Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
Organic
Beer/Wine
British
Veggie cafe and restaurant specializing in vegan and gluten-free food. Last order 30 minutes before closing. Situated opposite main gate to King's College. Confirmed closed November 2018.
57 Reviews
First Review by Sernicki
runnerdave
Points +86
Authentic mostly vegan venue - Edit
Hearty food, plain but tasty. Sometimes lacking a bit in seasoning.
Read moreBear in mind it’s located underground, so no daylight.
Friendly staff.
Pros: Mostly vegan, Tasty food, Nice atmosphere
Cons: Underground
Guest
ChloeScotney
Points +188
Good selection of vegan options! - Edit
I ordered a main off the specials menu which did not disappoint. The dessert was even better.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Fresh and colourful food, Vegan dessert choices
Cons: Service was rather slow
Guest
PlantPal
Points +150
A treasure! - Edit
What a delight! Delicious food. Staff were great.
Read morePros: Good range of delicious food.
Cons: Stairs to get to the restaurant.
Guest
AliceGuillaume
Points +44
Favourite veggie/vegan place in Cambridge - Edit
Love the Rainbow Cafe! Welcoming, the food is colourful and delicious and they're great with allergens. They have good vegan desserts too - definitely one to try out.
Read morePros: Good if you have allergies
Cons: Bit hard to find? (none, really)
Guest
Louise_G
Points +581
Amazing food ! - Edit
Always my go-to in Cambridge. Both the permanent and specials menu are full of vegan options , my favourite being the Jamaican roti cups . Vegan deserts also available (though the portion sizes mean that we’re often too full for it!) lovely setting , though on a busy tourist day in Cambridge you might have to queue to get in (it will be worth it).
Read morePros: Cosy and friendly setting , Wide range of Vegan and nut free options
Cons: Gets busy and cramped easily
Guest
Jaydigriz
Points +206
Hidden gem - Edit
Tucked away down alley and in basement off main street. Great range of food with most vegan, this includes foods from different cuisines. Had (one of) the vegan lasagnas, wife had 3 bean chilli. Both lovely. Vegan wines and beers, speciality teas. Oh and vegan desserts including crumble and cheesecake. The vegetarian carrot cake according to Nigel Slater the best he’s had (had no room to try!) staff friendly.
Read morePros: All vegetarian , Most are vegan, Great range
Guest
lauralaura
Points +44
Lovely! - Edit
Delicious jackfruit taco, loved the tucked away location and nice staff :-)
Read moreGuest
HistoricalMarkers
Points +230
Homey Goodness - Edit
Great vegetarian restaurant with many vegan options in a cozy basement setting. Interesting menu of specials and a solid regular menu.
Read moreGuest
MissRadish
Points +365
Step back in time - Edit
It has the potential to be a quirky restaurant, instead it feels like it’s pretending to be a hippy place when it just needs a refurb and new menu. The food is simple. As another reviewer put it, it’s vegetarian/vegan food you’d get from the 1970s. I had the pasta columbiana which was a small portion for £11 and was pretty much plain pasta sauce and unseasoned. Go there for tea and cakes (which change daily and they seem to put more pride in).
Read moresharonmeijland
Interesting review. Actually the Pasta Columbiana costs £9.95.
Read moreAs pioneers we have been in this locale for 30 years, so not sure what 'pretending' means !!
Guest
ellieallan
Points +248
phenomenal!! - Edit
Went in here with my mum and absolutely love it, can't wait to go back again! They have such a huge menu and so many vegan options, didn't have a main course but looking at everyone else's plate it looked delicious! I would recommend the vegan cherry cheese cake which was delicious.
Read morePros: such a lovely atmosphere , many options , super fun friendly staff!
sharonmeijland
Thank you for this lovely review which makes it all worthwhile !
Read moreGuest
Christi
Points +174
Nice food - Edit
I had a nice lunch here and the food was pretty simple. The ambience is nice and cozy and the service was great. I would recommend it to anyone who needs to eat vegetarian or vegan.
Read moreGuest
EIIie
Points +196
Great impression, lacklustre food - Edit
This cafe has a nice atmosphere and a really great sounding menu, but I have to say the food was fairly unimpressive. It's not bad, but it's not particularly good either. Kudos for being a vegetarian restaurant with plenty of vegan options.
Read moreGuest
harlekwin42
Points +355
good to find a vegetarian cafe - Edit
so good to find cafe in central Cambridge where you know all food will be vegetarian or vegan. I've only visited once but am sorry to say I found the food disappointing, as if the chef was not really very interested in making good food. My main, and my companions, were dull, the sort of thing we would make at home in 10 mins. for minimal cost. My cake was dry. The saving grace was a brilliant vegan cheesecake. So that's certainly worth going back for.
Read morePros: great vegan cheesecake, central Cambridge, knowledgable about vegan/gluten free diets
Cons: quite expensive for what you get
Guest
jon active
Points +3530
Not bad for a basement! - Edit
Given how expensive Cambridge is it's not surprising that the Rainbow cafe is through an alley and down stairs in a basement. The menu is impressive with a good number of daily specials, shame though that so many were not vegan when they could so easily have been!
Read moreThe food I had was good but not as good as some of the reviews here and the price led me to think it would be. I had a mushroom tagliatelle and a garlic and herb bread starter. The bread was a cheap white bun and the tagliatelle has too much liquid in it. (One of my fellow diners thought the tagliatelle was very good) The side salad was uninspired, no dressing or anything to make it stand out. They did have a sugar free cake option - just the one - but it was obviously the "healthy" option so it was also gluten free and hence as so often is the case not very appetising. My tea was good, a small pot with an extra pot of hot water and plenty of soya milk in a cute little milk bottle. The staff were friendly and helpful. The Rainbow has an old school feel to it which I liked more than I did the food.
Updated from previous review on 2017-04-29
Pros: Good range of choice on menu., Friendly staff., Decent sized portions
Cons: Many options not vegan.
sharonmeijland
I will pass your review on to our Organic Artisan Vegan BakeryThank you for telling us another diner liked the same dish which you did not. That was very honest. And Thank you for the Lovely compliment.
Read moreGuest
Pbarry
Points +104
Great food, relaxed atmosphere - Edit
The entrance is down a bright narrow inviting alleyway and once inside the front door you take the stairs down to a large basement where the restaurant is located. As to be expected, it was busy on a Saturday lunchtime and we had to queue on the stairs for around 10 minutes before it was our turn to be seated. Once we were seated, the service was courteous and efficient . The tables are pretty tightly packed but there is relaxed atmosphere. For starters, I had sweet potato and chick pea daal and my wife, garlic bread sun dried tomato ~ both of which we would highly recommend. For main course, we had the three bean chilli and tangine L'algérienne ~ both very tasty followed by herbal teas. My favourite dish was definitely the daal which was both spicy and deeply flavoured ~ other reviewers have also praised the soups. Would definitely go back next time we visit Cambridge.
Read morePros: excellent food, relaxed atmosphere
Cons: stairs and fairly tightly packed seating arrangeme
Guest
mcld
Points +1300
Lovely hippy-veggie spot - Edit
Lovely place! It's been a Cambridge classic for at least a couple of decades. It's the classic "hippy-veggie" style of thing, in vibe, in decor, in menu. So no it's not the latest veggie fad cuisine but there's plenty of variety on the menu and it's good stuff.
Read moreGuest
outragedveggie666
Points +23
great location - Edit
the fact it's in a basement is fantastic! it's opened my eyes to the wonders of sundried dried tomatoes with there garlic bread and the menu is broad
Read morePros: vegan and gluten free options
Cons: the waitor and cashier was a little rude and it wa
Guest
Ryecatcher
Points +2222
For those who like basements - Edit
I liked Rainbow Cafe already just for being located in the basement. There is one smaller room where you enter (go down the stairs) with some tables, that may be pretty busy as people are entering or leaving or waiting for to be seated all the time. Next there is the kitchen and the till area next and lastly a larger room with several more tables.
Read moreIt can be busy at lunch hours, there are quite a few meals on the menu. In December they offered a special Christmas menu, but I don't know if there is something like that in other months as well.
I ate there three times and got decent comfort food, always a variation of some filled puff pastry, potatoes, salad. (Probably inspired by Eastern European cuisine.) Homemade sauces, too. It can take some time until your order is ready, but that's within a reasonable time frame; also, usually you would be warned if your order is expected to take a long time.
You'll be served but you'll have to pay at the till afterwards.
Their cheesecake is truly amazing, they offered several types, I was genuinely blown away. Creamy, tasty stuff, simply: wow! double wow! (Almost five pounds a piece though.)
Great opening times, friendly staff, enjoyable experience!
Guest
sinfulcoldcuts
Points +67
I have come here a few times - Edit
I have come here a few times now. I never really like the menu choices but their saving grace is he delicious vegan cheesecake. I would come back just for this!
Read morePros: Gorgeous cheesecake
Cons: menu choices
Guest
sborkfelt
Points +894
Good food, easy for vegans - Edit
Good, wholesome vegetarian food. We visited twice, and the quality is good and the staff friendly. The "sheperdess pie" was a bit disappointing, though, but then you can select so many other things, and the enchiladas, roti etc. were great. Very good vegan options.
Read moreGreat vegan desserts as well.
Pros: Good selection of vegan foods, Great vegan desserts.
Cons: Busy, sometimes a bit tight seating, A bit noisy when full
Guest
AndreaD
Points +145
excellent food, - Edit
I loved the cafe, French vegan chef, my husband and I had the bourguignon which was amazing, so different from other vegan food, so French, full flavour without the spice so many vegan dishes have. I loved the tofu in it, which had been marinated in red wine and an oak smoked flavouring... served with brown rice.. the soup, kale and celery and dark leafed cabbage was delicious, vegan bread and butter a treat, and the cheesecakes, strawberry and white chocolate buttons, and mango and passion fruit were amazingly good. Would have like wifi to post photos, but no wifi sadly. But super location and great staff....
Read moreGuest
Becs1971
Points +30
Somewhere...Over The.....River Cam..... - Edit
....you will find the Rainbow Vegetarian Cafe and you will (I hope) love it. It's not posh, you don't book...you just turn up, maybe queue for a while if you go at busy times, then enjoy some scrummy vegetarian/vegan food, great drinks and always ALWAYS a delightful dessert. Always good service, the prices are reasonable. In the heart of this University town, it's hidden down a short alley (don't worry it's not a seedy alley!) opposite King's College Chapel. But you won't see it as the cafe is underground. Check their website for opening times but if you're in Cambridge for a visit or you live here, please do go & check it out. We love it and will plan a day trip around being able to go here for lunch or dinner.
Read morePros: Central & easy to find, Caters for vegans as well as vegetarians, Good service
Cons: Not massive...sometimes have to queue
Guest
FruitMonstar
Points +1200
disappointed - Edit
I went with 3 others, and we ordered Shepard's pie, Couscous, and Burrito. Shepard's pie was .... a disappointment. It is a big portion but really no taste as you go towards the bottom. No interesting flavor by vegetable, nor any kind of seasoning... Couscous was good, although far from the traditional taste. And the burrito was fine as well. I did not quite like how it is in basement. I do appreciate the vegan and vegetarian restaurant.
Read moresharonmeijland
We are so sorry you did not enjoy your experience. Please revisit as my personal guest.
Read moreWe are very sad you did not enjoy the food, Perhaps there was a misunderstanding as our Shepherdess Pie was not what you were expecting, as so many others have been so positive,
As to your other comments, we have been open for 28 years and yes, it is a basement entered by 12 broad safety steps, in a building which was constructed in about 1840 and qualifies as a listed building so alterations are extremely limited.
We close at Christmas for two weeks 1. So that everyone can enjoy Christmas with their Family and 2. So that we can re-decorate from top to bottom. We have a professional cleaning firm who arrive every night to clean even though it is late at night, they give their time willingly, So I do not really understand your twice repeated comment, and would welcome the chance to meet you and show you our procedures which are logged as required by law.
Guest
GiraffeGirl
Points +302
Good food! - Edit
Visited with some friends, none of whom are vegetarian or vegan and we all enjoyed our meal.
Read moreWe went at lunch time on a Saturday so had to queue for around 30mins to get a table.
We had a range of main meals and desserts, all of which were nice and decent sized portions. Reasonably priced for central Cambridge.
Pros: Wide selection of foods on menu, Range of alcohol, Reasonably priced
Cons: Small venue - queue to get a seat, Decor could do with a spruce up
Guest
wyrd
Points +3523
A good old-style veggie place in the UK - Edit
I've been to the Rainbow Vegetarian Cafe a few times (basically: every time I go to Cambridge, I drop by at least once). In the evening, it's the only fully veg option in town!
Read moreLast time I had a good dinner with the Sheperdess Pie (although a friend of mine was luckier with a Mexican-flavoured dish which was both delicious and huge) and a vegan raspberry cake (+ a vegan beer)! :--)
(to be precise, I paid 18.65 GBP)
Pros: Only Veggie place in the evening, Good food, Friendly atmosphere
Guest
grrrlbrarian
Points +109
Favourite veggie restaurant! - Edit
I eat here every time I'm in Cambridge! Enormous menu full of exciting food from around the world, with loads of choice for vegans. They usually have at least one vegan special every day, which is always delicious. The staff are amazing - they remember you if you go in fairly regularly and will come over for a chat. Feels very comfortable and homely. The best thing is the vegan desserts - their cheesecakes are creamy and delicious, and everything is available with vegan custard, ice cream or single cream. The prices are on a similar level to other (non-vegan) places in Cambridge, and the portions are very generous. I quite often have a soup or salad and a dessert and I leave feeling full!
Read morePros: Delicious vegan food and desserts, Generous portion sizes, Amazing staff and comfortable atmosphere
Guest
freya2770
Points +55
Good sides/desserts - Edit
This is basically the only restaurant in Cambridge where you can get a range of vegan options (which is pretty terrible, but there you are). So I've been there many times, even though I don't find it anything at all special. My friend has described it as a '70s throwback' and I'd say that's pretty accurate. Despite all the advancement in vegetarian and vegan cooking since then, and all the interesting ingredients that have become available, the Rainbow Café menu is a hodge podge of international dishes which could be interesting but mostly feels like trying to repurpose the same very basic, cheap ingredients. No matter what menu item or special you order it is nearly always: a bowl, with a basic and not very interesting salad on the side. In the bowl is a tomato based stew/curry/goulash, containing beans and potatoes, and served on rice. It will be underseasoned, unless it is curry, in which case it will be very slightly spicy. It is the kind of basic and slightly bland food you might expect if an omni was put on the spot and asked to cook for a vegan using the stuff in their cupboard. It’s not terrible, but nothing you can’t do incredibly easily at home, and in fact most vegans I know are capable of producing far more interesting and tasty meals with ease. The few mains that deviate from this template are the vegetarian ones, which apparently rely on the tried and true method of just covering everything up with cheese. W hat’s really strange is this: Rainbow Café has a dessert menu which changes daily and is usually at least half vegan. These are generally excellent, especially the vegan cheesecakes! The vegan garlic bread is also very tasty. This is very confusing to me, considering both these things are far harder to make than just an interesting vegan main course. All I can guess is that, lacking any real competition for vegetarian/vegan food in Cambridge, Rainbow Café doesn’t see the need to change a very old and tired selection of main meals. It is also disappointing that it isn’t vegan, as they are clearly capable of producing great vegan desserts and the vegetarian items on the menu mostly seem to be vegan ones, except covered in cheese.
Read moreGuest
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