Vegan-friendly
Lacto
American
Pizza
International
Organic
Juice bar
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Gluten-free
Extensive menu with lunch specials, gluten-free options, and brunch on Sunday. Located at the back of the N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, the restaurant entrance is on the left side of the building, follow the paved walkway. Looks over an outdoor patio; the bar has brick walls, a vaulted wooden ceiling and Jeff's hand-built birch bar. Its first location is in Ann Arbor. Reported closed March 2025.
69 Reviews
First Review by mdethier
veganinseattle
Points +195
Wish I Could Give Stronger Review - Edit
I travel a lot for business and always look forward to trying new veg restaurants. In this case, Seva was close to my hotel in downtown Detroit.
Read moreI ordered the Cilantro Peanut Stir Fry. It was disappointing on many levels. In theory, it should have come with brown rice but it did not. The vegetables (mainly bean sprouts) were smothered in sauce and barely recognizable. It was a very mushy dish lacking color and texture.
When I ordered a side dish of rice, it amounted to a serving size of about four tablespoons. The restaurant charged $4 for this tiny serving.
I wish I was with other diners so that I could have had a better sense of the other menu items but my selection didn't give me confidence in the kitchen.
Pros: Central location, Spacious, Many vegan options
Cons: Food needs improvement, Pricey
Guest
megg030199
Points +82
Best Brunch! - Edit
For a vegan brunch on a Sunday, Seva is the place to go! I got a tofu scramble with almond cheese, which was amazing! The best vegan food I have ever tried though was the caramel cashew tart (or something along those lines) on the brunch dessert menu! SO GOOD
Read moreGuest
Muuuuu
Points +3329
Just what I needed - Edit
I spent 3 days in Detroit and went there... 3 times. The location is convenient and the menu is extensive. Besides, they have a nice range of local beers and cider.
Read morePros: the location, the food, the drinks
Cons: not 100% vegan
Guest
Maakun
Points +1265
Slightly more upscale place - Edit
Quite a big place, with different inside and outside areas. Good sized menu with quite some vegan options. Lots of drinks too. The food was quite good! The service not so much, they seemed not interested and acted like we were not really welcome... OK this place seemed a bit more expensive and upscale, but we were dressed decently and don't look weird or something? Strange.
Read morePros: Good food
Cons: Didn't feel welcome
Guest
clovely.vegan
Points +1118
Pesto Paradise! - Edit
Traveling from out of town and I'm glad I made a point to visit Seva. I ordered the Fettucine al Pesto and was so happy with the dish. The house-made basil-cashew pesto was super tasty. I was impressed with quality of the actual pasta itself as well.
Read moreFor dessert I ordered the Chocolate Mousse and regretted my decision. The mousse itself was just ok, and it was covered in too many sugared pistachios. The pistachios ruined it for me.
My server was nice, but not the most attentive.
Guest
steisjam
Points +83
What a great restaurant - Edit
They have great vegan options. My favorite is the General Tso's Cauliflower, which is a favorite among meat eaters and vegans alike. However, their service has been terrible the past five or so times I've gone there. Forgetting orders, slow in general, and rude/inappropriate bartenders is a quick summary of my recent experiences here. This used to be my go-to place for a delicious meal and used to be the place I would bring friends to showcase how great vegetarian food can be, but I would be embarrassed to bring anyone here now. I hope they improve in the future!
Read morePros: Good food, Upbeat atmosphere
Cons: Terrible service
Guest
RachelFinney
Points +23
I love this place tbh - Edit
I go here like pretty much twice a week and it's lit.
Read morePros: it's lit , vegan coney dogs
Guest
eartha
Points +41
yes to appetizers and drinks - Edit
The bruschetta was as good as it can be - loved it. Also really liked the cauliflower appetizer. After that things became just good. There was nothing wrong with the food but at the same time there was nothing to mark the entrees as special. In the end I felt our $85 dinner (2 entrees, 2 appetizers, 2 drinks and a tip) was pricey based on food quality and service.
Read moreI also loved the space; both overall and in terms of space around our table. it was nice dinning as a couple instead of as a stand alone pair in a group setting as has become the norm in more upscale establishments.
Pros: appetizers, space, wine/beer pours
Cons: price, service
Guest
Sharley6825
Points +26
Much better then the Ann Arbor location - Edit
I was never much of a fan of Seva when going to the Ann Arbor location. I felt the staff at Seva was stuck up, they made it seem like anytime you asked for something you were interrupting their day, bothering them and just always had this I am better then you attitude.
Read moreThe staff at the Detroit location are amazing. Wonderfully nice and just very pleasant to be around. Same menu as the Ann Arbor location.
Pros: Wonderful Staff
Cons: Same Menu as AA location
Guest
ileanemcg
Points +32
Seva - Edit
Going to Seva, I was expecting the kind of place where you could get beautiful vegetable filled meals. However, what I got was so. much. Daiya. I am not a fan of daiya, I think it tastes weird, its not healthy, but whatever if you like that- then maybe this is the place for you. I just felt like I was going to an applebees where everything was made from soy. also, I should note that there arent really any raw options either, which is another disappointing thing about Seva. Overall; bland, pricey, and unimaginative. W ould not recommend.
Read morePros: Gluten Free Options, Vegan, Didn't Feel Limited
Cons: Simply Recreated Meals With Meat, Under Seasoned, Pricey
Guest
warmstorage
Points +242
Fantastic vegan happy hour! - Edit
I went here two days in a row for happy hour (4pm-6pm M-F) and was extremely pleased both times. The happy hour menu is dirt cheap ($1, $2, and $3 options.) yes, the portions are slightly smaller than they might be other hours, but they're delicious, and filling when you have a few.
Read moreover two days, I had:
vegan mac
roasted red pepper hummus
mushroom slider (with Daiya substituted)
peanut-kale salad
All delicious.
The bar menu is solid, with various happy hour specials. Every day a local beer from Atwater Street Brewing is $2.50 for a pint(!) and there are a couple other draft options.
The staff is very friendly (perhaps because they're bellied up to the bar drinking a fair bit.)
The front part feels slightly fancier, while the back part is more bar/cafe. Outside seating also available.
Know that you have to enter from the east side of the building (the alley side on the west has a sign, but the door is locked.)
Unfortunately when you walk out you see a good chunk of the staff smoking in the alley -- I sure hope they wash their hands better than the other reviewer experienced. And one server was holding his cigarette while working over the water filling station and garnishes. He didn't wash his hands before talking to customers, though I don't know if he handled food without washing his hands. (Seriously, management, you need to work this one out.)
I'd definitely go back. The prices are slightly higher when it's not happy hour, but I'd be happy to pay those.
Updated from previous review on Friday June 28, 2013
Pros: happy hour, vegan comfort food, friendly staff
Cons: staff smoking profusely in alley, server cigarettes over water station, entrance a little hard to find
Guest
jongela
Points +15
Welcome to Detroit! - Edit
It's so great to have Seva in Detroit! We've enjoyed the Ann Arbor location for years, now it's even more delicious in the D. It means a lot to us to have tasty food that's also good for our body. Thank you Seva!!
Read morePros: Tasty, Healthy, Cool location
Cons: A little pricey
Guest
vegette
Points +386
reliable vegetarian/vegan - Edit
The Detroit location is a beautiful and modern design. Can be a wait on the weekends. The entire menu is vegetarian and vegan options, including dessert. Juice bar and homemade sodas. Full bar and wine menu. Good stop on an evening out downtown, even with a group.
Read moreGuest
Randeeni
Points +48
SORRY TO SAY............ - Edit
I have been a vegetarian for 40+ years. This hurts me to write this because I want to be able to support all things vegetarian.
Read moreHowever, i must tell you that what I witnessed today needs to be shared with the community.
I sat at a table near the bar. The man working behind the juice bar was eating his own lunch while working. He was eating nachos using his hands (as most of us do). He would then proceed to cut up vegetables and fruit for smoothies and juices he was making. Then he would handle the money in the cash register. Then back to the smoothie and raw juice making. Then he was texting on his phone. Then back to cutting up fruit.
All of this WITHOUT WASHING HANDS AND WITHOUT GLOVES.
I called the manager over (Lauren). She watched with me as he ate and made juices. She agreed with me that this was not acceptable and that she would take care of it. Lauren then went into her office without discussing this with this man.
The man continued eating chips, texting on his phone, handling money for the cash register, and making juices and smoothies - again without washing hands and without gloves.
I called Lauren back over to tell her that he was still not washing and/or using gloves. She told me that she didn't yet have time to speak with him.
Our waiter was kind enough to share with us how he was appalled he was with the cleanliness.
I have been going to Seva (in Ann Arbor) for 25 years but this was the end for me.
Cons: lack of clean practices
Guest
mdethier
Points +38
Welcome to Midtown Detroit! - Edit
It has been a long time coming, but now that it's finally open it's proven to be well worth the wait. Tucked away near the Medical Centre and some cool galleries, this open-concept, loft-like space is a welcome oasis handy to the DIA, Orchestra Hall and Wayne State University. Always happily busy whenever we have gone, the menu is somewhat similar to its Ann Arbor parent restaurant, with lots of excellent vegan choices (healthy AND comfort food; almost anything that isn't already vegan can be made so by request!) and extensive gluten-free choices (including St. Peter's ale. Ask for the gluten-free menu). Juices, coffee bar, smoothies, lots of great alcoholic drinks and wine, good beer on tap. Everything we've had here has been delicious.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Friday February 10, 2012
Pros: Vegan, Gluten-free, Funky Midtown Detroit!!!!
Cons: View of fast food joint out window!, A wee bit hard to find.
Guest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 0 times.