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Cafeteria-style eatery offering vegan versions of Southern soul food standards plus desserts & a full bar. Example of food includes mac and cheese, collards, green beans, chik'n, and tofu in the slow cooked and battered style of southern kitchen. The space is modern with high ceilings, a bar area and concrete floors coupled with art and ambient music. Located within walking distrance from exit of Takoma Park Metro. Originally was Everlasting Life and then Evolve. Black-owned. Reported closed March 2024.
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341 Cedar St NW, Washington, District Of Columbia, USA, 20012
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Last update on 30 Mar 2024 by KatherineCole
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38 Reviews
First Review by cookiem
cookiem
Points +5952
Welcome back to DC EL!!!! - Edit
Hello Everlasting Life, and thank you for coming back to the District! In fact, thank you for coming back to a location that is RIGHT on the Metro! Thank you for coming back right near where other vegan-friendly places are located and for being the standout 100% vegan restaurant! YES!
Read moreOk, that's enough of that. The people are awesome and nice, there's a bar, high ceilings, concrete floors, some artwork, modern space and trendy restaurant feel. It's better than the old one in decor and ambiance. Good for food or for a date for those who aren't veg yet…. :)
As for the food - c'mon, y'all know what to expect. They may be shaking out the kinks as they take over this space, but you know it's good. YES, it's good.
Order some sides only like mac and cheese or collards greens for about $10, or 3 for $12… or throw in some sides to an entree for $15 or just one side for a bit less. The entrees are bbq, country fried, fish-like meat substitutes that are battered or stewed. Quite tasty, yes. The sides are amazing, and I can't wait to go back again.
Save room for dessert, because they have their own desserts - or from local bakeries… but soon, they should have a vegan bakery about ½ mile away! The coconut cake was a bit crumbly but the chocolate cake with vanilla frosting was standard fare. For now, dessert Tuesdays gets you dessert for $5, which is $1 off most slices (cheesecake and triple chocolate too).
They say soon they will have brunch on the weekends, but just wait for it.
I would love to see some more choices, but I imagine that'll happen soon enough - maybe some salads, some veggie entrees, and… more dessert?! Rotate in some new sides maybe…. like sweet potatoes, squashes (they have a carrot salad)… add in a few more raw choices? Who cares though, I love them!
Although the price is a bit high, I understand why, and for being 100% vegan and Everlasting Life, I will pay it! Yay! Can't wait to go back!
Pros: 100% Vegan, You know it's good, Southern vegan food
Cons: Price slightly high, Menu is slightly small
Guest
ShaneMcDaniel
Points +1936
Permanently closed - Edit
Looks like this location is permanently closed
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-01-24
Guest
greganderson906
Points +16
ELIFE RESTAURANT: ONE OF THE BEST!!!! - Edit
ELIFE restaurant in District Heights, MD is nationally known for their signature dish, the original vegan Mac N’ Cheese,
Read moreand for their Sunday vegan soul brunch! Their collard greens, ziti, spinach casserole, black eye peas, cornbread, vegan popcorn, tuna fish,
chopped chicken, sweet n’. Natural sweet potato pie and other other dishes too numerous too mention
are absolutely fantastic! In addition,
the selection is incredibly broad and
the service is really excellent! It’s my
heartfelt conviction that ELIFE restaurant is one of the best in the nation!
Greg Anderson
Pros: Excellent food, Reasonable prices, Friendly staff
Cons: not received sufficient National recognition
Guest
RoseDelaney
Points +177
Highly recommend!!! - Edit
I just moved from Miami and was pleasantly surprised to find this great soul food option, which isn’t widely available in other US cities. I really loved the cashew Mac and cheese!!
Read moreGuest
etoile
Points +327
AMAZING soul food - Edit
I get so tired of the chi-chi white-owned vegan places. This place has amazing soul food, just good home cooking. Don't sleep on the chicken drummies, they are good no matter what flavor you get. Also the mac and cheese is fantastic.
Read moreGuest
Jdionnec
Points +53
Love all the desert options and revolving menu - Edit
Live in nova, totally worth the drive
Read moreGuest
chels2ocean
Points +1749
Tasty and fast - Edit
Generous portions and great food all for a reasonable price! I love their mac n cheese and the jerk drummettes
Read moreGuest
VivianJacobs
Points +112
Salty collard greens and grainy corn bread - Edit
The guy who helped serv me was nice. I got the original Mac, collard greens, and I forget the last thing. Also corn bread.
Read moreThe cornbread was a bit grainy but good tested, the collard greens were also quite salty and strong flavor. For now it's 3⭐
Pros: All vegan, they provide a few free samples
Guest
muzzest
Points +629
Quality and good value - Edit
I love this place! The staff is so nice, the food and desserts are amazing, and the prices are great for what you get!
Read morePros: All vegan, Friendly staff , Black-owned business
Cons: Limited indoor seating
Guest
tar322
Points +16
Best Vegan Ever - Edit
The vegan options are phenomenal. Each day they serve a variety menu options that have you coming back again and again. The staff is friendly and the catering is also good.
Read morePros: Mac and cheese, chicken and gravy and the Sunday , breakfast is off the chain
Cons: Lots of construction being done in the area so, parking can be challenge but this is temporary.
Guest
TraciRatliff
Points +2565
Soul food! - Edit
This awesome spot is a soul food buffet of hot food and a deli area of cold food. We got way too much but it was all served in to go boxes. Delicious!
Read moreGuest
MatthewVBogusz
Points +774
100% Vegan - Edit
Loved their food and plentiful amount of vegan options.
Read moreGuest
Allgreen!
Points +48
All vegan with faux meats - Edit
Friendly staff- meals prepped and served from hot bar. Not made to order.
Read morePros: All vegan, Accessible by metro, Friendly staff
Cons: Vegan meats , Foods prepped and served from hot bar
Guest
allhess
Points +5839
Amazing! - Edit
I had this amazing food at the 2019 Animal Rights National Conference! Spicy, flavorful and affordable!!
Read morePros: All vegan!, Friendly staff, Mac and cheese is dreamy
Guest
plantbasedgal
Points +453
Good for the Soul Food - Edit
Beautiful food, gracious owner and staff. Cannot wait to return.
Read morePros: Heavenly choices, perfectly seasoned.
Guest
Mangia_Athena
Points +66
Mac and Cheese - Edit
I ordered the entree and 2 sides. The Mac and cheese was delicious I ate the entire serving. The collard greens were delicious and the yams were flavorful too. I highly recommend this restaurant for some tasty fare, the menu changes daily!
Read moreGuest
Laurenveronica7
Points +1710
Delish but confusing - Edit
The food was amazing. It seems that they have different themes for the food to order each day. It was very confusing in how to order and it seemed they have a kitchen in the back, but they order in the food in the day we were there and put it in a hot bar. It was delicious, the Mac n CheeSe was fantastic, the drummies were also great. The “fried chickn” was dry though. The greens were also amazing. We had just come after they were very busy, but it was a bit cold and had an odd layout. I think they could execute it better.
Read moreGuest
BryanWoltjen
Points +335
Soul food, and bar! - Edit
Admittedly we were here after they'd been hit with a lunch rush, but they came over a little slapdash, and the ordering system was somewhat confusing. One of the staff seemed a little out of it and couldn't stop dropping things and wouldn't make eye contact. Now you don't need restaurant staff to gaze deeply into your eyes and stir the passions of your soul every time, but just some kind of acknowledgement would go a long way to making you feel welcome.
Read moreThat said, the food is great, mac and chZ is divine and the spicy drummies are unmissable. The fact that there is a bar is a big plus. The barperson was great, friendly and knowledgable about the beers on tap.
Location is very convenient and if you don't mind negotiating your way through the laissez-faire conditions upon entry, then make this your local, immediately.
Updated from previous review on 2019-02-01
Pros: bar, food
Cons: unclear system/menu
Guest
LetiziaR
Points +83
Terrible experience - Edit
We made a reservation for Dec 31, 2018 at 7 pm for our family. The Happy Cow app showed the restaurant was supposed to be open. We made the reservation on their website a couple of weeks ago. We had an email confirmation. When we got there the place was closed. There was another group of 10 also with a reservation waiting outside the locked door. No message on the door, no one picked up the phone. Why allow reservations if you are going to be closed? Horrible experience!!! We are visiting Washington, we do not know the area. We took a taxi there and we were stranded with our kids with no place to go for New Year's Eve dinner. I wish I could give fewer than 2 stars but the app would not allow me to.
Read morePros: None
Cons: Closed even though we had a reservation
Guest
Brusswole_Sprouts
Points +565
Pretty good - Edit
Food is good here, but I wasn’t blown away. Having my first White Russian as a Vegan here was pretty memorable, though.
Read moreGuest
ShaneAustinHall
Points +608
Soul Food Bliss - Edit
I’ve only ordered out, but the food has NOT disappointed. If you’re looking for soul food or comfort food without the cruelty, this is the spot for sure. The food is absolutely delicious, and the owner is wonderful.
Read morePros: All vegan , Some raw options , Affordable with hearty portions
Guest
Herbiv4
Points +2063
Lovely - Edit
The owner, Dr Baruch, is both knowledgeable and kind. Provides a welcoming environment where you can eat some of the best vegan soul food in town. I loved everything I tried. This cozy spot has a fully stocked bar and good customer service. If I’m in the area, I’d definitely go back.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Good customer service, Easy street parking
Cons: GPS may take you to the side vs front of building
Guest
angylart1
Points +28
Soy, soy, soy - Edit
Great foid. Soy in most of the meat-like food.
Read morePros: Good food
Cons: Too much soy
Guest
mzi
Points +249
first visit (spring '14) was great; disappointing since - Edit
on our first visit in spring of 2014, a friend and i marveled at the quality of the kitchen. we had, unequivocally, the best gourmet rendering of mac n' cheese we've ever sampled. same friend and i have been let down 3x since. the kitchen's gone bland and the service has been comically slow. moreover, management is tactless in exposing patrons to problems of the operation. our last 3 visits found us within earshot of what was essentially an ad hoc staff meeting, in the dining space. it was discomforting to hear waitstaff discuss, w/ patrons, the restaurant's profit issues (visits 3 and 4). just so awkward and oafish.
Read moreGuest
Karen P
Points +76
A Great Vegan Place - Edit
Delicious food, mostly soul tastes. Especially good sides, and lots of them. Pleasant surroundings, but music is usually too loud to allow conversation.
Read morePros: Great soul tastes. "Fish" sandwich exceptional., Good variety of offerings.
Cons: Music too loud for conversation, Service slow and not very friendly
Guest
Vandekieft
Points +326
decent options. very expensive - Edit
So this place is right next to Vegaritos and is owned by the same guy. They have some similarities but a totally different feel. This place is much more expensive and attracts rude customers. The staff was 50/50 on being rude or friendly. The food was decent. And the baked good were good. But really expensive
Read morePros: Good food options, to go option
Cons: Exspensive, some rude staff and customers
Guest
Mishallison
Points +194
Soul food & cocktails! - Edit
There was a line for the new hot bar when we visited, but it moved quickly, and in no time, we were eating heaping portions of awesome vegan soul food: eggplant Parmesan, mac and cheese, spinach, and collards. The carrot cake and cannoli were incredibly delicious -- as was the perfectly mixed martini!
Read moreGuest
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