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Operating since 2011, the all-vegan menu includes savory entrees, handholds, raw items, beer, wine, desserts. Example of choices: caesar salad, raw tacos, collard wrap, creole tempeh, spanakopita, burger with sweet potato fries. Cakes, smoothies, and ice cream sundaes available. Reported closed June 2022.
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2 E Main St, Branford, Connecticut, USA, 06405
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 25 Jun 2022 by iloveveganicecream
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Added by Michael X. James on 23 Oct 2011
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46 Reviews
First Review by Michael X. James
NicoP.
Points +78
Five stars for sure - Edit
My new favorite restaurant!
Read moreGuest
megdunn7
Points +76
loveeeeee - Edit
G-zen has a large menu of delicious food items and u can't go wrong when u order anything. always fabulous. cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and creative scrumptious meals And desserts!! happy place :)
Read morePros: food is 2000/10, friendly staff creative dishes decadent dessert
Cons: a little warm in there (went on very hot evening),, VERY expensive!!
Guest
nlevine94
Points +1187
A treat for all - Edit
When a restaurant is TOP 20 in the U.S. for Vegan food, you know you're in for a treat. And G-Zen certainly delivered.
Read moreOverall atmosphere was great too. Very inviting staff, a huge menu of food, alcoholic drinks, juices, smoothies, dessert, and much much more. But the food really stole the show.
The raw tacos are fantastic. An absolute must get, a great appetizer to whatever is order/eaten/inhaled next. They're savory and fresh and all the ingredients, from the crumble texture of the walnut "taco meat," to the smooth guacamole, to the cashew parmesan, it's a great mouthfeel and a fantastic fresh flavor, not spicy or oiled like your traditional non-vegan taco.
The Raw Radiance Collard Wrap is also wonderful. The wrap itself, with the sweet curried nut pate, and the shredded veggies is very sweet and flavorful. But add in the peanut sauce and you have a full out-of-body experience. And the house-made kraut on the side reminds me of bread and butter pickles: light and fresh, with just a hint of fermentation.
Ordered a small side of the spanakopita. I had not even thought about missing these by going vegan 6 months ago. But boy were they delicious. Crispy filo paper on the outside, creamy tofu, herbs, and spinach for a cheesy-like filling. Absolutely great.
So good news: I ordered an entree, the Portabella Tofu Napoleon. Bad news: I had to take it to-go. So based on heating it up in a microwave, it was delicious, but i'm sure it would have been even better fresh and at G-Zen instead of in a hotel room.
Overall, thrilled. Highly recommend. A note about the cost: Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? That's up for you to determine, but I vote yes.
Pros: HUGE menu, and great choices, Gorgeous decor, along with outdoor seating, Leave feeling fresher than when you arrived
Cons: Very popular, plan accordingly
Guest
CherylM
Points +88
Wonderful plant based restaurant - Edit
Excellent vegan restaurant. All the items we've had were super delicious. My faves are the tacos, sweet potato fries, and chocolate cake!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options
Cons: Very crowded on weekends
Guest
theveganwitch13
Points +679
Amazing! - Edit
I love G-Zen! Amazing food and great atmosphere.
Read morePros: excellent food, great value, great atmosphere
Cons: expensive side
Guest
JJones315
Points +2355
Home away from home - Edit
I live in NYC, but my mom lives in Branford, so this is my go-to place for plant-based dining. Lucky me! The dining is excellent and the Saturday Brunch is a dream come true. Do NOT miss the opportunity to visit and experience it for yourself.
Read morePros: Excellent food, Upscale dining
Guest
DaisyJane¥
Points +30
Perfect Date Night ♥ - Edit
My boyfriend and I went last night for the first time and it was amazing. The staff was very sweet and the restaurant was warm and inviting. I suggest making a reservation just to be on the safe side. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. They have a very large bar menu and a large assortment of non-alcoholic drinks. The Dim Sum appetizer comes with two flavorful dipping sauce. I wish I could buy the sauce and keep at home because it's just that good. I also enjoyed the taco appetizer and it was also amazing. Make sure to save room for dessert. The Chocolate Torte is now my favorite dessert. I was sold with the brownie crust. After dinner we walked around downtown Branford. It was a perfect night. ps my boyfriend is not vegan- he got the artichoke kalamata olive wrapped in filo and a crabby patty. we both cleaned our plates. Thank you Gzen ♥
Read morePros: The entire menu is vegan
Cons: Expensive
Guest
CastawayVeg
Points +42
My favorite vegan restaurant in CT - Edit
I love G-Zen! I usually always wind up ordering a special, but the nachos and grilled cheese are two of my favorite items on the menu! The nachos themselves are a meal though! I literally dream about the raw chocolate almond butter crunch torte, it's heavenly! However, I do not get it often, as it is $14 for a sliver.
Read moreGuest
AJamilah
Points +18
Amazing! - Edit
As a new vegan I've been trying to find more places to eat out that cater to my new needs. The food here was AMAZING!! I went to brunch with two other people and everyone enjoyed their food. I had the breakfast burrito with a side of sweet potato fries, the turmeric elixir drink (don't remember the exact name) and the lemon lavender "cheesecake" for dessert ( I was really hungry). Can't wait to go back.
Read morePros: High quality food, Lots of options , Friendly staff/welcoming atmosphere
Cons: Expensive
Guest
saelbu
Points +28
Best in CT (with an asterisk) - Edit
There are not a lot of vegan restaurants in Connecticut, so there's not much competition for the top spot. I have been a number of times. The service and atmosphere are outstanding. But the food is sometimes hit or miss. Last time, I had the Wheel of Dharma (udon noodle soup) which was to die for. My friend had the Kama Sutra (coconut curry veggies over rice) that had just one overpowering spice and was mostly tomatoes.
Read moreBottom line, ask the waitstaff for recommendations. And if you don't get a winner the first time there, try again. The good stuff is *reallllly* good.
The desserts are excellent -- I've had the carrot cake, the coconut cake, chocolate hazelnut cake, and sundae. (not all at once!)
Pros: Great atmosphere, Good service, nice waitstaff, Some excellent food
Cons: Hit-or-miss on the food
Guest
GKJ
Points +28
Ohhhhhhhh myyyyyy GOD!!! - Edit
I took my omnivorous boyfriend hoping he would like it as much as I did. The hands down winner....that vanilla cashew gelato!!! G-Zen, put it in a cookbook or sell it by the pint, PLEASE!
Read moreIt's amazing and should be shared with the world. My sweetheart doesn't eat ice cream because it hurts him to digest.
Pros: Need I say it again? Vanilla cashew gelato!!
Cons: None to report
Guest
Springing
Points +57
best vegan food in CT - Edit
This place is fantastic. With the sad demise of Six Main it's now my favorite vegan place in CT, despite the trek to get out there. Great brunch options on the weekend, fabulous deserts, and good cocktails. Definitely spendy, but well worth it.
Read moreGuest
catchahealthyhabit
Points +72
Great Clean Food & Drink - Edit
Great place, Great staff, Awesome owners and the tasty food, desert, smoothies!
Read moreGreat scenery, location and education talks from time to time!
Guest
Dogs429
Points +396
Great Food - Edit
I know happy cow says this is a vegetarian restaurant but it is 100% vegan. The food is absolutely, if you go there the raw tacos are a must. I've been here about 3 times and was always pleased with the service and food.
Read morePros: great service, awesome food, nice environment
Cons: none
Guest
vikavegan
Points +48
Not for my taste - Edit
This place has some good items in the menu. I went there several times, but every time I got out feeling pretty heavy. While the food is tasty, I can never finish my plates, they are just too dense! This is the only reason I give it three stars. Also, I find the place a bit dark; my eyes don't feel very comfortable.
Read morePros: tasty
Cons: a bit heavy, dark
Guest
NIBsmf
Points +1375
Awesome place! - Edit
Food: 10. I went a little nuts ordering things since I had been so eager to go here and live 6 hours away! I got the following: the sweet potato fries, raw sunflower-based "cheese sticks", and the creole tempeh (which comes with cornbread, greens, and mashed potatoes). All were really good. My friend who I was with got chili and bruschetta, which I tasted and those were good, too. We shared the dessert special: a pumpkin doughtnut a la mode! We both agreed that was the best part of the meal! We were sad that they were out of the perogies the night we went, as we had looked at the menu online and had gone in wanting those very badly.
Read morePrice: 7. A bit pricey, but understandable given it is high-quality fresh, organic, and local food.
Atmosphere: 10. Very quaint and charming. It can be both casual or a bit fancy. Calming.
Staff: 9. Very friendly and helpful, but a bit slow.
Pros: Great selections, Great atmosphere, Great staff
Cons: Pricey
Guest
Candice H
Points +19
one time visitor - Edit
I happened to be in town and heard this new vegan restaurant had just opened. I had the vegan dim sum and the vegan nachos. Both were delicious. For desert I had the lemon tart with cashew cream and raspberry coulis. All was yummy and in a beautiful setting. Next time I visit Connecticut, I will be eating there as often as possible.
Read morePros: beautiful setting, great presentation, yummy
Cons: distance from me, no lunch hours
Guest
tabishop
Points +21
Wow! What a great meal! - Edit
The restaurant was beautiful. The service was excellent and the food could not have been better.
Read moreThere were 5 of us so I got to try a number of items on the menu. For Apps, don't miss the "crab" cakes or the Dim Sum platter. The nachos and G Fries were also excellent, particularly with the house-made ketchup. For entrees I absolutely loved the raw "Guilt-Free" Fettuccine Alfredo (made from squash and carrots etc. no noodles and of course served cold). I also tried the Pirogi and the burger which were both excellent. For dessert the cheesecake and coconut custard were excellent as were the truffles.
The atmosphere is unique and stylish in a very comfortable and inviting way. They seemed to use a lot of natural materials in the design which gives the restaurant a nice warm feeling. It feels like they were trying to create a space that is both comfortable and unique. It definitely works. The artwork throughout the restaurant is interesting and tasteful. Dress is casual. Pricing is a little less than fine dining and very reasonable for the quality (5 people - Apps, Entrees, Dessert was $200 incl tax). They take the major credit cards and there is ample close parking on Main St. If you're even casually thinking about giving this place a try, just get in your car and go. You will not be disappointed. There was absolutely nothing about this place that I thought could be improved and I'm very critical. Oh, and I should mention that only one person in our group (not me) has committed to a vegan lifestyle. This place is great for anyone and everyone. Add it to your list!
P.S. I found the place by using the free Happy Cow app on an android phone. They had been open less than a week and it was already on there. If you're interested in vegan/vegetarian dining you should definitely check it out. It has never steered me wrong.
Pros: Excellent Food, Excellent Ambiance, Excellent Service
Cons: None
Guest
Michael X. James
Points +998
Love it!!!!! - Edit
This place is great! All food is made vegan so I'm not sure why Happy Cow doesn't label them Vegan and just Vegan-friendly. I realize they have milk available for coffee but that's it. The sweet potato fries are good, the nachos are good, the bread is good, the soup is good...heck, everything there is good! Chai latte with almond milk was one of the best I've ever had. The cheesecake was great. I can't wait to go back to this place. It's definitely pricey but worth it. The portion sizes are decent but for the price I would have liked a little bit more ($7 for fries...you expect a LOT of fries). The service was friendly and highly knowledgeable. I'll be back here again and again and again! Highly recommended!
Read morePros: Great food, Lots of options, Very nice restaurant
Cons: Parking is tough, Expensive
Guest
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