Casual cafe offering healthy vegetarian food, smoothies and fresh juices for eat-in or takeaway. Order at the counter from a menu of warm bowls, salad bowls, and grilled wraps plus the day's soup and some small snacks. Egg or dairy may be removed or replaced - ask. Sells a small selection of health products to take home. One of several outlets, and is sometimes referred to as Urban Oasis. Open Mon-Tue 10:00am-9:00pm, Wed 3:00pm-8:00pm, Thu-Fri 11:00am-8:00pm, Sat-Sun 10:00am-9:00pm.
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765 Massachusetts Ave (at Central Square), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 02139
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Last update on 24 Nov 2018 by jolg
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Added by laurasremedies on 20 Mar 2011
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63 Reviews
First Review by m.sun
Vegansoymilk
Points +38
The best raw vegan option in boston - Edit
On the whole, Life Alive is a must-go! Juices and foods are so tasty and ORGANIC which is an important feature especially in the US where pesticides are poured on almost all types of vegetation.
Read moreI tasted the yummy "Jive alive juice" ( Cucumber, celery, kale, Lemon, Ginger) to kick up my energy level and the best salad ever " The searcher"!
Pros: Great raw vegan options, tasty
Guest
sglcklch
Points +3055
Great lunch place - Edit
Food is simple, nothing that you can't really make at home, but it's super healthy, nutritious and tasty to boot. Great location as it's only steps away from Central Square T stop. Decor is funky and hippie. I came on a Sunday afternoon and the place was hopping. It got a little noisy, but that's maybe because we sat upstairs. I liked that they offered half size, which to me was quite the perfect portion for one. Definitely a place for lunch or a quick bite.
Read morePros: healthy, good food, location
Cons: little noisy
Guest
markc7
Points +99
nice atmosphere, food ok - Edit
Life Alive is a pretty good place for a healthy and hearty meal. The smoothies are excellent. The food, in the other hand, was just ok. Fresh and colourful, but somewhat bland just the same. maybe they need to use a few more spices, our perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for that kind of meal. Regardless, prices and portions are fine, and the atmosphere is funky and energetic.
Read morePros: healthy
Cons: food a bit bland
Guest
Petesternz
Points +1447
Great option - Edit
This is a place that delivers exactly what they advertise - tasty, healthy, nutritious food that satisfies. It is effectively a bowl and wraps place, with very few surprises, but as aforementioned, they deliver exactly what they promise. I had a Lovers bowl that was extremely tasty, and while the portion was not immense (get the full size unless you're teeny-tiny or not hungry at all), it was enough. I felt full without being bloated. The smoothie was satisfactory, though it didn't blow me away. All in all, a really enjoyable experience in a pleasant atmosphere. I'd certainly come back again, though nothing was out of the ordinary or superb.
Read morePros: Healthy, Good atmosphere
Guest
jackienatale
Points +40
The adventurer! - Edit
I love Live Alive. The adventurer bowl/wrap is the greatest combination of veggies I have ever eaten :)
Read moregreat service, friendly people, take out... yum
Guest
VeganVagabond
Points +53
A very welcome addition to Central Square - Edit
I eat here all the time, so I figure it's about time to write a review. In all honesty, I hesitate to do this because the place is already getting very popular (crowded) and I'm afraid I have nothing but nice things to say.
Read moreNearly all the menu is vegan, so there is a wide range of choices. Most of the warm meals consist of a grain (usually brown rice or quinoa), a wide variety of fresh organic vegetables, some nuts or seeds, and some sort of sauce. You can get these either in a bowl or as a wrap, but I always get a bowl because you can fit more veggies in it (and they do!).
I originally wasn't too keen on some of these warm dishes because the put more sauce on it then I would like (many won't mind this, but I prefer my food as unadulterated as possible -- let the veggies speak for themselves). Then I found that they were more than happy to go light on the sauce, or omit it entirely. The staff are very friendly and will do anything they can to help you make the most of your meal. My current favorite is "The Innocent", but I am also quite find of "The Fool" and "The Lover".
They also have several meal-size salads, most of which come with one of two varieties of hummus: lemon-garlic or red-lentil. I highly recommend the red-lentil, it is low-fat, protein-rich, and very tasty. On the days that I get a salad, I generally alternate between "The Explorer" and "The Sufi Poet".
There are also soups of the day, some of which are truly awesome (I love the black bean) so definitely take a look at these before you order. A cup of soup and one of their big salads makes a perfect meal.
There are also "warm cheesy wraps" on the menu, but they aren't vegan (and even if they were I wouldn't be likely to order them, I'm not a big fan of vegan cheese), so I won't say anything about them. And they have an amazing juice bar which I keep meaning to try, but I haven't yet.
The atmosphere is awesome -- full of plants and funky artwork. It has a great vibe and is a really cool place to just hang out. Unfortunately this (and the great food) have made it very popular and it can get crowded. I recommend avoiding the lunch hour rush -- go before noon or after 1:30.
The only thing that would make Life Alive a more perfect place than it already is would be some homemade whole wheat bread (currently they don't offer bread of any sort, only the whole wheat tortillas they use for the wraps).
Pros: Great food, Great staff, Great atmosphere
Cons: Can be crowded, No bread
Guest
Herbiv4
Points +1869
Nice...I'll return - Edit
I went here about 3 weeks ago, so I don't recall the name of the wrap that I purchased. I believe it was something like a Goddess Wrap. It was really tasty. Lots of choices on the menu and you can swap quinoa for brown rice. The place gets packed around lunch time. I was pleased, and plan to return when I'm back in the area.
Read morePros: variety, friendly staff, good pricing
Cons: no seating at lunch time
Guest
laurasremedies
Points +58
Urban Oasis & Organic Cafe - Edit
Urban Oasis is our newest favorite vegetarian restaurant in the Boston area. Located on Mass Ave in Central Square in Cambridge, MA, it is right on the MBTA, or a short amble down from Harvard Square. Their food is so good that I am still craving their "The Lover" bowl, with extra garlic and avocado. It is addictively good! Too bad I live in Maine, and can only get there sporadically, but if you live or are visiting the Boston area, go to Urban Oasis! Your body and mind will thank you. Your cells will thank you. I can't wait until we go back.
Read morePros: delicious healthy food, inexpensive, organic, seasonal foods
Cons: They aren't in Maine!
Guest
m.sun
Points +24
Delicious organic foods and smoothies - Edit
This place just opened up in Central Square and it is already one of my favorite vegan havens in the Boston area.
Read moreIt is a newly renovated space, with a nice ambiance, and it decorated almost like a yoga studio. I might say it's almost a little too hippyish/new age, but it doesn't bother me as the food is really good.
The salads come as a bowl, wrap or demi, and are creative, and flavorful. The large bowl is a good serving size.
The entrees also come as a bowl, sandwich, or demi, and the 3 I've tried so far are all delicious.
The selection is almost all vegan, some dishes contain cheese or egg. They can substitute Daiya vegan cheese and hold egg to make those vegan.
They have an extensive juice and smoothie bar, and also offer coffee and teas. They have soy, rice and almond milk.
This place is mostly or completely organic, all the fruits and vegetables are really fresh and tasty. Understandable each meal is more expensive than non-organic cafes.
This place has pretty much all you can want in a vegetarian/vegan cafe and smoothie bar.
Pros: delicious, fast, friendly service, newly renovated space
Cons: pricey
Guest
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