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Green Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Vegetarian Vegetarian [Edit]
560 Johnson StVictoria, BC V8W 3C6
(250) 385-1809
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Green Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant
15 reviews in English
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Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
12/30/2010 2 Check-ins Here
The first time I stumbled into Green Cuisine, mere days after making the switch to veganism, I thought I was in heaven. I couldn't actually believe that this place was entirely vegan. I thought that was impossible. Blame it on my growing up in Calgary, I guess.
Anyway, GC is, as has been described by other intrepid reviewers, not really the cheapest of joints. The buffet has a rather high pay-by-weight price and those bastards give you giant plates. It's important to stay vigilant - you can't eat that much anyway, can you?
My favourite thing to eat at GC is the Mud Pie Bar. It contains a high amount of delicious for a reasonable price. The other desserts are okay, but this particular dessert is NOT TO BE MISSED. If you are allergic to peanuts, I feel really bad for you.
GC also makes tofu, tempeh, mochi, and some other vegan essentials that you can buy in supermarkets province-wide; however, they are cheapest at GC itself. Stock up!Listed in: Victoria
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Review from Gabrielle P.
Brentwood Bay, BC
2/3/2012
I don't hate on Green Cuisine, and when I'm living in Victoria, I definitely frequent it (mainly for the well-priced packages of tempeh and/or the sweets/salad bar), but I also don't want vegan food-seeking tourists to flock to GC expecting some kind of exciting culinary experience.
It's great, I guess! It's all vegan, it's cafeteria-style, it's kind of on the pricier side but you can cheapen it up if you choose wisely (pay-by-weight). Pay attention to the condiments between the hot bar and the desserts, because you'll need them if you are not into very conservatively seasoned food. Things that are great: the cornbread, the brown gravy tempeh when they have it, the muffins, the potato salad. Things that are mediocre? Everything else...
I mean, go to Green Cuisine and go often. You'll find your stride with what you like, and will eventually figure out how to get an inexpensive but tasty meal out of the buffet, but don't take skeptical omnivores here or hit it up on a vegan foodie tour of Victoria. -
Review from Honesty J.
5/11/2011
I was a bit disappointed here.
First off the good news is that there are ALOT of choices. Very diverse and some very good ones. It is all vegan.
The bad news, the price. While I prefer pay-by-weight buffets to the all-you-can-eat ones (they tend to be higher quality) this one seems to charge for the weight of their very heavy plates along with the food. In fact, one of the customers ahead of me in line was complaining to the cashier about the price as I was walking up - She had been their before and never paid so much. I looked at her plate and it did not have that much on it. Even after hearing their interaction I was still shocked at the price when I was rung up. They never deducted the plate from the weight and the cashier told the customer before me that was normal. I admit I did not ask for the manager to complain. I was on vacation not sure if this was considered normal in Victoria, nor wanted to stress out too much. (Fortunately, Lotus Pond, which is just nearby, does not charge for the plates.)
I did not buy any of the pastries since I spent so much on the meal. They did look good, they had a nice selection and they also seemed more reasonably priced than the buffet. I might consider stopping there for a pastry when I visit Victoria again, but I will not be having the buffet again. -
Review from Emily A.
8/29/2010
Went here during a quick weekend trip to Victoria. I wish they were in Seattle, preferably right next to my office. Though then I would become very round, so maybe not...
It's an all-vegan buffet. As a salad bar for a lettuce-based salad, it's not the best, but they don't seem to really be aiming for that. Instead, they have a number of different prepared salads (for example, a deli-style pasta salad). They also had a number of different hot dishes, including a delicious shepherdess's pie. I ended up filling up a to-go box with little portions of close to a dozen different things.
They had what looked like a fabulous selection of vegan desserts, too. And a wide selection of fresh juices they could make. I didn't get to try either one, but both were very tempting.
Overall, a great place to grab a quick, varied, vegan lunch! -
Review from Elaine L.
11/19/2010
Question: How fun is it for a vegan to walk into a buffet and know that she's not bound to lettuce with lemon squeezed on top, watered down broccoli, or a dry baked potato because everything else on display has been creamed or reamed?
Answer: So fun!
Green Cuisine offers a great array of soups, salads and salad builders, side dishes, main courses, and desserts. They charge by weight so keep that in mind as you pile things on your plate. We did a sampling of most everything they had to offer and our meals came to around $12 a plate.
Of everything we tried my favs were the Tempeh in brown gravy, the falafels, and the kale. Not the most exotic, but all were flavorful. The Shepherds Pie was good too with a base made of barley and garbanzo beans rather than soy or gluten. For as much as we ate we didn't feel heavy or bloated afterward which is always a good sign that you're eating pure food and not "fillers."
On top of buffet desserts (which we didn't try), they have an entire glass case filled with decadent cookies and sweets (which we did try, and more than we should)! We had the ginger cake and a hazelnut fudge square, and took nutty cookies and a peanut butter blondie for later. All were yum.
Check out their website, they have EVERY menu item listed there, even down to the condiments! Now that's what I call being conscientious. They also sell a cookbook of their recipes, AND they are working on converting many menu items to gluten-free. Isn't it refreshing when a restaurant has health in mind without sacrificing flavor, eh?
On the down side there is absolutely no atmosphere. Someone in another review said it reminds them of a Wendy's circa 1980; right on! But the setup does lend itself to "getting to know" your table neighbors and we met a pair of locals who steered us to a swingin' hot spot to dance the rest of the night away... -
Review from Stacey E.
10/30/2008
This is a buffet style restaurant serving up a great variety of veggie and vegan foods. The Ambiance is very casual and hippie-friendly. The owners are just great people who really care about quality food and people's health.
While locals tend to get tired of the almost unchanging menu, this bastion of healthy eating has outlasted the rash of fads that have swept through Victoria over all the years I lived there. I am quite confident that it will outlast the raw epidemic too.
Hint: this is on the lower level in Market Square near the Johnson Street entrance. -
Review from Phoenix M.
Victoria, BC
10/3/2011
I used to stop by here for lunch fairly often before they closed for renovations (although I hear they will be reopening soon). As others have mentioned, it can get pricey to eat here depending on what you choose. Their pay by weight buffet is very tasty and healthy, but the dollars add up quickly. I usually get the soup which is a flat rate and always delicious! Keep an eye out for their wheat-free chocolate cake in the dessert section, it is killer. Also, I miss their tofutti mylkshakes so much..please re-open soon, Green Cuisine!
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Review from Matthew L.
Edmonton, AB
2/23/2009
Green Cuisine makes a bunch of awesome tofus, tempehs, mochis, and other vegetarian favorites, which you can buy and take home for a lower price than you can buy them at nearby supermarkets.
The restaurant itself charges by the gram (about 2 cents each). If you have a large appetite, a meal will run you about $20, and this does not include a drink or any semblance of table service. And the decor reminds me of an inner city Wendy's circa-1980.
The food itself is rather tasty, especially when it lends itself to the buffet format (they have a fantastic tempeh curry). They will also make you a tempeh burger to order, but you have to pay for the bun by the gram. Food that generally doesn't work when it has sit out under steam trays for an hour still doesn't taste good here (such as lasagna).
But I can't justify eating here when the far more pleasant Re-Bar is located just down the street. And Re-Bar can also fill me up at about half the price. -
Review from Erin M.
6/12/2010
Solid vegan buffet in a casual restaurant that's tucked away on the ground floor of a little shopping center. Super friendly service. The mac and cheese had a very nice, creamy texture. There are lots of comfort foods and wholesome baked goods to ward off the harbor's chill evening breeze. I wanted to try almost everything, so my meal was about $18, plus the brownie and other dessert bar I took home.
I look forward to trying some of the recipes from the cookbook. Not quite as good as Le Commensal in Montreal, which is more corporate with franchises, but Green Cuisine is more down to earth, like the cafeteria at a small liberal arts college in Humboldt County, CA. -
Review from Pijak W.
8/20/2008
A hidden gem of Victoria.
The buffet style vegan menu is very relaxing. The choices are deep and wide. From salad to bake food. Some are better than the other. I especially like organic Kale, tofu salad (taste like Thai Larb), and blueberry tofu cheese cake. Even french fries are good. Their desert is reasonable priced and excellent. Be sure to take some home.
The price by weight may seems high, but considering the quality of ingredients and effort putting into make these food. It is reasonable. Eat less and pay less. Even better, try eat more veggies and go light on the bake food it will be lighter on you wallet and your waist.
Thank you for making these food available. -
Review from Roy A.
Toronto, ON
5/14/2010
$15 for lunch so it's not cheap. But tasty and healthy. Yum.
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Review from Jenny R.
1/7/2010
When I was in high school I went through a vegan phase, and I discovered this restaurant. Even though I am no longer a vegetarian, I still love to go here. They have really creative and yummy ways to prepare tofu and tempeh, and all of their baked goods are really delicious and healthy as well! Whenever I eat here, I am inspired to eat healthier for at least a week afterwards :-). I even bought their cookbook the last time I was there for further inspiration.
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Review from Angela H.
5/30/2009
I give this place four stars not so much because the food knocks my socks off, but because I think there should be more joints like this everywhere: no frills, cheap, healthy, vegetarian/vegan "fast" food. On each of my two visits I loaded up my plate with a number of items from the buffet, including fresh salad greens, falafel, veggie samosas, and bean enchiladas, and my total came to less than $10. Two green thumbs up -- way up.
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Review from Paul H.
Victoria, BC
1/19/2010
One word, yuck. I was a vegan for more than 3 years of my life and at that point this was one of the few restaurants that I could for sure eat something. But at some point you get sick of being held captive by bland food that was cooked days before.
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Review from Kirk H.
Montréal, QC
9/24/2010
Yeah, the food is healthy and vegan... but it's also overpriced and by the time it gets to your plate it might as well be classified as leftovers. Are cooked bland grains really that expensive? Looking for tasty vegan food? Go one block up Johnson to the Lotus Pond.
