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Indigo Food Raw Food Cuisine
Categories: Restaurants Vegan Food Desserts Restaurants Gluten-Free Vegan, Desserts, Gluten-Free [Edit]
2589 West 16 AvenueVancouver, BC V6K 3B9
Neighbourhood: Arbutus Ridge
(604) 537-7288
- Hours:
Thu 11 am - 5 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
10 reviews for Indigo Food Raw Food Cuisine
10 reviews in English
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Review from Sandra G.
Vancouver, BC
I bought an Ethical Deal to eat here and it was well worth it. They are only open a few days a week (I made the mistake of coming in on a weekday for lunch) so call ahead to make reservations, especially if it's a weekend. The place has about 20 seats. The Homemade Lemonade ($3) was really fresh and sugarless, and the Raw Pizza ($9) was tasty and much more substantial than it looked. If you haven't ever had raw vegan cuisine, then be aware that things like "pizza" and "burger" are not like the traditional foods and will almost always be deconstructed and composed of vegetable substances.
The topper that got my stomach smiling was the Double Layered Mousse for dessert ($9) which had a layer of berry mousse topped with a layer of raw cacao. I was super impressed that most of the desserts (and food) were sugar, gluten, and dairy free because of the cleanse I'm on right now. For vegans, vegetarians, or just health nuts alike, Indigo Food won't disappoint. Free parking nearby is a bonus too. -
Review from Danielle B.
Vancouver, BC
I came here for a Meatless Meetup event, a set menu that was a great deal at $21 per person, all-in. This was my first-ever experience with "raw food," and I really did not know what to expect ... Let's just say I was very pleasantly surprised - maybe even amazed!
The food ... well, it tasted cooked. By which I mean, the textures were all delicious, nothing tasted "raw" or "underdone," and I really noticed some pure & pronounced tastes that married extremely well together (I'm thinking in particular of the completely out-of-this-world carrot & ginger soup).
1. Salads: "Caesar" and citrus-strawberry-arugula with poppyseed vinaigrette.
I was not surprised that the vinaigrette salad was yummy; this kind of "vegan raw" is served everywhere and is no less appreciated for its ubiquity. The Caesar on the other hand - was quite an amazing feat. I am certainly no expert on Caesar salad because I don't eat eggs or anchovies (therefore I've only eaten it once when it was specially prepared for me without those things), but this Caesar salad was off-the-hook creamy and totally scrumptious.
2. Soups: Borscht & Carrot-Ginger
The borscht was pretty traditional, and very yummy. It did have cauliflower which I have not seen before, and of course beets and onions. I was a little concerned that a veggie broth might taste watery, but this soup did not disappoint. It just wasn't as good as the completely incredible carrot-ginger one that came next!
WOW! It looked like ordinary carrot soup, but the sweetness of the carrot flavour and the freshness of the ginger burn were perfectly tied together by the sprinkling of chopped fresh dill, and I couldn't even carry on my conversation until I had finished it. I did not lick the bowl, but I did spend a moment lamenting that the spoon was not shaped correctly to actually get the last few drops out.
3. Main Course: Portobello "Burger"
OMG. I had no idea this would be so different, and so tasty. At this point in the meal, the proprietor had a moment to explain to us what was going on: "raw food" is not simply "raw" - I would call it "prepared" rather than "cooked" vs. "raw" - because foods are marinated, dehydrated, blended, or otherwise treated to render the pleasing textures familiar from cooked foods, without application of heat over 110 degrees Fahrenheit (think of a super-hot day in the Okanagan).
The portobello mushroom tasted like it had been sautéed or gently broiled (it was actually marinated in soy sauce and water) - it was tender, juicy, and super-flavourful. Piled on top was a huge thick layer of indescribably good corn salsa that totally knocked my socks off ... But I'll try describing it: fresh sweet corn, as sweet as you imagine when you think about it, but then it never really is when you actually eat it... Tender avocado. Other amazing stuff I couldn't even take the time to notice because I was in foodie heaven. Oh yeah, and utterly tender "roasted"-tasting eggplant and asparagus, with crunchy carrot threads as uber-flavourful garnish. On a romaine leaf, all drizzled with delicious creamy stuff. Sensational (see pix). Again, I was having trouble following my conversation because it was so distractingly and unexpectedly delicious.
4. Desserts: yes, plural. We had a choice of 2 of 3 options, and I went for the coconut cream pie and the chocolate ganache cake. Other option was a berry cheesecake. The coconut cream pie was indeed delish, but I have to leave it aside for a moment to address the most important part of the evening ... The chocolate ganache. Made with raw cacao, it was the chocolate of my dreams, come into real life! Dense and creamy and with the purest, strongest and yet also the most delicate chocolate flavour ever. Yeah, I kinda liked it LOL
OK back to the coconut cream pie - I adore coconut, and this was coconut bliss. It was creamy, velvety smooth (except for the flakes on top, of course), flavourful, and completely eclipsed by the ganache ;)
So why not 5 stars, you ask? Because the staff are apparently still learning about the restaurant biz and we had to ask for our still-empty water glasses to be filled (during the second course!), there was no explanation of the foods until the meal was almost over, and my coconut cream pie was still frozen because they didn't prepare enough though we had placed written orders well in advance ... Ordinarily these things might be a deal-breaker for me, but in this case the food was so unique and amazing, and I admire an architect who embarks on a new career as restaurateur in order to follow the passion in her heart ... But I do hope these things will be better when I return.
Yes, "when" not "if"! I am an omnivore who has just happily added "raw vegan GOURMET" to her plate, and I'm already plotting a possible UYE, if people promise not to judge the food by the service ;)Listed in: April "Underdog" Challenge, Reviews I really had fun…
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Review from Shae B.
4/2/2012
We walked in and the first thing they asked was if we had a reservation. I didn't know that you needed one but I guess next time we will do that! We were only coming for an afternoon dessert and tea. They seated us by the window since we didn't have a reservation but some of the tables were un-used the whole time we were there. I guess since it's so small they need that reservation.
The girl who served us was really friendly. She was chatty and made a real effort to be welcoming and nice. I appreciated that. Sometimes healthier restaraunts can have snobby skinny starving looking servers - she was just normal and made us feel relaxed.
We each had a green tea matcha latte - they were big. We were originally going to share one but she said they were small. I wish we would have shared because it was so big I couldn't hardly finish it. It was delicious.
For our desserts I had the ice cream sandwich and my sister had the Chocolate ganache. She was a bit disappointed since it showed in the pic that it was covered in berries and then it wasn't at all. The desserts were soooo tiny. But very rich so I guess that's why they make them small? My sister thought hers was too rich - probably if it would have had the berries it would have balanced the chocolate fudginess. I loved her dessert as it was - I like it rich! Mine was ok. My mom makes way better vegan icecream. There's tasted like nothing really. It tasted like icey rice milk. I enjoyed the chocolate pieces on it. They could have been thicker. It didn't work at all to eat it like a sandwich. Maybe with thicker chocolate and thinner icecream spread over a longer surface instead of so short and tall. It was more like a broken fudgesicle than a sandwich. And for 7$ each they could stand to make the desserts a bit bigger.
It was pricey but we both enjoyed it. It was a nice environment and the tea was really comforting. Next time we'll try some of the regular menu items - even though I love dessert more than anything else. It's a nice treat but definately not some place I'd go too often since it's so pricey.Listed in: Gluten Free Joints
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Review from Megan S.
Vancouver, BC
4/1/2012
I've only gone for the raw high tea, so this review is only about that.
I believed for a long time that my vegan boyfriend would never be able to experience the joy that is high tea. This probably upset me more than him, but it never occurred to me that a vegan high tea could replace the dainty sandwiches and buttery scones of the English tradition.
Enter Indigo Food. They delivered to our cute sewing-machine table a three-tier platter of snackables, savories, and sweets all created from raw, organic ingredients. Instead of sandwiches with the crusts cut off, think ultra-fresh mini lettuce wraps. Instead of heavy scones, there were morsels of flavourful dehydrated veggie crackers and awesome creamy dips. No cookies, instead there were gourmet raw treats like chocolate dipped dried pineapple and coconut cream mousse.
The tea selection itself is pretty robust; we chose a mild and fruity strawberry tea which was served (of course) in a cute little pot.
I have no idea what magic goes on in the Indigo kitchen to make the cashew cream used on the savoury bites like the raw "pizza", but it is amazing. Similarly supernatural is the coconut cream pie... we had to take some extras home with us. It was a prefect, melt in your mouth coconut experience, with the texture of mousse complimented by crunchy dried acai berries.
The cafe is cute and small. It's closed much of the time for cooking classes, which would be worth going to learn about the cashew cheese magic.
The thing about the high tea is, it IS expensive. You're looking at $40+ for two people. However, the food is elegant and delicious, absolutely fresh, and 100% guilt-free. Save up and take a date (vegetarian or not) here, I'm pretty sure it's a foolproof way to get into a raw foodist's knickers.Listed in: EAT ME.
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Review from Isabelle G.
Vancouver, BC
3/5/2012
Atmosphere: small, cozy, the chairs were a bit uncomfortable, however, appreciated that the tables were old sewing machines. Not suitable for large groups but great for a quick date for two.
Service: the service was decent. I understand that they were short staffed, however, it seemed slower than expected. If you're in a rush or have other things planned, you may want to skip the trek for a time when you have some room to kill.
Food: I have always personally been curious about the raw food experience and the Social Shopper coupon was a good opportunity to introduce myself. The food wasn't what I had expected ingredient wise, however, it was better than what I had expected taste wise. It wasn't until after in which I felt a bit funny and sadly so did my date who fell really ill and had to nap through a concert that he had been looking forward to. We both concluded the following day that the raw food diet may just be a little too hard on our systems. No fault of the establishment, however, I think that if I were to pursue this eating lifestyle full time that I would have to be eased into it rather than going in full throttle. The lady at the cash til was ubber sweet and was patient with me when I settled my bill when I inquired for a little more information on the raw food diet.
The Pizza isn't your typical Pizza per se but more like an array of veggies on a hard raw wheat free crust that surprisingly was very filling.
The buckwheat crepes were thin and awesome, filled with fresh fruit. I have been craving crepes, however, crepes aren't gluten free and it's rare that pancake houses carry buckwheat on their menu. The yogurt tasted very fresh, organic and preserve free which was a pleasure.
For dessert I had a cheesecake that had no cheese in it, however, it tasted just as awesome and rich. You could not tell the difference at all. I could eat 3 of these no problem.
Considering that most things are gluten free, I felt comfortable ordering off the menu without questioning my dietary concerns. It just sucks that they have very limited operational hours, otherwise, would make this a regular go to place once I build up the tolerance for raw foods.
I am interested in taking their classes, therefore, will be watching out for the next Groupon so that I can educate and learn more about raw foods. -
Review from Andre P.
Coquitlam, BC
3/15/2012
My favorite meal at this restaurant is the Portobello burger. It's not what you would expect but it is delicious. The atmosphere is very intimate but try to talk to the owner she is shy but she knows a lot about her food philosphically!
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Review from Trude H.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 10/10/2011
Stopped by for "pizza" and dessert - now I am a super fan!
Pizza was a melange of colourful veg atop an intriguing dehydrated "crust" which turned out to be very filling. A tasty salsa snuggled alongside, and a lovely crisp asparagus spear begged to be nibbled quickly.
Dessert was coconut cream pie - delightful, cool, creamy and intensely coconut; dreamy, really. Raspberry chocolate mousse was enjoyed by my lunch partner - each dessert so marvellously decadent; how can this be "health food" -
Which is the point - food that is super good for our bodies can taste stunningly wonderful.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/17/2011
While out and about this afternoon I checked out Indigo Raw Food, on West 16th at Trafalgar. Yummy!
… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie F.
Vancouver, BC
10/22/2011
I really enjoy this place, and have been there a couple times now.
As a raw food restaurant, this place is top notch. Their menu is fantastic, and food that surpasses it's description. Their juice menu is also vast, and you get more than you pay for.
In terms of pricing, it depends on the item whether or not it's a good deal. The perogies (not raw but delish), were well worth the price, as was the crepe and enchilada. But the next time I went there, I ordered the crackers with cheese pate, and the collard rolls, and I found both those items to be overpriced.
The raw high tea is what I'm honestly waiting for. I saw someone else receive their pre-order and it is more beautiful than any food delicacy I have ever seen. Towered high with layers of raw desserts, this thing is expensive... but I couldn't imagine it not being worth it.
All in all, I enjoy going here. The service is extremely friendly and the atmosphere is great. It's also conveniently right next to a Choices Market. -
Review from Christina P.
Vancouver, BC
2/19/2012
The pizza was pure basil love and the ganache cake was decadence I really didn't have to buy into but am glad I did. Seaweed salad was light and lovely. Collard green wraps were fresh and sprouty. Stuffed mushroom caps weren't stuffed so much as smothered in a yeasty dressing.
Food-wise, I give it big thumbs up with my only real complaint being about the drizzle that was used on both the pizza and the collard green rolls. There was too much of it and it was exactly the same on both dishes. And it was not unlike the dressing used on the mushroom caps. Was it the same? I didn't think it was but my companion did.
The service was fine. Timing was a bit off. One server worked the entire room which is relatively small. The Singer treadle sewing tables and multi-coloured chairs were not the most comfortable and the room really did seem full of chairs. Too many. I almost wonder if a built-in bench a la East is East would have been a better use of the small space.
While the food excels, the ambiance fails.
No mood in the lighting, a DVD of "Earth" played on a monitor over the windows and a mixed bag of sometimes great and sometimes not so great opera played on the stereo system. Echoey and hard.. Display cases and shelving had little on display. Photos, paintings, and a beaded gecko sculpture adorned the wall in mishmash fashion. If this was my raw restaurant I would hang tapestries and place cushions...soften the mood and fill the space with strings or deep drums, dim the lights just a little and show off those twinkling starlights in the front window.
Never underestimate ambiance. -
Review from Karen C.
Vancouver, BC
5/6/2011
home business that does raw food delivery, catering, classes, etc.
got one of their ethical deal coupons for 6 days of delivery. delicious stuff.
original price is rather high, but i'd go for a 50% off promotional deal any day.
