Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
International
Beer/Wine
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Housed in the historic Old Courts area in city center. Has a full separate vegan menu with marked gluten-free options. Main menu contains vegetarian options. Has plant milks for coffee. Listed vegan friendly drinks including beers, wines, spirits and cocktails. Occasionally run themed vegan specialty nights. When possible sources locally. Welcoming atmosphere. Dog friendly. Reported closed, Jul 2021.
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 05 Jul 2021 by TrixieFirecracker
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Added by c-h-e-s-k-a on 26 Jun 2014
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11 Reviews
First Review by Braidy
Debs78
Points +88
Amazing vegan options! - Edit
Lovely place. Lovely atmosphere! Separate vegan menu with puddings as well! Icecream, brownie, vegan meringue and sticky toffee!
Read moreLots of gluten free vegan options as well!
Definitely come!
Pros: Lots of vegan options, DO puddings, Friendly
Cons: many options have tofu
Guest
PrincessJasmine
Points +27
Dog-friendly eatery - Edit
Lovely little bar with a separate vegan menu (good choice of food on it, too).
Read moreWe loved that it was dog-friendly, so we were able to take our rescue greyhound, who, quite frankly, isn't always welcome in eating establishments, with us!
Friendly staff and good service.
Cocktails looked great, but didn't get to try any as I was driving!
Pros: Dog-friendly, Dedicated vegan menu
Cons: Lots of empty shop units nearby
Guest
Veganolive1
Points +4758
Seriously Bad on the Allergy Front - Edit
Enquired via email with Circle Bar as to what vegan dishes contained soya and was told definitely the Donburi & TLT and enquire on the day about possible traces in the brownie and soup
Read more.
On arrival our waitress asked who had the soya allergy and then went through the menu saying the Donburi, Mala Laksa, Garden Paella Bites & Garden Burger had soya in, so apart from the Donburi, completely different information I received via email.
When the same waitress brought my order of aubergine & pepper stack, it was layered with slices of fried tofu... You could not make it up! I pointed out the error and she said they did not realise this dish had soya on.... Come on you are supposed to have gone through allergens in the dishes guys. Obviously I could see the tofu, what if you were someone with a dangerous allergy and could not see the allergen in the dish. You're relying on the establishment to know their stuff.
They took the dish away and brought a replacement, with the most under cooked aubergine, it was a tasteless dish, how any competent chef could send it out the kitchen is anyone's guess. However being with a friend and my husband who had already waited for the replacement dish to arrive and that we were also on a day trip on the Fellsman steam train, we had little time to spare. So I had to eat the said dish, especially as there were no food options on the 4 hour train journey home.
I would not go back to the Circle Cafe Bar, they need to up their game and add some serious staff training on allergies to their schedule.
Pros: Vegan options
Cons: Poor handling of allergies, Staff training required on allergies
Guest
emilymoonstone
Points +72
Not great for vegans, but accommodating chef. - Edit
** (Update, I've not been since they updated their menu but I know there are a lot more vegan options now! Will update properly when I've been) **
Read moreThere's a good choice for vegetarians here, but the vegan options are very limited. However, you can request changes to the dishes to veganize them, which is what I did. I had the vegetable thai style salad, without the fish sauce. The chef was kind enough to add more vegetables to it to improve the flavour as I couldn't have the fish sauce and I'm not a fan of chilli. Overall, not amazing for vegans, but the staff are accommodating, and there's a nice vibe to the place. And on a side note, the cocktails and sorbet are really good!
Updated from previous review on 2015-08-11
Pros: Accommodating Staff, Nice Vibes, Good Cocktails
Guest
Gallicgirl
Points +102
Relaxed atmosphere. Vegan menu - Edit
Lots of lovely vegan options (including wine) on dedicated vegan menu. Friendly staff. Funky decor, very laid back.
Read moreGuest
AbiM
Points +4399
Delicious - Edit
Excellent service- shown the separate vegan menu immediately- food well presented and delicious. Attentive staff and good atmosphere. Toilets have some useful emergency bits and pieces to help yourself to. Felt sorry for the people complaining their fish was tasteless, perhaps their conscience takes away any enjoyment!
Read morePros: Big vegan menu , Nice staff, Good relaxing atmosphere (weekday midday)
Guest
craigmc
Points +35552
great food - Edit
Great to see somewhere offering a separate vegan menu in Carlisle.
Read more4-5 tapas options, 4 lunch options, 4 mains, 4 desserts and half a dozen sides.
Went for the chilled burrito which was exactly what indeed for lunch. Healthy and full of beans. A side of slaw was also devoured.
Best option in Carlisle.
Pros: lots of vegan, staff , location
Cons: meat
Guest
DanielWatson
Points +46
fantastic vegan menu - Edit
We were chuffed to find that this restaurant has a separate vegan menu. There was plenty of options and the food was lovely. The atmosphere was relaxed and the staff were friendly :)
Read morePros: vegan menu
Guest
hack_man
Points +25924
Belinda Carlisle - Edit
Set in a pleasant victorian arcade in central Carlisle this is a modern and popular cocktail / cafe bar serving food. It's very retro and brightly orange themed. Vegan options are decent in the form of a chunky vegetable kebab, a veg hoi sin oriental stir fry or 5 bean chilli all priced at £8.95. There are also vegan sandwiches and plenty of side dishes and snacks which can be vegan. The cocktails look good too. Sit in or find a perch outside in the covered arcade. That's where you would find me.
Read morePros: vegan options, great beers, great cocktails
Cons: meat
Guest
smidge41
Points +18
excellent. Will be back - Edit
Fantastic and enthusiastic service and food. Loads of vegetarian options (less vegan, but only had to ask staff and they did everything they could to help). visited with my friend who is vegan and celiac, she was also impressed with range offered to her. Cocktails are handmade in front of you, and are amazing! We enjoyed a cherry and tarragon champagne one, mmmm!
Read moreHave also been told they do a vegetarian taste night, will look out for that!
Pros: decent sized portions, friendly, helpful staff, great character and vibe
Cons: can get very busy. recommend booking, no gluten free beer!
Guest
Braidy
Points +395
Could do better - Edit
A reasonably upmarket place with nice toilets (up a steep flight of stairs). Main courses are not bad (curry, tagines, Mexican food etc) and they do have sorbet, which is nice because most mixed venues don't have any vegan desserts at all. However, the staff don't seem very clear on what veganism is; in the past we've asked for a vegan dish and it's arrived with dairy yoghurt on the top. Music is a variety of funk, soul, hip-hop etc, which caused some strain to the older members of my party. A final quibble is that I am 5'2" and the bar is too high for me to see the staff behind it!
Read morePros: Clean and stylish, tasty food
Cons: "Vegan" dish may not be vegan
Guest
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