A great vegan restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. It would be a lot nicer if you actually got served. Especially, for the prices. Don’t expect to find any parking nearby, but that’s normal for little Italy. Plenty of seating, indoors and outdoors. No reservations needed.
Mary Brown
Bright, airy restaurant serving vegan eats. The "chicken" and waffles was a fun version of the classic southern dish. The "chicken" was deep fried oyster mushrooms, which mimicked the flavor and texture of chicken remarkably well. The oat waffle was thick, chewy, and heavy. The Caesar salad with shiitake bacon, croutons, capers, and brazil nut parm was an excellent substitute for the real thing, although I would have preferred more of the shiitake bacon bits. The forbidden black rice bowl was a cacophony of competing flavors. While it was filled with all sorts of individually tasty items, the flavors didn't come together as a coherent dish. There was so much going on that eating it just felt laborious and tiresome. It's not the best vegan food I've ever had but given the dearth of vegan options in San Diego, it'll do.Vegetarian options: This is a vegan restaurant.
Gokul Sukumara Rajan
Reasonable vegetarian and vegan selections.Ordered items had over powering flavor not suitable to its name or reputation. Items ordered were bland and was disappointing.Service was forgettable and disappointing. Our service concierge just took off while enquiring about dishes and it was awkward. We had come all the way due to its reputation but were squarely disappointed.
ruthkellykelly5
This is a truely fantastic restaurant, serving interesting, imagionative, delicious food. Everyone who works in this fabulous restaurant really serves by its philosophy. They were full of joy and helpfulness. The food and service was amazing as always and we left with our hearts full of joy and hope. We had celebrated our 25 year anniversary there and returned for our 30th (from Ireland!) We HIGHLY recommend this place. Thank you Gratitude Ruth and Cathal
Priyangi Vashistha
We tried black bean burger, eggplant parmesan foccacia and pesto pasta salad. I think the food is great. Amazing Vegan menu, not all food items taste meat-y which is great. From the price point- i think its little expensive and that is only con for this place. Staff is really friendly, we were helped by Eric and he was great and helpful ???
Jordan S.
Honestly, the worst food I've ever eaten. I only ordered from here via a third party app that offered 50% off, and I regret it. Everything is vegetarian, but nothing is palatable. The black bean quesadilla was specifically disgusting. The mac n cheese tasted like plastic and went straight In the trash.
Shawna R.
Driving around Little Italy for a breakfast spot this weekend and we came across Cafe Gratitude. Walked up front to the hostess and she said it would be about a 15-20 min wait to be seated. We asked if we could get some drinks while we waited and she said we would have to go to the 'To Go' area of the cafe to order it as the bar doesn't serve that. Didn't make much sense but we went to the to go portion of the cafe and ended up just ordering our food there as we didn't have to wait long. The cashier was friendly, helpful and answered all our questions. He even made sure to ask if me being gluten free was an allergy or a preference, which I really appreciated. I got the French Toast but had it made with the gf sourdough and a hot chai with oat milk as they were out of almond milk that day. My date got a egg and spinach wrap with a side of potatoes, an americano and a smoothie. Our food came out relatively quick as there was no line in the To Go area, and we were allowed to sit outside and eat our breakfast as well. So this is an option if you don't want to wait to be seated. Now onto the food, the french toast was filling and had a good taste to it. A row of jam strawberries with powder sugar and a side of syrup to bring in the flavor. The chai with oat milk was creamy, had a really nice flavor too it. The egg and spinach wrap looked really good with lots of veggies in it, he said it was worth it and that the americano was good. The smoothie was amazing, fresh! I will be coming back here again the next time I visit, really liked the hospitality of this place, excellent service and food was overall very tasty!
Kathleen K.
We loved the Mexican brunch! Everything was super fresh, the place is cute and it's a total relief to order from a vegan menu!
Gustavo Perez
Vegetarian restaurant in little Italy. I should've known. I can imagine a team of white woman from the orange county designing the menu: I am worthy, I am healthy, I am succulent. No, I'm not high, those are the names of the dishes. Not kidding. I could see myself having a Michael Douglas moment in Falling Down and punching someone in the face. Instead I ordered a sandwich and a overpriced juice, I ate and I left. Sometimes I hate California
Anna ..
I love this place but sad they got rid of their famous pasta! I used to come here all the time just for the pasta. I'm giving it a 4 star just because they got rid of it. The nachos is delicious and a great portion. Highly recommend that dish. Great vegan spot and friendly staff.
Food/Drinks: Food is always really good, and drinks are always unique and good as well! I always get dessert too, so yummy! And the food is always presented so beautifully. Service: Very friendly and chill, but sometimes I feel like they're too attentive and conversational. Atmosphere: Very mellow atmosphere, never too loud or difficult to hear, more relaxing Decor: Clean, white and green decor super bright Price: Overpriced Location/Parking: Parking is a nightmare in little italy but there are paid lots and garages nearby as well as street parking
Eden C.
This has been on my list for awhile at the recommendation of a friend and it did not disappoint! I feel like California has really fresh vegetables and they really knew how to use the ingredients. They are all vegan but you don't need to be vegan to enjoy the food here. For brunch, we were stellar (blue spirulina smoothie), nourished (breakfast wrap) and hearty (tofu scramble). I know coconut can be decisive (people either love it or hate it) - and all I could taste in the smoothie was coconut, fyi. It was so good, we went back for dinner the next day and we were eclectic (buffalo cauliflower), loving (black rice bowl), and fuerte (crunchwrap). Everything was a 10/10. Everyone here is so nice as well. When you order, you say the gratitude associated with the food (ex: I am stellar) and your server responds back (ex: You are stellar!) so you can't help but be in a great mood at an establishment with such a positive attitude.
Nicole N.
I'm going to be honest, I was trying to go to Morning Glory, and was unaware of the insane wait times, so we bailed and came here instead. I know a couple of friends who had eaten here earlier in the week and they said it was really good. I did not realize the entire menu was vegan, but I was excited to have a new experience! EXPERIENCE We walked in on a Saturday morning for a table of 3. They said come back in 10 minutes, and the estimate was accurate, although the inside did not look very full. The server was very kind and attentive. Our original table was a bit dirty and in the sun, so they kindly moved us to another table. They try to make the experience interactive and mindful which was unique. The server asked us a question of the day which sparked conversation. She overall was a very cheery person, and gave us a good start to the day! FOOD (4/5) I am Festive (chilaquiles) - The chips were very crunchy, I feel like sometimes with chilaquiles the chips get soggy very quickly. I really enjoyed the mushroom carnitas, but I wish the portion was a bit bigger. I struggled to spread it out and have a bit in every bite. The cashew crema was also very good, I liked the subtle nutty flavor. I added guac to my order, I kind of wish I has just added plain avocado. The guac was very lime forward, but maybe you are into that. DRINK (4/5) I am Immortal (ayurvedic latte) - I asked the waitress to sense my vibe and recommend me one of their unique drinks. She picked this out for me. I had never had ayurvedic before, so it was definitely an unique experience. I can only describe the taste as herbal, and feels healthy. I wouldn't say it was sweet either, borderline bark like? But I didn't think it tasted bad, I finished the whole thing. Great for the adventurous beverage drinker. OVERALL I would highly recommend this place for your vegan friends. Even if you are not vegan/vegetarian, the food is still very flavorful and tasty. I didn't necessarily miss having eggs or meat which was interesting. The wait staff was very kind and attentive. The ambiance inside was very modern and peaceful. I would come here again if I lived in the area. A great start to my day!
Linda K.
Wow. I added the SMOKED TOFU to a Kale and Broccolini dish (daily special? A lot like I Am Enchanting). So flavorful - Loved it! AND such nice friendly and fast service by the gals working the online order pickup counter. Thanks team!
J
It's because of places like this one that I wish we could give more stars ...During a recent trip to SD, I had the privilege to do both take out and then also dine in at this lovely restaurant. A true vegan, I am not, but two friends are and one being local said it was one of the best she's ever eaten at and the other friend is a wandering traveler like myself and he too had nothing but positive rave reviews about the food as well. Ordering online was a breeze and when picked up everything was packaged beautifully and still piping hot. Dine in, both indoor and outdoor seating is offered, only one down side of eating outdoors are the flies that bug you once your food arrives but obviously not the restaurants fault, they generously offered us an inside table and we continued on our feast!Onto the food!I AM EXQUISITE - Coconut Calamari —What kind of voodoo is this?! I had to double check the mission statement after trying this.. The flaky and lightly crispy beer-batter crust wrapped each mesmerizing bite. I dare say I may like this better than REAL calamari!I AM ECLECTIC - Buffalo Cauliflower - The batter on each morsel was really reminiscent of what you would expect on a usual piece of popcorn chicken that it made you forget it's a fried veggie. The buffalo sauce had an enjoyable salty vinegary spicy kick .I AM GIVING - Hawaiian Pizza- A controversial topic across the culinary world. I am PRO-Hawaiian! I have tried many vegan pizzas looking to replace that flavor of a city slice from local spots in NYC and this one def didn't disappoint! On this particular one, I've had smokey tempeh in the past but the way they prepared this one made the texture taste of a soft piece of ham. Divine.I AM ENTHUSIASTIC - Chicken Fried Mushroom Sandwich. - A fried chicken sandwich is as much of a treat for me growing up as any piece of candy. I knew mushrooms were versatile and have had many crimini mushroom burgers that embodied the flavor of beef so well. I never thought they could also become chicken!I AM MAGICAL- Black bean burger - my dining partner said this was a bit underwhelming when she got it the last time she was here and upon hearing that our server told us that it was way better in a wrap than in a regular bun so we did just that! The patty still has some chunky black beans in it so I liked the texture difference it created in every bite.Mushroom Carnitas - These are a side you can add to any dish and this is so freakin delicious that you must get then with just about everything.I AM LIBERATED - One would think because it's noodles made of kelp it would taste kind of like the ocean or fishy even, but NOPE! The raw basil pesto with the briny olives, sweet cherry tomatoes and the fermented nut cheeses gave this dish a wonderful burst of flavors and mouth feel.I AM LOVING - Forbidden black rice bowl - This black rice bowl was exactly what my black soul needed today. Not only did everything taste great combined into one bite, but every individual component of this dish could definitely stand alone as their own.Of course we had to dessert as well! The strawberry mousse pie was refreshingly light and the warm chocolate chip cookie skillet with pistachio ice cream was just divine.Being a bit cynical and very sarcastic NYer, I had mixed feelings about the titles of each dish, positive affirmations that you had to say out loud to order the dishes you wanted - but truth be told, it does bring a spot of positive bright energy to your meal. Our server said that there was a ? of the day and asked if we would answer, so we obliged and the question was, "what makes you grateful today?"... We each said ours and she shared hers. She said by day she was a NICU nurse and that she was grateful to be able to help these tiny humans in her charge... Well, as a mama of three now healthy sausages who were all previous NICU babies at birth, I thank you deeply.OH AND CAN YOU PLEASE OPEN IN NYC?! Pretty please!!!
A great vegan restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. It would be a lot nicer if you actually got served. Especially, for the prices. Don’t expect to find any parking nearby, but that’s normal for little Italy. Plenty of seating, indoors and outdoors. No reservations needed.
Bright, airy restaurant serving vegan eats. The "chicken" and waffles was a fun version of the classic southern dish. The "chicken" was deep fried oyster mushrooms, which mimicked the flavor and texture of chicken remarkably well. The oat waffle was thick, chewy, and heavy. The Caesar salad with shiitake bacon, croutons, capers, and brazil nut parm was an excellent substitute for the real thing, although I would have preferred more of the shiitake bacon bits. The forbidden black rice bowl was a cacophony of competing flavors. While it was filled with all sorts of individually tasty items, the flavors didn't come together as a coherent dish. There was so much going on that eating it just felt laborious and tiresome. It's not the best vegan food I've ever had but given the dearth of vegan options in San Diego, it'll do.Vegetarian options: This is a vegan restaurant.
Reasonable vegetarian and vegan selections.Ordered items had over powering flavor not suitable to its name or reputation. Items ordered were bland and was disappointing.Service was forgettable and disappointing. Our service concierge just took off while enquiring about dishes and it was awkward. We had come all the way due to its reputation but were squarely disappointed.
This is a truely fantastic restaurant, serving interesting, imagionative, delicious food. Everyone who works in this fabulous restaurant really serves by its philosophy. They were full of joy and helpfulness. The food and service was amazing as always and we left with our hearts full of joy and hope. We had celebrated our 25 year anniversary there and returned for our 30th (from Ireland!) We HIGHLY recommend this place. Thank you Gratitude Ruth and Cathal
We tried black bean burger, eggplant parmesan foccacia and pesto pasta salad. I think the food is great. Amazing Vegan menu, not all food items taste meat-y which is great. From the price point- i think its little expensive and that is only con for this place. Staff is really friendly, we were helped by Eric and he was great and helpful ???
Honestly, the worst food I've ever eaten. I only ordered from here via a third party app that offered 50% off, and I regret it. Everything is vegetarian, but nothing is palatable. The black bean quesadilla was specifically disgusting. The mac n cheese tasted like plastic and went straight In the trash.
Driving around Little Italy for a breakfast spot this weekend and we came across Cafe Gratitude. Walked up front to the hostess and she said it would be about a 15-20 min wait to be seated. We asked if we could get some drinks while we waited and she said we would have to go to the 'To Go' area of the cafe to order it as the bar doesn't serve that. Didn't make much sense but we went to the to go portion of the cafe and ended up just ordering our food there as we didn't have to wait long. The cashier was friendly, helpful and answered all our questions. He even made sure to ask if me being gluten free was an allergy or a preference, which I really appreciated. I got the French Toast but had it made with the gf sourdough and a hot chai with oat milk as they were out of almond milk that day. My date got a egg and spinach wrap with a side of potatoes, an americano and a smoothie. Our food came out relatively quick as there was no line in the To Go area, and we were allowed to sit outside and eat our breakfast as well. So this is an option if you don't want to wait to be seated. Now onto the food, the french toast was filling and had a good taste to it. A row of jam strawberries with powder sugar and a side of syrup to bring in the flavor. The chai with oat milk was creamy, had a really nice flavor too it. The egg and spinach wrap looked really good with lots of veggies in it, he said it was worth it and that the americano was good. The smoothie was amazing, fresh! I will be coming back here again the next time I visit, really liked the hospitality of this place, excellent service and food was overall very tasty!
We loved the Mexican brunch! Everything was super fresh, the place is cute and it's a total relief to order from a vegan menu!
Vegetarian restaurant in little Italy. I should've known. I can imagine a team of white woman from the orange county designing the menu: I am worthy, I am healthy, I am succulent. No, I'm not high, those are the names of the dishes. Not kidding. I could see myself having a Michael Douglas moment in Falling Down and punching someone in the face. Instead I ordered a sandwich and a overpriced juice, I ate and I left. Sometimes I hate California
I love this place but sad they got rid of their famous pasta! I used to come here all the time just for the pasta. I'm giving it a 4 star just because they got rid of it. The nachos is delicious and a great portion. Highly recommend that dish. Great vegan spot and friendly staff.
Restaurantji Recommends
Food/Drinks: Food is always really good, and drinks are always unique and good as well! I always get dessert too, so yummy! And the food is always presented so beautifully. Service: Very friendly and chill, but sometimes I feel like they're too attentive and conversational. Atmosphere: Very mellow atmosphere, never too loud or difficult to hear, more relaxing Decor: Clean, white and green decor super bright Price: Overpriced Location/Parking: Parking is a nightmare in little italy but there are paid lots and garages nearby as well as street parking
This has been on my list for awhile at the recommendation of a friend and it did not disappoint! I feel like California has really fresh vegetables and they really knew how to use the ingredients. They are all vegan but you don't need to be vegan to enjoy the food here. For brunch, we were stellar (blue spirulina smoothie), nourished (breakfast wrap) and hearty (tofu scramble). I know coconut can be decisive (people either love it or hate it) - and all I could taste in the smoothie was coconut, fyi. It was so good, we went back for dinner the next day and we were eclectic (buffalo cauliflower), loving (black rice bowl), and fuerte (crunchwrap). Everything was a 10/10. Everyone here is so nice as well. When you order, you say the gratitude associated with the food (ex: I am stellar) and your server responds back (ex: You are stellar!) so you can't help but be in a great mood at an establishment with such a positive attitude.
I'm going to be honest, I was trying to go to Morning Glory, and was unaware of the insane wait times, so we bailed and came here instead. I know a couple of friends who had eaten here earlier in the week and they said it was really good. I did not realize the entire menu was vegan, but I was excited to have a new experience! EXPERIENCE We walked in on a Saturday morning for a table of 3. They said come back in 10 minutes, and the estimate was accurate, although the inside did not look very full. The server was very kind and attentive. Our original table was a bit dirty and in the sun, so they kindly moved us to another table. They try to make the experience interactive and mindful which was unique. The server asked us a question of the day which sparked conversation. She overall was a very cheery person, and gave us a good start to the day! FOOD (4/5) I am Festive (chilaquiles) - The chips were very crunchy, I feel like sometimes with chilaquiles the chips get soggy very quickly. I really enjoyed the mushroom carnitas, but I wish the portion was a bit bigger. I struggled to spread it out and have a bit in every bite. The cashew crema was also very good, I liked the subtle nutty flavor. I added guac to my order, I kind of wish I has just added plain avocado. The guac was very lime forward, but maybe you are into that. DRINK (4/5) I am Immortal (ayurvedic latte) - I asked the waitress to sense my vibe and recommend me one of their unique drinks. She picked this out for me. I had never had ayurvedic before, so it was definitely an unique experience. I can only describe the taste as herbal, and feels healthy. I wouldn't say it was sweet either, borderline bark like? But I didn't think it tasted bad, I finished the whole thing. Great for the adventurous beverage drinker. OVERALL I would highly recommend this place for your vegan friends. Even if you are not vegan/vegetarian, the food is still very flavorful and tasty. I didn't necessarily miss having eggs or meat which was interesting. The wait staff was very kind and attentive. The ambiance inside was very modern and peaceful. I would come here again if I lived in the area. A great start to my day!
Wow. I added the SMOKED TOFU to a Kale and Broccolini dish (daily special? A lot like I Am Enchanting). So flavorful - Loved it! AND such nice friendly and fast service by the gals working the online order pickup counter. Thanks team!
It's because of places like this one that I wish we could give more stars ...During a recent trip to SD, I had the privilege to do both take out and then also dine in at this lovely restaurant. A true vegan, I am not, but two friends are and one being local said it was one of the best she's ever eaten at and the other friend is a wandering traveler like myself and he too had nothing but positive rave reviews about the food as well. Ordering online was a breeze and when picked up everything was packaged beautifully and still piping hot. Dine in, both indoor and outdoor seating is offered, only one down side of eating outdoors are the flies that bug you once your food arrives but obviously not the restaurants fault, they generously offered us an inside table and we continued on our feast!Onto the food!I AM EXQUISITE - Coconut Calamari —What kind of voodoo is this?! I had to double check the mission statement after trying this.. The flaky and lightly crispy beer-batter crust wrapped each mesmerizing bite. I dare say I may like this better than REAL calamari!I AM ECLECTIC - Buffalo Cauliflower - The batter on each morsel was really reminiscent of what you would expect on a usual piece of popcorn chicken that it made you forget it's a fried veggie. The buffalo sauce had an enjoyable salty vinegary spicy kick .I AM GIVING - Hawaiian Pizza- A controversial topic across the culinary world. I am PRO-Hawaiian! I have tried many vegan pizzas looking to replace that flavor of a city slice from local spots in NYC and this one def didn't disappoint! On this particular one, I've had smokey tempeh in the past but the way they prepared this one made the texture taste of a soft piece of ham. Divine.I AM ENTHUSIASTIC - Chicken Fried Mushroom Sandwich. - A fried chicken sandwich is as much of a treat for me growing up as any piece of candy. I knew mushrooms were versatile and have had many crimini mushroom burgers that embodied the flavor of beef so well. I never thought they could also become chicken!I AM MAGICAL- Black bean burger - my dining partner said this was a bit underwhelming when she got it the last time she was here and upon hearing that our server told us that it was way better in a wrap than in a regular bun so we did just that! The patty still has some chunky black beans in it so I liked the texture difference it created in every bite.Mushroom Carnitas - These are a side you can add to any dish and this is so freakin delicious that you must get then with just about everything.I AM LIBERATED - One would think because it's noodles made of kelp it would taste kind of like the ocean or fishy even, but NOPE! The raw basil pesto with the briny olives, sweet cherry tomatoes and the fermented nut cheeses gave this dish a wonderful burst of flavors and mouth feel.I AM LOVING - Forbidden black rice bowl - This black rice bowl was exactly what my black soul needed today. Not only did everything taste great combined into one bite, but every individual component of this dish could definitely stand alone as their own.Of course we had to dessert as well! The strawberry mousse pie was refreshingly light and the warm chocolate chip cookie skillet with pistachio ice cream was just divine.Being a bit cynical and very sarcastic NYer, I had mixed feelings about the titles of each dish, positive affirmations that you had to say out loud to order the dishes you wanted - but truth be told, it does bring a spot of positive bright energy to your meal. Our server said that there was a ? of the day and asked if we would answer, so we obliged and the question was, "what makes you grateful today?"... We each said ours and she shared hers. She said by day she was a NICU nurse and that she was grateful to be able to help these tiny humans in her charge... Well, as a mama of three now healthy sausages who were all previous NICU babies at birth, I thank you deeply.OH AND CAN YOU PLEASE OPEN IN NYC?! Pretty please!!!