creek area for the first time. The menu is extensive and Chef explained the specific offerings for the day. The menu is also interesting to read, particularly the health risks of certain foods. The foods was exceptional! I had the Raw Gasmic Sandwich with "pumpernickel" bread and side of English peas. Perfectly prepared with complex and well combined flavors. This restaurant is in my top favorites in the Phoenix area. It is worth traveling to enjoy the menu!
Read morePros: Raw and vegan, Taste / flavors, Presentation / freshness of food
Cons: Relative only: convenient location
Guest
MichaelTaylor
Points +84
great food warm reception - Edit
As soon as we walked in we were greeted warmly by chef Sara. What a sweet lady. She takes the time to explain everything on the menu. The food was great and the atmosphere was inspiring. A must go for vegans and raw vegans alike.
Read moreGuest
CariDandy
Points +13
Young Coconut Crepe Wrap was a wonderful lunch! - Edit
I had never been to Sara's Raw Vegan Academy and Cafe, but had been meaning to try it for the past year! It's a little off the beaten path - tucked behind another business (Big Bronco), but very worth the hunt. At another patron's suggestion, I tried the Young Coconut Crepe Wrap, and loved how deliciously fresh everything tasted. Also tried the tiramisu - and although vegan and raw, it was even more delicious that any other I'd ever tried! I will definitely be going back! (They are closed for July and August this summer, though.)
Read morePros: Chef Sara's personality, Fresh, healthy cuisine, Variety of items
Cons: A little on the expensive side
Guest
BeeGaul
Points +13
Great Food - Inspired Us to Buy a Dehydrator! - Edit
My lovely bride and I visited Chef Sara's a couple of months ago and absolutely loved our meal! Sara was about to close up shop for the season but still had plenty of great stories and vegan food to share with us. The vegan pizza and sushi were especially memorable. Because of our experience, we purchased a dehydrator and are making kale chips and onion bread regularly. We will definitely be back!!
Read morePros: Very friendly owner, super healthy, very clean
Cons: Pricey
Guest
MerrillKay
Points +16
Amazing Raw Food!! - Edit
I highly recommend Chef Sara's Raw Vegan Restaurant. A treasure of a restaurant not to be missed. The food is absolutely delicious...from juices, to entrees, to desserts! The atmosphere is inviting and cozy. You will want to meet Chef Sara herself...she is a vibrant soul and has a beautiful, warm welcome for everyone!
Read morePros: Falafel Wraps, Pies, Cacao Truffles
Cons: None
Guest
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