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Serves meat, vegan options available. (Note from HappyCow: They serve two of our forbidden meats: veal & lamb. We are only adding this because there are no other listings in this city.) Billed as an Italian restaurant, they have been offering vegan choices long before most restaurants. The chef has crafted gourmet, upscale (clearly labeled) vegan offerings for both lunch and dinner, from salads that can include tofu to gourmet entrees featuring tofu and stir frys. The setting is elegant in the heart of the Chagrin Valley, nestled in a quaint community called Gates Mills that looks like it jumped out of the British countryside. The restaurant is a building that houses a public library. In the summer, the outdoor patio is spacious, and sheltered from street noise.
3 Reviews
First Review by VeganUSA
irise102
Points +912
Upscale Vegan Dining Experience - Edit
Sara’s place is a very nice eating establishment with excellent service. There are several vegan options on the menu and many that can be modified to be vegan. They offer tofu as an add on to any dish.
Read moreI had the beans and greens appetizer as my entree. Not sure why it is an appetizer because it is a very large portion. They swapped the sausage and Parmesan cheese for tofu at no additional charge. The tofu was crispy and delicious.
My husband had the Israeli couscous and added tofu. His dish was just okay.
However, our overall dining experience was wonderful!
Pros: Excellent service, Nice ambiance, Good food
Cons: A little pricey
Guest
SFRobbie
Points +1077
Delightful atmosphere and great pizza! - Edit
Picturesque spot that’s great for a nice night out. Several vegan options, the best of which was a pizza fully decked in veggies with a lovely thin crust. You may have to request it because it’s not on the menu. The vegan stir fry was decent, made better by the grilled tofu on top (ask for it grilled or sautéed). The rice and beans dish was even more flavorful. Huge servings for everything, including the vegan chocolate Mitchell’s ice cream! Great service.
Read moreGuest
VeganUSA
Points +7950
Offering vegan for years and not just roasted veggies - Edit
Sara's Place is first and foremost an Italian restaurant oriented toward a bedroom community clientele. Which makes it all the more amazing that they began adding lighter, healthier, vegan and vegetarian fare to their menus long before it became a trend to do so. Also when they offer a vegan item, it's not roasted veggies or a brand-name veggie burger, it's something gourmet and made in house.
Read moreOur favorites include a large bock of lemon-broiled extra firm tofu served on a bed of Israeli cous cous. Their signature salads are filled with so many different ingredients and combinations, and are easily adapted to vegan. A wonderful oriental stir fry offers tofu as an add on.
Every so often they have a miss: their in-house veggie burger is not tasty and looks like an army ration, but kudos for having a homemade burger versus the increasing trend of serving packaged burgers from outside vendors. One other caution: have the staff ask the chef if an item is 100% vegan. Sometime when the server has thought an item can be adapted to be vegan - with the case of the cauliflower pancake - upon checking with the chef, they have been apprised of other non-vegan ingredients in the body of the entrée.
The patio is big and spacious. The service is excellent. The interior has plenty of window seats, and a lodge-like feel without being dark and oppressive. If the place is full up (and reservations are recommended although often you can be seated without a reservation), ask to sit upstairs in the bar - it's a little noisy up there, but worthy as a Plan B seating option.
Pros: Gourmet vegan options, Other adaptable options, Excellent service and beautiful setting
Cons: Staff are not always knowledgeable about vegan
Guest
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