Elements

Great choices for organic, raw vegan.

I went here while visiting Asheville and had a great experience. You can tell that so much care goes into the food and juices here, and that it's a labor of love. The woman who took my order was perhaps the nicest employee at any restaurant I've ever encountered, and it was also enjoyable to be able to watch the cooks and owner (I believe) work in an open kitchen while I waited for my food. I had the Amazing Harvest Bowl (white quinoa, pinto beans, beets, kale, kraut, avocado, and awesome tahini dressing), and absolutely loved it. I also tried the apple-strawberry-banana kids' smoothie, which was yummy.

This place is a bit different than the kinds of restaurants I'm used to (it's very open and minimalist, and there are crystals on the tables), and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Their cashew mylks and wide range of smoothies and juices looked interesting, and I would have loved to try more here. I recommend this restaurant for healthy, delightful food.

Updated from previous review on 2016-07-18

I have loved the food every time I have eaten at Elements. The food is very fresh, delicious and flavorful. Great raw vegan food options.

This is within a block or two on a side street from Trader Joes and Plant. Food is light and full of life. Tastes are natural and not manufactured or over manipulated as so many other vegan and raw food restaurants try to do. Everything about Elements from the open kitchen and floor plan to the food and presentation is clean and fresh. Love what they are doing. The raw desserts are super rich and amazing and the proportions are generous as you can see in the photos...more generous than most raw food restaurants we have been to. We did not think that the prices were high and felt we got the quality and quantity we paid for. It's all about the quality here. Go and enjoy! If you can't find parking out front on street, they also have parking in the yoga studio's off street lot.

The space is light and airy, not unlike the food. I have eaten at Elements a few times now, and while it's by no means a terrible restaurant, there are issues. First, portion size: miniscule. While the juices and smoothies--which are mostly excellent--are ample-portioned, the entrees are extremely small. Tiny salads, small "noodle" dishes called pad thai that bear no resemblance to anything asian (in taste or texture). I am hungry again minutes after finishing an entree. The second is price. While on the surface, the food -- especially for a raw place -- prices are surprisingly low. But when the 200 calorie salad arrives, the prices become more insulting. The desserts are especially expensive -- as an exceptionally tiny sliver of pie can cost $8. Asheville has a lot of great vegan food, and I don't think this place offers any competition -- except as a juice and smoothie bar, which is where Elements excels. Personally, I'd rather have a salad -- "raw food" -- at any number of places in the area because Elements offers nothing new or inventive or particularly flavorful (which IS possible with raw food; Pure Food and Wine in NYC is an apt example). In short, nothing on the menu has struck me as amazing or terrible -- it all falls somewhere right in the middle.

A fantastic and much needed addition to the Asheville food community. This is the cleanest food in Asheville delivered deliciously and with a smile. I love stopping by to grab a cold pressed juice as an afternoon pick me up or staying for my favorite ALT (avocado lettuce tomato) sandwich and maybe a decadent slice of chocolate pie. Bravo Jenny and Zack!

My family has only been to Elements once, ordering three different meals and one dessert, and everything we ordered was very good. The two raw meals that we got were fresh and beautifully arranged, the Smoked Pesto Panini was delicious as was the dessert.

I read another review that took issue with the portion sizes at Elements, and I can see how this may become a recurring theme for them unless they address it. In particular, I think non-vegans -- who they have said they want to come to their restaurant -- will really have trouble with the portion size, in that they tend to eat a much heavier food -- much higher calorie and fatty foods than anything you'll find at Elements. The portion sizes being what they are, I imagine will leave non-vegans feeling under-satisfied and under-fulfilled. BUT, even for a vegan like myself -- one who only eats two meals a day -- I will probably go to Elements only when I'm really needing something light -- for example, if I had a rather late, heavy lunch and am wanting a rather light, early dinner. This decision of to-go or to-not-go will have nothing to do with the quality and taste of the meal, but rather be due to the small portion size (which is why I think they may need to consider adjusting their portion size a little). All of that said, their portion size is probably perfect for a person who eats a primarily raw food diet, and snacks and eats four or more times a day. And, that may well be the situation of the person(s) who is planning the meals.

I will certainly return to Elements. This is in no way a negative review. Just a heads up that if you are planning to go to Elements for lunch, do not skip breakfast. Eat your breakfast, and then enjoy a delicious, light, healthy lunch. And, the same advice if you are going for dinner ...

Went for lunch and was impressed by texture and flavor, quality and simplicity. Friendly, clean and well located. Recommend the mushroom pesto panini. Yum!

We ate here today for the first time. It is 100% organic and it seems like a very nice new place.
Unfortunately, the servings were tiny.
For $8 for a hummus wrap. I got half a tortilla, maybe a tablespoon of hummus, and a tablespoon of grated carrots and other vegetables.
My wife ordered the avocado, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. For eight dollars, she got two slices of bread, but barely a slice of tomato, about a third of an avocado, and less than a teaspoon of Vegenaise.
The salad for an extra $2 was less than half a cup.
The place was spotless, with lots of very expensive looking food preparation machines behind the counter.
But, since it had hardwood floors with nothing to absorb the sounds, it was rather noisy with the machines and chatter of employees and customers.
If you go here, I would suggest that you ask for a decent sized portion, otherwise you may leave hungry like we did.
I do wish the business all prosperity and success.
Updated from previous review on Tuesday April 28, 2015

They started with a food truck selling raw smoothies. I never had one from them. We just learned they expanded their business into a storefront in North Asheville, just off Merrimon Ave. We stopped in for lunch. I had the veggie spring roll with tahini spread, and hubby had the A,L,T = Avocado, lettuce, tomato with a creamy sauce on toasted multi-grain. Everything was so fresh and full of flavor. The restaurant is quirky, and cool and we'll definitely go back when in that part of town.