Sweet Cherubim

What's in a name? If it wasn't for the fact that we parked right in front of Sweet Cherubim Vegan and saw the pictures of food on their window while we were hungry, we would not have made it our destination lunch place. But we were hungry and intended to walk down Commercial Drive to find a place to eat. Although we weren't looking for vegan, the idea that this vegan restaurant is right in front of us and we didn't need to walk anywhere else appealed to us. Once inside, we saw that it is a restaurant more than with a lot of ready made stews and salads rather than just sandwiches and rolls as advertised on their outside window. My friend tried the Dahl balls with a whole wheat chapatti, I tried the vegetable korma with organic brown rice, and my partner tried the grilled sandwich with avocado. The vegetable korma was ok taste wise. I am glad it does not contain dairy. But I got a large chunk of potato rather than broccoli or cauliflower. The grilled sandwich was boring, I think jack fruit burger would have been better. My friend loved the Dahl balls. To fully explore the vegan options here, we would have to come back another time where I would try the jackfruit, and may be even the Dahl balls and baked samosa. They have an extensive selection of sweet cakes and cookies that at first glance, looked really unhealthy. But after reading most of the ingredients, they don't seem to use sugar at all. Instead, they use dates and rice syrup as sweetener. I don't have sugar in my house. To find a vegan bakery that doesn't use sugar is a dream. For dessert, we shared a spirulina ball, which is like an energy bar in texture. At first, we thought it was kind of stiff, but after enjoying a bite or two, we agreed that the texture is just right, and it is not too sweet, with nuts and dates inside, it tasted yummy and healthy. We've since been back several times visiting their grocery store. They carry a vast selection of dried fruit, organic and non-organic nuts from Everland. They make a variety of sugar-free and gluten-free bliss balls and raw bars and we quite enjoy those. I also bought a few prepared food like stew jackfruit, stewed lentils and other curries but unfortunately, we didn't enjoy any of those as they are all quite strongly flavoured with garlic, and some of them are too acidy and spicy for us.

A nice, low-key place for delicious vegan food with an Indian focus! I came here with my friends and I had a decent experience with the restaurant aspect of the business, but I cannot comment on the store. I ordered an Indian Thali and the food I received was prepared quickly and the portions were of a decent size for the price. I was able to choose one side-dish and one dal to go with the thali from the display case, and everything I ate was good. I also appreciated receiving some complimentary desert from the staff! The location is fairly compact with a small amount of seating, and the place has a casual vibe. I'd like to come back to try more of their menu, but I also found it a little confusing when some items in the online dine-in menu were not on the menu behind the register. I will need to clarify this next time I go.

Quite simply, the most amazing "home-cooked feel" food one could possibly imagine. Vegan, gluten-free. Whatever magic they are cooking with here, is 🔥. 10/10 would recommend.

I've been a client since 1995, I love their samosas and desserts mainly, but I buy other things as well when needed, (vitamins, drinks, etc). The service is always fantastic and friendly even when they are busy! Just to give you an idea of how great the staff is, I accidentally left an item behind after purchasing it. They put it aside for me till I returned the following week. Thank you.

This place is an absolute gem. Upon walking in, I was instantly drawn in by the variety of food options and the delightful atmosphere. Opting for the large California salad, I can confidently say it's the best salad I've ever had in Vancouver—no exaggeration. Packed with flavor and nutrition, this salad would easily cost $40 at Whole Foods, yet it's only $16 and generously serves two people. My friend tried the rice bowl and absolutely loved it. This spot is a must-visit. Additionally, I discovered that the other side houses a store with an array of amazing food items, products, and produce. Highly recommended! P.S. Don't miss out on the wonderful back patio.

The worst too good to go app experience I've had. Staff were super rude, obnoxious and unwelcoming and the bag contents were dire. It's a shame as this joint smells incredible from the exotic spices and smells of homemade veggie-based Indian food and treats as well as offers some great wholesome and healthy products.

So many options!! Food seemed fresh and healthy. The split pea soup was amazing. Ill need to go back and try other thjngs because the selection is enormous!! From smoothie, sweets, soups, salad, pasta, dishes etc theres a bit of everything. Service was aight tho kinda not super friendly but polite.

Sweet Cherubim has been a local favourite of mine for over twenty years. You have to love a business who dares to be different. I raised my daughter on their samosas! Food is fresh and down to earth. They always carry great products in the store.

I have been popping into the shop and restaurant for many years and they never disappoint. When I am on the go, I always get a baked samosa. I find that it is a delicious alternative to a fried samosa. The options are all vegetarian/vegan. When I am in the restaurant I go for the Dahl or pakoras. If you are in the neighbourhood, it's a great spot to get a warm and hearty meal.

Went here for a small late night snack with my partner. Got the potato and pea samosa and goulash soup combo. Note that the "combo" is not any cheaper than buying both separately. The samosa had the best samosa skin I've ever had! Amazing balance between a thick and thin skin. It was crispy and soft and just perfect for my soft mouth! The filling was average compared to other potato and pea samosas I've had but still great! My only complaint is that the server didn't heat the samosa enough. It was luke warm. The goulash soup was delicious! First time I've had a goulash--good amount of vegetables and well-seasoned. A hearty soup for a cold, rainy night. The space is small and intimate, with few tables surrounding the counter area. Good enough for a small food court styled establishment connected to a grocery store. Your food will be served to where you sit but expect to get your own napkins and cutlery. Also please put your dishes away in the red bins at the back!

Vegetarian and health-oriented Indian food - was this place made for me? I came to check out the restaurant for lunch and was then intrigued to check out the grocery store after. The "restaurant" is actually more of a cafeteria, where you order and pay at the counter and bus your own table. The service wasn't particularly enthusiastic, but they weren't unfriendly either - just don't expect the above-and-beyond hospitality that you might want from a full-service restaurant. But I like the chill, modest atmosphere, and the patio seating especially has a nice feel to it. They have Indian veg dishes, soup and sandwiches, baked goods and raw bars/desserts, smoothies, and tea/coffee. The selection of dahl and subji has many choices that are different from the usual veg dishes at Indian restaurants which is nice to see. I got a light meal of a small pea kofta subji, a chapati, a ginger square, and a mango lassi. Overall I was very happy with my choices. The subji was not too oily and for being a mild spice level, was flavourful enough. The koftas had a great taste and texture. Since these curries are not made to order, they probably have to keep a mild spice level to please everyone, so you can't expect the same intensity as Indian restaurants where they cook to order, but this was still tasty and very easy and pleasant to eat. The chapati was warm and, while probably not cooked on the spot, tasted fresh. The ginger square was great - it was very much like a fudgy brownie with some texture from the nut pieces, and the big slice of crystallized ginger on top enhanced the flavour without being overpoweringly potent. The mango lassi was a little thinner and milder than I am used to, but had a good smooth mouthfeel and natural taste, and made for a nice light refreshing beverage. I would be curious to try their vegan cashew mango lassi and see if I like that better - I didn't notice that they had it until after I'd ordered. I think the price of my meal was totally fair: it was $17 total, and while the portion of subji was not admittedly not as large as the average curry size at an Indian restaurant, it was the perfect size for me, and the overall price was a lot lower than what I usually end up paying for a curry with bread, drink, and dessert. With the restaurant, I think if you try to judge it the same as you would a sit-down, white tablecloth Indian restaurant, you'll probably be underwhelmed, but I looked at it as a casual and quick grocery store cafe, and for the setup, I think what they offer is very good. Same attitude goes for the service - I do not need the cashier at this sort of place to treat me like family like the best restaurant-owners do, I just need them to take my order and my payment and generally be pleasant about it, and they were. Because most of the food was ready to serve, I didn't have to wait very long to get it. From the outside, it doesn't look like they have an efficient system for serving customers (multiple people in the kitchen but they don't seem to have specific jobs, instead doing whatever task comes up, so sometimes there's no one at the register), but I wasn't bothered by it since, again, speed of service after ordering was still pretty quick. The grocery store has a great selection of vegan and natural products, and I ended up buying a few drinks, a few protein/snack bars, and a package of veggie wraps, but I wasn't paying that much attention to the prices while I was shopping and it somehow came to $40. I was thinking the cashier must have added some item twice, but the screen with the list of everything they rang me up for was correct, it's just very expensive. Because of that, I will not be doing more casual shopping there again except for maybe coming back for the wraps that I haven't seen elsewhere. I was torn between giving 3 or 4 stars, but I do feel a very strong pull to visit the restaurant side of the business again, which I feel like a 3-star review would not reflect. So 4 stars it is for a cool little vegetarian Indian cafe.

A hidden GEM! An extensive selection of decadent vegan, gluten friendly desserts, foods and entire grocery store! A wonderful surprise of indulgence and healthy living. Definitely will be back. Thank you for providing a life enriching experience.

Wished I read my previous review. Some of the tiniest portions ever for 13.00 and took ages to get my food. Can't believe I came back. Should have gone to wholefoods or even bloody subway for a vegetarian meal

I didn't know they sell baked goods until I saw samosa at entrance. Right door: suppliments, dry ingredients, natural food, home made indian snack e.t.c something good for your body. Left door: cafe used those goodies. I had Pecan carob cookie $3.10 after tax. Very big, heavy(it contains lots of nuts) and satisfying for my stomuch. I like they don't use refined sugar. Agave and maple syrup was enough sweet and makes me feel guilty how much I have way too much sugar everyday. I get used to have just delicious dessert but not good for your body. I had another eye opening experience here.

So happy to have this cafe/grocery store on the Drive. The store has so many vegan/gf options and I was so excited to get my shop on. However, I was quite disappointed with the quality of food (for the price). I ordered their hummus, small pakora, 3 lentil bites, regular chana masala, small lentil stew, and small coconut stew. That came to almost $45. Their hummus was quite bland. Not very smooth and was missing hummus and some lemon juice (and probably salt). The pakora and lentil bites were good but pretty greasy. The pakoras are HUGE and the lentil bites are shaped in a cute heart. They come with a tamarind sauce that goes so well with them. Plus they have a bit of a kick. Very nice. The stews were terrible. The lentil one was sour (I assume from lime juice) but it tasted off. The coconut stew looked like it curdled a bit and not very flavorful. I had to throw both away. I have yet to try the chana masala and a bit hesitant. This experience was not good for me. I had really high hopes but I'm not sure I would go back.

Love it here! We come all the time. My toddler even likes the curries which is a huge win in my books.

This place is like a time warp to old kits when everyone was walking around with rasta braids and the smell of incense. Now there's lots of old hippies walking around. Being new to the vegan lifestyle, more like an onlooker, I thought I'd try it out. The food was just ok. The coconut stew was a bit sour, which was odd and the chai wasn't strongly spiced. The chapati also had an unusual orange spread inside and wasn't soft and chewy, which I prefer. I also tried a cashew butter cookie which was dry and unappealing. I might return to try the baked pakoras one day.

They have no shame in overcharging customers here!!!! After realizing that they charged me extra for some items I went to return the items. I used a credit card to pay but they paid me back in cash! and the cash was not even the total amount they owed me. I had to go back for a third time to get my money back. After getting home, I realized that the items were expired the day before and that's why they had put them for sale. I never thought I should check the expiry dates because selling expired food should be illegal, right? I checked other reviews on google and realized that I wasn't the only customer they tried to rip off. Buyers be aware! They sell expired food here and the cashier puts a higher price and you won't see it because the monitor is not facing the customer. They should be reported right away!!!!!!!!

I've always walked/drove past this place, but never went in. I knew they served plenty of vegetarian/vegan goodies. Pros: - TONS of stuff to choose from. The menu is massive and it takes literally a few minutes to go through everything - v sweet staff - v chill area, it's not pretentious in the slightest, and v warm - inexpensive and guilt-free food - I bought the veg. pakora. It took a while for them to heat up for my take-away order, but it was a v nice gesture. I wish I ate it right then and there. They included all the sauces neatly in the packaging without having me to ask for it. Notes: - tough to find parking on the drive usually, it's also all metered. Might have some luck in the inside streets, but a lot of it is permit only parking. Be prepared to drive around the block a few times if you're not commuting/walking. If you're desperate you can park at the Britannia community centre, pop into the library for a read, just to legitimize you using their parking space maybe?

Indian vegetarian restaurant with a wide variety of good vegan (and raw vegan) options! They have an assortment of traditional Indian dishes, as well as salads, smoothies and desserts. I like the vibe, although I'd say the service is mediocre. On a recent visit, my husband and I both got the rice bowl special which included one large or two small choices of subji or dahl with rice and poppadum for $11.50 each. The food was good although I'd say that they could be flavored a bit more for Indian dishes. I give them points though for the good variety and decent prices. They also have a little shop attached with a lot of vegetarian and vegan products for sale.

Finally i got a moment to write about my visit here last weekend. From the outside , u wont realize that its an indian n that too a vegetarian food place. Adjoining is a grocery / convenience store where u can get anything from lentils to toiletries. The sitting set up is like a small cafe with display of all the food items. Curries , snacks, soups , bread/naan n huge variety of baked goodies. When i eat indian , i like eating typical indian food so this place wasn't for me. Food was not upto my taste of indian snacks n dishes but pretty good. Service is little slow n no service . U hav to order ur food at the counter n then go back to collect it. If u need another pouch of chutney , u would hav to wait until the cashier gets free serving the clients in the line. Indian chai doesn't taste like indian chai but fine just to be called tea. Most importantly, it was expensive comparatively to portion of serving n other authentic indian food places. I would rather recommend tandoor place on commercial drive then here.

Used to be the friendliest, the most tranquil and most healthful, delicious place to eat great food with an East Indian flair. It was food made with care, with expertise, and was never greasy, never sweet unless it was dessert, and every person working in the store and in their restaurant was gentle, kind and pleasant But that was back in the 1980's. Everything there now is the opposite to what it was then. These days its either dripping with oil or today for the first time ever, every single food item I chose and paid for to take home turned out to be SWEET - just like food is when sugar is added. Every single item. I couldn't enjoy it and because it was take out and I was already at home. l phoned the so called manager to him what happened and I expected instead of handling it in a professional way his anger burst through is Mr. Nice Guy social mask and he went ballistic. Awful place now - and I do believe he has been responsible for ruining how it once was. Now it's just another greasy spoon eatery with untrained cooks working in the restaurant, deafening noise from the speakers playing Punjabi tunes full blast, all the food is dripping with grease and filled with white sugar. Staff is ill informed about everything, most of them in your face rude, it's no place for a lady - or a gentleman. We will never be back and neither will any of our friends, family or collegues.

The soup and salad special is great. I couldn't pick a soup, and I was offered to sample their goulash. That's the soup I ended up getting. It was full of flavour- for a vegetarian soup. The salad had crisp fresh veggies (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, sprouts) and I picked their raw dressing. The dressing was too bland in my opinion. For the starch, you can choose between rice, bread, chapatti, but they also said I can choose a samosa instead. That's what I got, the baked zucchini and pea samosa! I could barely find any zucchini but did spot the peas. Their samosas are delicious. The only dish I really liked was the samosa and wouldn't get the soup and salad lunch next time.

I'm not a person who craves Vegetarian food. The dish almost always feels incomplete to me. A salad? Let's slice some grilled chicken on that rabbit food. Baked potato? Let's sprinkle some bacon on it. However, I can make room for Sweet Cherubim from time to time. Sweet Cherubim is a casual eatery, which shares the space with a grocery store. Staring at their menu, it took me the full 5 minutes to make a decision since I kept changing my mind. They have samosas, moussakas, lasagnas, burgers, sandwiches, rolls, subjis, rice bowls, soups, salads and many desserts. (All of which are vegetarian) I finally decided on the 'Soup Special', which came with a cup of soup, salad and rice. This way, I can try a little bit of everything. I chose the kale soup, quinoa salad and rice. The 3 items looked tiny, but make no mistake, it is filling. The food was tasty and healthy without being too greasy to weigh me down. Next time, I'm going to try their subji, which I learned is a term that means 'vegetable dish'. Subjis can be dry, wet or in curry form and the ones at Sweet Cherubim looked delicious.

I always like to stop in here when I'm wandering along Commercial Drive. I usually get the fresh spinach feta samosa (fried or baked). It also has a nice selection of heath goods, whether it's vitamins & minerals (a whole wall of them) Or kombucha, food, baked goods and natural lotions/soaps. The downside is some products can be pricey, but that seems to be the trend all over Vancouver. There is also a nice outdoor seating area to enjoy your food and coffee (from the adjoining cafe).

Good vegan/vegetarian restaurant. It's a favourite spot of ours to sit outside, eat great curries and people watch on Commercial Drive. The staff seem a little grouchy always but the food never disappoints us so we continue to come back.

I'm amazed I have not already reviewed this place! I've been going for years and really find it to be one of the best "non-served at your table" vegetarian places. This place is known for the Samosas and Paokoras but it offers a wide range of options for people with any variety of dietary concerns (GF and more). All of it is flavourful and fillfills my need to once or twice a week not eat meat. Some people think it is pricey,.. I disagree (though their prices do seem to have increased in recent years). The soups and salads are killer, the veggie burger good and the baked desserts are awesome. This is a great place to pop in for something fast on a weeknight where everything else on Commercial with either be true fast (low quality) food, or require a sit down and server for more $.

This place is awesome! The samosas are so good. The potato and pea are my favourite, than the tofu and rice , than the chickpea and rice. The pakoras are delicious. One thing is make sure that you buy enough sauce. Would 100% recommend.

This place is sooooo good. Been coming here for years. They have an amazing selection of eat Indian food and it's all healthy! Lots of raw style desserts and vegan options. You have to come here if your on the drive!! They also have a health food store right next door.

We often enjoy the daily special, choosing Mango Lassie when juice is included. The muffins with fruit and chocolate are so yummy, and the ginger squares are too yummy - addictive!

The renovations look absolutely fabulous! Now we know why the prices are so high. ;P Today I had a Spinach Lentil patty (I forgot what they call it) but you can pick it up in the store part where the cookies are. These make a great gluten free snack! Delicious! I'd stop in anytime for that. The owner was also again very nice and patient today while assisting me. Aside from the owner though, I've seldom been impressed with the service staff. Today it seemed they were training some new faces. One can always hope for improvements! The outdoor seating and sign area have greatly improved and the restaurant part is more styled now. Overall they really have done a fantastic job improving how the place looks!

It's hard to decide what to get the first time you are there. They have all the vegetarian essentials like veggie burgers, wraps and salad, then they have this ready made Indian dishes that you can make a combo with. The menu is up on the wall and I find it hard to understand. Two item combo(thali) is pretty big and filling, but also expensive. The food is average, lot of them are bland but for vegan home style cooking it is as good as it can get. And I don't always seek for the most complicated taste so I go back there often. Their salad is always fresh and you can choose the dressing. The service is average, it's a self serve cafe. They have so many good looking vegan sweets! Unfortunately, it's 2 out of 5. Lot of the time cookies taste rancid and smells like fridge...also very oily.

The food here is awesome. Trying to get your food is a different story. The staff seem nice, just slow and disorganized. If you're patient, it's well worth the wait. My favourite items are the baked Zucchini/Potato/Pea Samosas and Veggie Pakoras with Green Salsa. I'm so addicted I can't even try anything else! They've got a huge selection of other vegetarian dishes too, plus lots of desserts to choose from. If you can't find a seat inside or in front of the restaurant, sneak out to the back patio! Its a little oasis I never even knew existed.

Service takes forever here. If I have to go to a self serve restaurant and wait for the food as long as I do a proper sit-down restaurant, at comparable prices mind you, why would I go to the self serve place? And much of this food is already cooked and sitting there in the trays ready to serve. The waiting time was absolutely RIDICULOUS! My payment receipt was time stamped 2:17. It was 2:34 when I got my order. That's unacceptable for a place where you practically have to eat standing up. The cutlery was dirty. See a picture I have posted of a stained spoon! And they decided to put the "clean" cutlery right underneath where people are using their debit machine. Inconvenient and unsanitary.

I like that they have so many options, and if you're in a hurry a lot of it is pre made so you can eat quickly. I got a brown rice plate with 2 sides of curry and a pappadam. It was pretty good, not too greasy or too spicy. The hardest thing is really deciding what to get, they have so many choices. I like that they label and say what is vegan so it's helpful. I got a piece of banana bread to go and it was very delicious and moist. Banana bread is one of my favourite things, but most places don't make it very well. If i lived closer I would come more often, but for now it will just be when I go to Commercial.

I love the food here, the samosa's are so incredible, and a great veggie burger. The problem is the wait. They move so slow here. I once waited over 45 minutes for my to-go order & noticed how slow they were moving & how much they were visiting instead of working. Really started to make my blood boil after coming here over the years. Will certainly still come for the samosa's, but had to leave this a 2 star review for the terrible service.

I have to say that I absolutely love this place! The portions are huge, and fresh and they have a large variety on the menu. Lots of vegan treats that are SO yummy! They have a tiny outdoor patio but if you can find a seat in the summer it's nice to eat and people watch while on commercial drive. They also have a store attached on the other side to find healthy items to buy as well. They don't have waiters and it's a deli style line up so you have to keep an eye out for when they call your name to get your food. The sunshine dressing is to die for on your salad and everything is made fresh daily and it's my favourite vegan restaurant in town. Every time I'm in that area I just can't pass up going there because the foods too good to pass up. I'd highly recommend checking this place out!!

Open the door to Sweet Cherubim and you will immediately be greeted by warmth and a delicious curry aroma. This place, with its cafe and market, reminds me of the health food stores of the 80s, when carob, yogurt covered raisins, and textured vegetable protein were new concepts. That's not to say that this place is dated in a negative way, it just has a groundedness and old school patina that pre-dates the current hipster wellness craze. Their samosas are the perfect traveler's cold weather food--warm, savory, reasonably priced hand-held pockets of nourishment. I really like how they give you the option of selecting baked or fried pastry, plus a variety of vegetarian fillings to choose from. The spinach feta option was incredibly flavorful and filling. If you're eating in, they also have a million types of cookies and baked goods with classic as well unusual flavors like lemon anise.

If you are celiac or very sensitive to gluten, BEWARE! Their stuff that says "gluten free" is NOT gluten free. I spoke with one of the kitchen staff and their food is all prepared on the same surfaces. Their GF samosas and tikis are cooked in the same oil that their wheat/gluten products are. They have NO DEDICATED SPACES for GF preparation! I found out the hard way. I started suffering a celiac attack and after investigating I found out it was their restaurant! I will NEVER eat there again!

Note: this is a review of the natural food store. I don't know quite what it is about Sweet Cherubim, but I adore this little shop. Sure, the aisles are narrow and cramped and the place smells like hippies, but there's just something about this place that makes me smile. Overall, their prices tend to be on the higher side, but they frequently have specials that kick all the Drive competitors' asses. Currently, they've got pre-made Indian curries (the ones that come in the box) on sale for $1.99 -I LOVE those things, and they're perfect for when I'm too lazy to cook. Also, you can buy litres of organic soy milk on sale for as little as $1.59. Sweet Cherubim also has a nice bulk section, as well as a vast selection of vitamins and supplements. I would never be able to do a complete grocery shop here, but it's always well worth a stop-in to check out the sales. With such a good selection of healthy, organic foods, it's pretty difficult to take anything home that is "bad" for you. It's guilt-free shopping -hooray!

I've been shopping at the Cherubim for about 20 years and not much has changed there. The food in the restaurant side is a-maz-ing! But expensive. The selection in the grocery store side is not the greatest in terms of produce but they certainly have everything else there that the burgeoning hippie could need ;0) I make artisan soap and find that their wall of herbs, spices and flowers (all dried and in jars) is out of this world and pretty reasonably priced. So I would have given Sweet Cherubim 4 or even 5 stars if it weren't for the fact that often (not always) the people who work there are incredibly surly! It makes me feel that shopping there is an inconvenience to them (despite the fact that I have to travel several kilometers to get there). For that reason I only go there when I absolutely have to. A shame really because they really do have great food.

Food poisoning! Don't eat the pakoras or the thin watered down sauce they come with. This is not fit to be consumed and they shouldn't be selling such bad low quality products.

So many great choices for vegan and vegetarian food. And also the staff are very friendly and helpful. If I lived near here I would be coming daily

The food takes WAY too long for a place that has counter service. If they had a server that came to the table I wouldn't mind waiting 20 min for my food. Some of the hot food was cold and the cold drinks were warm. Prices are a bit step but you sort of come to expect the vegan mark up. My wrap was pretty bland.

Food is so healthy. I work here and i started loving organic food and mostly salads. This place is heaven for me not only because i work here, but because as a medical professional i really came to know the organic food value in our life. vegan options, salad variety, Indian food. Just love every food item.

I want to love this place but there are have been too many issues over the past couple years that don't make me feel good about spending my money here. I bought some hazelnuts from the bulk bin only to find caterpillars and eggs in them when I got home. I took them back and was given a refund but a few days later I went back to the bin to find they were still in there! I used to love their baked goods and bliss balls but I would say 25% of the time, the stuff is inedible, stale or just downright mouldy. The last bliss ball I had tasted of onions! With so much stuff on offer, it's impossible for them to sell fresh products daily so it's really down to luck whether what you buy is a day or 10 days old. Whenever I ask what is spicy, I'm always told everything is mild but that just isn't true. Some stuff I can just about eat and the rest BURNS! There's no consistency to this... one samosa will have no spice but on another day, it will be inedible so again, everything is down to luck. Fair enough, I'm sensitive but my chilli loving friends have found a few dishes which were meant to be mild, extremely spicy. This place is almost always hiring and there are new employees every time I visit. I've seen how the boss speaks to his staff and it's no wonder people don't stick around. One last thing... the new water glasses. Are they serious?? They're TINY! I spent my whole lunch walking back and forth to refill. I crossed paths on numerous occasions with a 5 year old doing the same thing and heard him saying they were tiny, even with his tiny 5 year old hands! This place needs a revamp and the owner needs to take a course in running a good business, with quality fresh products which appreciates it's employees and customers.

It's a wonderful restaurant! Arrested Development fans anyone?! Well it is. Two words: Sunshine Dressing. It could be poured on a boot and I would eat it. Fantastic.! I love the California Salad with the tofu cheese..... baked chickpea samosas..... and cookies a plenty. They have a variety of salads and hot dishes to choose from... and everything seems very reasonably priced. I will probably make it a new years resolution to try every dessert in the case :) The service is sometimes scattered and slow... but it's usually on the level. This is my go to place when I don't feel like cooking but want a healthy meal..... which is probably once a week. Check it out!

Let me preface this by saying the food was pretty good. I was happy with my meal and left satisfied with the quantity and quality of it. But the people here were rude beyond belief. Just astoundingly indifferent to customers. My boyfriend and I bought drinks on the store side and came over to the food side for breakfast. When I asked the lady at the register for coins instead of paper after paying for our meal, she simply ignored me. I asked again after we finished eating. Nobody in this place would give me change for a five. Three different people looked right at me - somebody who had literally JUST PURCHASED things from two out of three cash registers - and told me they couldn't do it. The women on the food side of Sweet Cherubim actually had the gall to look at me and say 'The till is closed'. As if she hadn't just had it open minutes ago to take my money. But I guess once that transaction is complete, she could care less about me. My boyfriend was also bumped into by one of the cooking staff as he stood, motionless, beside me in line to pay. She gave him the dirtiest look I've seen in Vancouver, even though he literally had both feet flat on the floor and his hands in his pockets. I felt unwelcome and insulted by the time I walked out the door, and I would never come back here.

You know, I've had a few friends who've worked at Sweet Cherubim, and none of them feel as exuberantly as I do about this place, so let's keep that in mind. That said, I LOVE SWEET C's. There is a huge variety of mostly-vegan, all-vegetarian food on offer here every day, with seasonally changing subji (curry) and other specials. Their veggie burger is bar none the BEST veggie burger I have had in Vancouver, especially with that tofu-dill dressing. Allow 15-20 minutes for them to prepare the burger. If you don't have that kind of time, I recommend the California salad - a huge amount of delicious ingredients for a really good price. Or, the rice bowl special. The samosas are city-famous for being delicious and stuffed full of great fillings. You can even get them baked if you're watching your oil intake. Sweet C's chocolate-covered bliss balls are possibly the best dessert I've ever had, and despite their richness, they don't inspire guilt. The organic grocery store section carries a lot of great products, some even at reasonable prices. A favourite part of the food store is the selection of bulk herbs - make your own tea! Purchase fresh bulk catnip! Probably the best part of the food store is that you can purchase Sweet C's sauces and baked goods in bulk to take home. Their sale prices can beat the best in the neighbourhood - I remember once getting 1L of maple syrup here for 50% off. What?! That never happens! There are certainly some bad things about Sweet C's. The food isn't always fresh, and the service can be a bit strained - they get pretty busy. But there are so many delicious food options and the quality is pretty consistent. I recommend this place for any vegetarian, though your meat-eating friends might find it a bit uninspired. Note: Earth Balance is CHEAP here right now. Large (3lb) tubs for $8.99.

About 20 years ago (*gasp* I'm dating myself here!) I was the volunteer coordinator for the Fringe Festival. One of the other (paid) staffers, who had me located across the street at our then offices, told me to go into Sweet Cherubim for their spinach feta samosas. I was instantly hooked, and had one every day of that year's gig, where I was on the drive. Two decades later (almost), I'm still in love with these samosas. I'm not a huge fan of the restaurant side; the food takes longer than it should, staff are hit and miss, it's pricey, the labeling of ingredients is partial at best depending on the day. The grocery side, I spend more time in, and usually grab my food from there to sit outside. True gem: the herbs in the back, including the hand blended teas. Seriously, they're amazing, and just like they were 20 years ago. While I'm not a huge fan of the lines they carry, can find them cheaper elsewhere, etc I still make a point of coming here for these teas, the samosas, and the Nanaimo bars. These are one of a kind, and must be tried if you're in the area.

Big fat MEH. The only thing I remain impressed with is the dessert case. And even my respect for these gluten free/vegan/organic treats is dwindling fast as they are stacked miles high which makes their freshness suspicious. I agree with a couple of people on here that service is mediocre to flat out rude. It's hard parting with money when dealing with human beings this unpleasant. I'm not sure why these ladies lack basic customer service skills but that's a big reason I won't be back. You would think that good vibes from the Bikrams Yoga upstairs would seep down through the vents... apparently not. The salads have some good flavors but definitely on the greasier side and freshness is again questionable. The prices are definitely a little too high for the portion size and quality of the food. If you do choose to come here the daily special seems to be the most sensible way to go. With so many great options on the drive this place sank to the bottom of my list. Sweet Cherubim needs to hire new staff, possibly new management and iron out the concept. Good luck.

Y'know I'm never happy about the prices but they usually stock all the herbs and preferred shampoos, etc that I like. So that's what makes it worth it, plus I know it's pricey being a business on Commercial Drive. BUT today is the day I am absolutely livid about their customer service. I spent $60 and this included the $3.33 samosa (last time I saw it was $2.95) and the obligatory (it tastes good) .50 cent sauce purchase. Famished, I got home and went to work on my favourite samosa, Tofu Rice. All it contained was rice and carrots - there was one single pea sized tofu. I returned to the store and told them this. I even went as far as to bring the tiny speck of tofu with me in a container. He said they make them in big batches and I must not have got any other ingredients (obviously) in my scoop. It usually includes other vegetables as well as carrots. He didn't try to rectify it by giving me a refund or even a samosa (or whatever). All he said was sorry and made his pathetic excuse. I'm not one for excuses, and if you're running a business excuses mean you're incompetent. I basically paid $4 for some fried rice and carrots. I know it's not a huge amount of money, but if I bought a slice of cheese pizza and found there was no cheese on it I'd be choked and I'm sure the owner would handle the situation better. In the end I told him it was b.s. to be paying that amount of money and not getting anything. Having nothing other than "Sorry" to say, I left in a huff and now I'm here. "Sorry" doesn't mean anything if you aren't actually sorry. Given the crazy turnover - I swear there's a new employee at the cash register every time I go in there - I suppose his behaviour isn't surprising. Now the problem I face is finding somewhere else to get my herbal supplies from. Thank you new car!

The deli is a vegetarian or vegan's dream, but don't eat or order here if you are in a rush the staff takes their time (to say the least). Nevertheless, the selection is amazing. The savory side has a wide mostly Indian inspired food that is amazing, it's hard to choose what to get. The sweet side (the bakery) is amazing, and I don't know what they put in their vegan naniamo bars but they melt in your mouth and scream delicious! If you have any vegetarian or vegan friends (or are one yourself) you must check this place out. There is also a natural food store connected and sometimes they have great deals so check it out while you digest your food.

I've only been here once, mostly because my head exploded and I am now reviewing from beyond the grave. But what happened before my untimely decapitation was this: 1. I ate a samosa that was perfection. 2. Upon spying the all-vegan baked good display, I went temporarily insane and ordered $20 worth of treats to eat later. Nanaimo bars, cookies, squares, more cookies! Sadly, this is when my head actually exploded. But now that I've been spliced with a robot, I can now tell you that I desperately wish a place like this existed in Toronto - vegan, delicious, boasting a bountiful selection and located on an awesome strip. PS: The baked goods lasted for a delectable 4 days of tea and treats. They all had a similar taste to them though - agave? Date? I'm not sure. The bird's nest cookie was my fave.

Although this is a pricey spot, they have some great gems and unique items. I highly recommend stopping by their fresh counter, which has tons of delicious treats, but the real star is always the samosas. I feel like that's what they're known for and with good reason - they're delicious! Yes, they're quite pricey, as are most things in this store, but as a treat they're worth it. This is a great place to find lesser known items and good bits and pieces to keep you healthy! They have a whole cabinet of acidophilus, for example, and a wide selection of natural deodorants etc. A good spot to come if you're looking for something specific, or if you need something to boost your health!

Just went in yesterday to see they have been totally renovated! What a surprise. It looks very nice, but somehow seems more impersonal. As far as food goes, I love it. They have so many delicious gluten free and vegan options, and EVERYTHING is vegetarian. If you're vegetarian or GF I'd say checking this place out is a must. There is a grocery store attached that has all kinds if goodies, too.

I have yet to shop in the grocery section and have only eaten in the cafe. But holy crap-o-la it was good! I hit it up Friday nights after the gym and the first time I ate here, it was so good I made it part of the Friday routine. Samosas, treats, and drinks rank high on my list. If they as if you want veggie butter, the answer is yes. I didn't know what to expect but it's super tasty. C'mon you get get regular butter any time. Try it, you'll dig it. I usually order the same thing, so I've not branched out a great deal, but give it a go. Perfect for friends who are gluten-sensitive, vegetarian, vegan, cleansing or otherwise selective eaters who are a pain in the ass to dine out with. If they can't eat something here they like, I'm guessing they live off of dirt and bong water. Good place to catch up with a friend.