Vegan
American
Organic
Raw
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Part of a collection of restaurants specializing in vegan raw and cooked cuisines. Uses produce from the owners' farm. As of Nov 2016 no longer uses honey. Previously called Cafe Gratitude. Reported closed October 2023.
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103 Lincoln St (at Pacific Ave), Santa Cruz, California, USA, 95060
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Last update on 21 Oct 2023 by Conniemm
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Added by amarello on 16 Sep 2011
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99 Reviews
First Review by KamrynWilliams
PureVeganStarSevadar
Points +265
vegan variety, culinary creativity, so go experience for yourself. positive affirmations = menu. - Edit
they had used to give once daily per person donation grateful bowl, reALLY any donation even as humbly low as one dollar or even one penny. that was good for selfless servants who volunteered unpaid to plant trees and teach same, for one example. also for vegan edu Leafleter. however, anyways, they are nice kind and great Location easily accessible from anywhere in santa cruz county CA via public transit buses b/c ALL bus lines use that downtown city center station as their central hub, every bus line begins there and ends there ! Also not far walk to the beach, the pier, the amusement park: in case ya wanna take out "to-go"; or to visit those beach places b4and/or after nutrition yummy vegan fare at this great vegan Cafe' !
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-09-08
Pros: vegan food/meals , menu = positive affirmations, convenient Location walk Metro Bus Central Station
Cons: bring back donation grateful bowl add drink option
Guest
ZarminehZarouhi
Points +144
Deeee-lishhhh!!! - Edit
Visiting SC for the first time as an adult, and as a vegan, this foodie had to make a few stops for vegan nom noms. This was restaurant number 2.
Read moreIt was so hard deciding what to order. The staff was so patient with me and answered my questions. After contemplating for like 10 whole minutes I finally went with the Rueben with the potatoes upgrade and both the mild almond and cashew chipotle sauces. Every bit of it was so-friggin-good! The potatoes were cooked to perfection, the sauces were both flavorful. The Rueben was smaller than expected so the flavor and beautiful colors made up for it, not to mention how filling the tators are.
I also got the avo lime cheesecake which was ok-many ppl raved about it so I thought I’d love it knowing how much I love avo and lime. Something about it though made my taste buds react odd lol.
I couldn’t finish everything so I had the other half of the Rueben for lunch the next day and it was fine. So were the potatoes but I just let them warm up to room temperature instead of reheating them cuz I didn’t want the sauce to dry out. A good decision cuz it was still so good!
Pros: All vegan and lots of GF!!!!, Murals on the walls!, Good sized menu with lots of yummies
Cons: No cons!!!
Guest
villain
Points +8542
Nice option in Santa Cruz - Edit
I hadn't eaten here since they were called Cafe Gratitude, but even after so much time, the food is still good here. This is the first time that I've ever liked cauliflower wings! I see why that's one of the most popular items here. The potato bites are good, too. The soup is enjoyable with nice big chunks of hominy corn. The desserts could use a little work, in my opinion. I tried the avocado key lime cheesecake and the raw cookie dough ball, and neither particularly stood out.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-08
Guest
yungveg17
Points +1169
Excellent - Edit
The Reuben was super tasty, and the Caesar salad was nice as well. Friendly service so all-in-all a great experience. Would def come back here!
Read moreGuest
steveveg
Points +2276
Pleasant vegan dining - Edit
We had a nice dinner here - BLT sandwich and the Amore Caprese sandwich, plus a good Key Lime Pie.
Read moreCons: online menu is hard to read
Guest
AdamNeeley
Points +210
Tons of options - Edit
Nice atmosphere. Well painted art on the walls. Really nice staff.
Read moreSo I got the full Grateful Bowl and a Revive Limeade with mint leaves. The bowl had quinoa and rice, black beans, a spring mix of green leafy vegetables and some kind of sauce that looked like it may have had avocado mixed in with it. It was good but I felt it was lacking something... Maybe a second protein meat or other vegetables. Which is why I gave 4 instead of 5 stars. First impression is a lasting one! The limeade was super good. For all you Mojito fans out there, it tastes a lot like one. It looks like this restaurant specializes in a raw diet/cooked. It was decent overall. I would definitely try something else here. The whole restaurant is super clean and carries a really good vibe. They have dessert options too that I didn't delve into.
Updated from previous review on 2023-06-27
Pros: Painted artwork on the walls, Food came out quick, Love the names of the items on the menu
Cons: What I got seemed lacking something
Guest
elip_origami
Points +204
Very tasty - Edit
I got the curry lentil bowl and also tried the cap rede and the tacos and they all tasted great
Read morePros: All vegan, Very tasty
Cons: Expensive
Guest
Tiger111333999
Points +1362
Nice decor, nice options, stick to the classics. - Edit
Fried mushrooms is worth a try. The BLT was delicious, polenta was definitely not the best combo with a ton of mushroom cream on top in my opinion. The cauliflower was ok. The cheesecake was great. Globally we had a good lunch, overpriced in my opinion , especially when they expect 18% minimum tips for only bringing the plates at the table ( order at the counter)
Read morePros: Fried mushrooms, Cheesecake
Cons: Expensive, Some combinations were not to my taste
Guest
SarahMays
Points +1267
Favorite meal during our trip!! - Edit
I LOVED our lunch at CafegSC! I only wish I lived closer to go back for more! We ordered grilled cheese, BLT, and the Rueben along with the soup of the day. Everything we was so good! I especially liked the way they did their Canadian “bacon.” It was different than usual veggie bacon but worked really well. Everyone in our group loved the soup as well. The non-vegans said they couldn’t tell the grilled cheese wasn’t dairy cheese!
Read morePros: So many delicious options and fun specials, Yummy drinks!, Healthy and fresh
Guest
ChloëCC
Points +56
friendly service, tasty eats - Edit
super good food, offering daily specials in addition to the menu. we had the jackfruit pineapple taco special and they were great
Read morePros: good service , casual and quick
Guest
ShannonLove00
Points +26
Had the best sandwich of my life here! - Edit
The Amore! Omg! So good. All of the food was good and flavorful! New favorite spot in SC. 🩷
Read morePros: Flavorful, Good price, Affirmations
Cons: None!
Guest
TawnyConnerCleveland
Points +421
Vegan Heaven - Edit
So many choices and all vegan. A breath of fresh air on our trip . Nice to choose anything from the menu and know you are getting the best, healthy food. All 4 of us ordered different dinners, Bonita, BLT, Veggie sandwich, mine, AMAZING, Caprese sandwich. The sandwiches came with salad. They have beautiful desserts but we were so full and satisfied we didn’t order any.
Read morePros: All vegan, Exquisite flavors , Friendly staff
Guest
MariaBaczewska
Points +773
Good nutrition food - Edit
It's really good place to grab a lunch or dinner. Perfect sandwiches 🥪
Read moreGuest
AllenM
Points +144
Overpriced and over-salted - Edit
Went here a few weeks back and ordered their polenta. The food was so unbelievably over-salted I had to leave most of it. The desserts were ok but overall I felt the place was a bit overrated. I understand they’ve rebranded since my visit so I do hope that means the food will improve.
Read morePros: Good vegan desserts
Cons: Expensive , Food isn’t well prepared
andyjng
I agree, that polenta was definitely too salty when I first had it too
Read moreGuest
amyvotta
Points +624
Always amazing - Edit
The food is exceptional. Absolute favorite place for years.
Read moreGuest
andyjng
Points +5372
A Santa Cruz Vegan Staple - Edit
Cafe Gratitude (now rebranded as cafegSC) is a spot I often frequent with friends and family from out of town. It's arguably the largest and most established vegan restaurant in Santa Cruz.
Read more- Darling Cauliflower Wings were fantastic. Nicely battered with a solid, semi-spicy buffalo sauce, and still healthy all at the same time. It laid on a bed of arugula which you should also eat since it's one of the best veggies out there.
- Magic Mushrooms were okay, but I've had better fried mushrooms at other spots. I'd prefer to get the cauliflower wings.
- Their Polenta with Mushroom Sauce on top was one hefty, hearty bowl of food. The polenta was delicious and the sauce really perfected the dish. There was a healthy amount of spinach cooked into the sauce as well for extra goodness.
- Black Bean Burger was filling and came with a nice side salad and dressing of your choice.
Always a staple here in town and I hope they don't go anywhere anytime soon. Thanks cafegSC!
Pros: All vegan menu including dressings, Indoor and outdoor seating available
Guest
kkeegan5
Points +402
A true vegan eatery! - Edit
So excited to eat at a vegan place. The food was tasty and the staff was friendly. Our grandsons were with us, and they enjoyed their meals, too!
Read morePros: ALL vegan options!, Creative menu choices, Very tasty
Cons: No kids menu
Guest
lvincent67
Points +88
Always worth a visit - Edit
I’ve had many good meals at CG over the years. And if I’m not on the mood for anything on the menu, I make up my own with side orders. My favs are the grateful bowl, tacos, Italian polenta (I don’t eat the polenta with mushroom sauce because I don’t like mushrooms), eggplant parm, lentil bowl (Indian-ish), mint shake, vanilla smoothie, chocolate mousse pie, the burger, coconut bacon, and more. And they have outdoor seating, a requirement these days.
Read morePros: Vegan with many gluten-free options , Good food
Guest
floralaxis
Points +119
Great vibes and delicious - Edit
Loved this place! Went on a whim with my laptop and got some lunch and a latte. It was delicious and the portions were large but appropriate. Everything is vegan and lots of solid protein options. Diverse menu with specials too.
Read moreGuest
vegan.panda
Points +587
Always delicious - Edit
Love the atmosphere here. The food, staff and location make it a great experience😄
Read moreGuest
JosephMash
Points +169
Lovely vegan cafe with broad menu. - Edit
Great cafe just off the main strip. Outside seating, good service, good portion size. Food was great.
Read morePros: Broad menu, Great location , Decent price
Guest
mccolligan
Points +155
Excellent cafe with good food - Edit
Delicious sandwiches, the fried oyster mushrooms was the best. Table service, outside seating available.
Read morePros: fried oyster mushroom, outside seating, delicious sandwiches
Guest
teenvegan14
Points +89
Great Fresh Vegan Food - Edit
This cute cafe had a wide selection of scrumptious vegan options! From tacos and salads to a great vegan caprese sandwich, my family really enjoyed eating here! The chai latte was amazing as well.
Read morePros: Delicious fresh food, Fast service
Guest
sandyroses
Points +101
Checked off my list - Edit
I'd been looking forward to trying Cafe Gratitude for quite a long time so when I took a recent trip to Santa Cruz I went there for lunch. It's a super cute spot with beautiful decor, murals, and indoor/outdoor seating. My partner and I ordered:
Read more- Arnold Palmer
- 'Daring' cauliflower wings
- 'Transformed' two corn tacos w/ Cesar salad
- 'Abundant' hummus avocado sandwich w/ balsamic salad w/ beets
We didn't give much of the food good ratings except for the cauliflower wings + dipping sauce which was the best thing we ordered. We would definitely order that again!
The entrees and salads just weren't as good as we'd hoped - lacking in flavor was the biggest piece.
That being said, our server was kind and attentive and we enjoyed the atmosphere. It's also very close to where the farmers market is held on Wednesdays. I would go back to try a couple other appetizers and a shake!
Pros: Atmosphere, Decor, Appetizers
Cons: Lacking in flavor, Pricey
Guest
MetteSchaefer
Points +81
Loved it - Edit
Delicious food and good mini shots too. Had the tacos and polenta. Would definitely come back.
Read morePros: Good vegan options , Good choice of healthy shots
Cons: Far to Santa Cruz
Guest
NickTustin
Points +1102
Good food - Edit
*polenta with mushroom Alfredo - polenta was great but the topping was bland, felt like they forgot the salt. I added dalt and it was good.
Read more*potato bites - delicious
*macrobiotic bowl - decent, very healthy
*golden - great
Server didn't come with the check for a long time
Updated from previous review on 2022-05-21
Guest
Plantsporvida
Points +16
Unpleasant - Edit
I hate giving a bad review but... I'm in the service industry, I supply all my own equipment, spend hours with clients. But I've never tried to bully someone to leave me a tip. Nor do i run up to their car to ask for the receipt back. I was going to leave one but the food wasn't so good. The bread was hard and lacked flavor. I wad told I shouldn't eat out by server after paying for my meal. I spent $20 on a sandwich that simply just had shaved coconut. Just tasted like coconut on hard bread. The smoothie wasn't that good either.
Read moreI've been vegan almost 8 years now.
Updated from previous review on 2022-05-14
Pros: The male server on Friday the 13th was kind.
Cons: Bullied by female server , Food wasn't that great for the price. , Uncomfortable, left before finishing food.
Guest
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