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![Chikn sandwich with southern style potatoes [salad] and mac & chz at NuVegan in Washington](https://images.happycow.net/venues/1024/17/90/hcmp1790_1010815.jpeg)
Vegan
Buffet
Delivery
Take-out
Caribbean
Catering
Vegan cafe offering a large soul food menu of southern American style entrees, hot and cold sides, shakes and smoothies. Sample items include vegan soft serve, mac n cheese and biscuits, fried chicken, and Sunday brunch. One of a few branches, this one is in the Howard University/Park View area. Est. in the 2000s as Everlasting Life which became Woodlands then NuVegan in 2015. Black-owned. Reported closed September 2024.
191 Reviews
First Review by Mimi710
Fit_Fathers
Points +303
Good Ole Comfort Food - Edit
Call it comfort or soul food, but either or your appetite will be fulfilled once you leave this café on Ga Ave not to far from Howard University. Comprised of a hot bar, juice bar, raw bar and fast foods (fried), Woodlands offers a little for everyone. I used to go all the time when I first converted in 2012, but today it’s a rarity because I’m looking for more whole foods consisting of the majority of fruits, cruciferous green veggies, salads and whole grains. Also, I avoid oils at all costs but Woodlands seems to lather everything heavily with it. And the amount of sodium they use is extreme. The hot bar is changed daily with things like vegan lasagna, mac n cheese and fake meat meals such as Meat Loafs. I try to go with their raw menu like the chickpeas and seaweed salad. Fried chicken or fish fillets can be had for anyone missing the taste of just that, fast food.
Read morePros: Lots of variety, juice bar a plus, raw bar is ideal
Cons: heavy usage of cooked oils, fried foods, sodium heavy
Guest
cathk
Points +49
Amazing food! - Edit
This is definitely one of the best vegan restaurants I've been to! I loved my meal of vegan mac & cheese, fried chick'n, and collard greens. The mac was the best I've ever eaten (non-vegan included) and I still think about almost a year later :) If only I lived in D.C... I would eat here all the time!
Read morePros: excellent food, friendly staff
Guest
Katie Le
Points +557
Unique vegan soul food - Edit
We absolutely love this neighborhood establishment. The food is great, and varied from very healthy to very comfort-y. There are TONS of different options. The ordering system is only a tiny bit confusing the first time. You can order from the pre-made stuff at the counter or you can order off the menu. The space is huge so it's a great option for brunch if you have large groups or small children who like to run all around. The only major downfall is that they don't have coffee :-( (They do have decaf.)
Read moreGuest
shineonyou
Points +984
You have to go here if in DC - Edit
If you are in DC, have taste buds, and especially if you're Vegan, you have to go here.
Read moreGet the fried chicken sandwich.
Ask about the ice cream. I barely see anyone order it, and it's amazing. My husband and I aren't even the biggest frozen dessert people, but we were taken aback by how good and fresh the soft serve ice cream tasted.
Get anything, it is all delicious. As long as you get the mac and cheese. That's their thing and it is, in fact, really good.
Seriously, if you are in DC, I don't care if you aren't nearby, this is the one vegan experience you have the trek across town for. You can walk from the Columbia Heights metro. You can take a 70 bus or one of the 70-something buses that run up and down Georgia Ave./7th Street (7th Street turns into Georgia Ave.). These buses run from the National Mall, through Chinatown/the Verizon Center.
Parking also isn't terrible on the weekends. There's usually some parking on Georgia Ave or on Columbia Road, the cross street.
Admittedly, the system for ordering is confusing. You have to walk all the way to the back to order, the line isn't quite organized, and then you pay at the cash register. But the staff is really friendly and helpful if it's your first time ordering, especially if it isn't too crowded.
Look them up on twitter to see where their food truck is!
Updated from previous review on Wednesday March 04, 2015
Pros: DC's Best Restaurant
Cons: You will wish you had it where you live, May cause you to speak in hyperbole, Confusing system for ordering
Guest
robpaterson
Points +207
Amazing Vegan Soul Food - Edit
I LOVE this place. It's spacious, relaxing, and best of all, the food is amazing. The day I was there, they had vegan General Tso's style tofu, which I had with vegan mac and cheese, and green beans. I wanted to try many more dishes, but frankly, the portions are so large, that there was just no way, and I was by myself. You get a lot of food for your money, and it's the kind of food you can sink your teeth into, if you know what I mean.
Read moreThe next time I'm in the DC area, I am definitely going back, and next time, will try even more amazing dishes. If you're in DC, don't miss out. The food is down-home incredible.
Pros: Great food, large portions, Friendly service, Spatious
Guest
AlanC
Points +81
Costs Less to Eat Here than Cook at Home! - Edit
Woodlands has become a weekly favorite of ours. You can't eat so much and such good food for less anywhere in the vegan world. Plus, the staff are very sweet and the ambience is lovely.
Read morePros: Great food, You get your money's worth, You leave relaxed
Guest
claryb
Points +253
Beyond Amazing - Edit
I was lucky to have time to stop by Woodlands for a few items on the go. I ordered the black bean burger/wrap, cheesecake and cinnamon rolls. Everything was beyond amazing. The black bean burger/wrap was very flavorful. The cheesecake and cinnamon rolls were unbelievable - my non-vegan family members also loved them.
Read moreThe ordering process was a bit confusing but the staff was very friendly and helpful.
If I am in the DC area again, I plan to have all of my meals at Woodlands.
Pros: Delicious, Friendly staff, Large dessert portions
Guest
Bethany1202
Points +60
Delicious! - Edit
I was worried about receiving rude service after reading some of the reviews but the service was warm and friendly. We were greeted by a worker behind the drink/bar area and he asked if we have visited before. We said no and he explained the ordering process.
Read moreWe got the Salisbury steak platter with broccoli and potatoes, three orders of wings (one for there and two to go), and Oreo cheesecake. Wanted tofu nuggets but they didn't have them. Everything tasted amazing!
We specifically went for the DRUMMIES as we sampled them at the last Baltimore Vegfest and they were scrumptious! The breading is thick and tasty and the texture is fabulous!
The food was delicious, menu was diverse, atmosphere was nice, and prices were decent. Just wish it was closer because DC traffic sucks, but we'll take metro next time!
Updated from previous review on Wednesday October 29, 2014
Updated from previous review on Wednesday October 29, 2014
Pros: All vegan, Delicious, THE BEST DRUMMIES/WINGS!!!!
Cons: Parking, Out of nuggets : (
Guest
Raesock
Points +679
YES! - Edit
The food here is SO GOOD! I wish we had been in town longer, we would have eaten here every day! We both got the fried chicken sandwich (so crispy! so yummy!) and shared sides of fries and mac and cheese and greens. The mac and cheese was just ok, I don't know if it was an off batch because they are supposed to be known for that. We shared a piece of strawberry cheesecake for desert. It was the best vegan cheesecake I've had!!!
Read moreThe only thing I didn't like was the confusing service. You go in the back and wait in line and I guess you can order from a menu to? But there were none in evidence and when a customer in line asked the woman behind the counter was like "OUT FRONT" so rude. She was also rude to every customer that came to the counter. We got taken care of by the man behind the counter and he was very nice and explained things since we were from out of town and again, there is no indication for how to order, what comes with what, prices, except for the one laminated menu we saw in passing. But I would still come back, the food was so good! I only regret I didn't have room to try one of their milk shakes.
Pros: chicken sandwhich, cheese cake, amazing food
Cons: rude worker, a little confusing
Guest
andriamary
Points +25
Just Incredible Vegan Soulfood - Edit
Absolutely delicious. We had the Mac& Cheese and the Fried Chick'n Sandwiches and were in awe the entire time.
Read moreThe sandwiches feature crispy soy chick'n fried to perfection and a fresh slightly sweet bun. Even our friend who eats meat is a regular here for these sandwiches. They taste too good to be true!
Plus, the staff is very friendly and there are a ton of options for every palette.
Guest
brosner
Points +63
I get it about once a month - Edit
which is about as often as I visit any restaurant. It's amazing, but not healthy. If you want healthy, go elsewhere. Here are some of the choices I like there: Mac 'n cheese, fish sandwich, fried chicken sandwich, salisbury steak.
Read moreThey have a rotating menu, so some things are not available every day. For me, this is a huge plus because it increases the variety at a restaurant I go to often. I usually get the food to go and eat it at home, because it can be noisy inside. It has a juice bar, a feature that is inherently noisy.
Pros: Excellent food, good prices, good variety
Cons: noisy
Guest
veganlifeisgreat
Points +41
Worth all the money I spent there :) - Edit
I'm from NYC and visited there in June with my wife, I am vegan and she is not. So I did my research on this place and liked the reviews, I aslo looked up another place to eat for another day but never made it there because this place was sooooo good. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. I spent $90 between us two ($25 went to our sweet tooth lol)and it was worth evry penny. Like I said I was gonna go somewhere else the next day to give the other place a try but we decided to go there for breakfast on Sunday and it was worth it again. This is the place to go for all vegan and non vegan lovers. If and when I'm in DC again this will be a must place for me to eat. Btw you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. 5 STARS
Read morePros: Warm wonderful and helpful service, Delicious food, Clean eating area
Cons: No cons only pros
Guest
TableForOne
Points +310
Sweet Almond Cream - Edit
It's a pleasure to discover a fully vegan eatery close to where i'm playing. This place was just a 15 minute walk from the 9:30 Club. I had the seitan beef with broccoli and a salad of crispy green beans and sesame seaweed. For dessert, i had an almond cream shake. It was very sweet, but sometimes that's okay. It's kind of weird how there's a few T.V. screens on the wall, switched on, with the sound down, but apart from that i thought this was a great place. There's lots of choice at the buffet and an extensive menu of shakes and freshly made juices. I'd definitely come again.
Read morePros: Lots of choice, Lots of seating, Big portions
Cons: T.V.
Guest
sullivusb
Points +318
Amazing! - Edit
Wow this place is awesome!
Read moreWhile visiting D.C., four of us swung by here for Dinner on Friday night and loved it so much that we returned for Sunday brunch.
This is a cafeteria style eating establishment with a rotating menu so obviously we didn't get to try everything, but everything we did try was great. I especially recommend the Shepherd's Pie, broccoli, Waffles, biscuits, "cheesecake", and breakfast sandwiches.
The pricing is also very reasonable
Pros: Great food, Great prices, Friendly staff
Guest
cookiem
Points +5952
So good and so bad - Edit
Why oh why do I not go here more often? This place is vegan food glory at some of its finest in that southern comfort food style, with the fat, salt, sugar and calories to match.
Read moreHave you seen their menu? Have you seen their mac and cheese? Have you seen their cinnamon buns??? DC locals, you know there are some pretty good cinnamon rolls out there, and I had thought they were all just about the same and had never bothered to try one from here…. umm, I was kindly corrected the other day when purchasing a WARM frosting glazed confection overflowing in a (plastic) to-go-container. $4 gets me THIS? I was so pleased at the texture and flavors, I vow to never settle for another DC area cinnamon roll. It was that good. Plus, the size allows just about anyone to eat some now and some later. Seriously, it must have weighed at least 1.5 pounds, it was massive!
As for the food, the prices are alright, but who cares, the food is so good! To see what they have ready to go, walk on to the back and see - check it out, and well, you will leave with more than you had planned to eat…. The hot sides and entrees are before you, so take your pick a la carte or mix it up. I advise purchasing either a melange of all sides or if an entree is your desire, add sides to bring cost to something reasonable. On varying days they have varying meat analogues like seitan or chicken, but, thankfully, they always have the mac and cheese! Cooked veggies include collards, beets, spinach, mashed potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, you name it! It changes, so go frequently - or order off the menu a sandwich-like concoction if you have the patience to wait for it amidst all the amazing presentation before you!
For brunch, they have tofu scramble, meat-like sausages, waffles, pancakes, french toast, burritos, sandwiches, tofu, seitan, veggies, breakfast potatoes and cinnamon rolls. Oh wow. So good. You will not be disappointed!
They have cookies and cakes to go - though they don't hold a candle to the cinnamon bun! Order smoothies - yum, with almond, soy, hemp or rice milk - or juices - great way for those in need of their daily fix(es).
There are also cold sides that are raw and cooked - Asian noodle salad, seaweed salad, spinach salad, pasta salad, marinated artichokes, garlic kale, ginger collards, parsley surprise, caribbean chick pea salad, beets, couscous, mushrooms, string beans, quinoa, etc. I personally love getting 3 sides to go!
This place is super casual but delish!
Pros: Selection, 100% vegan, Cinnamon rolls
Cons: Calories, Too many menu choices, Too tasty = overeating
Guest
IamVShelby
Points +23
Completely Vegan...Totally Amazing! - Edit
This restaurant is completely vegan. However, that's not a problem since all of the food is soooo good!
Read moreMy first visit was with my husband on a Sunday afternoon for brunch. I'd heard first hand of how to conduct yourself in this restaurant-grab a menu, go to the back/kitchen area or wait in the line, get your food, you can eat first pay later or vice versa- so that wasn't a problem for me. However, there were no menus so we used the somewhat visible one on our phone. No matter. We ordered brunch!
Turns out, the food was so good, my husband had to ask me, 'Are you sure this is all vegan? There is no way that this mac-n-cheese is this good!'
We ordered the Ginger Spicy Tofu (yum) with mac-n-cheese, kale salad and broccoli with cookies for dessert. We were so full afterwards!
I have since gone back with coworkers and alone and have tried their chickn' sandwich, the fish fillets, steamed kale and fries. Everything was delicious-I especially enjoyed the fish and kale! I recommend this place all of the time and will definitely be back soon!
Pros: Great food, Large Portions, Friendly Staff
Cons: Price-Health is Wealth, Online menu not clearly visible, No reservations! :-(
Guest
ArashArabasadi
Points +140
get ready to punch your mouth in the face - Edit
welcome to woodland's vegan bistro... home of chicken wings, mac n cheese, fried chicken and collard greens.
Read moreit's all vegan. it's all greasy. but it's all good.
place used to be called "everlasting life cafe" -- aka ELC -- but after a dispute between co-founders, or something to that effect, it's now this.
it's just amazing. the wings are insane. my fiancee isn't vegan, but she's a good sport when we're together. we knock out the buffalo & BBQ wings with furious anger. they're so worth the wait.
...and the weight. this ain't health food, nor is it really masquerading as such. it's just dope, hangover helper that's 100% vegan and a hit with non-vegans, too.
i haven't gone there with any non-vegan who didn't walk out like, "damn son. that was dope."
enjoy and you're welcome.
Pros: wings good enough to smack mama, mac n cheese is slammin, hearty, heavy food
Cons: it's not health food AT ALL, made-to-order takes a while, your clothes will smell greasy
Guest
Saramste
Points +327
Love this Place - Edit
** Formally Everlasting Life Cafe DC.** This place is amazing. By far my favorite vegan soul food spot in the DC area! There is NOTHING that I have ordered there, that I did not enjoy. The vegan fish is amazing (sandwich, or entree), the fried chicken (again, sandwich or entree) is extremely satisfying, and the raw/cold bar certainly offers enough options to satisfy an individual looking for a mix or raw and cooked, or simply raw vegan items. They also offer a rewards program. Ask about it at the register! Also, love that they have a vegan food truck. Check them out on Facebook to find out where they are located each day!
Read morePros: Amazing Vegan Soul Food, Rewards Program
Cons: Parking
Guest
Worldvegkitchen
Points +1387
Soul Food Heaven - Edit
This place is one of my favorite places to eat in DC! I love how it feels like a very local DC place and not just another overpriced bougie restaurant. The food is excellent and the fried chicken sandwich is a killer. They also have a huge side salad bar and they are very generous with the helpings! Also try their garlic kale!
Read morePros: Food, Atmosphere, Local
Cons: Location is hard to get to
Guest
ConsciousBurning
Points +26
Awesome vegan soul food - Edit
I live about a 5 minute walk away from Woodlands, which is good and bad- good because the food is so delicious, but dangerous for the same reason! Their mac & cheese is amazing. They have a ton of cold, raw salads to choose from. I didn't like the garlic kale; it was actually a little too garlicky for me, and I really like garlic. My partner, who is decidedly not vegan, also likes the food here.
Read moreI haven't had their smoothies or soft serve yet (maybe next summer) but the smoothies are made with fresh ingredients. Get a cinnamon roll, but be warned: you may eat the whole thing in one sitting!
I like this place a lot because it has such an interesting mix of clientele- folks who have lived in the area for years and years, Howard students, hipsters, and yuppies like myself. There's currently some construction going on next door but it hasn't interfered with Woodlands' hours.
Pros: Great food, Huge portions, Community vibe
Cons: Not air-conditioned in the summer, Huge portions, Can be crowded in the back when ordering
Guest
beetsrock
Points +881
Woodlands Food Truck - Edit
It was worth the long wait in line to get the fried chicken sandwich and garlic kale salad. It sounds unhealthy and it probably was but it was soooo good! And the sandwich was huge -- this combo made a very large lunch. The food truck provides different self-serve sauces and both the BBQ and hot sauces were delish on the sandwich. Most food trucks just offer a few selections but Woodlands had a large menu of sandwich/salad type items. For someone who tries to eat low-fat, whole foods, this meal felt like a guilty pleasure ... but I would do it again!
Read morePros: food truck travels to you, big portions, friendly staff
Cons: service is a bit slow
Guest
DC Vegan
Points +345
Awesome vegan soul food - Edit
Woodlands Vegan Bistro is a cafe on Georgia Avenue formerly known as Everlasting Life (although the signage and menus don't yet reflect that change). What a few years ago was a grungy grocery with a little carry-out area in the back has morphed into a sort of cafe. You still have to go to the back to get your order and pay the friendly cashier (grabbing bottled drinks from the refrigerator near the cash register), but you have a comfortable place to enjoy your food.
Read moreWoodlands is vegan soul food, although a healthy meal can be had if you stick to the raw salads.(such as the delicious vinaigrette kale). Or you can enjoy one of the hot entrees (which vary from day to day) or a sandwich. Prices are pretty reasonable, and the last time I was there, the portions were quite generous. My boyfriend's "cheese steak" sandwich was huge! And the fried "chicken" (offered as an entree on Saturdays) is to die for!
Woodlands is in a sort of sketchy neighborhood north of Shaw, and there's no reserved parking, but it's near several bus lines and a little more than half a mile from the Georgia Avenue Metro station (Green Line). This is not a problem for me, as I don't own a car. And it's totally worth it for the food.
Pros: delicious food, friendly service, good portions
Cons: sketchy neighborhood, no parking
Guest
vegan_ryan
Points +3878
Great food, friendly people & ice cream - Edit
This is a store/food by weight type place, but they also have vegan soft serve. The prices are great, and so is the service. It's definitely worth going. Other than honey, everything is vegan.
Read morePros: All-veg (honey), Vegan ice cream, Friendly
Guest
Cynthia7
Points +79
My favorite restaurant in DC - Edit
I was in DC for 4 days and visited ELC three times. I loved it, and I will eat there any time I am in DC. Their menu indicates they are 100% vegan, so I think the info on HC may be outdated.
Read moreWalking into the restaurant, it isn't apparent what is supposed to happen. There are tables and chairs in the front, a register and bar behind it, and then through a walkway there is the kitchen and service counter. A friend my husband and I were meeting there had scoped it out, so she explained that you headed to the back to order your food, kind of like cafeteria-style.
It isn't entirely clear how that process is supposed to go, as there is a hot item bar that the staff serves to you, a case with a bunch of unmarked salads (info about them is listed on the menu though) that they will also serve you, and then another counter where the fried chicken sandwich and other hot items are made. It would be easier for customers if everything in the salad case had labels and if there were a few signs to say "start here" or "order sandwiches here." That part is kind of confusing, but it isn't worth worrying over. The food is great, so just fumble through it the first time.
Over the course of the three meals I ate I had the tofu manicotti (very good), broccoli (basic but tasty and a good healthy item), mac 'n' cheese (amazing!), fried chicken (YUM!), and fried chicken sandwich (another YUM!). Despite all the strong reviews here of the fried chicken sandwich, I was kind of hesitant to order it, because someone mentioned it just being breaded tofu. That isn't true at all. It looked to me to be made from dehydrated yuba (or dried beancurd sticks) that were rehydrated and then double-breaded. I never did figure out what the mac 'n' cheese was made of exactly, as it had a great cheesy taste but didn't seem like any recipes I had ever made. Both were great and I plan to order fried chicken (or the sandwich) and mac 'n' cheese every time I visit. The peanut butter shake is decadent and delicious, by the way. It was something we ordered at each meal.
I loved this restaurant, and while it isn't really near other sights, it is worth the rail/walk or bus ride. Especially if you are looking for vegan soul food at a good price. This is a great spot for tourists, as your money goes a long way, as the portion sizes are generous, the cost is low, and there won't be a wait to eat.
Pros: all vegan food, generous portions for low price, amazing food
Cons: bus ride or a bit of a walk from rail
Guest
turtleveg
Points +1769
Love it! - Edit
Everlasting Life has the best of both worlds - amazing soul/comfort food and tasty deli salads and fresh pressed juices. The vegan fried chicken is to die for. And the staff are all super friendly and helpful. Prices are right too.
Read moreGuest
mikebinos
Points +165
why did i never go before? - Edit
Never went here when I lived in DC, that was stupid. On a recent trip back to visit friends they took us here and it was amazing. The mac n cheese was fantastic as were the vegan ribs (and the cinnamon bun).
Read moreSomeone said here that it was related to SoulVeg, but is that really the case? I always thought SoulVeg was too salty and the food was not nearly as good as Everlasting Life, at least when I went.
Guest
vegbenzboy
Points +256
Yum! Yum! - Edit
I just got back from DC from a family vacation. I went to Everlasting Life the food was delicious. A lot of southern favorites like mac & cheze & greens, yams. The service was very friendly. There was no where to sit because they are expanding to having a dining area. They also had food to go like delicious salads, pizza, pies. I had to keep asking if everything was vegan. Can't wait to visit again.
Read moreGuest
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