Cafe Gratitude

The menu is deceiving since there is little to no pictures just affirmations and a summary of the foods in the dish. The pictures are also not accurate to the actual presentation of the dish (like their desserts). If you want a good raw experience go to Sunpower Café and get a raw pizza and a cookie doe cheesecake or cacao shake.

Formerly a raw foods noob (never had raw foods prior to here). Much gratitude to Café Gratitude, for introducing to healthier eating habits and fresh take on foods.
My San Franciscan cousins took me here awhile ago to show me the types of raw and fresh foods eat on a regular basis, and I fell in love with the life style. My former impressions of raw foods had been «Oh it must just be green, cold, healthy, unflavorful, bland, raw…» But after the experience here, I’d have to say, «Who knew a raw pizza could taste even better than a regular pizza?!»
Our waitress asked us the question of the day: What are you grateful for? The Menu items are cleverly titled like so: I am Warm, I am Thriving, I am Pure, I am Hearty, I am elated, etc. I am fascinated!
Dainty place on the neighborhood corner, a prime rendezvous spot for locals.

My server asked if I wanted a Question of the Day ~ it was: What are you grateful for?
I am grateful that I finally dined at CG before this location closes on 5÷25÷2012 (according to GrubStreetSanFrancisco).
Upon entering, I instantly felt comfortable, welcomed with a kind smile and seated at a rustic, communal table. Their menu is broken out into: Soups & Salads, Raw Specialties, Cooked Specialties, Breakfast, Beverages (including beer & wine).
— I am Bright (kombucha from Be Love Farm)
— I am Fortified (sauteed seasonal veg with quinoa + sesame-​ginger sauce — I liked the al dente crunch of the vegetables, albeit a bit too salty for my palate)
— I am Awakening (a key-​lime torte, on pecan-​butter crust with creamy avocado-​lime custard topped with whipped cream — I enjoyed this especially)
— A bit on the pricey side, but I think of it as a health and environmental investment.
— Their Berkeley and Santa Cruz locations will remain open, as well as their affiliate, Gracias Madre in San Francisco.
* * *
With much Gratitude, thank you for nourishing our bodies and for your positive vibes. Wishing you all wellness, happiness and peace of mind ~

Came here with a friend who has been talking about this place for some time. Being a fan of vegan fare and locally grown organic produce, I thought it was about time we checked it out. Upon entering, the staff was enthusiastically singing «happy birthday» to one of the customers, which automatically put a smile on my face. There weren’t any seats at the tables, so we sat at the bar.
After looking over the menu (which I guess has changed according to my friend), I decided upon the cooked «I am Fortified» with the Thai-​almond sauce. My friend went with the raw «I am Terrific». My dish won. I am actually a fan of the kelp noodles that made up my friend’s pad thai dish, but he was not so pleased. I felt bad that he was less than thrilled, so I suggested we split our dishes and share. I found his to be light and refreshing, a great summer weather dish. Mine was heartier and warm and definitely filling (I had the combo quinoa and rice). The sauce on mine was fab. I would 100% order it again.
I’m not overly familiar with what legal actions have been transpiring, or why some cafes have been closing. Or if this one will also share the same fate. I hope not, because I had a good experience. The servers were friendly. The food was healthy and delicious. My only regret is that I didn’t have room for dessert.

If you’ve read any of my other reviews at all, you would know that I am a big fan of all the Café Gratitude restaurants– This particular location is certainly included. There are fantastic raw vegan dishes available, similar to the other locations. There are also delicious cooked items like their soup and tamales. and so on. One sad thing about this particular Café Gratitude is – it’s up for sale. As soon as there is a buyer, the countdown to shut the doors for good, will come shortly after (according to our waitress tonight). :-(

I’m grateful they’ve gone out of business!
Goofy place where the dishes all had these cooky affirmations as names (and the wait staff made you say them, then repeated them back to you). Like, «I’d like the My Boobs Are Precious,» «…My Vulva Embraces World Peace,» and «…Gaia Is Watching You, You Hedonistic Bastard.» O, the times we live in! «Yes, your boobs ARE precious!»
I ate here only once (went out with a group of former co-​workers, one of whom who was vegan and allergic to everything under [and including] the sun), and while the food was okay – it took two hours for them to prepare it. TWO HOURS… FOR RAW FOOD! There’s no cooking involved. How could it take so long?
At one point the conversation died and we felt pressured to read the «conversation starter» cards they have on each table. Question: What objects do you currently have in your life that you truly don’t appreciate, and why?” My answer: Mismatching throw pillows – they cause me nightmares.
The best thing on the menu were the desserts. They made soy and cashew surprisingly delicious.
But they’re gone now. And I can say I’m truly feeling honored about that!

I visit a restaurant for the food. I don’t want to be preached at. I visited this location to appease my partner – who RAVES about the grain bowls. I’m game for trying anything once – usually so I can shut someone up about their claims.
I really wanted to be surprised about this place, but I wasn’t. I felt like I had been transplanted onto Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley with the number of wanna-​be enlightened patrons dining near me. I guess I find it really silly to see Caucasian kids with dreads and wearing a bunch of scarves, etc. trying to act like they are so spiritual. You and I know that mommy and daddy are footing the bill to their «enlightened lives» and that’s why they can afford to dine at a place like this. But I digress…
The first thing that floored me about this place was THE PRICE! If you’re not going to have any meat in your dishes, then your price should adjust accordingly. Do they go out and talk to the plants as they are growing in the field? Why on earth does a bowl of cereal and kale cost close to $ 12? I can get a great burger at any other restaurant in the area for that amount or less… Cereal/​grain is cereal. I ended up ordering their version of a BLT. I knew it wouldn’t taste like one, but I wanted to have a sandwich like item. It didn’t taste anything like a BLT, but more like cheese and some other stuff in between two slices of bread. Was it good? It was merely ok. I didn’t think it was worthy of purchasing another time.
Everything about this place says RIP OFF to me. They obviously have their servers brain-​washed into their philosophy and their patrons seem well on their way as well. Anyone who regularly pays those kinds of prices for grains products is just stupid to me. I guess you vegan folks don’t have a lot of choices. I really feel sorry for you – but that’s another story. More meat and leather for me.
The server asked me if I wanted to hear the question of the day. I said NO and the look on her face was priceless. The question of the day to me is: Why would you return here? Save your money and find another place that has vegan entrees that doesn’t preach to you while you’re dining.

I came here because I am a huge fan of vegan food and I know that there are many locations around the bay area, meaning that they must have been good enough to open more than just one restaurant.
I decided to order the pizza and I couldn’t help but look at my dish and wonder why there was a piece of card board sitting on it. As I took a bite into the paper like crust my mouth became infested with the taste of fart and stale bread all at once. And lets just be honest that is a taste that no one ever wants in their mouth.
All in all I am never returning to this place and I would much rather go to «Café Herbivore» which is also another vegan restaurant in San Francisco.

Four stars given it’s fully vegan. Had a great meal here and was constantly surprised to learn how particular foods were made. I especially loved the smoothies, including the «I Am Cool» and the «I am Grace» (my favorite). The guacamole was great, though the chips (crackers) were not very good. For entrees, I liked the «I am Transformed» the most (essentially vegan tacos), and the «I am Whole» second most; the «I am Transparent» was mediocre sushi, but still tasty. Dessert was «interesting,» to quote my friend, meaning we’re glad we had it, but probably would order something different next time — we had the poppy seed cake and the «I am Joy» chocolate truffle.
The wait can be quite long, and seating inside is limited. Expect an unusually hipster crowd, even for the mission. Parking is plentiful on the street.

This is my new HAPPY (i.e. «safe») place :) I feel loved & well nourished here, and it reminds me of other people & places I love (e.g. Golden Bridge Yoga in LA, Kauai, TNF friends @ Northwestern & my boyfriend: J).
p. s. No, I am not a «hippy». I am just me! :)

I am impressed.
We came here with a group and picked a variety of the dishes that sampled from the raw, cooked, and drink suggestions. I had the «I am grace» and «I am vibrant.» I walked in claiming I wasn’t hungry and these were pretty good dishes for that description. The «I am grace» smoothie was really delicious, the «I am vibrant» was sauteed kale. This wouldn’t really stand as a main dish but would be a great thing to split on the side if you and a dining companion wanted some green. The whole grateful vibe led to some pretty interesting lunchtime conversations such as «What is the meaning of forgiveness?» We also tried the white chocolate «cheese“cake, yummy yummy. Definitely not your typical café but walking into this place reminds me of why I’m grateful for San Francisco when traveling elsewhere.

Vegan, what else can I say! Start with a concoction of celery, lemon, kale & cucumber & your body will thank you. I ordered «I am extraordinary» which was a coconut bacon sandwich on a wheat bun, really enjoyed it, juicy and garnished well. My date ordered «I am hearty», a bite size pizza w/​sundried tomatoes, very good!
I didn’t care much about the Mediterranean salad w/​«live» falafel, called «I am complete». The place is very casual, kid friendly and offers a good cleanse for the health conscious & yeah the chocolate mousse satisfied my monthly dessert craving :)
And yeah «i am magnificent», «I am gorgeous».. . add up to ‘I am expensive’ –2 adults = $ 95

OK, so I live in Beverly Hills, CA and I said my favorite place to eat in my hood is Beverly Hills’ Urth Café. NOW — my favorite place to eat in SFO is Café Gratitude.
The food is so delish. I LOVE eating raw vegan food and they really know how to do it. It can also be a positive experience to go there because everything on their menu makes you express gratitude. For example, I will order the «I am joyful» plate (I am making it up because I do not remember the exact names but you catch my drift). ;)
The smoothies — LIKE BUTTAH! Oops, should not mention butter, but really — the best smoothies EVER! They add raw cacao and all kinds of other annoyingly delicious items that make it very difficult to replicate at home — believe me, I have tried.
All in all, this is THE best place to eat while in SFO! Café Gratitude was suggested by a friend and I went reluctantly, but now I want to book a weekend trip to express my gratitude soon! LOVE THIS PLACE!!! the neighborhood is a little shady BUUUT well worth it to eat here!

Some people think it’s cheesy but I enjoy the little ego boost when you place your order and say your affirmation: «I Am Luscious.» Then when the server comes out with your item he looks you in the eyes, smiles and says: «You Are Luscious!» Then you get to sit there feelin like hot stuff while enjoying a chocolate smoothie!
As an Angelino, I’ve managed to make frequent treks up to San Francisco and regularly eat at Café Gratitude. I’ve also somehow managed to bring a large chunk of my extended family here. My non-​vegan extended family. And they like it!
My last dine-​in visit to Café Gratitude was a dinner with my cousins. While everyone enjoyed their entrée, it was the desserts that was the most memorable part of the night. We each ordered something different, we grabbed a spoon, then went to town on five different desserts. The big stars of that massacre was I Am Adoring (tiramisu) and I Am Devoted (coconut cream pie).
A few days later, I had a rough evening involving a tow truck and a $ 400 set back. So to cheer myself up I picked up a slice of I Am Bliss, a chocolate hazelnut mousse pie. It totally made my day!
Not sure if it’s still on their menu but their orange creamsicle smoothie is really good too!
I’ve been hearing rumors for a really, REALLY long time now that a Café Gratitude will be opening up in L.A. But now I’m starting the think the rumors are true and it’s happening in a few months. They can count on me being there opening day!

Raw/​Vegan food galore (& so tasty still!!), marketed in such a manner that makes you feel so good about yourself after you leave even though your wallet’s been robbed. hehe.
I LoveLOVElove this place. Also bought my Vitamineral green here.
I didn’t get to try the desserts… but I hope to next time!

Café Gratitude is the epitome of a restaurant I *want* to like oh so badly. At 100% vegan and raw we’re talking some top notch health food here.
I love health food, and I say blow me to those that insinuate all health food equals automatic flavor failure. This is not true of the category as a whole but what I’ve learned from visit after visit to Café Gratitude is they may just fit the case for taste issues.
I don’t know what it is, and the only thing I take issue with are the main dishes. They are not awful, but they are entirely too similar for my preference. Funny thing is the desserts, the fresh made juices, and many of the salads are quite good. I’ve made maybe 20 runs to CG for desserts alone, those blow my mind.
But when I eat there and get a full meal, I’m just always like «meh», I can’t help it. Like I said I want to dig it so so bad… it just doesn’t happen.
I still say 3 stars because again the flavor isn’t bad, it’s just that dishes with completely different descriptions often come out tasting frighteningly similar. The desserts on their own are 5 stars without hesitation and I love a fresh smoothie. At the end of even a bland meal I know damn well my body is quite satisfied with the high quality ingredients which is often good enough for me.
So yea, the food… is ok. If you give it a shot just be prepared and for the love of god if the food leaves you disappointed, be sure to end with a dessert. That will pick you RIGHT back up.

Gratitude, I’ve lost gratitude. Last experience left me annoyed and borderline p’d off. WHY is this place so freaking overpriced?
Now *this* is overpriced rabbit food.
I love vegetarianism, but my whole issue with some of these vegan restaurants is that simple food becomes so glorified and EXPENSIVE. I’m sure that carnivores look at us and wonder how we live this lifestyle. Heck, I’m a die-​hard vegetarian and even I can’t live the Gratitude lifestyle. In my *gentle* opinion, healthy and nutritious vegetarian food should be affordable, especially when it takes little culinary mastery to prepare.
Onto my experience… The waiter recommended the special, which ended up being a simple bowl of quinoa with greens on top. Nothing special. Nothing fancy.
Now I’m not cheap, but why did my entrée end up costing $ 20? The bill at the end of the night? $ 95. For two people. No apps. Two entrees, two drinks, and one dessert.
Ridiculous, I say.
My recommendation: Save your money and take it to Greens!

As if I wasn’t actively annoyed enough by their miniscule portions, willfully personal-​intimacy-​boundary-​crossing employees, and seemingly jacked-​high prices, there is a direct passive reason not to patronize Café Gratitude. I’ll footnote that at the bottom of my review.
Now, I’m not launching «one star» attacks from afar. Look, I have had meals at Café Gratitude. I’ve eaten multiple times at their previous location along Ninth Avenue in SF. Look, I’ve uploaded pictures to Unilocal of the meal I had at their Mission location. We went there and ate there and this is the review of this location.
I had the I Am Accepting (sushi grain bowl), she had the I Am Satisfied (small salad) and the I Am Cheerful (live sunburger). We finished the meal with two desserts. (See the photos of these dishes here on Unilocal.)
The atmosphere was overfriendly and — unfortunately there’s no other way to put this — directly solicitous. You can see it in a person’s eyes when they’re trying so hard to escape something within themselves and they feel like they need you to come along with them on their path as a way for them to help themselves. It’s an ugly thing.
We ate and we paid attention to the food and though it didn’t meet the price, it didn’t affront. I enjoyed the textures and pleasant saltiness of my bowl.
That reason I’d mentioned at the top of the review for not patronizing Café Gratitude is this: Café Gratitude is a de facto adjunct of a cult.
No, seriously; I’m not just saying that to be unkind in any way. This is fact: Café Gratitude was founded by two people who met at a EST/​Landmark Forums forum, and according to recent article in the East Bay Express (
), Café Gratitude actively pressures their employees to be part of Landmark Forums or risk firing.
Why is this footnote relevant to a Unilocal review? Because it is 100% relevant to the customer experience of Café Gratitude. Because the Unilocal community is about making informed decisions.
This is no wild rant; this is cold fact. And this review is backed by substantiated facts — both from reputable news sources and my own direct experience.
So, should you eat at Café Gratitude? If you do, you should know what you’re supporting. That is what Unilocal is for, to know what’s there in a given location before you get there. Look it up: put EST and Landmark Forums into a Google search (
) and see what you find for yourself.
In my opinion I’d say no; you shouldn’t go to Café Gratitude because it’s not worth the price, literally or figuratively. From having been to the café and eaten there, that is what I feel you — the Unilocal community — should know.
Recommended? = No. You’re within walking distance of one of the finest eateries in San Francisco: Taqueria Cancun at Mission and 19^th. Go there instead.

You’ve got to be kidding me. Who messes up vanilla latte and coconut cream pie? Café Gratitude.
The vanilla latte tasted like cotton candy in liquid form — minus the sugar high.
The coconut cream pie tasted more like mashed tofu on crust. We abandoned it after only a few bites.
No thanks. I think I’ll stick to my meat-​eating-​milk-​slurping ways for now.

I’ve been to this location a couple of times and for some reason tend to like it more then its sister in the Inner Sunset. It could be because it’s quiet and somewhat isolated.
With nowhere to go and nowhere to be for the first Monday in 3 years, the dr, and I made our way down to Café Gratitude because I am Grateful that I am Free.
The staff was friendly and accommodating letting us switch from one outdoor table in the shade, to one in the sun, to one inside as it’s easy to be deceived by San Francisco sunshine.
I always feel crusty in the A.M. so an I Am Rejuvenated is called for. Sadia introduced me to the wheatgrass cocktail and I’ve never strayed from it.
Followed by the I Am Graceful w/​Avocado, it made for the best way to start such a day.
There are very few things in life that I remember. My brain is shot. This is why I chronicle things because I can’t remember shit these days.
But I will remember this meal, this day and this place.
I hadn’t felt this content in a long time. Quiet. Sun. Music. Puppies (Ooooooh Lucy, our waitresses dog was the cutest thing!!). Crossword puzzles. Kale that doesn’t taste like ass. Chocolate Hazelnut pie. A boy holding my hand under the table.
I Am Grateful. Really.