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Vegan-friendly
Organic
Raw
Western
Juice bar
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Raw food restaurant with multiple outlets. Food is gluten-free, soy-free, peanut free, and vegan except for bee products. A retail area sells raw food ingredients. Offers raw food preparation classes. Reported closed, Sep 2017.
19 Reviews
First Review by Kind Cindy
m@earthville
Points +10715
Wonderful - Edit
Friendly, delicious, relaxed, and salubrious - what more could one want? Though the focus is on raw food here, there are also a number of menu options (clearly marked on the menu) that mix raw and cooked ingredients. Don't miss the desserts.
Read moreEnjoy!
Guest
survivalpoet
Points +98
excellent food, great experience - Edit
If you eat gluten free and dairy free this is the place for you. Organic, vegan and super yummy.
Read moreGuest
stgermaing
Points +94
Unique and delicious - Edit
Excellent food
Read moreThey also sell other items near front counter
A bit pricey
Always fresh
Pros: Fresh, Delicious , Friendly staff
Cons: Pricey, Most dishes are high in fat (nuts), Only located downtown
Guest
Summertime
Points +25
So worth it - Edit
I travel all around the world for my job and have therefore tried loads of different vegan establishments around the world. I can honestly say that Crudessence is my absolute favorite! The food is just magnificent. In the few days that I was in Montreal I went back several times, and loved everything I ate and drank. My absolute favorite was the raw lasagna, oh my god it's so good! I have often longed for this meal again. The Kale ceasar salade is great as well and the portion is big enough, just the salad itself will definitely fill you up. The fresh juices and smoothies are worth trying as well.
Read moreCrudessence might be a bit more pricey, but it is so worth it. I can not wait to go back!
Pros: Delicious, Good portions, Healthy
Cons: A bit pricey, Service isn't superfast
Guest
Petesternz
Points +1447
Very tasty - Edit
Finally visited Crudessence yesterday, and glad I did. The food is delicious, to be sure, but everything other reviewers have said is true. Service was slow, and indifferent overall. It took over 40 minutes to get our food, and the place was full, but not crazy busy. Prices are high for what you get. But everything delivered food-wise. The tuna wrap is very good, but the highlight for me was the amazing Caeser Kale salad, which is world-class yummy. I also enjoyed the key lime pie, though it was a pretty tiny slice for $6.75.
Read moreOverall, worth going back to when I save up enough money....
Pros: Pretty decor
Cons: Pricey
Guest
GabeeChooLove
Points +20
Wednesday 1 - Edit
Wonderful warm Tajine and delishious raw scone! The scone was a revelation for me! Love it
Read morePros: Excellent food, Confort food, Great location
Cons: Busy staff, Lot of people
Guest
Alessandro
Points +518
Excellent experience - Edit
I had dinner in this restaurant on 9th august 2014.
Read moreThe space is lovely and the menu was wonderful.
I tried miso soup, gaspacho and crudessence salad: everything was absolutely delicious.
Pros: tastes and textures are amazing
Guest
SamanthaCheryl
Points +85
Incredible food, less than incredible service - Edit
Based on the food alone, Crudessence is the one of the best raw vegan restaurants you can find. Fresh, delicious, creative and filling. The menu is varied with many options for all tastes. Unfortunately the service is almost always lacking. From not speaking English to forgetting the starters to lengthy wait times without being greeted or seen, Crudessence is lucky that it does not rely on service for its business to thrive.
Read morePros: Taste, Healthy Options, Quality
Cons: Service, Expensive drinks and desserts
Guest
JonJon
Points +20955
Great vegan raw food - Edit
I was not used with raw food until I discovered Crudessence. My first try was surprising, I took a burger that was too healthy for me ;-): sprouts and vegetables with a raw pastry. Then I learn to discover other dishes, such as their crêpe (amazing even if cashew cheese has a too strong taste for me), their tiramisu (magical!), their banana split, their lasagna, their raw hummus... Finally, their food is really varied, with infinite and fresh savors. They also have really good juices. I'm still not really fond of such food but I learned to enjoy it thanks to Crudessence. So if you like raw food: you have to go there.
Read moreThe place is nice, well located and staff is friendly. Just one negative comment: I believe it remains quite expensive for the quantity you'll have.
Pros: raw vegan, amazing desserts, friendly staff, nice place
Cons: quite expensive
Guest
aabuck
Points +56
Awesome food, even for those that aren't raw - Edit
I don't usually get excited about raw restaurants and don't go out of my way to eat at them. This restaurant was recommended by a fellow vegan and it was great! The kale caesar salad was delicious, as was the raw burger. Both were super satisfying! The cheesecake was super rich and delicious as well. Highly recommended.
Read morePros: Great food, Good service, Convenient location
Guest
MichaelTaylor
Points +88
Fantastic Raw Vegan Reataurant - Edit
Honestly was the best Pad Thai and Miso soup I ever had. Smoothies were also great and well worth the visit. Friendly staff and extensive menu.
Read morePros: Great Raw food, Delicious smoothies, Located right next to 2 other vegan rest
Cons: A little pricey but really all raw is...
Guest
o0Carolyn0o
Points +891
Sooo Delicious! - Edit
Everything is really so good. The dehydrated eggplant, I could eat all day. What's most wonderful is that the air is so clean in the restaurant because there's no frying. They also make the best kombucha that is sold in local stores. I go through so many big bottles that I should probably contact them about returning them to be reused. The lime pie is so delicious. It is a bit expensive, but you can't put a price how great you feel after eating such amazing food.
Read morePros: wow, such raw, so amaze
Guest
CoeurDeLouve
Points +54
Party time for EVERY SENSE - Edit
Why aren't there more places like Crudesscence in the world????
Read moreEvery item in the menu (I have tried them all) is delicious, nutritious, healthy...
From drinks, to mains, to dessert, it is just your best bet in taste and health. It is so delicious it is hard to believe is raw. Even the tap water is special and good for you!
In addition, the books are an awesome addition to your kitchen library; I bought the soups one to set me up for the winter and I cannot tell you how delicious and easy the recipes were, also a success at parties because they are innovating, sexy, and a treat to the taste buds.
Everything in this establishment is made with CARE, and it shows: every bite you take is assembled in a painstakingly fashion to provide you with an explosion of flavor and wellbeing. At Crudessence, no expense has been spared to take care of YOUR HEALTH, and it shows. The quality is unrivaled in this town.
As if that wasn't enough... this company offers workshops! How much I would love to live in Montreal to attend! I will certainly do my best to catch one during my travels!
If you want to be in heaven, finish your meal with a chaga latte and a brownie with frosted rose petals .... seriously, you'll NEVER forget that moment!
Pros: QUALITY, raw, ambiance
Cons: none
Guest
Stevie
Points +11765
Crudessence - Mackay, Montreal - Edit
The 1st thing about this place is that its right next door to another all vegan eatery, namely Panthere Verte. Thus its easy to take a look at both and decide which is for you.
Read moreI had the soup of the day (corn and zuchini) and then the samurai bowl. Both are dishes served cold but were nice enough, esp the soup. The guy who server me was very helpful. I had a seat outside in the sun but indoor is very pleasantly decored.
It seemed a bit on the pricey side to me. For a similar sort of price yesterday I had soup and main bowl as well as a hot chocolate and a coffee.
There is a hot dish on the menu which I am told is a recent innovation.
Pros: All vegan
Cons: Seems a little pricey
Guest
saveur
Points +1168
Solid, creative food but slow service - Edit
I liked my meal at Crudessence and enjoyed their variety compared to other raw restos. Not heavily spiced, I was happy it wasn't uber salty or sugary. Nicely balanced but I could see others calling it more on the bland side.
Read moreI recommend the Kombu mojito (pineapple, mint, lemon and home-brewed kombucha). I also enjoyed "Le Fairmount" which was a nice bagel with a smoked salmon spread with capers and tomatoes. I was a bit perplexed that it was delivered deconstructed but I assembled it at my end.
I really appreciated the diversity plates, which allowed us to sample the appetizers and desserts. I also enjoyed their egg pate which was nice in the breakfast burrito. From the dessert sampler, sadly the blueberry cheesecake was not included however the tiramisu was incredible (and I usually don't like tiramisu).
The service was slow.. which always boggles me at raw restos since nothing needs to be cooked.
Pros: creative food, delicious, not overly seasoned
Cons: price, slow service
Guest
Richard Myers
Points +779
A Great Treat - Edit
As an infrequent visitor to Montreal, I was really happy to find this restaurant. Four of us arrived in the early evening and left a couple of hours later well satisfied. The restaurant, although on a lower level, is very bright and clean. The server assured us that everything on the menu was wonderful and she was right. The appetizers were excellent and the Om burger was a big hit with 2 in our group. I was particulary happy with the lime pie to finish off an excellent meal. Unfortunately, they do not serve beer which I always like when on vacation but they do serve wine which was ok. Next time in Montreal, the Crudessence will be a definite stop.
Read morePros: Great taste, Lots of choice, Friendly service
Cons: No beer
Guest
jedzen
Points +108
I prefer the juice bar... - Edit
I was excited to try the second Crudessence restaurant, since the juice bar on Rachel is really small. It was a great experience, the place is nice... I tried the cheese plate and it was ok, but i found it heavy to eat that much nuts. Anyway my favorite was the macadamia nut cheese. We also tried the mushrooms caps which were pretty good and the fake tuna sandwich, great imitation. I really love raw food but all the items on the menu are not particularly my type. But that's just me. However, i would go there again and again for juices, smoothies and their desserts, who are amazing. The thing is that, i can find them at the juice bar too... At Mackay, I tried the sugar pie, the brownie with ice cream and the vanilla-chocolate cheesecake, they are all yummy. Of course, it's expensive, but it's always like that with raw and organic. I know they serve wine, but i have not try any... The whole place is great but i would have liked it more 'fancy' and less like the juice bar, i'm sure they could totally make raw gourmet food and take it to another level. Get out of the sandwiches, burgers, smoothies ... try to create something that we don't have in Montréal right now. Anyway i really love them but, i feel like i'll be bored easily if i go too often.
Read moreGuest
Chizetta
Points +28
LOVE IT! - Edit
The best in Montreal! Food is truly raw, delicious and fulfilling. Excellent indeed! Great service, great location, fair price! Recommend 100%!
Read morePros: delicious food, great location, nice service
Guest
Kind Cindy
Points +78
Rocked my world ... - Edit
I was familiar with Crudessence's original location on Rachel ave, and was thrilled to hear that they had opened a sit down restaurant in the down town area. The menu is more extensive and of course, everything is just to die for! A colleague and I went for lunch last week and everything was so good. They make the best miso soup and we took the tester plate for two to try as many items as possible. It goes without saying that we will be back!! Next time I am having the BLT with eggplant bacon!
Read moreGuest
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