I like to call Candle Cafe East, located on the Upper East Side, “Candle 79′s kid sister.” The vegan trio (completed by Candle Cafe West on the west side) is New York City’s favorite dining establishment for vegans and countless other folks who crave delicious food that is animal free and grown without the use of pesticides and other chemicals. Vegan or not, the food at Candle Cafe East is great and it is the perfect place to go when you desire a delicious, yet casual meal…
Candle Cafe has an extensive gluten free menu that is available on their website and upon request. The menu contains crowd favorites including the crystal rolls (carrot, cucumber, apple, red cabbage, avocado, wrapped in rice paper), ginger miso stir fry, kale salad with artichoke hearts, radicchio, fennel, carrots and apples, and the baked portobello steak. My personal favorite is the good food plate. You choose four of your favorite sides (which are ~$5 individually) plus any two dressings, for a total of $18. My favorite sides are the sauteed broccoli and cauliflower, fingerling potatoes, sauteed greens, and baked sweet potato. For dessert, the chocolate mousse pie, passion fruit creme brulee, and sorbet/coconut based ice creams are all gluten free and excellent.
I recently went to Candle Cafe for brunch, and was incredibly impressed by their gluten free brunch menu. The brunch entrees are unique and different, and replicate classic American brunch meals, but prepared with all vegan ingredients. The chickpea crepe was unlike anything I had ever seen, and filled with all of my favorite vegetables (spinach, butternut squash, and more) and the huevos rancheros with spicy tempeh-potato hash, refried black beans, and guacamole on a corn tortilla was incredible. Farm to table food, with a casual and homey ambiance; Candle Cafe East is great for everyone… not just vegans!