The Candle Cafe
“I had pear-fection for appetizer (yes, this was the best pear smoothie I've ever had, not kididing) and Seitan BBQ burger for entree.”
“Tofu club was solid and the Bbq tempeh and sweet potato sandwich was a very unique and filling lunch item.”
“The pharmacy drink is one of the best drinks to have whenever you're feeling you're getting a cold and the carrot cake is absolutely divine”
The Candle Cafe
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Good vibe vegan cafe with fantastic friendly service and great smoothies, coffee and healthy food options.
The service from the hosts, counter and table servers are all very friendly and attentive.
I am not vegan but haven't had a hard time finding salads and delicious lunch options – in fact the first couple times I didn't even know it was vegan. I've been here a number of times for takeout smoothies which are wonderful, and have had lunch here a few times. I've come with friends, and on this visit a post graduation group was on one side of me and a family on another side, couples across – it clearly has broad appeal and does a great business.
It does get crowded for lunch and the most recent time I needed a quick late liquid lunch while getting a little work done and there was only one table available sandwiched in between others… Which is not my preference. I joked, "don't all these people have somewhere to go? It's 230.."
The host laughed and asked if I could wait a couple minutes and he would have something for me, offered to get me a beverage while I waited recommending candle vice smoothie – a fruity blend which the menu said promoted Brian function . "Perfect, I need to be productive, could use some brain power."
He found me a seat and I WAS able to be productive, the crowd thinned some by 3 and the drink was delic. Also ordered a motcha latte, unsweetened but the server quickly brought over a natural sweetener when I requested it .
The vibe. The atmosphere is all about good vibes with artwork and decor complimenting this including a special board my most recent visit with messages chalked next to the specials "spread love; it's the candle way" and "Daily Vibe: Raise your words not voices; It is rain that grows flowers not thunder." ~Rumi
Highly recommend as a good vibe cafe for lunch, smoothies and coffee – just be aware it can get crowded so plan the time you come.
I love vegetables. I fully believe that you can make a perfectly delicious meal with kale, sweet potatoes, and quinoa, and be done (not to say I don't also LOVE me some steak, either!). This was the perfect little light brunch to start a healthy weekend. The cafe wasn't crowded, service was perfect, and the ingredients fresh. The brunch menu is pretty limited and the prices a little steep, but what can you expect from a vegan place?
My friend and I ordered a French toast and southwestern crepe, as well as two juices between the two of us. We were seated promptly at noon when we arrived, as there was no wait time. My crepe was pretty disappointing–not a huge fan of the flavors and the overpowering mushroom taste, but I did love the French toast. Something about it just seemed less guilty to eat–it was a bit more chewy and less sweet than regular French toast, but I like my desserts less sweet. I ordered a tutti fruti smoothie, which was very delicious and apparently healthy (although I definitely could've just made one myself), but my friend's flu and cold juice tasted overwhelmingly of ginger, even though she told the waiter to lessen ginger because she can't stand the taste.
I'm not in a food coma, which is great, and my tummy thanked me for it! Not a bad way to start a healthy weekend!
Candle Cafe is one of the original vegan spots to me in NYC. It certainly feels more "healthy vegan" than even any of the Blossom restaurants, but that's part of its charm. It can be hard to snag a table here, as it's maintained its popularity through time. A few weeks ago, my sister, mom and I met my aunt for lunch during the week. My aunt works nearby but hadn't been and was pleasantly surprised (she's not vegan or vegetarian)!
My mom, sister and I all got the lemon-ginseng ice tea (decaf and unsweetened). It is super good – we all are frequent ice tea drinkers and found theirs to be exceptional. So much flavor without added sweaters. It was very lemony but not tart. My mom and sister both had the avocado BLT, which I was going to order too, but my sister convinced me we couldn't have three of the same. Theirs was a very large portion and the sandwich was topped with lots of avocado and tempeh bacon. I got the Good Food Plate, which is a you-pick any four sides and two dressings. I got the sweet potato, daily bean – a pinto, caramelized onions and brussel sprouts. I got the carrot ginger and country gravy sauces at the recommendation of the waitress. All of the vegetables were sautéed perfectly, again with good portion sizes. I still felt the plate was a bit expensive at $20 for four veggies, but I will say I was full and satisfied until I had dinner about seven hours later, which is impressive.
I've had their desserts before too and they're also quite good. I'll say, my dad, a non-vegan/vegetarian will sometimes cringe when we mention going here, as he doesn't feel there's quite enough flavor or food to satisfy. I'd argue there's lots of options, but just a note to others who are mostly meat or fish eaters.
I enjoy Candle Cafe and will definitely be back on future trips to NYC.
Came to eat Candle with some vegan friends.
Great looking cafe. Very crowded and popular.
Guacamole – $12 – Pretty standard guac.
Cajun Seitan – $17 – Could not enjoy the texture of the seitan. The cajun flavor did not help me get over the mouth feel of it.
Lasagna – $18 – Good lasagna. Tomato sauce was nicely cooked.
Very pricey for the amount of food you get. 12 bucks for guac is pretty damn expensive.
Everything here is great. From the Mac and Cheese to the desserts. Service is always kind, never had a problem even when I've been in a rush. You wouldn't even be able to tell their food is vegan which is the best tell of an amazing vegan restaurant — and which is helpful when picking up food for other people who are instantly turned off from the word "vegan".
It was a snowy day. I was on the hunt for vegan options near the museum mile. I walked over to Candle Cafe. I've been vegan for almost 4 years and I've never been to this restaurant.
The service was good. I was greeted right away. I couldn't decide if I wanted to sit at the bar or a table. It was a little crowded, so I thought the bar would be a better option. It was not. I don't recommend sitting there unless you can deal with call-in orders, the juicer, and take-out orders. I couldn't. The wait staff was great about reseating me.
I ordered a Tipsy Palmer cocktail. The flavor balance was perfect; nice mix of tea and sake. The server made some recommendations. I was also pleased they had a gluten free menu. I ordered the Lentil-Vegetable Curry Cake. The presentation was beautiful. The flavor was also on point. The curry was bold but not over powering.
I would recommend this place for a nice dinner whether solo or with friends.
After eating here… i'm on a mission to be a Vegan.
The food was amazing, a bit pricey but definitely worth it.
We love a vegan restaurant that doesn't pack its menu with quinoa salads and tofu curries, so this place was a welcome oasis in an area that's strangely all about meat, meat, and more meat. We parked the two carnivores in our party down the street at JG Melon (they wanted hamburgers, and, FYI, were pretty disappointed with that place) and grabbed a seat at the bar at Candle. The ambience here is nothing to write home about — it's a pretty plain-Jane bunch of two-top and four-top tables, plus the bar — but I barely noticed, thanks to the food and the wait staff, who manage to stay laid-back and friendly despite a packed-to-the-gills lunch service.
My boyfriend went for the Indian plate, which he enjoyed very much. I took a taste (the chutney was great; the rice a bit undercooked), but, honestly, I was too obsessed with my Cajun seitan sandwich to pay much attention. Let's talk about that, shall we? Seitan is something of an acquired taste/texture, but if you like it, this version is grilled it for a little bit of outer chewiness and inner tenderness. It's served on a crunchy roll with greens, a heap of sauteed onions, and a mildly spiced mayo. I added a side of sweet potato fries, then dug in and took a leave-no-man-behind approach to everything on my plate.
For dessert, we split the chocolate peanut butter pie with a scoop of ice cream. If you've never had vegan ice cream, know that it's made with a coconut milk base, which not everyone likes, but I happen to love. This version was terrific, and avoided the gritty mouth-feel of many vegan ice creams. The pie itself — which has a tofu base — was supersmooth and crazy-rich; definitely better suited to two people than one.
Candle isn't cheap — expect to pay at least $17 per entree, and $10 or so for desserts and/or drinks — but I couldn't have enjoyed it more. The next time I'm in the area, I know where I'll be going.