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CLOSED: Borrowed Earth Cafe
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3
Closed
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Vegan
Vegan
Organic
Raw
Juice bar
Take-out
Downers Grove raw food restaurant serving raw pizza, tacos, burritos, tamales, burgers, fries, salad, juices, and food boxes. Bamboo floor and found art decor. Has Wi-Fi access. Periodically offers raw "cooking" classes. Confirmed closed, Oct 2015.
18 Reviews
First Review by gillian22
lfusfeld
Points +268
not great - Edit
I really wanted to love this place, as raw vegan food can be so incredible, but the food was not very good. The stuffed mushrooms were spicy without being flavorful. The pierogies were pretty uninteresting - just a wad of cashew cheese in a folded over thinly sliced root veg that kind of made my stomach turn as it was too rich.
Read morePros: all vegan, raw
Cons: food wasn't good
Guest
CMSDE
Points +126
Hot Walks, Cool Veggies - Edit
We were looking for a place for lunch after a July visit to Morton Arboretum and were glad to find that Borrowed Earth was nearby. (It's about 3 1/2 miles away, but they're suburban miles.) The food was a bit more expensive than I expected, but on the other hand, I've at times paid as much for meals that were mostly pasta (not raw, of course). And the price is not out of line with Raw, the only other raw restaurant I've been to. I had the spinach quiche, which really wasn't anything like quiche--I'd call it a terrine, maybe. It was tasty, as were the side salads, but on the whole I think it was the flavors of the veggies I enjoyed more than anything specific about the preparations. My rating is three stars mainly because, although I enjoyed this visit, Downer's Grove isn't really near where I live, and Borrowed Earth probably isn't in itself enough of a draw to get me back there. If you're going to the Arboretum, the combination did make for a nice day.
Read morePros: Lots and lots of veggies, Near Morton Arboretum
Cons: Price
Guest
Veganbeanstalk
Points +120
wonderful to find a vegan resturant in Downers Grove - Edit
such a great find in the west Chicago suburbs. it has a calming atmosphere and the food is great. the food is completely raw and does not disappoint.
Read morePros: all vegan raw options, local artists have work for sale, on main street very accessible
Cons: might seem pricy to some
Guest
Tigony
Points +154
Quite a discovery! - Edit
We were on our way to the IKEA store in Bolingbrook and wanted to stop somewhere for a vegan lunch. I opened the Happy Cow app and looked up vegan restaurants in the area. Borrowed Earth Cafe was the closest and seemed the most enticing. As soon as we entered this serene space, decorated in subtle hues of ochre and deep rust, we felt at home. The Cheese Perogies were out of this world; and our main dish, a special with mushrooms, nuts and other wonderful ingredients, was equally delicious. To top it off, we had a chocolate ganache with raspberries, the chocolate rich and deeply satisfying. We couldn't believe all of this organic food was raw! I now want to convert from simply cooking vegan to "cooking" raw. Our lunch was complemented by a friendly and stimulating conversation with the owners/cooks Kathy and Danny. Our server was also perfect. From the restaurant website it appears that she is quite a singer. We'll definitely be back!
Read morePros: atmosphere and decoration, quality and taste of food, owners/cooks and server
Cons: none
Guest
smileyguy
Points +44
There is no better raw vegan restaurant in Chicago - Edit
My wife and I are long time fans of this restaurant and one of the only places where we cannot prepare foods better than they can (we are raw vegans). They are inventive and have a menu selection that is balanced and can please any palate. We also like their personalities because they like humor and are very outgoing. It is obvious that they love what they do and they are very free with their vast knowledge of raw food preparation and benefits. Do not miss an opportunity to eat here!
Read morePros: Delicious entrees and sides, Excellent and funny service, Inexpensive for what you get
Cons: None
Guest
lgchristianson
Points +21
As good as raw gets. - Edit
I live nearby and try to eat vegan. This little cafe does a fine job making raw dishes. It unfortunately is NOT for anyone on a limited budget. Our culture would rather you spend your money on Dr. and drugs.
Read moreGuest
Lindzriot
Points +139
Great raw! - Edit
Excellent home made raw food. Nice setting and interior. Not recommended for people with nut allergies, 95% of menu has nuts in it. Unfortunately there is no juice bar recipes on the menu. Still a great experience!
Read morePros: raw vegan, knowledgable about allergies and illnesses
Cons: nuts on 95% of menu
Guest
Ajolote
Points +1486
Three times this week and I live in California - Edit
I came to a conference nearby and I just couldn't help myself. I went every day, even today on my way back to the airport (I ordered food to go). Have you ever had an experience when you are all distracted with your phone, then the food arrives and kind of mindlessly take a first bite and the flavors in your mouth make you drop everythin else and focus on your food? Well, that happened to me and it was amazing!
Read moreI loved the eggless sandwich and the quesadilla. And the quality of the food was superb!
Cons: Freshness, Speed, Deliciousness
Guest
veganmiss
Points +540
AMAZING Raw Desserts - Edit
The meal was satisfying and the dessert was exceptional. For starters, we had the cheese perogies. It is a "cheese" filling with a jimaca wrapper. While I wouldn't necessarily call this a pierogi, the filling was creamy and scrumptious.
Read moreFor entree's, we shared the spinach quiche and the "I Can't Believe It's Not An Egg Salad" sandwich. The quiche wasn't really a quiche as I remember them, but the same concept was there. It had a base of nuts and chopped veggies combined with "cheese" to create the rest. The egg salad sandwich was creamy but not really an "egg salad". I made a vegan version a while back with tofu which I thought was better mostly due to texture. It had the same kick, but the texture was just too silky in this sandwich. It definitely wasn't bad, though, so I would get it again. It was wrapped in a zucchini flax seed wrap which was great. Both entrees came with three types of salads. One was a mixed greens, another a cabbage, and lastly a collard greens salad. The dressing was sweet yet not too cloying. My favorite was the collard green salad.
For dessert, we split two different treats. My friend got a chocolate cheesecake and I had an oreo cookie ice cream sundae. I've had raw cheesecakes at the Chicago Diner, but this cheesecake was something to be said. It was amazing! The base was made of nuts and dates, while the cheesecake part was made of coconut meat, coconut oil, and other ingredients. I've never had raw ice cream, but I've seen pictures before. ...So tasty. It was also made of coconut meat, coconut oil, dates, etc. Everyone should go to Borrowed Earth Cafe just for desserts alone!
For a complete review, please see my blog here: http://veganmiss.blogspot.com/2011/10/vegan-chicago-restaurant-review-of_31.html
Pros: raw food, great desserts, healthy
Guest
Kimberly Steele
Points +45
A Great Introduction to Raw Vegan Cuisine - Edit
Mindblowing, delicious, and amazing food" is what my vegan husband has to say after experiencing Borrowed Earth for the first time and I wholeheartedly agree. We had a raw soup of the day, a velvety, sweet pumpkin bisque that was delightful, then I had the Pasta Bake, a decadent raw walnut and cashew lasagna over a bed of shredded carrot, I believe. My husband loved the raw ersatz burger of walnuts and carrots, though it looked slightly silly, the taste was out of this world. Kathy and Danny were very sweet, patiently providing us with information on raw vegan food. I felt an instant connection to them as I also host vegan potlucks (this is how they started out before opening the restaurant). Danny has a great sense of humor and is full of witty observations. Kathy is very warm and kind and will always insist you have dessert. I'm not sure why other people have reviewed Borrowed Earth so negatively--personally, I'm thrilled there were 3 dark green leafy salads. Kale is my steak so I loved it, plus it was far more gourmet than the simple kale salad I make at home, Portion sizes were enormous and I took half my food home. As vegans, having a wonderful sit-down restaurant with divine, complex, cruelty-free food that's not in the big city is a rare blessing.
Read morePros: delicious, friendly staff, big portions
Guest
veganese
Points +40
Raw lifestyle - Edit
Whether you like it or not, Raw food is a lifestyle. With that being said, its easier to understand the premise of this place. The owners and workers can come off as uptight and a bit cold. But I think they are well meaning.
Read moreThe food is very good. All of their dishes (somewhat limited) are tasty. The desserts are to die for as is the ice cream. I'm not crazy about their "pasta". Be warned, raw food chefs use a TON of nuts in their receipes. Kinda contradicts being a health food.
Pros: tasty for raw, good desserts
Cons: sometimes negative vibes, lack of atmosphere
Guest
Keith_Thode
Points +717
Life is short - Eat the cheescake first! - Edit
As some of the other reviewers have complained, yes, the side salads are larger than main entree, but remember, everything is essentially a salad. These folks do a wonderful job. The "Lasagna" came with 3 side salads. It was all delicious and way too much to eat at one sitting, which is unusual for me.
Read moreGuest
·X·
Points +22367
Good Raw Restaurant in the Suburbs - Edit
Borrowed Earth Café has a decent menu with plenty of delectable items. I ate here for the first time yesterday and sadly they didn't have the Lasagna that I had really wanted to try. So I opted for the "Gimme a Gyro" instead; I thought it was good, but I liked my two side salads better, there's something about what they used as the gyro meat that was slightly off-putting to me, but I still ate it anyway - I want to emphasize that the side salads were amazing!
Read moreFor dessert I got the raw chocolate/vanilla pie - it was really good. The prices are the norm for raw food places, for two people (two entrees, an appetizer, and a dessert) you can get away with spending less than $50. I think it's worth it in moderation. :)
Guest
timhammond
Points +28
Superb - Edit
Order the burrito
Read moreGuest
veganwally
Points +62
The very best gourmet raw food ever! - Edit
Jest the very best raw food in the USA. So thankful that the owners took it upon them selfs to open up something really needed for people that enjoy eating right. VW
Read morePros: excellent raw food, friendly staff
Guest
condekedar
Points +9547
Superb raw cuisine - Edit
Borrowed Earth does a wonderful job with the presentation of their delicious food, as well as with the large selection, from comfort foods to more unusual fare. This is gourmet food with an edge; best of all, it's in the suburbs, rather than in downtown Chicago. Conveniently located in front of the Downers Grove train station, it makes it easy for city-dwellers to visit, as well as outgoing suburbanites. The service is super-friendly and the atmosphere of the restaurant is more like an upscale cafe. Prices are on the higher side ($11-14 for main dishes), but given the quality and novelty of the food, they could be charging even more. Try the delicious cheesecake or the elegant, zesty tacos. Highly recommended.
Read morePros: Quality, Presentation, Service and Location
Cons: A tad pricey
Guest
siouxi31
Points +28
Finally local and Fabulous! - Edit
This was my first attempt at eating raw. The meal was a feast and delighful. There's great variety, a friendly staff, clean restaurant, and the food is delicious.
Read morePros: healthy cuisine, excellent food, friendly staff
Guest
gillian22
Points +19
Kathy & Danny's place is FINALLY OPEN!!! - Edit
I am SO excited they opened TODAY!! **Danny & Kathy Living who are the amazingly kind Naperville Raw Vegan Meetup sponsors are the owners of this NEWLY OPENED Raw Vegan Restaurant in the western suburbs, right off of the Burlington Northern Train by the Main Street Train Station in Downers Grove. They have put so much love and dedication into creating this home away from home and decorating it in an environmentally friendly manner with bamboo floors, no VOC paints, lovingly handmade Raw Vegan food and much more. They don't just "talk the talk" they "walk the walk" with a very creative and delicious menu of artistically prepared and extremely tasty foods created with love and gratitude. All the scraps are even being composted by the Green Earth Institute in Naperville. They use organic fresh fruits and vegetables and they lovingly create Raw Vegan dishes that could pass for or surpass in flavor their cooked counterparts. They believe in being kind to their planet and they practice recycling techniques that please the most avid recyclers, plus they will be using biodegradable carry out utensils and containers. I LOVE these guys and this restaurant is a long awaited much needed Vegan Nirvana in the Chicago suburbs..Come check them out!
Read morePros: love, kindness & gratitude , Eco friendly & healthy, creatively artistic & tasty
Cons: Wish I could go every day!
spuds1021
You're only supposed to review the restaurant once. You also wrote the review below this one.
Read moreGuest
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