Candle Cafe WestCreative veganWe are new to the neighborhood and so appreciate vegan/vegetarian restaurants. We stopped in for a simple dinner and it was perfect. The service was attentive and the food was well prepared, fresh and delicious. Though a tad pricy, for us it's worth it for the quality. We plan on going back regularly.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMy family came here for Mother'sMy family came here for Mother's Day and could not have picked a better restaurant! It was a relaxed atmosphere with great food and great service.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMElegant vegan foodA creative approach elevates this restaurant's offerings above the blandness reflected in most NYC vegan places. The dumpling appetizer was plump and juicy. It was a surprise to see a seitan piccata on the menu (simulating meat has become so passe). It was even more of a surprise that the piccata was excellent. The cobbler dessert was superb. All in all, this is a worthy sister to Candle 79.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and service. HighlyGreat food and service. Highly recommend! Even my non vegan family can't wait to go back!!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMHighly recommendThis was my second time there, and my high expectations from the first visit, about a year ago, were met and surpassed. Every dish was fabulous. Interesting and unusual tastes. Two of us split the eggplant special and the Indian curry dish. Both were great. As was the dessert -- a kind of berry crumble. The atmosphere is relaxed. I prefer being there early as it gets quite lively (loud) as the evening progresses. Service excellent. Waitress was attentive, but not overly intrusive. Definitely a place I would go for special occasions.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMI am neither vegetarian norI am neither vegetarian nor vegan but I do like good food and atmosphere and Candle Cafe does not disappoint.. Great food, beautifully presented, clean and pleasant surroundings, no rushed service, where you can easily hear the conversation at your table but not at other tables, we will definitely be back.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMA-mazing!!!I took an out of town friend who's on a strict dietary program and it was the perfect healthy choice! We started off with an awesome window table and our server was an energetic, friendly, knowledgeable pro. I am battling a nasty cold so I tried the "house made gingerale"...it was refreshing and out of this world delicious. I had the Seitan Piccata and my friend had the Indian Curry Vegetable Cake (no gluten request was easy). We were in heaven. The food was a TEN! A slice of the Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie was an ideal way to cap off the perfect meal. As a former 20 year veteran of the restaurant business, I know a winner when I experience one. This Upper West Sider will be a regular from this day forward.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMEven meat lovers will love itSO HAPPY Candle Cafe is on the west side! It feels good knowing everything you're eating is organic and well thought out. Each dish is delicious. GREAT cocktails, too. It's a little pricey, but you're paying for the care they take with choosing all organic.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMLacking amenitiesThe food is exquisitely prepared and delicious. The atmosphere is inviting. There were only two things I didn't understand -- 1). Why the host sat us in the back next to the kitchen when we had reservations and the place was practically empty. We did ask for a different table but I noticed he still kept sitting people in the most unpleasant part of the restaurant when it was not even close to being full. 2) Now I realize it's a high rent neighborhood, but no bread served with the meal? Maybe a little hummus or baba gannouj and some rice crackers? Olives? A little something to nosh with drinks before the meal comes? For the meal being so pricey there were no amenities. It seemed a little unreasonable for a fine dining establishment.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for Vegans and Non-VegansI went to Candle Cafe West on my first night in NYC with my vegan friend. She was basically in heaven...and I wasn't far behind! The food is incredible, and the service is too. Our server made wine recommendations, and made sure we understood what we were ordering (I didn't know that Live Pad Thai meant it would be cold and raw - but she clarified). Whenever our water glasses got to be half full, someone would come by and top them up.
Excellent food, excellent service, excellent atmosphere. Portion sizes are not that big, and it's a bit pricey - but worth it for a nice dinner out.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMtruly lovely staff-- accommodatedtruly lovely staff-- accommodated every whim of ours with grace!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food for vegansDelicious food for vegans and non-vegans alike, especially for a special occasion. Everything we got was delicious--vegan food need not be plain tofu and veggies and Candle Cafe West excels at proving that true! A truly fine dining experience.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMI think all I need to explainI think all I need to explain how awesome this place is, is a quote from my dining companion. She is definitely a big carnivore (like meat 2 times a day), and I had to tell her the place was only vegetarian, not vegan, in order to get her to agree to come along. After trying her Seitan Piccata she said "Oh my god! I like it better than chicken".
Go. Try it. It's delicious!4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMvegan--and normal sized portionsvegan--and normal sized portions (Eg unfortunately many Americans may be disappointed with what they have come to be accustomed to at other restaurants)... but was delicious4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of my favorites. JustOne of my favorites. Just happens to be vegan, which I'm not.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server was very uniqueOur server was very unique and brought her own personal touch to our meal and experience. We very much enjoyed that. The food was the most unique and extensive vegan food I have ever experienced. Reviews I read before going made me nervous about going there but we had enjoyed Candle 79. I was very happily surprised. Serving sizes were perfect. Prices were little high but the food was extremely fresh and delicious, and the entire experience was wonderful, making the prices worth it.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMHaute Vegan CuisineFor anyone who thinks that vegan food means a boring brown plate of rice and beans, this place is a MUST. There is more excitement in haute vegan cuisine than any other branch of cooking right now thanks to places like the Candle Cafe. Don't miss your chance to have an amazing meal all while doing something good for your body and the environment!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWhether you're a vegan orWhether you're a vegan or not you'll love the food.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMy husband is vegan but IMy husband is vegan but I am not. We both really enjoyed the meal and ambiance. The waitress was very helpful and service was quick. The food was excellent and I would definitely recommend this restaurant.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI always have great meal here!I always have great meal here! Awesome vegan cuisine.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMVegan ParadiseEvery vegan should try this restaurant! Even your non-vegan friends will find something to enjoy!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMIf this doesn't convince youIf this doesn't convince you of the variety of vegan cuisine, I wouldn't what else does!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMJust go!Fantastic food, whether you are vegan or not. Staff was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. One of the best dining experiences we have ever had.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMA lovely place. Great food.A lovely place. Great food. Fantastic for vegetarians/vegans, but for omnivores as well. Only glitch, kind of, was the food came up really, really fast. It suited us at the time, but it was clear that the food was already prepared and just dished up.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMdelicious!i love being able to go to a restaurant where almost everything on the menu sounds exquisite! being a vegan, i find that very rare. plus, my partner and i ordered dessert and coffee (we were celebrating our second anniversary so caution was thrown to the wind) and while waiting for our dessert, the server realized that our coffee had probably gotten a bit cold, so she whisked the coffee away and brought back piping hot joe. how thoughtful! the place had a great vibe, the low rumble of patrons enjoying their company, laughter and clinking glasses in the background...and yet the volume was not too high. perfect for a date!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMNo Third Degree NecessaryAs a vegan, it is a pleasure to be able to order anything on the menu without giving the waitstaff the "third degree". The food is excellent and the three omnivores who accompanied me truly enjoyed their meals as well.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMwe had a fine dinner. Thewe had a fine dinner. The service was almost too good -- had to tell waiters that we weren't yet quite finished. Waitress was attentive and enthusiastic. We were able to talk easily. Great food for vegans.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious, well-prepared veganDelicious, well-prepared vegan menu in a lovely space.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMincredible vegan food. goodincredible vegan food. good place to bring non-vegans!3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat NYC vegan restaurant.Great vegan restaurant. Wish they didn't use daiya and center their entrees with tofu, seitan, and tempeh (even though I enjoy all three). I want more veggies and beans in the center!2/23/2013 12:00:00 AM