Angelica Kitchen

08/31/2008 Posted by joehoya

went to angelica kitchen tonight, mediocre place. we put our name on the list and went to grab a bottle of wine. ten minutes later, we came back but the aloof hostess didn't even remember us. anyway, the waitress was below avg. she was nice enough but we only saw her twice - i thought she left the city for the long weekend. it does have a nice atmosphere and was packed. the quarters are tight, esp. if you're a duo, but i like that. food was frankly pretty bad. the hummus appetizer is hard to mess up, but they only gave enough stale pita chips to eat 1/3 of the hummus. my dashi noodles were extremely bland, and the only thing they had to help it out was some cayenne pepper. the upside, byo and it was pretty cheap. given the plethora of byos in the east village, you're not missing out if you skip this place, unless you can't eat anything but bland organic, vegetarian food.

Pros: nice ambience, cheap, byo

Cons: food, service

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

07/21/2008 Posted by ryankevy8

I never knew that Angelica's Kitchen cooked their vegetables, they loose their valuable nutrients inside if this happens!!?? And to think where all my hard earned money is going to!!

Pros: the ambience

Cons: THE FOOD

01/28/2008 Posted by nycdino

Although the service was outstanding, and every single salad dressing I've ever had here have been good enough to have me running back for more, some of the dishes were off-putting. But, as I mentioned, the service is outstanding, so if you do order something that you absolutely hated, they're pretty nice about taking it off your bill. Granted, it means that it's best to ask questions of the servers before you order something. For example, I ordered the cashew hummus, expecting it to be a creamy sort of mound with some vegetables. Even after seeing in the description that there were raw (soaked, of course) chickpeas in there, I figured that they had some way of grinding it all down enough that it'd come pretty close to cooked hummus. I took less than one bite, and couldn't continue. I asked the waiter for another selection, and told him that I couldn't really eat the rest of it. He cleared the plate away, and came back to tell me that they'd be taking it off the bill. Definitely try one of the vegetable juices. They really pack a lot of flavour, and are worth trying out, especially if you haven't had freshly made juice before. Also, give the specials a whirl if you're going with two people. The special is listed on the menu itself, complete with description. Meanwhile, because the portion of the special is so large, it's the perfect size to share with someone.

Pros: Very friendly staff, knowledgeable staff, fun place to hang out

Cons: some dishes are odd

11/08/2007 Posted by veggie2001

Everytime I go to this restaurant I am inspired and reminded why it's great to be a vegetarian. They really keep it interesting, decor is nice, service is generally good... A winner all around, even for meat eaters.

Pros: Veggie delights

Cons: the water is served without ice.

07/29/2007 Posted by annayan

Angelica's Kitchen has been one of my favorite restaurants for years. I am not vegan, and neither are most of the people who love to dine there with me. Their food is consistantly great and the dimly lit, amber dining room is a calming joy to fill up in. I love the Angelica corn bread which is satisfyingly dense, moist and crisp on the outside. Pair it with the miso tahini spread and your eyes will roll back in your head (I swear). The specials are usually the best offerings on the menu, although I'm always slightly embarassed to have to say the names out loud (Corn on the Fourth of July!). Everybody needs a laugh, I guess. Recently tried the hot open faced tempeh sandwich and loved it. The walnut lentil pate served with rice crackers is rich and creamy and delicious. Norimaki always hits the spot. Save room for dessert (any of the parfaits, or anything with the maple tofu whip is beyond good) and order a hibiscus cooler. Have fun.

05/24/2007 Posted by wilneida

I have been a vegetarian for over 10 years who often dabbles with vegan food; so I am well acquainted with these diets. Let me just say my meal last night at Angelica Kitchen actually got me thinking of a nicely seasoned pork chop again. This restaurant serves vegan food with such blandness that I was regretting being a vegetarian. My group had a dragonbowl which some sauces (that were alittle more flavorful, but still not progressive in flavor) and some of their specials which included a bean chili and asparagus dish; although somewhat pleasing to the eyes, the food was seriously lacking in the flavor department. What is so confusing is that this place is always busy?? If you really want to taste vegan food with intense flavors and textures, please visit the Tiengarden Vegan restaurant on 170 Allen street; so far, this restaurant has been one of the few vegan restaurants who really take vegan cuisine to a new level. Needless, to say my meal at Angelica Kitchen left me bitterly disappointed and also two of the people from the group got severe stomach upsets after eating there......possibly a lack of freshness in the food...who knows....but this place is one to avoid.

Pros: Service Staff was very polite and friendly, there was prompt seating

Cons: I would suggest their cooking staff go back to culinary school to learn how to cook vegan/vegetarian food.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

01/19/2007 Posted by hansberlin

Great interesting variety of foods, and friendly service. I like the term "assertive condiments", but I prefer to praise the creative transfer of "regular" dish types into vegan/veg versions. It made me feel at home again.

Pros: Great Vegetarian options

Cons: not extremely close to where I live or work

11/10/2006 Posted by bg11215

I've been there a few times. The food is pretty good, but the tempeh on the tempeh sandiwich I had was cold and bland, tasted like it had been sitting out for a while. I go more frequently to the take out side located right next door, and I have to say, they need some training. The workers don't seem at all to be concerned with prompt service. They are very bad at calling out your order once it has arrived from the kitchen so that you can pick it up. It's very irritating. One time my fresh juice sat there for like 10 minutes before the guy behind the counter gave it to me--10 minutes!! And I'd been standing there waiting the whole time yet he didn't say anything. Another time the girl behind the counter (the only one there helping several customers) carried on a conversation with one of them, either a friend or a regular, all the while neglecting orders that were sitting ready to be given to customers, of which one was mine. I wish this could be brought to the attention of the owner/management. Hopefully they will read this, as I really wish the staff would do a better job at this. Otherwise the food is good and I'll continue to go there, and recommend it, especially the take out; just be prepared to wait.

Pros: good healthy food

Cons: very slow take out service

09/21/2006 Posted by sarn_helen

i loved this restaurant so much! i can't stop thinking about the wee dragon bowl my friend ordered. (oh i should have ordered one too.. although i loved the 3 item picnic plate i ordered... the norimaki with seitan was fantastic!) i kept stealing pieces of pumpkin and squash from my friend's plate. :) and i feel so inspired to make my own dragon bowls at home (minus the seaweed, i'm not very into sea vegetables, i don't mind them in sushi rolls). i asked our waiter what a regular sized dragon bowl was like because the wee dragon bowl was a lot of food.. he says it's served on the same plate but piled twice as high... that would be a satisfying meal... their dessert of the day was a pear hazlenut spelt crumble with maple-nut whipped cream. it was amazing!! i loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. my only possible complaint was the table we sat at.. it was right in the path of where people walked in and out of the kitchen. i actually think they shouldn't have a table there... the food was a good distraction though! :D

08/25/2005 Posted by apt14

GREAT vegan restaurant! The most expensive item on the menu is $16 and this is for the daily specials. Most items range between $6-$10, which is EXTREMELY reasonable for NYC. This place is designed for vegans and those that appreciate vegan food and a healthy lifestyle. (So those who thought the food was "bland" probably were just craving something deep fried and covered in salt and oil.) The daily specials and desserts are the best thing on the menu. You will definitely find something you like here but it may take some serious hunting through the many options in the menu. The staff is extremely helpful and knowlegable in this sense. Sometimes yes, the wait is long, but it's worth it. Remember to bring cash (they dont take credit cards and for a VERY good reason) and an open mind. You'll leave happy, and with money leftover.

Pros: friendly staff, no cell phones

Cons: one bathroom, crowded seating