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Live Organic Food Bar
Categories: Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Live/Raw Food Vegan, Live/Raw Food [Edit]
264 Dupont StToronto, ON M5R 1V7
Neighbourhood: The Annex
(416) 515-2002
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sat 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
42 reviews for Live Organic Food Bar
Review Highlights
"The back patio in the summer, the organic wines and yummy..."
(in 3 reviews)
"We definitely liked the almond dream bar more."
(in 5 reviews)
"My fav was definitely the "Spaghetti and Neatballs."
(in 6 reviews)
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42 reviews in English
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Review from lucinda k.
Vancouver, BC
12/18/2011
I've been to Live! many times while living in Toronto, and now that I'm in Vancouver, I'm realizing Live! is not the kind of place to take for granted. Yes some things on the menu are a little pricey (talking to you sweet potato fries), yet others are very reasonable (burgers, wraps, salades, etc) expecially considering the decent portion sizes.
Very friendly people, wonderful food, great selection of raw and non-raw make this a 5* in my book (or at least yelp profile)! -
Review from Golnar F.
Toronto, ON
1/26/2012
Venturing in vegetarianism this past month, I was really excited when my friend recommended this raw bar around the corner from her house.
Listen, if you roll your eyes at the pale looking, yoga practicing zen people in your life who tell you about all things organic, then come here and show off to them, though why would you want to.
Anyway, I shared a sushi roll, which was sans fish, my friend had tostadas and I had red pepper "crab cakes". Everything we ate was well seasoned, tasted earthy and came beautifully prepped. I suspect the meals were high in fat and carbs, so don't fool yourself, raw doesn't mean diet! But nonetheless I loved what I ate and would come again.
My beef with the place, oh relax I said beef, was the fact that the waitress was slow, yes its a weekday and I'm off, but if this was my lunch hour then I'd probably lose my mind, regardless if I came from yoga or not, patience has it's limits. To think we were one of 6 customers, how do they keep up on weekends?
Anyway, if you wanna feel good about the grainy, organic lunch you had, then this is your place.
Drinks looked good and I hear they have a good brunch as well. -
Review from Emily M.
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
At first I was put off by the fact that my reservation wasnt ready for me (I had made a reservation for 8). The waitress kindly put a few tables together for me, and I waited and waited. doh! Turns out I was an hour early!!! But I get the feeling that they had totally forgotten about my reservation....so good thing I was crazy early!!
I had the Raw special of the day. It was ok, but didn't amaze me and it came with a disappointing side salad. If you are a vegan raw restaurant you should do a side salad better (it was just just your normal plain spring mix with a few julienned carrots added and dressing - geez put some sprouts and other vegetables in there!!!) . I found myself very envious of my two companions that had opted for the cooked options (the pasta and the grain bowl), they were both satisfied with their meals.
Negatives worth noting:
The appetizers cost as much as he mains, so sadly I will never try them. Appetizers range from $10 to $16.
They give you a big hassle and try to guilt you if you ask for separate bills. "Oh its going to be really hard to do that. How will I do this? It's going to be really difficult. Maybe I'll have to get your names or initials...." Honestly I don't care how you do it. It's a restaurant so give me a separate bill!! This is my #1 pet peeve in restaurants.Listed in: veg veg veg...!!!
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Review from Edward H.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2012
Overall it was a good experience, but slightly disappointing on a few things... First, the server seemed to have forgotten our first dessert order, went to do his prep work instead soon after. Only til us reminding him again 15 minutes later, the orders came. I know people said expect slow service from this place, but if we are spending ~$200 for the food, I would hope the service to be at least good and efficient, if not excellent.
Second the portion for the juice order was a bit shy for the price. Even 'Fresh' has its double portion for similar pricing.
Food was great and exotic, tasty! No complains there. So perhaps being a bit more proactive asking for server's attention, this is a great place for a meal that's good for the body and soul. -
Review from Daniel B.
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute geek-chic girls eating overpriced Quinoa.
Expensive haircuts bobbing in and out of bowls of goop.
Mind numbingly expensive for what it is.
You do, in fact, win certain friends with salad. -
Review from Maddie R.
Toronto, ON
10/27/2011
Had a date here last Saturday night with my boyfriend. We had a "very nice time", but sadly the food was not a huge standout.
We ordered: Sweet potato fries ($10!) with BBQ sauce...these were tasty and plentiful (more like rounds)
Detox Salad: this was the low part of the meal. It looked BEAUTIFUL. But I couldn't eat it. This is very rare for me! The seaweed was too salty and too chewy...totally overwhelming the delicate kelp noodles and avocado. Sad :(
The tasting plate was interesting. It is a taste of 4 of the entrees. It was tasty, but I had no idea what I was eating other than the Thai zucchini noodles (bland). It would be helpful if the server pointed out which was which.
Dessert- avocado chocolate cake thing- lovely- rich and creamy
Cocktails- Delicious! And don't shy away from the booze!
Atmosphere: cozy and relaxed. I liked it.
Service: totally fine
I would come back here and try some different things. Again, once the favourites are discovered, I'm sure this place is stellar. -
Review from Ana W.
10/12/2011
I haven't been to too many organic vegan restaurants, but I do like vegan for the most part, I don't mind raw and I certainly LOVE organic food.
I was a bit disappointed because it was highly recommended by a friend of mine.
Juices are great. Very tasty, and I love the selection of drinks, gluten-free beer, saketinis, martinis, shakes, etc. I would try more the next time around.
Detox salad, very disappointed. It looks better than it tastes. It was TOO salty. The natural sweetness of the seaweed is lost.
Curry Noodle, spicy and earthy tasting. It's either you like it or you didn't. It felt like it had too many peas, not enough noodles.
BBQ Tofu Burger, flavour is there but the tofu was too dry.
Ravioli, it was probably my favourite dish of the evening.
Perhaps I didn't order their better dishes... but I would certainly drop by for a drink or two if I was in the neighbourhood. -
Review from Josefa M.
Toronto, ON
6/21/2011
I have eaten at Live Organic Food Bar many-a-time, but last night was the first time I sat in the back on the patio. It is a lovely space with plenty of room and was perfect for a mild, pleasant Monday eve.
They did keep forgetting to bring us water, but the food came out quickly, so no complaints. We ordered the nachos with guacamole. Yum. It was colourful, flavourful and a great appetizer to share with a friend.
Now before I continue, you need to be warned that you have the choices of Raw or Cooked vegan food. I always order from the Cooked after eating off the Raw menu a couple of years ago and feeling very unwell for a day or two afterwards.
My friend ordered the chickpea burger (Cooked) and loved it. I ordered the Chipotle Grilled Tofu sandwich (that isn't what it's called, but you'll find it, also Cooked). It was also very tasty. What I noticed about all sandwiches and burgers here is that they crumble. It doesn't bother me, but may bother some people. All sandwiches and burgers come with a little side of sweet potato chips.
The food here is very fresh and tasty, but I noticed the prices have gone up since I last ate here. I was not a happy camper when my bill came out to $26.00 (after tip) for a burger and half an appetizer. The price is the only thing that will keep me from not coming here as often as I would want to. -
Review from Faye C.
6/26/2011
We were here today, and it was delish!
We had brunch/lunch - the burrito (cooked) was ordered, the tacos, and the sunshine wrap. All were delicious (I've also had the rainbow salad before which I also enjoy). Their deserts are to die for! The chocolate dream was great, and we also had the chocolate mousse - double yum. I think this is the best raw food/vegan resto in the city! -
Review from Real B.
Toronto, ON
7/9/2011
overall I really like all the food here. It is stuff that's healthy and I would never make at home (too labour intensive for me). Been a dozen times and each time surprised how tasty raw food can be. Usually order the "mixed" plate that has all 4 of the raw specials on it. Solid 4 star.
What drops it to 3 stars is the service. It's basically indifferent, kinda lazy daisy (not rude thou) and slowwwwwwwwwww especially in summer with the patio open or when it's busy, which it seems to be every time I visit. The staff never makes me feel particularly welcome, but they aren't rude either, which is why I repeat here. -
Review from Wendy H.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2010
Oh dayummm, y'all. Sometimes I find excuses to go to Dupont, just so I can hit up Live. Actually, my latest excuse to go to Dupont is just "hit up Live". It's divine.
I love their big salad bowl, I love their juices and smoothies and refreshing spritzers, I love their raw lasagna and I'd probably love their desserts if I ever had any room to try them. I'd like to love the spaghetti but I've yet to try it (there is so dang much to choose from).
A few years ago I used to think raw was silly, but I was ig'nant. SO VERY IG'NANT. Not everything on the menu is raw, but a good portion of it is. Plus: they've also got a lovely brunch menu!
In conclusion, life is better now with Live in my world.Listed in: I'm A Dirty Hippy
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Review from Janna S.
I've been here several times over the last year and I can't say that things have gotten better. The trouble is, the menu changes, portions get smaller, and prices go higher. Service has taken a bit of a nosedive - I came here for dinner last night and I had to flag down a member of the staff when I was lucky enough to have them whoosh by my table without so much as a side glance. On both recent visits I wanted to take the rest of my food to go but the waiter didn't even ask us how our meals were, so it was hard to get their attention.
Some of the food also seems to be getting very oily. The sweet potato "fries" were really not "fries" so much as sliced up rounds of fried sweet potatoes covered in oil. Not impressed with that, although my tempeh was very good.
Worst offenders: I paid $7 for a very TINY glass "smoothy" of pineapple juice mixed with coconut milk. I mean...REALLY?! The basement area (where the washrooms are located) smelled so badly that I ran up the stairs as fast as I could. Service gets slower and more indifferent each time I come here, regardless of customer traffic.
I think the management has become complacent here. They took a long time to respond to an email I sent them earlier and there seems to be less of a concerted effort to impress. Doubly disappointing since now I'll have to take this off my list of favorites. What a shame.Listed in: Gluten-Free in Toronto
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/28/2010
I'm not a Vegan or even Vegetarian but I like fresh food that tastes good and satisfies. Live… Read more »
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2011
I came here to get take out and it's been a place I've been meaning to try out for a long time.
Mostly vegetarian here, except you'll find some eggs on their brunch menu.
The food selection is really good, and I love the space and friendly people, except the food is really expensive! My Kale Salad was $11, and it was an okay portion, but that was one of the cheaper things on the menu.
It's just that I can' justify paying for something I can make at home with ingredients from bulk barn and the grocery store!
Great for a quick meal, if you're willing to splurge a little. -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
11/29/2010
Now the problem of having a memory about a particular place is it has to live up to the experience. When it doesn`t , girl! There is a problem.
The first time around I had two really tasty things: a pesto pasta and a strawberry cheesecake. Both unavailable at the time.
I`m no vegetarian. Nope. I enjoy me some meat. I can`t quite deny that so when I knew I was coming here again,I checked out their menu available online. I had the hardest time picking particularly because much of the food is raw. When I go out for dinner I like my entrees warm.
My partner is a vegetarian and suffers from celiac disease. A tough combo for finding satisfying and safe food to eat. It`s always a dangerous affair but all of that is taken care of by asking a server to clarify what is and isn`t safe to eat. The dining experience for her was wonderful - the kale salad and brown rise fusilli were spot on and filling. She made great work of the chocolate raspberry dessert, too! Two thumbs up!
For me, I was still hungry and felt after eating my meal just unfulfilled. I ended up getting some chicken elsewhere.
So....yes, I will agree this place is a healthy alternative for those seeking a raw diet or those with specific dietary needs. However, be wary my meat eating friends. -
Review from A S.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2011
I had the "crabcakes" back in August (and as it has not reappeared on the menu so far, I'm guessing this dish is one of their seasonal entrees or something) which were absolutely delicious/fragrant and perfect. It tasted just as good as real crabcakes and was a filling, hearty meal. Everything was perfectly spiced and the sauce was lovely. The vegetarian crabcakes even tasted a bit like the real thing and were positively delicious.
It was made as I ordered it so the food really is fresh from the kitchen.
I also tried their raw kale chips that they also sell at Whole Foods. I can't speak for the other flavors but the sour cream one was just......bloody ghastly. It tasted like a combination of sweat and someone's ass crack (or as I imagine those things would taste). Really, don't try it. Maybe the other flavors but definitely not the sour cream. -
Review from Matthew S.
Toronto, ON
3/9/2010 4 photos
Let me start by saying that I don't give a shit about how healthy my food is and, before visiting Live, I thought raw food was a total gimmick. I say this only to emphasis that anyone can enjoy Live regardless of the type of diet or food philosophy you subscribe to.
The various dishes have been described by other reviews so I won't go in to too much detail. I will say that after several visits to Live I've never had a bad dish and each time I'm impressed by how fresh, inventive, and delicious the food is. It totally amazes me what can be done without actually cooking anything. Live scores very high on the "there's no way I could make that at home" scale. And, despite my above comments on health, I must say that I always feel excellent after eating at Live.
Two complaints about Live cause it to lose one star. First, I find the prices too high. This probably has something to do with the irony of raw food: it actually takes more to NOT cook food. But, at ~$10 for apps and ~$15-$20 for mains, it seems like a lot to pay for vegetables. I would visit Live A LOT more often if dishes were a few dollars cheaper. This goes for just about every vegan place in the city.
My second complaint is more minor. When it comes to dessert, ignore everything I said above about Live being a place anyone can enjoy. I've had 3 or 4 different desserts and my conclusion is that unless you're a sprout-eating hippy the desserts are weak. Further evidence for my theory that good vegan desserts are a highly elusive commodity.
Probably my favourite vegan/vegetarian restaurant in Toronto. -
Review from Stephanie M.
7/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely wonderful, service staff friendly and the food is divine and fresh. You MUST start with the nachos YUM!
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Review from Joanna L.
Toronto, ON
10/26/2009 ROTD 2/4/2010
Live Organic Food Bar is tasty!
I enjoyed lunch there about a month ago with a friend and her SO and it was great.
I left there feeling very healthy and energized for the day.
i tried the vegan "pad thai," lots of crunchy nuts, a super-yummy thai inspired sauce, julienne zucchini and other veggies. It was amazing. My mouth is watering right now as I write this.
My friend had the "lasagne" and it looked great.
I also had an excellent americano coffee with rice milk.
Our server was attentive, knowledgeable and also laid back giving us enough time to savour our meal.
I'd def. go there again! -
Review from Courtney R.
Toronto, ON
4/19/2011
You don't have to be a raw vegan or even a vegetarian to like this food. I love everything I've had, and I have been there a few times. The setting is cafeteria like, the service is totally blasais to say the least, but the food is the thing, and I happen to like it. The price is prohibitive for my budget yes thats true enough, but the premise is raw (or cooked) organic foods, most of which they make in house and also distribute to heathy grocers. They have an unexpectedly nice washroom.
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Review from Lauren T.
Toronto, ON
4/4/2010
Being a new vegan I've taken an interest in trying all the vegan friendly establishments in the city. This place is my NEW fave. It was incredible. The dining room and visible kitchen have a cool welcoming vibe. There is SO many choices on the menu I couldn't believe it. Not everything is raw. I would say maybe half of it is and half is cooked. Everything is clearly marked (nut free, gluten free, cooked, raw etc.) and they have a bunch of daily specials, and a full tasty drink menu. Everything is organic!
Me and my dining buddy had a "shrimp" tempura sushi, that was so amazing I am craving it... just like I used to crave actual sushi. We shared the cooked black bean burrito and the raw special which was a coconut curry kelp noodle bowl with 2 loaded and large cucumber almond spring rolls. This food is so gourmet and inventive. I was inspired and had my mind blown. It opened up new ideas for me in my own kitchen. AND the cashew sour cream that was served with the burrito was even better then real sour cream.
The desserts are also incredible. They taste like indulgent desserts, not something that's good for you. But they are! And they have a huge selection of raw desserts.
The only issue I have is that the serving staff didn't seem to know much about the food they were serving. I feel like its a reasonable question to ask what others around you are eating, and how they might make something... but no one knew a damn thing. I really need to know how they make that cashew sour cream. I would kill to know.
I can't wait to go back here again. -
Review from Danielle N.
Toronto, ON
7/25/2010
My boyfriend and I ran into each other in the parking garage one night after work, both feeling tired and famished. A bad combination when your plan is to hit the gym. Our bodies were begging us for nourishment. We knew the workout would take the back seat this time and we would succumb to our hunger, grabbing food somewhere. The compromise - we needed to choose something healthy. This sounded like the perfect opportunity to try the Live Organic Food Bar, a raw vegan restaurant who offers "an array of gourmet, gluten and sugar free, vegan dishes to invigorate and cleanse your body, mind, and soul". Those are their words, not mine. So we put them to the test and made our way to Dupont St (you can't possibly feel guilty eating at a place called "Live").
The Menu: It was very similar to Raw Aura in some respect. Kale salad and "sushi" made with sunflower pate were a few of the familiar items, but there was no shortage of menu options. The menu offered an average of 5 items under each category: Appetizers, Salads, Rice Bowls, Sandwiches, Burgers and of course, Shakes and Desserts. I was so engrossed in the menu and deciding what to order, that I didn't realize the menu caught on fire! Apparently plastic and candlelight don't mix. Hee, hee...oops!
I made my decision to go ultra healthy with a bowl of steamed greens topped with hemp oil, dulse, sprouted mung beans, sunflower seed sprouts. I paid a few extra dollars to add some tempeh and extra protein to the dish, and boy am I glad I did. I expected to see a visible portion of dulse (seaweed) but had to squint really hard to find the 'dulse flakes' that were merely sprinkled on the bowl of veggies. The dish was what I was looking for...a guilt-free bowl of goodness but I still disappointed. Why? I was suffering from food envy. My boyfriend had ordered the better meal and I wanted it.
Sunshine Wrap ($10) - This was Keith's order, and the result of my food envy. The wrap, made from sprouted flax seeds, sun-dried tomatoes and carrots was the perfect balance in terms of texture. Delicate enough to cradle the abundance of veggies (sunflower seed hummus, cucumbers, kale, tomatoes, red onions, avocado and sprouts), hearty enough to keep the contents together and give the wrap some substance. Keith and I did our usual taste exchange (he tries my meal, and I try his) which was a big mistake. His was better than mine and I wanted it. Hence my food envy. He must have been sick of my pouting , because halfway through our meal he offered to switch plates and let me enjoy the rest of his wrap. Now that's love. I was thrilled but tried not to make it obvious, quietly savouring every bite. So long food envy!
Raspberry cheesecake ($10 - I think) - We debated for 15 minutes whether to go for dessert. Afterall, we bailed on working out and should have 'punished' ourselves accordingly. BUT (yes there's always a but when it comes to dessert), Live's desserts are all homemade without any flours or refined sugars. The excuse - we HAD to compare their cheesecake to the AMAZING version we had at Raw Aura. The verdict - It was good. But not as good as our first non-cheesecake experience. The serving was about 1/3 the size which hurt the rating as well. -
Review from Nicholas F.
Toronto, ON
7/24/2009
So yeah going to Live was my first raw food experience. I never really would have considered going before say 3 months ago. but i recently became a vegetarian ( so a little more open minded ), and it was my girlfriends turn to choose where we went to eat on date night....
The atmosphere was colourful and welcoming. Very vibrant! The staff were very welcoming, and obviously used to people coming and eating raw for the first time.
For a starter we shared the polenta fries with chipotle aioli ( one of the newly added cooked options ) which were amazing, very simple, but an excellent option.
We then had the Raw Combo which is a sampling of all the raw mains. i highly recommend this. it gives you a chance to try everything, and it's the perfect portion for 2 to share. I can't say i fell in love with everything. the crust for the Pizza M'On left me wanting more, but i really enjoyed everything else, especially the Spaghetti".
And finally dessert. I'm not really much of a desert guy, i lost mt sweet tooth long ago, but i went for it anyway and was presently surprised. i can't remember the names... we had a lemon square type thing, and this chocolate desert that resembled a REESE'S Peanut Butter Cup.
So all and all a great experience... and i would definitely go back. -
Review from Steve B.
Pickering, ON
7/12/2009
I'm a meatatarian, I took my raw food spouse here for a surprise. However I was the one really surprised. The food was excellent!. The nachos were great. I had the chef's special of the day, brown rice with lentils and tofu on top. It was really good. The portions were large, we couldn't eat all the food. there was lots of sharing going on.
For desert, I had the pistachio Halva and shared some of the almond chocolate brownie (forget the exact name) Both were superb!
Plan on going back.
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I wasn't going to mention this until I saw Antonella's review. But of the four of us that ate there, two people had the spaghetti and meatballs and the those two started feeling nauseous before finishing the meal. None threw up, but it was touch and go.
Originally we had suspected, because of the timing that it could not have been anything we ate at Live. But....now I'm starting to think it was. Specifically the spaghetti and meatballs.
Having said that the food was great. In fact I'll probably risk going back.Listed in: MyStuff
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Review from Cheryl M.
Toronto, ON
5/4/2011
I enjoy wholesome organic foods...the joy of having my food prepared fresh and tasty is important to me. LIVE does this so well. The newly renovated space and backyard patio is great for all year visits! I love the raw food desserts and my favourite is the pecan sushi. Some cooked food for variety...when in LIVE eat like the raw foodists do and I enjoy the experience every time!
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Review from Bryan T.
Toronto, ON
4/22/2011
Toronto has a lot of good vegan/vegetarian restaurants. This one is the best, in my opinion. It's slightly more expensive than its competitors (Fresh, Urban Herbivore), but the quality of the preparation here is better, as is the presentation. Having said that, I've only tried the salads. Anyway, highly recommend this place- the desserts look amazing.
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Review from Janine M.
Toronto, ON
5/18/2011
Visiting Live was my first raw food experience. I was open-minded and tried a variety of things. I had the liquid plumber plus maca to drink, shared the sample appetizer plate with my sister and then also one of the warm rice bowls. I ended with the tiramisu. My sister had the coconut cleanse plus milk thistle, shared the appetizer/main with me and had the pecan pie for dessert. We ended it all with herbal tea and an almond milk latte.
Overall we both weren't blow away. My sister has been to many more raw food restaurants and had eaten better, whilst I was just a newbie trying to figure it all out. The best part of the meal were the drinks and the dessert. The appetizer was a 6 and the main was a 7. The menu price was a bit disappointing too.
Nothing too spectacular with this first experience but knowing how good for my body the meal was made up for it. I'd definitely give this restaurant a second chance but try completely different things.
Also, the staff are all very friendly and helpful. Another reason I'd go back. -
Review from Helen L.
Toronto, ON
8/25/2009
A couple of weeks ago, bf and I went out for dinner and ended up at the patio at Live Organic Food Bar. We decided to have an all raw dinner since we've never had one. Since we are completely new to the whole raw food scene, we decided to get the raw combo and a miso burger to share. I also got a "In the Pink" juice that has apple, pear, beet, ginger and lemon as I try to order juice that includes fruits and veggies that I don't eat often (apple & beets) so this was the perfect choice and it was really good!
The raw combo had a bit of all the mains and that inclues "Steak and Potatoes," "Spaghetti and Neatballs," "Pizza M'on," the special of the day which was "Pad Thai" noodles and a salad (we had it with agave mustard dressing.)
So what makes it raw? well, nothing was cooked! The "Steak and Potatoes" are actually marinated portobello mushrooms with almond/cashew puree. "Spaghetti and Neatballs" are zuchinni spaghetti with red pepper/tomato sauce. The pizza is a dehydrated buckwheat cracker-like crust topped with a pumpkin puree, red pepper and onion. And the "Pad Thai" was the zuchinni spaghetti again with a cashew/sesame sauce topped with mango. My fav was definitely the "Spaghetti and Neatballs."
After dinner, we ordered 2 small desserts to share since we just HAD to try something. I wanted to get the chocolate/avocado pie but it was sold out. We chose the almond dream bar and hazelnut chocolate cup. We definitely liked the almond dream bar more...it was SO good.
Even though the idea of raw food is slightly intimidating, we were really glad we tried it. It was the perfect summer night dinner and I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Dardana M.
ON
1/26/2009
You wanna hear something funny? I didn't even know that this place specialized in (ie. served at all) "raw", "vegan" food until someone told me afterwards. Maybe it's because I only stumbled in with my friend, who needed to sit down and have some tea (was feeling ill). I thought it was a simple juice bar, and didn't even realize it was a sit-down restaurant til I went in.
It was like a whole other world. A bright and cheery, meatless world. I loved the vibrant decor, saturated green and orange everywhere. Only when I noticed the quotation marks around words like "meat" and "cheese" and "burger" and "bacon" did it clue in that they were even vegetarian. Maybe this is because I just didn't want to know. Ha-ha. I kid.
I am a weirdo and a lush and not equipped to give a proper opinion, since all I had was a, *ahem* margarita at 3 in the pm. It was called "Purple Rain" and was pretty good. Made with an organic vodka, at an organic price. I would have tried something more, had I not just eaten before going in. Since I have a hard time with merely *vegetarian food* a raw vegan restaurant is a bit of a hard sell for me- but if I decide to take that step, I'll be going back. They played Marvin Gaye and Elvis albums in their entirety, after all. -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
10/27/2008 4 photos
Fantastic! Just absolutely deliciously fantastic.
A lot of people don't think you can get much taste out of a raw-food joint, but Live really nails it.
They have a takeout counter in the front, a sort of cafeteria vibe inside and a gorgeous garden back patio that is absolutely serene in the summer.
it ain't cheap, but neither is your health. Get the maki appetizer coupled with any one of their bowls (they are all delicious) and make sure you don't leave without taking an E3 Live shot. That's the stuff dreams are made of. -
Review from Elizabeth L.
Toronto, ON
7/12/2009
I feel conflicted upon writing this review. Why? Because a delicious meal at Live, two out of three of us immediately fell ill and one of us threw up three times. Right outside, on Dupont St. And then once more a half hour later. What gives?
First of all, the friend who repeatedly threw up started with an amazing Kale soup, which I tasted. Followed by the cold spaghetti and neat balls, which I also tasted. We then shared an amazing slice of "cheese cake" and that's when it hit. My other friend, Robert H. did not experience any sickness whatsoever. He tried all of our food except for the dessert.
I dry-heaved on the street (TMI?) which NEVER happens to me since I have an iron stomach. I was actually shocked we became so ill after the meal.
I should note that every single dish that was ordered between the three of us was mind-blowing. The service was fantastic and their patio is lovely. The music was faint, but awesome (Bowie? Yesss) and the overall vibe was really relaxing and casual. I would recommend this restaurant to all vegan and vegetarian friends with a caution: skip the dessert. -
Review from Ms. J.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2010
The good - great ambiance, relaxed feel. The "Lychee Flurtini" was very tasty, as well as the "Trainer's Bowl". The bad - a bland "Starter Poutine" and mediocre "Starter Sweet Potato" fries. As well, I didn't feel "sick" right after, but my friend felt sick as she finished eating. MOST disappointing was the lack of timely service during a dinner rush. We finally got our own water after waiting for 15 minutes after we were seated, and watched two couples who came in after us get served their meals while still waiting for our cocktails. Our indifferent and inhospitable female server seemed unconcerned about the whole affair. Message me for pics.
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Review from Abby R.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 5/29/2009 1 Check-in Here
I'd just like to add that I actually dream about the food here sometimes.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2008 First to Review
Wowza! So i grabbed some take-out from here one night between work and class. Everything looked… Read more »
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Review from Liz D.
6/2/2009
We were in Toronto last summer and I was quite nervous to try this place. I'm a vegetarian and have several vegan friends and have often ended up liking vegan places but a raw place? I had my doubts. Anyway, I was so wrong. We ate outside as it was a nice day in August. I feel like I had a Ruben but I can't find it on their website, it's very possible they've changed the menu. Anyway, this was the best food I had in Toronto and there is a lot of good food in Toronto.
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Review from Jonathan G.
11/29/2009
This restaurant has a cozy, wholesome vibe and performs wonders with unprocessed food. Like many raw-food restaurants, Live is great for those who cannot eat gluten. I enjoyed a chocolate-coconut cupcake (the coconut somehow tasted like cream cheese or maybe my mind was playing tricks on me) and a slice of almond-crusted cake that was nicely sweetened (not saccharine). I also bought some cinnamon-raisin, gluten-free "bagels" to go, which, although tough to chew, were tasty. An additional plus: Live is close to the subway.
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Review from Yves T.
Vanier, ON
9/12/2009
On a food vacation in Toronto, stopped in here to experience the vegan cuisine. The atmosphere was friendly and eclectic. The raw Pad Thai was delicious - the gado gado sauce was especially impressive. my girlfriend had the lasagna (with cucumber "pasta") which was also delicious. The whole experience was pleasurable. Highly recommended.
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Review from Christian C.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2009
Healthy food!
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Review from Cee R.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2009
I love this place. The back patio in the summer, the organic wines and yummy cocktails, the food and the service are all pretty damn good. Great to take your meatatarian friends and let them relish a healthy meal!
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Review from Robin M.
8/6/2009
I went to Live in April 2008 with a friend who was visiting from out of town. We both ordered entrees that came with salads. We were served our salads and finished them. My friend got her entree, but about half way through, I still hadn't gotten mine. They were sort of busy, so I assumed it was just taking awhile. However, the waitress eventually came with the bill and I still hadn't gotten my meal. We told her and she went back to the kitchen to "work something out". A manager or something (a blonde, tanorexic type) came out and gave us our bill. They discounted my salad 10% and my friend's meal 10%. That's right, they still charged me for my salad. The woman also told me that "next time" (as if I would go to this ridiculous place again) I should let them now that my food hadn't arrived, essentially blaming me for them screwing up my order and leaving me hungry! I have worked in the food service industry for years and I'd never experienced anything like this before. I was supposed to assume they were totally incompetent as opposed to totally slow? Okay, I'll be sure to do that "next time".
I understand that mistakes happen and sometimes orders can get misplaced or whatever in a kitchen. It would have been fine if that woman hadn't tried to put the blame on me. She should have just apologized and admitted they made a mistake. I also can't believe they thought 10% off my paltry salad was adequate compensation. It was so tacky and lame. -
Review from Marla S.
Calgary, AB
6/16/2009
Being new to Toronto, and having not figured out the transit system, I walked an hour and a half to get to this restaurant. To be sure, it was worth working up and appetite for. As a woman who is already a fan of raw food and taking care of herself, I have to say this was effing amazing. As a woman who used to eat highly processed, fried foods and lived by her taste buds alone, I have to say this was beyond amazing. Wanting everything on the menu, I got the "Raw Combo Platter". Pizza. Steak 'n' mashed potatoes. Tacos. Spaghetti. Things I haven't eaten in months and far tastier and more satisfying than I can ever recall the original versions being. I was stuffed to the brim after having dessert, but felt completely rejuvenated rather than weighed down. The service was wonderful. The atmosphere was casual enough that I felt at ease eating on my own. I was exceptionally glad to see that there were many nut free options on the menu and my meal contained very little flax. Most of the raw restaurants I've been to seem to rely too much on both. ;) In the end, I would walk another two hours to make it back there tomorrow.
Listed in: Toronto Lists
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Review from eune y.
Toronto, ON
4/17/2009
That someone would be audacious enough to open a raw food restaurant gets props from me but that the food would also be delicious and ingeniously prepared gets 5 stars. I came here the first week it was open the year I was in my raw food vegan phase. Let me tell you...I was starving! I thought I'd be served a big green salad with some nuts and as a novelty be handed a fork carved from a stalk of celery and if the vegans were really feelin' wild, I'd get a shot of wheatgrass to toss back at the end of the meal. Well, it just wasn't like that. I ordered their sampler platter and it had this amazing "lasagna" type dish that was just a wonder because it was totally made from completely raw nuts and veg that had probably been dehydrated overnight at low temps to preserve thier enzymes. So, in actuality, the dish probably took 15 hours to make. Considering how time consuming gourmet raw food recipes are to prepare, the prices here were a total steal. I'm glad this place is still around even for the novelty of it but I'm really not surprised because it's a really great joint. I can say from experience that eating raw is fantastic for you. It totally wiped out my allergies for a good couple of years and I had an abundant amount of energy in the beginning. It's good to read that the place is still going strong and I'm gonna have to stop by sometime soon .... just as soon as I finish this burger. Just kidding. :)
