Thursday evening, after my shopping was complete, I headed down 3rd a few blocks to Candle Cafe. Knowing that Bo was out of town on business gave me the perfect excuse to meet my girlfriend Liz for dinner at Candle. I hadn’t enjoyed Candle’s vegetarian goodness in over a year and was therefore very excited! This cozy location is located on 3rd avenue between 74th and 75th. Upon entering, each patron can quickly see what their goal and mantra is:
Candle Cafe is dedicated to bettering the health of the individual and the planet by serving food fresh from farm to table™. Our organic vegan cuisine is rooted in sustainability, eco-friendly practices, local farming, and compassion for animals.
There is a small juice bar near the front that doubles as a wine and beer bar during the evening hours. Luckily this area wasn’t too crowded while Liz and I waited for our table. Unfortunately, they don’t accept reservations for a party of 2 so there is normally a short wait involved. We didn’t mind however as there was room for us to stand out of the cold and we were able to watch all the amazing food pass and catch up. Once we were seated we quickly ordered an appetizer and wine since we were both starving. The seitan chimichurri which included herb marinated seitan skewers was amazing. The texture was perfect and the flavor was right on with a bit of subtle sweetness due to the citrus. Ordering dinner was far more challenging as everything sounded wonderful and neither Liz nor I like to make the dinner decision first. Normally we wait to see what everyone else orders and then chooses something last minute.
But, we finally decided on the tuscan lasagna and paradise casserole. The tuscan lasagna was exactly what I was craving and better than any lasagna i’d had in ages. The seitan ragout tasted just like a flavorful meat combination and I quickly forgot this was a vegitarian entree. My only complaint was the chunkiness and texture of the tapioca cheese. It didn’t melt like normal cheese does in lasagna and therefore mostly got pushed to the side.
Liz’s paradise casserole was MASSIVE and a feat to even enjoy half as it was filled with delicious sweet potatoes, black beans, and millet over greens. I especially enjoyed the flavor combination of all three paired together in a bit. We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at Candle Cafe and would return often. The service was friendly and quick while the food delighted each and everyone of our cravings. The wine option was an added bonus as I had forgotten this option and assumed they only had a juice bar. In addition, the prices are very reasonable for a weeknight meal. I can guarantee that if Bo and I end up moving to the UES this April that i’ll be ordering takeout frequently from Candle Cafe. I highly recommend this for a casual meal on a weeknight or weekend! If your plan is to enjoy it with a larger group, call ahead for reservations!
