Vegan
American
Raw
Juice bar
Take-out
Vegan cafe and juice bar opened in 2015 by the operators of Roaming in the Raw food truck, formerly known as Elements. Offers granola bowls, raw cakes, sandwiches, salads, smoothies, selection of baked treats and bottled juices. Open Wed-Sun 9:00am-4:00pm. Closed Mon-Tue. Hours may vary: call ahead.
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233 S Liberty St, Asheville, North Carolina, USA, 28801
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 13 Feb 2023 by Guest
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68 Reviews
First Review by LaurenV
VeganSince2009
Points +39
Gluten Free Diners BEWARE! - Edit
This place claims to have gluten free (GF) options, but they are not acceptable for those very sensitive (Celiacs and those who are highly sensitive/allergic). I placed my order and explained that I needed GF. I was told that the sandwiches would be GF. I got my food to go and asked if they made their own bread because everything seemed homemade. They said they used Sami's. After I left with my food, I checked out the website to see where I could purchase some bread because it looked delicious. When I got to the website I was horrified to read that the bread specifically says it is NOT GF and contains gluten. I called the place and spoke to a manager to make sure there was not a mistake and one of the owners got on the phone and proceeded to lecture me on Celiac disease (which I have) and how rare it is. She never apologized, but instead told me that I was the problem because I didn't ask the right questions. She didn't care that her GF bread wasn't actually GF and said that other Celiacs eat it and have been ok. I explained that Celiac is a serious disease and that customers should be informed that their GF options aren't truly GF. I also reminded her that there was not a note anywhere in the restaurant that indicated this and the person I ordered from did not mention this. The owner also explained that they knowingly contaminate their "gluten free" products by sharing the panini press with gluten and no barrier for protection, which I also was not informed about when ordering. I was not offered my money back and the female owner seemed quite upset that I had interrupted her day.
Read moreI emailed the owners and explained my concerns and asked for my money back for the two sandwiches ($18 for a panini and a open faced sandwich!) I ordered. What I got back was a defensive and rude email from the male owner saying that I had taken the GF issue too far (contacting the owners is taking it too far?!?! They jeopardized my health, but an email is too much??). They also asked me not to buy their products again, which I didn't plan on doing because of their carelessness.
Through all of this there was no apology that they carry knowingly do not have GF options, but say that they do. They also had no concern that I could have gotten sick if I would have eaten the food. I approached them in a calm and honest manner and hey put their egos above my health.
Updated from previous review on 2017-07-13
Pros: They are vegan
Cons: Endanger health by lying about GF, The owners are rude and defensive, The food is VERY overpriced
Guest
Sarkel
Points +466
love the ALT - Edit
This is a very spacious juice and smoothie bar with indoor and outdoor seating. I had the avocado lettuce tomato (ALT), which was very tasty. I also had the cacao smoothie, which I found to be too heavy on almond butter and too light on cacao. There are loads of other delicious looking smoothies, though.
Read morePros: outdoor seating
Guest
thefasts
Points +28
Tasty & healthy - Edit
Everything here is made from scratch and organic. We had the ALT panini (GF bread available), which was delicious! The bread was incredible and the avocado was perfectly ripe. Would definitely come back!!
Read morePros: Made from scratch, Local/fresh, Friendly staff
Cons: Expensive smoothies , Too much AC
Guest
shawnk
Points +28
AWESOME! - Edit
We have been to many vegan restaurants over the years...and this one ranks among the best!! The food is absolutely the freshest we've had...we actually saw the farmer next door dropping off freshly picked basil. We tried the salads and both avocado sandwiches, smoothies, juices and even their dessert (we're not fatties...we have a family of 5!). Everything was amazing...and the atmosphere "cafe" like...very open and clean/fresh. Very impressed.
Read moreGuest
RightOnYogaGirl
Points +38
Excellent - Edit
Great choices for organic, raw vegan.
Read moreGuest
attacusatlas
Points +78
Mmm - Edit
I went here while visiting Asheville and had a great experience. You can tell that so much care goes into the food and juices here, and that it's a labor of love. The woman who took my order was perhaps the nicest employee at any restaurant I've ever encountered, and it was also enjoyable to be able to watch the cooks and owner (I believe) work in an open kitchen while I waited for my food. I had the Amazing Harvest Bowl (white quinoa, pinto beans, beets, kale, kraut, avocado, and awesome tahini dressing), and absolutely loved it. I also tried the apple-strawberry-banana kids' smoothie, which was yummy.
Read moreThis place is a bit different than the kinds of restaurants I'm used to (it's very open and minimalist, and there are crystals on the tables), and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Their cashew mylks and wide range of smoothies and juices looked interesting, and I would have loved to try more here. I recommend this restaurant for healthy, delightful food.
Updated from previous review on 2016-07-18
Pros: Awesome healthy food, Delicious smoothies, Friendly staff
Cons: Expensive, but fairly priced based on quality
Guest
WNCVeggie
Points +531
Delicious Fresh Food, Juices and Smoothies - Edit
I have loved the food every time I have eaten at Elements. The food is very fresh, delicious and flavorful. Great raw vegan food options.
Read morePros: Delicious and fresh food, Great smoothie options, Warm and inviting atmosphere
Cons: A little pricey , Limited number of dailyt food options, Not open for dinner
Guest
Lcountertop
Points +179
Clean, cheery, light, bright and alive food - Edit
This is within a block or two on a side street from Trader Joes and Plant. Food is light and full of life. Tastes are natural and not manufactured or over manipulated as so many other vegan and raw food restaurants try to do. Everything about Elements from the open kitchen and floor plan to the food and presentation is clean and fresh. Love what they are doing. The raw desserts are super rich and amazing and the proportions are generous as you can see in the photos...more generous than most raw food restaurants we have been to. We did not think that the prices were high and felt we got the quality and quantity we paid for. It's all about the quality here. Go and enjoy! If you can't find parking out front on street, they also have parking in the yoga studio's off street lot.
Read morePros: Quslity of food and presentation, Cleanliness, Attention to detail
Cons: none
Guest
Dustinbuster
Points +16
Unremarkable, but expensive raw food. - Edit
The space is light and airy, not unlike the food. I have eaten at Elements a few times now, and while it's by no means a terrible restaurant, there are issues. First, portion size: miniscule. While the juices and smoothies--which are mostly excellent--are ample-portioned, the entrees are extremely small. Tiny salads, small "noodle" dishes called pad thai that bear no resemblance to anything asian (in taste or texture). I am hungry again minutes after finishing an entree. The second is price. While on the surface, the food -- especially for a raw place -- prices are surprisingly low. But when the 200 calorie salad arrives, the prices become more insulting. The desserts are especially expensive -- as an exceptionally tiny sliver of pie can cost $8. Asheville has a lot of great vegan food, and I don't think this place offers any competition -- except as a juice and smoothie bar, which is where Elements excels. Personally, I'd rather have a salad -- "raw food" -- at any number of places in the area because Elements offers nothing new or inventive or particularly flavorful (which IS possible with raw food; Pure Food and Wine in NYC is an apt example). In short, nothing on the menu has struck me as amazing or terrible -- it all falls somewhere right in the middle.
Read morePros: Fantastic juices and smoothies, Attractive space.
Cons: tiny portions, uninventive entrees that lack flavor, expensive (considering portion size)
Guest
CassidyHF
Points +11
LOVE - Edit
A fantastic and much needed addition to the Asheville food community. This is the cleanest food in Asheville delivered deliciously and with a smile. I love stopping by to grab a cold pressed juice as an afternoon pick me up or staying for my favorite ALT (avocado lettuce tomato) sandwich and maybe a decadent slice of chocolate pie. Bravo Jenny and Zack!
Read moreGuest
halfthejob
Points +192
Delicious, Light, Healthy Food - Edit
My family has only been to Elements once, ordering three different meals and one dessert, and everything we ordered was very good. The two raw meals that we got were fresh and beautifully arranged, the Smoked Pesto Panini was delicious as was the dessert.
Read moreI read another review that took issue with the portion sizes at Elements, and I can see how this may become a recurring theme for them unless they address it. In particular, I think non-vegans -- who they have said they want to come to their restaurant -- will really have trouble with the portion size, in that they tend to eat a much heavier food -- much higher calorie and fatty foods than anything you'll find at Elements. The portion sizes being what they are, I imagine will leave non-vegans feeling under-satisfied and under-fulfilled. BUT, even for a vegan like myself -- one who only eats two meals a day -- I will probably go to Elements only when I'm really needing something light -- for example, if I had a rather late, heavy lunch and am wanting a rather light, early dinner. This decision of to-go or to-not-go will have nothing to do with the quality and taste of the meal, but rather be due to the small portion size (which is why I think they may need to consider adjusting their portion size a little). All of that said, their portion size is probably perfect for a person who eats a primarily raw food diet, and snacks and eats four or more times a day. And, that may well be the situation of the person(s) who is planning the meals.
I will certainly return to Elements. This is in no way a negative review. Just a heads up that if you are planning to go to Elements for lunch, do not skip breakfast. Eat your breakfast, and then enjoy a delicious, light, healthy lunch. And, the same advice if you are going for dinner ...
Pros: freshness, tastiness, vibe of the staff and the space
Cons: portion size
Guest
veronicatorres
Points +48
tasty! - Edit
Went for lunch and was impressed by texture and flavor, quality and simplicity. Friendly, clean and well located. Recommend the mushroom pesto panini. Yum!
Read moreGuest
jaygovinda108
Points +25
Pure Food, Goid intentions, Small Portions - Edit
We ate here today for the first time. It is 100% organic and it seems like a very nice new place.
Read moreUnfortunately, the servings were tiny.
For $8 for a hummus wrap. I got half a tortilla, maybe a tablespoon of hummus, and a tablespoon of grated carrots and other vegetables.
My wife ordered the avocado, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. For eight dollars, she got two slices of bread, but barely a slice of tomato, about a third of an avocado, and less than a teaspoon of Vegenaise.
The salad for an extra $2 was less than half a cup.
The place was spotless, with lots of very expensive looking food preparation machines behind the counter.
But, since it had hardwood floors with nothing to absorb the sounds, it was rather noisy with the machines and chatter of employees and customers.
If you go here, I would suggest that you ask for a decent sized portion, otherwise you may leave hungry like we did.
I do wish the business all prosperity and success.
Updated from previous review on Tuesday April 28, 2015
Guest
LaurenV
Points +187
Great New Restaurant! - Edit
They started with a food truck selling raw smoothies. I never had one from them. We just learned they expanded their business into a storefront in North Asheville, just off Merrimon Ave. We stopped in for lunch. I had the veggie spring roll with tahini spread, and hubby had the A,L,T = Avocado, lettuce, tomato with a creamy sauce on toasted multi-grain. Everything was so fresh and full of flavor. The restaurant is quirky, and cool and we'll definitely go back when in that part of town.
Read morePros: Fresh Food, Good location
Guest
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