The Greenery

If you are a raw foodist, this place is a must try. And even if you’re not a raw foodist you’ll enjoy the food. I give this place 5 star for dinner, and 3 stars for lunch. I’m not a big fan of cold food, and that’s what u get at lunch. I think raw food should be served at room temp or a bit warmer whenever possible. It brings out the flavor more in food. No matter what, the quality is definitely there, and you can tell.
The guy serving us today could have smiled a bit more, and the girl at night is just lovely.
I guess my biggest disappoint was no kale chips were available this time around. They make a mean chip. Oh well.

My girls and I were on our way to eat at Mozy’s café for lunch next door and sadly discovered that the were closed early… so we decided to pop on over to the Greenery Café instead.
The café was closing soon so they didn’t have much pre packed food options left to choose from BUT they had the most delicious looking hazelnut carob brownie. We decided we would have our dessert first (the brownie) why not? We are on vacation after all.
Bianca and Bella took the first bites and they were wowed! I took a bite and we decided unanimously that this was the best vegan brown we had ever tasted. The café has a beautiful private patio area for outdoor seating as well as a few tables inside. They don’t have a menu but instead you can find all of the delicious raw food items pre packed in a refridgerator .
you can also purchase Greenery foods at the local farmers markets.
We will definitely be back to feed our new Raw brownie addiction!

The food here is good but it is way overpriced for what you get. The portions are small and I just don’t think it’s worth the money.
The pizza is delish.

The place is so nice, quiet and peaceful… the food is simply delicious, and the owners are warm and welcoming! My husband and I go there for dinner any chance we get, and we always leave feeling wonderful! There is something in the food and atmosphere at the Greenery that differs from every other raw restaurant we’ve been to… it’s like Magic! :) You feel great!
I noticed in few reviews people said the food was expensive… I’m gonna guess those people do not buy high quality organic food. As a raw foodist, I spend at least $ 250 every time I shop at Whole Foods or Coop. It costs us less to eat at the Greenery than to prepare our own raw meals. So the food is VERY reasonably priced. You get what you paid for:)
For lunch your choices would be in the fridge all pre-​made, still fresh and yummy! However, I prefer going to the Greenery for dinner. My favorites are: vegetable curry, pad thai, pizza and the SPINACH SALAD with delish creamy sauce and caramelized onions! Definitely have the salad! Raw foodist or not… everyone will love it!
And never mind any bad reviews… (I was surprised to find them at all).
Don’t even take my word for it, go try it for yourself! Enjoy!

I write a lot of 4+ star reviews, unless it really deserved to be less. This place deserved 5+ stars!
Delicious. We just started eating raw and found this place. Cool little place in Encinitas — love the patio.
I had the Vegetable Curry — wow. Tasty.
My husband had Pad Thai and my daughter had spaghetti.
We were so full — had to take the rest home.
Did I say I love the patio? It was chilly out, but we plan to visit again, for sure.
Enjoy!
Christine

I’m not vegan and I am not a raw foodist. However, I sometimes do enjoy vegan and raw cuisine because I enjoy walking the path of more healthy fare and because I do not really discriminate about cuisine types. So I’ve tried some raw and vegan foods and I’ve dealt with hit and miss situations. The Greenery Raw Food Café in Encinitas is definitely a HIT!
I sampled the lasagna and the pizza and also picked up the punch-​packing grapefruit-​ginger-​cayenne drink and loved all of it. I would have had some Almond Butter Vanilla ice cream if I could have fit it in my stomach but I couldn’t (sad face) because the dishes were very filling. The concentration of flavors were truly amazing and nothing tasted off, odd or funny. The textures were really good too — no weird, gummy wanna-​be cheeses or anything like that. I am truly excited about my next visit and just signed up for The Greenery’s newsletter to keep apprised of their specials.
For anyone who enjoys flavorful food — head over to The Greenery. You won’t be disappointed. They have a cozy and serene enclosed patio, the the prices are reasonable, and the food is super healthy. You can’t go wrong with a visit. Seriously, I love this place!

This is not a restaurant where you are served, and the food is raw, so don’t expect it to be warm.
The experience basically is that you go to the counter, order what you want and then take it home in plastic boxes, or you can choose to eat it there. We have liked several of their entrees which taste as what they say they are, which is a pleasant surprise for being raw food. In our opinion, their desserts are the best.
Raw food eaters will be pleasantly satisfied.
Having said this, we are not the typical customer of this place because we are neither vegan nor vegetarian.

Vegan. Raw. Organic. It doesn’t get much healthier or more awesome than that. Tucked behind a popular burrito joint, it is its own little oasis of health. Lunch items are all pre-​made, which disappoints me at first, but after my first bite into their decadently delicious burger, I am sold. The combination of textures and flavors in this burger come together with creative perfection. From the deydrated flax/​carrot flat-​bread bun to the creamy nut-​mayo, veg/​nut burger, fresh ketchup, each house-​made item, with lettuce and tomato, harmonize to form a scrumptious symphony in the mouth.
Don’t go in there without starting with an E3 Live shot, a burst of chlorella-​greenery that will undoubtedly energize and uplift on many levels: mentally, physically, maybe even psychically :-). Their maca tea, sweetened with coconut chrystals, go well with cinn and stevia (which I added to mine). Maca is a distinct taste, and I feel The Greenery could do a better job flavoring this tea. No matter the taste, if you have never tried maca, trust me, you want to try this. It will energize you in a different way.
Here’s to vital nutrition! Keep it up, Greenery. Go support this awesome restaurant, and take care of your wellbeing at the same time. You are guaranteed to leave feeling energized and satisfied instead of lethargic and stuffed. Enjoy.

I REALLY, REALLY wanted to LOVE this place ! I DID ! But. everything kinda fell a little short IMO. I know. /​sadface
This is based on the first and only time I’ve gone here. I’m all about eating healthy and was always curious about the ‘Raw’ food diet. I’ve had my fair share of raw foods via health food stores, but they were mainly pre-​packaged snacks for the most part. I have even experimented on homemade ‘raw foodie’ shakes ! I love the concept of enjoying ingredients from it’s natural state and fueling the body with all the nutritional value from ‘uncooked/​unprocessed’ foods… and the health benefits that come along with it too !!
Could I potentially live a ‘raw foodie’ lifestyle ???
I was EGGCITED to hear that there was a popular ‘raw food’ eatery close to me and decided to take a mini adventure with a fellow newbie as well !
Dinner time is from 530 – 830 so we arrived just in time when they opened up shop ! The owners (I assumed) were up front. One was making a concoction of a strange mixture, which looked to be the infamous «Burger» I read about via Unilocal.
Since it was our first time, I wanted an introduction about the locally
owned business and the items on the menu. I mentioned it was our first time hoping we could get some kind of feedback. Unfortunately, all I got was nothing, but a smile. I did spot the fridge where all the prepared foods were stored. Unfortunately, there weren’t many items to choose from. I saw maca teas, a few desserts, zucchini pestos, and seaweed salads. They were in small, plastic bio-​compostable (GO-​GREEN!) containers, which I loved !
It was a nice day so we got situated outdoors in the patio area. Popped the tops off our plastic bio-​compostable containers and grabbed our forks to dig in !
Newbie me:
Seaweed salad — Hmm. chew chew.hmm.not bad. very ‘seaweedy’ and pungent in smell! This is gonna leave a bad aftertaste. It’s edible. It’s OK ! Let’s just say, I’ve had much better seaweed salads. ³⁄₅ !
Newbie him:
Pesto — Zucchini noodles + sundried tomatoes with almond chili sauce — A better choice ! Luckily, he liked the sundried tomatoes and well ‘FLAVOR’ in general and this had it ! I agreed ! ⁴⁄₅ !
Maca Tea drink — It was different. I was a little taken aback. Couldn’t really decipher what it was, but it was refreshing. (Food for thought: Google says it’s «Peru’s natural viagra.») Bahaha!
For $ 16, I was expecting a little more than what we got (see pics) and perhaps a much appealing presentation ??? Is that asking for too much ??? Maybe I just had HIGH expectations. Oy!
What an experience ! We did come to the conclusion that the ‘raw foodie’ diet is an ‘acquired’ taste for some. It’s a hit or miss really, but we both did prefer ‘cooked’ food. Kudos to those who can live a very religious ‘raw-​foodie’ lifestyle !
Overall, a ‘3’ star rating ! Average in my book. I am willing to try their other
specialties like the ‘Burger,’ ‘Pizza,” and ‘Meatball Spaghetti.’ Maybe I came at the wrong time, but I’m all about second chances!
Any volunteers to join me on this mini adventure Part 2 ??? Please raise hand !

I walked in once and didn’t end up getting anything because I thought it was kinda ridiculous to pay $ 12 for a single item (the burger). Don’t get me wrong, I know how much time, effort, and expense go into making raw foods. The thing is, I’ve been to a handful of raw food restaurants and for the same amount of $$$ can always a little more food that is something a little more unique (like these raw pierogis we had once in Toronto… amazing!).
Anyways…after thinking about it for a few months and reading the reviews, I decided I needed to give it a shot. I was in the area and stopped in right after they opened…11:35. I picked out my burger from the fridge where you get the lunch stuff, and stood there waiting for a good 5 minutes before anyone showed up to ring me up. The guy didn’t seem very friendly… I don’t expect a song and dance or anything, but a smile or soemthing would have been nice. To be honest, I sorta felt like I was inconveniencing him with my purchase. I’m sure he was just busy opening up or something.
I felt uncomfortable there, though it could be a really pretty and relaxing place to eat. So I took it and ate it in my car haha Whatever, no big deal.
The burger? Amazing. It tasted sooo good. In fact, the sauce almost kinda tasted like big mac special sauce haha I really enjoyed it. THere were so many flavors, and I could tell after the first bite that I’d be back for another one. I didn’t have any tummy problems or anything like a previous reviewer had. It sat well and surprisingly kept me pretty full while I ran around town for a few hours. Super delicious, every part of it.
I’d give 5 stars on taste, but the uncomfy vibe, kinda meh service, and super high price that would prevent me from coming back regularly makes me think it should only get a 3.5…but the burger was pretty good so i’ll round up to 4.

The service was excellent. We got where right as it opened so it was nice and quiet. I really liked our food especially dessert, however the zucchini spaghetti was really salty because of the tomato sauce. Other than that, it was pretty good.

OK this is where I really wish there were ½ stars.
Went here yesterday for lunch after many months of anticipation. Didn’t know what to expect and got something totally unexpected!
First of all, I’ve never eaten vegan or raw. What a delightful surprise. I had the Burger which was VERY flavorful which was good because we dropped $ 12 for it. I think the cashier over charged us because after looking online, it lists for $ 10. All 5 of us agreed the burger was the best thing ordered.
The Cream Cheese Sandwich I was told was very sweet. I sampled the Seaweed Salad which was surprisingly good and another side dish which was tasty.
I would definately go back but can’t afford to make it a regular stop.
My rating would be 3 ½ because of the prices alone. Because I enjoyed everything I tasted, I went ahead and rounded up to 4 stars.

Okay, guys… just to let you know, I am far from vegan/​vegetarian. I don’t make an effort to eat healthy or organic, although I know I could benefit from it and yada yada yada. However, I’m fairly open-​minded when it comes to food, and seeing how raw food was one of the «in» things to do among health foodies, I decided to try this out. I braced myself as I knew this was going to be expensive and may not be to my liking…
Needless to say, however, I really liked this! I was a little surprised that most of the food was in a small refridgerator; apparently that’s how it’s set up during lunch time, but you are welcome to order their dinner items such as the spaghetti or pad thai. I decided to eat their cream cheese sandwich ($ 10); a bit pricey and the portion didn’t look that big. Yet, the moment I took a bite of my sandwich, I realized how good raw food could be. The vegetables tasted fresh and green; not like that iceberg lettuce stuff or your standard, overcooked brocolli and squash. The «cheese» didn’t taste like cheese but was still just as good and delicately flavored the sandwich.
The carob cake… ugh, sorry. It was expensive, too (I can’t recall the price). I wanted to get it because it reminded me of a *carrot* cake (and no, I didn’t make a mistake; I knew exactly what I was getting), but it was far from it. I liked that it wasn’t too sweet, but the density and thickness of the cake was a little difficult to swallow (both figuratively and literally). I couldn’t finish it after 3 bites.
The café is really tiny; I almost didn’t see this place at first since it’s right behind another restaurant. You have an option of sitting outdoors or indoors, although if you have a bigger party you would be better off sitting outside (again, there isn’t that much room).
Minus 1 star for limited menu, price, and parking (and maybe the cake, too); I still liked this place, though. I will definitely try and come back; I really look forward to tasting all the other items on the food menu! Yum!!!

YUM-​ME!
I’m amazed at how much prep must go on in the kitchen to prepare food like this. I would like to eat raw every day – if I had a personal chef.
Spaghetti and meat balls – my FAV!
Seaweed Salad – My 7 year old daughter’s fav.
Pizza-​My 2^nd FAV!
We will go back soon!

I was in San Diego this weekend for a training class and talked some of my fellow trainees into joining me for a raw dinner. I bet they thought I was sharing a healthy tasty cuisine with them. But here’s the truth: I figure we would get different meals which would give me an opportunity to taste other menu items. It worked!
We had the:
Thai Pad — wonderful
Curry — smooth rich decadence
Spaghetti and meat balls — hard to believe that was zucchini — the marinara was seasoned perfectly
Dessert — ice cream — are you sure there is no cream in this rich concoction??? WOW!

PEOPLE —– OMG!!! This food is out of this world. I have never tasted anything like it, or so healthy, or sooooo good. I am not a vegetarian, and obviously not vegan, so I was completely floored as to how good the food at the Greenery Raw Food Café was.
My husband and I ate here yesterday for lunch based on a recommendation (we live in the bay area). It is right off the freeway and very easy to get to. The atmosphere is very appealing, the owners incredibly nice, and we enjoyed everything about our experience.
We shared a pizza, burger, sandwich, and piece of pie (I think it was a fig pie). We also left with a bag of kale chips. I started with the pizza which ruined all other pizzas forever!!! It was incredible. Please don’t take my word for it, try it. I can’t imagine anyone not thinking the same thing. I was just about to proclaim it my favorite food ever, until I bit into the burger. Which was equally good. The sandwich we had was also very good but not my favorite — since I am torn between the burger and the pizza. By the time we got to desert, I let my husband eat most of it because I was stuffed. But on the plane I got my second wind and ate ½ the bag of kale chips (we bought them to go and they are all gone now!). Of course, they too are very, very good.
This place is shockingly good. If I lived nearby I think I would convert to raw food and eat here weekly!!! Besides the fact that it is very healthy, the food here is outstanding. My taste buds had no idea that I was eating raw /​vegan food.
I can’t wait until my next trip to San Diego — my only complaint is that you are too far from me to visit weekly!

What a golden nugget buried in Daphne street. They don’t advertise as much as they should, but it’s the drool of mouth that will get them famous soon. Essentially, The Greenery is the only raw food restaurant south of Santa Monica and easily the best place to go if you are interested in experimenting with this cuisine. Nothing is cooked, everything is visually appealing and sinfully tasty. The pasta looks like it, but is not. Everything is Maya, an illusion. An illusion that is so masterfully delightful to one’s senses, not to mention to the harmony of one’s body. There is nothing I would not try and during my first sojourn here, I wished it were a vomitorium so that I could gorge on more!

First off, I am not a raw food expert. I love food of all kinds (I love meat), but this was my first raw food restaurant experience. I was on day one of a raw food detox, and I actually had a friend in town from L.A. who is a «raw fooder» and has eaten at all of the best ones up in L. A, so I figured it was time to go try The Greenery. Even she was impressed!
Man, if all raw food restaurants are this good, I have been missing out on life. I couldn’t believe how tasty and fresh everything was, and how good it made me feel then and now. For appetizers, we got the marinated greens (kale, chards, and collard) and cannellonis (almond sun dried olive pine pâté wrapped in zucchini with tomato basil sauce). For entrees, we got the pizza and pad thai. We also had to sample a desert — some sort of delicious crêpe. The entire time, there was a raw party in my mouth and everyone was invited.
One of the owners, Melissa, was so friendly and I was sad that we were the only ones in there the entire time. Go eat there!!!

As many of you know im on my second week of cleanse and raw food dieting. The first week was hard. As a reward for my first week of raw food i thought it would be great to go and eat at a raw food restaurant. I picked TGRFC.
What a great choice that was. Zans, Izzy and I went out of our radius to get some good food. Since they were on the master cleanse for what seemed to be forever, they were still open for something similar to their previous diet.
We drive 30 mins north to Encinitas, arrived at a small little shop behind mozys. We go in and ordered a Pizza (that was mine!) A Burger (Zan’s) and Vegetable Curry (Izzy’s) and Falafel with Cucumber Dill dipping sauce. The Falafels came out first. One bite and i was having a mini foodgasim in my mouth. Then out came our main food. We all took one bite of the food. Made of faces of «do i like it» put it down and passed around. My pizza was amazing… i mean seriously. it was so yummy i didnt want to pass it down. The burger was good. and the vegetable curry was good as well. I enjoyed the tender vegetables with a nice spicy kick at the end.
The pizza was by far my favorite thing besides our Orange Cream Drinks which were coconut milk orange juice and raw honey. They were to die for! All food was 100% VEGAN and 100% RAW.
To top it all off i grabbed Carab Maca balls rolled in hemp seed. First bite of sweet chocolate (raw cocoa) and the malty flavor of Maca and the earthiness of the hemp seeds danced in happiness in my mouth! i am now in love with those treats!
TGRFC is a treat on its own. I might have to come here more often… especially for those Carab Maca balls!

Although I am anything but a raw food connoisseur (not even vegan), I absolutely LOVED The Greenery! Chris and Melissa were so sweet and fully welcomed me to their world of raw, organic food artistry. How could I not be drawn to sincere, down-​to-​earth people who make beautiful, delicious meals out of organic, purely natural ingredients?
Be sure to order the «spaghetti and meatballs». The marinara sauce was delicious and reminded me of the flavors of my full-​blooded Italian Mother In Law’s cooked marinara. Amazing! And my absolute favorite, the vegetable curry. Although I was anticipating a saucy, soup-​like purée of curried vegetables, what I found what an impeccably shaped portion of delicate, mild, and tender vegetables with amazing flavors. I almost fought off my friend for it with one of the completely bio-​degradable knives.
Don’t miss the pineapple-​ginger-​coconut milk beverages in the cooler. So light and remarkable. I can still taste it! YUM!
My other favorites were the Strawberry Crepes (WOW!!! The filling was like pure whipped cream, only better!) and the Tahitian Vanilla ice cream. Coming from someone who is allergic to dairy, this was like a dream come true!
If only I didn’t live so far away… boooo!
Be sure to stop in for a very healthy lunch or dinner from some very wonderful people. So much work goes into each dish. I don’t know how Chris and Melissa use such quality ingredients with the extremely reasonable prices they charge. But however they do it… thank you both for a wonderful introduction into your raw food lives!