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Fresh
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants Vegan Vegetarian, Vegan [Edit]
147 Spadina AveToronto, ON M5V 2L7
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Downtown Core
(416) 599-4442
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 10:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
87 reviews for Fresh
Review Highlights
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"I hear the sweet potato fries are awesome." In 9 reviews -
"We started with the quinoa-battered onion rings, with the..." In 4 reviews -
"REALLY REALLY good miso gravy, $12 though." In 6 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
87 reviews in English
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Review from Myomi C.
Toronto, ON
This is my first Fresh experience and yay...I'm a fan.
I had a small soup (chickpea), salad (wasabi dressing), cornbread and hummus. The dish was tastier than expected, having experience dull blandness at other vegetarian restaurants. The sauces, dressing, and dips here are fantastic -- they make all these wholesome foods "pop."
Make sure to ask for the hot sauce -- nice heat with a good mix, layered flavours. I put this sauce on almost everything I ate.
Other dishes we ordered: Quinoa batter coated onion rings with the avocado sauce (I like deep fried so this was a winner), and the baby Buddha bowl (tried a couple bites of tomato, bean sprouts, and tofu and it was also good, peanut saucy denseness).
First thing I noticed when I walked into Fresh was the juices and hot beverages the patrons were sipping, so I was pleasantly surprised that Fresh also had a nice wine, beer, and cider list which was a refreshingly concise menu compared to the food/drink/dessert regular menu set out on the tables -- took a good five minutes for me to get the gist of what was gonna be dinner from this menu.
I found the seating at Fresh too crammed for comfort -- perhaps on purpose to lend to the friendliness of the place (probably out of necessity given size of the place)? Anyway, had to make several Tetris-y moves involving the dishes we ordered + little sauce containers + side plates + cutlery + bottle and cups for water + bottle and glass for the cider + of course, the hot sauce (and the other condiments), all on a little square table that was only a couple of inches apart from the two we were sandwiched between. Happy to report we made it through dinner with polished plates and only one spoon overboard.
Fun and wholesomely filling experience. -
Review from Maheen M.
4/25/2012
Fresh is the go-to vegetarian joint for grub; every time I walked back this location there is always a line up and when we decided to stop in for dinner we did in fact wait in line. When we arrived, we were prompted to get our names on the list which took us 45 minutes to get seated. Note if you go in pairs, tables turn faster.
I was super hungry and order the grilled cornbread to start. It was not bad, a bit dry; the hummus was it came with saved the bread. I ordered the Buddha bowl as my entree, it was a big bowl! I had to take break to finish it - it was super yummy though. I love the thai sauce, it paired well with the soba noodles. We also ordered a side of sweet potato fries to share. Their sweet potato fries are probably one of the best in the city, not super greasy, seasoned just yet - they are just slightly addictive.
Overall, the hype is worth the wait but not if you are super hungry. I am tempted to check out the other locations in the city. Do check Fresh out and you can judge the veggie food love for yourself. -
Review from Roxana R.
Toronto, ON
4/17/2012
I love Fresh etc etc etc, BUT I haven't read anything regarding their take-out lunch specials. These are terrible for so many reasons!
1) So overpriced. $8 for a small sandwich?
2) And not even tasty! Salads are plain, with little dressing. There's nothing worse than a dry salad.
3) Selection: always the same sandwiches and salads. No variety at all. How many times can you eat that tempeh sandwich?
I love Fresh and their sweet potato chips and fake meat, but that sandwich and salad bar is plain evil, especially when you KNOW that they can do better, they just don't want to. Bad, bad Fresh. -
Review from Julia E.
Toronto, ON
5/21/2012
Fresh has amazing salads and wraps that make for a satisfying and nutritious lunch or dinner. The restaurant lives up to its name by using the freshest ingredients and specialty sauces and dresses, including vegan mayo! If you're looking for a yummy salad with more than iceberg lettuce and a few tomato slices, Fresh is the place for you. I thoroughly enjoy their all-star quinoa salad with sweet potato, tofu and goji berries, as well as the mega life salad loaded with the nut and seed mix and spinach, topped with either the house dressing or peanut lime dressing. If you're really feeling ambitious, try the Swoosh smoothie - peanut butter, chocolate and banana deliciousness!
Fresh is usually packed and for good reason. However, we have never had to wait too long to get a table, though this may be different if you are a large party. My only criticism about Fresh is that they don't readily offer nutritional information for their menu items. While ignorance is bliss, I (and I'm sure others) would love to know how caloric or protein-rich some of the items are.
All-in-all, a great pick that will leave vegetarians smiling and even carnivorous-types craving more! -
Review from Tanya L.
Montréal, QC
5/18/2012
When visiting Toronto I made a point to go to Fresh as I have heard such good feedback about their food.
This place has huge selection of smoothies, power shakes juices and other drinks. As for the food options there is soup, salad, fries, wraps and bowls. I ordered the Buddah Bowl which was brown rice, veggies and tofu in peanut sauce very tasty.
My dining companions and I all shared the sweet potato fries as a starter because we were starving....some how their sweet potato fries are better than most I've had, not sure why.
Found this restaurant to be very noisy, staff was warm and friendly -
Review from Jenna M.
3/3/2012
I am a massive fan of Fresh. In fact, I own a "Fresh #1" foam finger. Strange to some people, but completely normal to me. This place is where it's at if you're looking for an uber healthy snack, meal, or smoothie.
During my frequent trips to Fresh at their various locations around Toronto, I have tried a wide variety of their items. Not exactly a difficult task considering everything not only reads like a slice of heaven, it often tastes like it too. The menu is completely vegetarian/vegan, and while I do enjoy eating meat once in awhile, I do not miss it in the slightest when I'm seated and carefully eyeballing their selection of treats. From their tasters, such as sweet potato french fries and quinoa onion rings, to massive burgers and wraps, Fresh does not f$%# around. Especially when it comes to their salads, which are knee deep and filled with anything from marinated organic tofu to jicama and chickpeas.
If you're a health nut, you'll likely go bonkers for this place. It doesn't disappoint and you'll walk away knowing you did your body some good...until the night ends in tequila shots of course. -
Review from Elise T.
Toronto, ON
5/5/2012
Just ate at Fresh on Spadina again last night. Sometimes I wonder why I keep coming back. It's very cramped and very noisy which can be a good thing when the mood is right but definitely wrong should you desire an intimate conversation. As I lift my arm from the table I notice it sticks...yes mom, you were right, I should keep my arms off the table. The server was friendly yet spacey, a common trait amongst servers there.
But I do go back, and will continue to go back.
The food is always good, the noisy, cramped, sticky tabled space definitely has it's own special charm and the young spacey wait staff are harmless.
Sometimes conflicted, always satisfied.
Did I mention you have to get a key to go to the bathroom....
..... -
Review from Susan C.
Toronto, ON
3/15/2012
This fresh location is good, but probably my least favourite one. The amount of seating is more limited and the service is slower. The washroom is such a hassle, since you need a key to get inside. There are two stalls inside and the restaurant has two keys. But, both keys are left inside, a line will slowly form and unsure whether someone is inside or not. Very inconvenient.
The food and smoothies are the same as all the other fresh locations. -
Review from Jessica M.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012
I've been vegetarian for a month now and my friends have been raving about how great this place is - so it's only fitting that I try it out considering my new diet.
I ordered the 'Holiday Wrap' which came with marinated tofu, avocado, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, red onion, alfalfa sprouts, carrots, jicama and garlic mayo. It came with a small side of kale slaw. It was quite tasty and filling considering it was almost pure vegetables. The flavours really popped out - I just wish it there was more garlic mayo.
It is a bit on the pricier side but you're paying for quality and wholesome natural ingredients, so it's well worth it. I hear the burgers are great so guess what I'll be trying next?
Oh, this place seems to always be crazy packed during the peak hours with a line up so come during off hours! -
Review from Selene n.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 3/5/2012
Updating my rating to 3.5 stars
I went there on the weekend with some friends. The service was very friendly and we actually got service, so yay! None of my friends were vegan or vegetarian, but we all enjoyed it.
AND I opted to NOT get a rice bowl. I went instead with the megalife salad. Tons of veggies, and a great variety of veggies with an awesome dressing. Unbelievably delicious, and I felt like I was getting a lot of food.
All my friends got rice bowls, and they enjoyed them a lot. Although it was agreed that while there was a ton of rice, there wasn't really a lot of veggies. I cautioned my friend against the baby bowl after my experience last time.
My one friend ordered a rice bowl that came with a bunch of chopped onions. That was not listed in the menu, and she hates onions, so that was a bit unfortunate.
Still very pricy, but I would definitely go back for that salad again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/16/2011
Urg! WHY oh why do I keep going here??? About 63% of the time I'm disappointed, the rest of the time… Read more »
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Review from Cynthia G.
Toronto, ON
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
WOW - I used to go here all the time for lunch when I worked downtown......I love this place...I popped in for lunch the other day and is was packed - and rightly so...it is outstanding. Had the Thai Burger, fries with Miso gravy.....fantastic.....
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Review from Dionne T.
Toronto, ON
4/2/2012
Like most of others, I love the simple and healthy concept of Fresh. Because of that, my friends and I have dined quite often at the one on spadina ave., but our last night experience had us think again before we go there next time due to poor service. One of their waitresses spilled the sauce on the floor, and didn't realize it also got onto my friend's back and jacket. Until we asked her for napkins, she looked like nothing happened and didn't even apologize right away. She seems to be tired and impatient. It totally ruined our mood and meal, and my friend had to keep wiping his jacket. to get rid of the spill and smell. Her terrible service overpowered the food, no matter how healthy and great idea Fresh tries to bring to its customers. If no enough improvement in place, service like this will hurt the business there.
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Review from Tori M.
Toronto, ON
11/8/2011
At first I was a little hesitant to try a vegetarian place because, as anyone should know, I like meat. I'm glad I did, though. My experience with vegetarian places is very limited so I was expecting a salad that wouldn't fill me up. Fresh couldn't be farther from the truth (although I assume they also have salads).
Like other Yelpers, I think their service is very quick (once you're seated). Our appetizer (sweet potatoe fries) came quickly and the entrée followed shortly thereafter. My friend and I both got bowls with brown rice and there was so much food! It was a little bland for my taste, but apparently I didn't hear our server offer more sauce.
I plan on coming back here soon, but next time I'm coming early to avoid that long dinner-rush! -
Review from David F.
Toronto, ON
3/24/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I love Fresh on Spadina Ave. Only a few blocks from home. The Food, staff and atmosphere is perfect and even though I go there at least once a week, I have never had a bad meal. Tonight I had the laska curry soup and was delicious! Feel like a boost, go for the mega life salad and green dressing.
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Review from Evelyn W.
11/7/2011
I've been to all 3 locations, multiple times.
This one is my favorite because of how boss they are with take-out orders.
They have BY FAR the best organized take-out scenario, and have a little counter set up for you to grab extra sauces, napkins, etc. AND there is room to stand around in this location while you wait (comparatively).
If you're a Fresh virgin I recommend the soups, the cornbread, the sweet potato fries and any of their terrific smoothies.
Healthy eating goes great with Movember, PS, it is all about men's HEALTH. -
Review from Emily H.
11/1/2011
**3.5**
For Christmas, I'd like my own personal Fresh chef in my pocket.
Fresh has done an excellent job reaching out to the general carnivore with their mainstream vegetarian dishes. I have been to Fresh countless times and I am always recommending it to new friends.
The layout of this particular Fresh on Spadina is similar to that of Fresh on Bloor but I find it a little more spacious and the service may be just a tad better. They're pretty good at both locations, though. They're also a smart group of people, cutting down time wasted waiting for the server to pour some water and wander over - they've always got jars of water and cups ready to drop off at your table as soon as you arrive. Just watch out during lunch and dinner rush times and if you go with groups - it gets pretty crowded everyday.
My most recent trip there I tried the Beach Bowl. It was abso-fricking-lootely amaaaaahhhhzing. I ordered it because the menu named off a whole slew of vegetables and sounded like the best of all worlds with grilled red peppers, zucchini, sweet potatoes (!!), alfalfa sprouts... and lets you choose between a marinated tofu steak and goat cheese! I went with the tofu steak - I think it was possibly the most flavourful, well marinated tofu I have ever tasted. All the veggies were served on a rice with olive oil drizzled all over, which made it so yummy. They really took home all the points on flavour with this bowl. I will say however, the sweet potatoes could have been a little softer, imo - but that's really my only criticism on the dish. Oh, and that they use way more oil (albeit olive) than I would ever use on a dish, but so does any other restaurant.
The Beach Bowl is definitely a keeper. It is a must-try bowl!!!
Also, the Black Bean Burrito - one of my all time favourites. Just had to give a plug ;)
Atmosphere - 3/5
Service - 3.5/5
Food - 4/5
Value - 3.5/5Listed in: 30 Day November Challenge!
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Review from Edwin A.
I came here for takeout and ordered the Quinoa Battered Onion Rings. A late night snack.
it's deep fried. So it doesn't quality as healthy no matter how you cut it. :)
Different than a conventional onion ring, the fried quinoa makes a dark super crunchy grainy texture. When you bite into the ring it shatters to pieces.
They give you about 8 large onion rings in a paper container. They are so good I wish I had more. Interestingly they leave a clean oily not greasy after taste in your mouth. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
First time in a Fresh on a weekend and they have brunch from 10-3pm! How excellent.
Brunch menu items include gluten free pancakes, breakfast burrito among others - all vegan.
I have to say , the pancakes, let alone it was gluten was the BEST I've ever had. Crispy on the bottom, and infused all over with fresh blueberries and crunchy almonds (2 for $8 / 3 for $10) and served with a butter (not sure if it's real butter or some soy concoction) and vegan all natural maple syrup. I opted today for two and ordered a smoothie, but I think next time I'll just go for 3.
Loved it and will be back! This probably also applies for the other locations.
The seating here is smaller than in the Bloor location, but not by much. It's cramped and close together and sometimes might be hard to 'not' eavesdrop on the next table.
I'm craving the pancakes again already! -
Review from Holly B.
Dartmouth, NS
3/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not a vegan? No problem! Go anyway, it is spectacular. I bought the book;-)
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Review from Mary T.
Toronto, ON
2/28/2012
Fantastic vegetarian/vegan restaurant! I bring my meat loving friends here, and they are all impressed with how good the food is.
The desserts are awesome too - try the fudge cake! SO fudgy and rich and completely vegan!!! -
Review from Myrem D.
Mississauga, ON
10/26/2011
When I walked by this place outside, nothing hinted 'vegan' to me. Actually, I was looking for a gourmet burger type of joint. I had vaguely heard about this place so I figured I'd check it out. Plus, on the menu outside I skimmed and read "burger". I was tricked.
Immediately after walking in I felt I was having brunch on the east end of Manhattan. Very retro designs, modern, minimalist with spunky wall colours. The crowd was a mix of trendy hipsters bent over salads,shakes/smoothies in tiny tables of 2. The heavy curtains made a really nice pop affect to the decor. Well done.
The bathrooms are to the back but you will have to get a key. If you walk towards the bathrooms and turn right, you will see the backdoor. Which is easily accessible. Call me crazy but this would only promote diner&dashers, no?
I stood there for a while and nobody came around. I did a few hops in and out. Mostly to get reception but also to test out how easy it would be to flee. It's easy.
I noticed the staff seem to hang here after and before shifts just chatting and eating with each other.
Personally I don't know anything on what makes a good vegan menu. But I was definitely willing to try out the organic beer.
I ordered a cup of the featured soup. $3.50
The East African Yellow Split Pea with Sweet Potato - This was delicious. Absolutely pureed to perfection. The temperate and consistency of the soup was perfect. The chunks of potato was just enough to add a bit of oomph but never too much. There were hints of too much ginger but even that couldn't compare to how wholesome this soup was. The bowl was tiny but it was a good app size. I don't recommend it for sharing but it's definitely worth a try.
Giving into my burger craving I decided to order the BBQ Burger
W side salad. $13.00
The burger was massive. As in - you will have to cut it into 4 to be able to eat it - massive. The toppings included bbq sauce, quinoa onion rings, garlic mayo and a little salad side of red cabbage, hot banana chilies, tomato & romaine lettuce.
- My theory is, they stuff the burger with so much stuff that you just get so full. So instead of stuffing yourself with junk, you stuff yourself with healthy vegan items. Clever. Needless to say, I was stuffed.
My bf had the : Deluxe Burger $10.00 that looked a little less intimidating than mine. The toppings included tomato, lettuce, red onion & mayo. It also came with a tiny side salad of alfalfa sprouts & dill pickle.
The light ale beer was light bodied and had less of a "beer" stench. I doubt you could get much out of it, but it's definitely a health conscious option for the more body/food cautious folk.
2 for brunch = 31.50 (including tax 35.60, including tip 42.60).
I have a tiny warning for anyone trying out a vegan menu for the first time - Don't read too much into it, the meals are all delicious. Look for key ingredients you enjoy (ex, avocado, asparagus, cabbage etc) and even though the staff might tend to give off a snooty "how dare you not know about us" kind of vibe, they just need to know that it's your first time and will recommend a few safe starting out items based on tastes you enjoy.
fun fact: I will NOT lie and say that it's a well fitted substitute for a burger, because it is not. Anyone that says so, is lying. To themselves. The outcome is a win anyhow
-will not starve,
- you will know to introduce a cool place for your future vegan friends
- and you will be stuffed healthy
^_^
xoxo
M. -
Review from Nathan M.
Toronto, ON
7/1/2011
I have been frequenting Fresh on Spadina for over a year now; unfortunately, out of convenience.
I will not be back because of a few reasons:
1. The service is not good. The staff seem to have an attitude - I know it's a tuff industry, but you would expect a 'fresh' experience when you're there, especially due to the price you pay. In fact, after ordering takeout salads for a year, I went to sit down on the outside patio and was swept off by a server who said they could only do full service. She didn't ask if i wanted to order a drink or anything more, just a back-handed go. Not good, especially when their were plenty of seats available. What's with that?
2. The prices are not reasonable. You can go to Fresh 11 across the street and get a better salad, more filling and for less. E.g: the salmon salad. No, I do not work for them and am not in the restaurant industry.
3. Wait times. Wait times can be very bad if you are in a rush for lunch, or want a quick bite before a movie or drinks with friends. Depending on the time of day, expect long delays. It can also be very loud - not exactly a great place for a date.
Overall, the food isn't bad, but the service is horrible. WIth a few adjustments, I'm hoping Fresh can recover. I think it would take one other solid sit-down type vegetarian restaurant with good service to really impact Fresh's service. -
Review from Denise S.
5/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
(3.5 stars)
I have eaten at Fresh countless times but don't have super-strong feelings about it, so it has taken me this long to write a review. I started to think about this place... I have come here in a large group, on dates, with 'the girls', with my grandma, and alone. How many restaurants can I say that about? So, I gotta give Fresh props for always being there and being fairly reliable when you're in the mood for something nutritious and delicious.
I find the food at this location better than at the Bloor location.
I have tried almost all the bowls. My favourite is the baby energy bowl with soba noodles. I find the 'baby' portion filling enough for me (also, I don't understand why only selected bowls come in the baby size...). The curry coconut sauce is really yummy! The magic tofu wrap is another hit in my books. If you are really hungry, they usually have some kind of prix fixe and they also participate in Veggielicious. Smoothies are expensive, but BIG. Several serving of fruit right there. The dessert offerings are less exciting -- mostly vegan cookies that are kind of greasy. I like how they bring you a big jug of water without you having to ask.
They are very accommodating of dietary restrictions. Brought my friend with Celiac disease here and they gave her a separate menu clearly indicating gluten-free items on the menu and which dishes could be modified to be gluten-free.
This place gets packed on Friday nights and during weekday lunch hour but otherwise, you can usually get a table without waiting (Bloor St. one seems more busy). The small patio on Spadina is nice.Listed in: Patio Season!, An Apple a Day...
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Review from Tanya N.
4/10/2011
I don't frequent vegetarian places a lot, actually besides Fresh, I don't go anywhere else (probably need to get out more...).
Menu has a large variety from salads, burgers to noodles as well as a bunch of things you can add to customize (sauces, veggies, proteins etc.) so you can always keep things interesting.
I had their $15 Veggielicious special which came with a Chi-Spa juice (ginger, dates, apple, soymilk, banana, cinnamon, chia seeds). My friend and I tried it with and without the date since we're both not fans of it but decided we should try the drink "as is" too. The drink itself tasted like a banana cake smoothie and the date didn't add to much to it expect tiny chunks of dates that didn't get blend very well. I'd skip the dates next time.
The Ninja bowl came with greens, fried tofu cubes, sundried tomatoes, tamari sauce and I opted for brown rice & tahini sauce. I enjoyed it. The sundried tomatoes weren't too dry and strong in taste and their was enough sauce that the dish wasn't dry. The cupcakes were delicious, you can really taste the ginger in the cupcake and the frosting was light and creamy.
This place is always busy but the line moves fast. -
Review from Janna S.
6/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is one of the best Vegan/Vegetarian options in Toronto because the menu is much more extensive than other places and the quality of the food is relatively consistent. I find that service is generally quite good too, although you might end up waiting in line for 20 minutes or so during peak hours. I don't like the seating here because it's too cramped and hard. The tables are so close together that sometimes I have no choice but to listen to the conversations around me.
Check out the daily specials for good deals. It's a great opportunity to try something healthy for half the cost of regular items. The desserts are all delicious and I highly recommend the sweet potato fries! -
Review from Lauren M.
11/2/2010
I'm going to go out on a limb here and generalize that:
1) If you are vegetarian, you really like Fresh
2) If you are not vegetarian, you think it's pretty MEH and overpriced
At least that is what I have noticed based on my experiences at Fresh (I've been to all three locations, go figure) and in addition to the Yelp reviews.
This location (as well as Bloor location) annoy me because the seating is so damn awful. They really cram the tables in very close together just to maximize capacity. I end up feeling like I'm sitting with the people at the tables on either side.
The food is OK. But the menu is not "Fresh". The menu is dated. Put something new on the menu for pete's sake, I've been going here 3 years and it's the same menu items. I do like their mediterranean platter and the baby energy bowl. It is definitely overpriced though. $13 for soba noodles and bean sprouts, please! -
Review from Patricia S.
Toronto, ON
3/6/2011
I like Fresh, but I don't love it. Why hasn't someone opened something to compete with it? There's clearly an under-served market.
I am NOT a vegan or vegetarian. I eat everything. I am, however, a very healthy eater.
I am a huge fan of all the juices and smoothies. Especially the All Green and the Fruity Green. I'm also obsessed with the California Classic salad with Wild Ginger dressing. It's really good and hearty.
Occasionally, I find the service not great. On the other hand there are some staff members that have been there for a while that are really friendly and attentive.
I hate the atmosphere. It's loud and uncomfortable.
Anyway, I'll keep going until someone does it better, or until I finally buy a VitaMix. I need my green juice! -
Review from Margaret S.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2012
Food is amazing. Dine in service is quite good, long waits. For take out they are particularly slow with attitude. Like with the soup Nazi, quality of the food has me coming back.
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Review from Cat S.
Toronto, ON
10/23/2010
Since discovering Fresh a few months ago, I've been almost once a week. I'm not vegetarian, but it has quickly become one of my favourite dining destinations for a healthy meal. I can't get enough!
I'm a huge fan of the holiday wrap (with crispy tofu and white cheddar) paired with any of the tasty, homemade soups. I also love the bbq burger, a very filling veggie burger topped with bbq sauce, quinoa battered onion rings, banana peppers, and vegan mayo. I would also recommend the buddha bowl with soba noodles, topped with tofu, bean sprouts, cucumber, tomato and peanut sauce. It was so big I couldn't finish it- next time I'll order the "baby" buddha (half portions are available for all the Fresh bowls).
I recently tried the spring rolls- at $8 for 2 large rolls, they're a bit pricey, but very tasty!
I was a bit hesitant to try the vegan carrot cake with cream cheese icing for dessert, but it was actually DELICIOUS. You won't believe it's vegan!
Most of the time the service is very good. I find that it's better at the Queen West location than the Spadina location. One pet-peeve of mine is that they frequently are out of avocado, an integral ingredient in the holiday wrap....but this only constitutes a minor blip in an otherwise consistently positive experience! -
Review from Heather T.
11/1/2010
It's always a struggle to get good tasting vegetarian food - it's like people think if it's vegan, it has to be bland and boring. But this is not what you get at Fresh. When I had the menu in front of me, I was overwhelmed with choice. Normally there is only one thing I can eat on the menu (if that), but here I can eat everything!
Though I have an obsession with miso gravy, I went for banana nut pancakes with tofu scramble and vegan sauasage patties. Oh my god. Those pancakes were amazing. I've never actually eaten pancakes that good, ever in my life. It sounds dramatic but it's true. And this would be good for the veggies and non-veggies alike. I wish I lived in Toronto so I could go there everyday. To whomever owns Fresh, can you please open one in England for me please? -
Review from Joanne W.
8/13/2010
My friends and I went out last night and we were thinking of the following: "what's a place that's cheap, healthy AND delicious?" We somehow ended up at "fresh" and that's exactly what it was.
We got seated in about 15 minutes considering that it was quite packed around 7:00 PM. My friends and I all ordered the prix-fixe menu. $21 for four items: smoothie/juice, starter, entree, and dessert. Not only that, we decided to share the sweet potato fries.
It was absolutely delicious.
1) SWEET POTATO FRIES: we ordered this with the the avocado chipotle dip. Now I understand why people order the sweet potato fries - it was amazing!
2) ANTIOXIDANT SMOOTHIE: With pomegrantate, blueberry and banana. It was really good and very refreshing (and knowing that it's full of antioxidants, it made it a lot better)!
3) AVOCADO WHITE BEAN DOSAS: These were really good as well. Basically a pancake with white beans and avocado in it. Had a little kick to it - I really liked it as a starter.. but this is when I started to get full.
4) ENERGY BOWL w/ SOBA NOODLES: Contains: marinated tofu cubes, rich coconut curry sauce, chick pea & vegetable stew, cucumber, tomato, red onion, sunflower sprouts & tahini sauce. The problem about eating all these starters and a smoothie - we couldn't even take more than 10 bites into the bowl. It was good, but considering I was *that* full - I couldn't even enjoy it.
5) FLOURLESS CASHEW COOKIE: I took this to go and it was quite oily (through my bag); it tasted a lot like a peanut butter cookie, but I only took one bite.
Overall, great food, great service (was able to split our bills!). However, I've learned that if I get this prix-fixe menu next time, I'm splitting it between a friend and I. -
Review from Joe H.
2/15/2011 3 Check-ins Here
A bunch of my friends are vegetarians, and whenever they come into town, we go to Fresh. There's 3 different Fresh restaurants, and they're pretty much the same wherever you go.
Being an omnivore, I don't really go out of my way to go to Fresh all the time, but it is on my list of restaurants I like to go there every once and a while. Reason why? Sweet potato fries. They are AMAZING. I think it's mostly because they bake their fries which makes them pretty good. Add in some miso gravy and you got the best thing that's ever been in your mouth in the potato french fry family.
So word to the wise, they do have vegan stuff on the menu, but definitely nothing meat oriented. Personally I don't really mind, but one thing that I don't like at all are the baked goods here. I tried the cornbread once and... gah... The cornbread here is definitely not very good. Also, the cakes are a little bit dry because they don't put any butter and or eggs in it.
A bunch of the years ago Fresh had a vegan cheesecake that was actually exceptional.... well, for having no cheese in it. However, Fresh got rid of the cheesecake because they said that it didn't last very long. Pity, I wish they still had this around.
The thing I usually get when I come here are the bowls. Most of the time I get the macro greens. I've had other bowls, but I kinda like this one the best. Mostly because I can put whatever dressing I want depending on how I've feeling that day. The other thing that I always get whenever I'm here is the marinated grilled tofu steaks. I find them a nice contrast to the vegetables as they are a little more solid than the vegetables.
Fresh allows you to mix and match as well incase you want to "create your own bowl" as well as substitute your rice for soba noodles. Personally I never usually get the soba noodles because it doesn't really remind me of soba noodles (Guess that's just me).
Another thing is that they have daily soups that they keep changing up. I've had times where they had some pretty fantasmic soups, so if you land on a good day and the soup is to your liking you may luck out.
Fresh is one of those places that's good for everyone. If you haven't tried vegetarian food then this is probably the best place to lure you in. Hey, even if you have it's definitely a good place to have a good time. -
Review from Ted A.
Toronto, ON
It's a little magical how food that seems to use such basic ingredients and little to no sauces and dressings can taste so amazing. For example, I got the "Beach" bowl, which has grilled red pepper, zucchini & sweet potato with avocado, and a whole lot more. The taste that makes a zucchini a zucchini is amplified by 100 times the taste you are used to. It's just an explosion of flavour in every bite. Healthy food has never tasted so good!
It is easy to overlook the fact that a lot of the bowls come in "baby" portions and are about $3-4 cheaper. Given how full I was from the full sized portion on soba noodles, I'd probably drop down to the baby portion next time.
The prices are reasonable as well, but I found the atmosphere average. It was a cold September evening, but it was uncomfortably warm inside. If you have a vegetarian or health freak visiting you though, this is where you should take them, it will be heaven for them. -
Review from Payal D.
Brampton, ON
9/7/2010
Its good people!!! It actually deserves more than 5 stars if I could give them =)
I stopped by here to grab lunch on an afternoon I forgot to pack mine from home. Being Vegetarian, its not too hard for me to find food at regular restaurants in the city, however, I really wanted to see what this place was about.
I ordered the baby version of the Dragon bowl on brown basmati rice. It contained grilled zucchini, marinated and grilled tofu steaks, herbed and grilled tomatoes. Not too exciting ..but then came the best part - the miso curry sauce. I could dip everything in it and eat it up ITS DELICIOUS! Once you mix it all up, the flavors really come together and you can hear them singing in harmony you mouth - ok its a bit of a stretch but any foodie knows what I mean.
I found out later on from co worker that fries dipped in that sauce taste beyond good ( I dont' doubt it) and I will be trying that out next.
I'm so glad I found this place ! -
Review from Magdalena R.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2010
I am not a vegetarian BUT this place has quickly become my new favourite dinner place. I am making my way through the menu and so far have found nothing below 5 stars. It is taking me a while to try everything since I frequently get stuck on one delicious thing and have to order is a few times before I move on the the next, but I have high hopes that the 5 star quality will continue until I reach the end.
If you have not yet tried this place out, you must. -
Review from james f.
Toronto, ON
11/18/2011
I go frequently and always encounter great service and food!!
The only bad thing that I can say about them is why did they have to get into a groupon deal??? Kills the exclusivity -
Review from John W.
11/6/2011
This is not just a "good for a meatless place" place. I am a carnivore and this place is fantastic. I even eat their "burgers' which are delicious.
Great bowls, wraps, onion rings are great. Go here. Anyone who says it sucks has terrible taste in food. -
Review from beth p.
Toronto, ON
9/8/2010
Sorry, Fresh is maybe my least favourite restaurant in the city.
It is way way too expensive for a place that sells bowls of rice. Also, if you are going to sell bowls of rice, they should be full of flavour. Be warned: the menu at Fresh lists every single ingredient in the dish. So if you order a rice bowl with zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, and portabello mushrooms, that is exactly what you're going to get. No sauce! Though you can get a side of their miso gravy (this is actually pretty good, but I love good-tasting nutritional yeast, which is, I'm pretty sure, all it is.)
Also, really, if you are feeling like something "healthy" stay home to eat! There are many nice ways to socialize that don't feature alienating your friends by forcing them to eat a bowl of virtue for dinner just because you don't want dairy, or meat, or anything delicious.
Also, vegetarians! Stand up for yourselves! You deserve good food too! -
Review from Tina H.
12/11/2010
The entire Fresh chain is overhyped and overpriced. $10 for a smoothie to go is a bit much when Jugo Juice and Booster Juice have them for around $6.
I complained to the staff that my order didn't taste like it had any sauce, so she asked if I wanted more sauce. Obviously. Then later to my surprise I realize that she actually charged it to my bill! Ridiculous.
Also, apparently extra pita bread for the dip tray we ordered also warranted an extra $3 charge (could be more, I can't remember). I could definitely buy a whole bag for that much.
They nickel and dime you at Fresh and clearly do not comprehend customer service as the "better" restaurants do. Extra bread with your $15 dip tray order, extra sauce to make up for the fact there wasn't enough on it to begin with... all that stuff should be complimentary. I'm pretty sure it's up to the chef to make sure that the dip trays served have a good dip-to-pita ratio and when there's a discrepancy like this I've never been charged for more bread before, especially since it was one small pita bread cut up.
This place is overpriced and overhyped. They definitely know how to tap into the vegetarian/vegan market of people who don't realize that they can go to a BETTER restaurant and order a vegetarian option (or ask to have one made). Any respectable restaurant (of higher calibre than Fresh, that is) would accommodate vegetarians. You're better off going to a non-veggie restaurant and getting something made properly and served properly by proper kitchen and wait staff.
They don't take reservations either. -
Review from Zack S.
Toronto, ON
12/6/2009 23 Check-ins Here
Best Juices. [because they are fresh]
Good Food. [because it's vegetarian, and this place is run by veggies who care.]
Point off, because sometimes the staff's that stuffy [i'm better than you vegetarian types].
Otherwise, all round good. Oh and a point off because I like meat, and can be biased in my review on a vegetarian place.
I recommend this place for fresh juice. Delicious food [with no meats]. Good for lunch.
