Peacefood - Upper West Side
Vegan restaurant · Upper West Side ·
Creative vegan fare, desserts & smoothies with an arty vibe
Creative vegan fare, desserts & smoothies with an arty vibe
"I recently went to the Upper West Side to eat at a restaurant, and I have good news. I found a place in this part of town that doesn’t absolutely suck, and I also found out that nachos are considered health food. Turns out I’ve been on a diet for years. If you’ve never been to Peacefood Cafe, this is probably new and confusing information to you. Don’t worry - we’ll clear things up. If you have been to Peacefood Cafe, not only are you probably rolling your eyes at my sarcasm (or what I prefer to call meat eater’s wit), but you are also likely annoyed by the fact that we just figured out that this place exists. I will apologize for exactly one of those things. For those not yet indoctrinated into the cult of Peacefood, let us get you up to speed. This restaurant has been operating since 2009 under the mantra that “awareness of non-violence can be spread through feeding people with delicious vegan food.” I have absolutely no idea what that means, but I will say that I felt a warm rush of non-violence flow through my body when I found out that they have nachos on this menu. Like, real, delicious nachos, with real chips and absolutely no sign of ingredients that could also be used to make rope. I also felt significantly less combative when I realized that almost all of the vegan food in this place is quite tasty, though I will admit that I did not eat any of the thing they call “un-chicken.” Just couldn’t get there. Either way, mission accomplished, Peacefood. I am peaceful and I am satisfied. Food Rundown Chickpea Fries A staple item on the Peacefood menu, these chickpea fries are really more like chickpea bricks, in that their flavor, size, and density would make them an ideal foundation for a vegan’s dream home. Order some, and dip them in a mix of agave and hot sauce (your sever can provide both). Peace Bowl A giant bowl of brown rice, served with your choice of vegetables. Our favorite combo is Japanese pumpkin + cauliflower + sautéed bok choi. Go in on this with some sriracha to compliment the ginger dressing and you’ll be stoked. Stoked and really full. Macho Nachos As far as we can tell, the only difference between this plate of nachos and the one we get at the dirty bar near our house is that the cheese on the chips isn’t really cheese. News Flash: The best kind of nacho cheese has always been fake nacho cheese. So I’m glad we’re on the same page there. Fluffy Quinoa Salad A giant salad of quinoa with baby greens, avocado, sweet peppers, corn, and all kinds of other stuff. It’s good and it’s healthy. You’ll see a lot of these on the tables around you. Green Thai Curry A very solid curry with tofu. Thai and Indian flavors are common here, probably because they can make pretty much anything taste good. Key Lime Pie A raw key lime pie that is probably a good substitute for the real thing if you can’t eat cooked food or gluten or whatever other poisons are in real key lime pie." - Chris Stang
"Peacefood Cafe falls near the top of our list of vegan restaurants that don’t suck. You can go full-on vegan cheese and faux chicken here, but we suggest starting with the quinoa salad and some chickpea fries. They also have “nachos” here, so we’re going to go ahead and say those are healthy too." - chris stang
"The Upper West Side outpost of this 20-year-old vegan brand — which had already closed several other locations over the years — shut its last remaining uptown location on August 25, according to a company announcement. " - Melissa McCart
"Whenever i'm feeling like I should be eating a bit more healthy, I head over to Peacefood Cafe. It's a fun place with lots of natural light and a lively atmosphere filled with happy waiters and fresh food. I've tried a number of things, which have all been good, but my favorites are the pan-seared shanghai-style dumplings and sushi roll (made with raw vegetables only) and tahini sprouts sandwich! They also have great smoothies as well if you're on a liquid diet." - Ken Pao
"Peacefood is perfect for when you need a low-key place where you can just walk in and not worry about explaining your dietary preferences to three different waiters. At this all-day vegan spot, GF items are clearly labeled on the menu, with options like pumpkin quiche, chickpea fries (an essential order), and a variety of baked goods. Peacefood is casual, the food comes out quickly, there's a location near Union Square, in addition to this one on the Upper West Side. " - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine
