Amy Lauren S.
Yelp
If you're looking for a unique lunch that you can't find anywhere else in Charleston, the Café of Sweet Abundance is your place. I'd expect to find restaurants like this in Asheville, Seattle, or California, but not in the suburbs like West Ashley.
The restaurant has a hippie, earthy, vibe, with the chocolate chip cookie painted on the outside that brings a smile to my face when I sit in Ashley River Rd. traffic. They opened just prior to the COVID pandemic, and I'm grateful they survived such a trying time for restaurants.
On my first visit, I ordered a MacDaddy Chick'N Sandwich, which consisted of vegan "chicken", dairy-free "cheese", pesto, and nutty granola. I'm pescatarian now, but have eaten many real chicken sandwiches in my life, and this sandwich beats all of those. When you bite into your sandwich, go in with an open mind about the new foods you're trying, rather than what is "missing".
The sandwich ingredients are flavorful and combine well. The dairy-free cheese is the best I've had, with a consistency and taste like real cheese rather than the grainy texture of some vegan cheeses. The pieces of chick'n are small but in every bite of the sandwich, and the pesto and granola add crunch. The warm, gluten-free bread holds the panini ingredients together well, and I couldn't tell a difference from other locally-sourced breads.
My sandwich came with a small "life changing" cookie on the side, which is the perfect dessert and eases the pain of the $14 price tag of the sandwich. The cookie was soft but filled with crunch from granola. Everything is naturally sweetened and the taste reflects that, but I gobbled it right up. Unlike a lot of artificially sweetened or heavily sweetened foods, I was satisfied with the small cookie and wasn't craving more sugar.
A week later, I returned to try the Chick'N and Waffles. Since I don't eat actual chicken, this was my first time ever having the traditional southern delicacy. The waffles were thick and filling, and I was full after eating about half the entrée. I ate the rest later, and it reheated perfectly.
The "MacDaddy Butter" that comes with the Chick'N and Waffles tastes a little like pimento cheese. One piece of Chick'N, a bite of waffle, and a little bit of MacDaddy butter = Happiness in your mouth.
Everything at Café of Sweet Abundance is gluten free and vegan, but don't let those words turn you off. If someone has food allergies, this is the perfect spot because everyone can enjoy it with no worries. Sometimes paying a little more is worth the peace of mind that you won't accidentally get a meat item. All of my vegan or vegetarian friends can relate.
Whether you're trying to incorporate more plant-based foods in your diet or just want a lunch you can't get anywhere else, Café of Sweet Abundance is worth the splurge for special occasions or to brighten an ordinary day.