Quintessence Restaurant in the East Village is a local fave among those health conscious individuals who are into the very purest forms of body-care they can find. Located in a modest and always toasty-warm space between 1st Ave and Ave A on 10th St, it's cozy size could make it easy to miss.

I first got excited by this temple to raw-done-right after a long night out with my friends (I'm into a healthy balance between wellness and partying and by no means a raw purist). I knew I needed something nutritious, rather than greasy to genuinely feel better, and when I noticed a kale salad on the menu, I knew I was in the right place. And yes, I felt so much better after eating, that's it's become my morning-after ritual. This is wholsome, healthy (for you and the planet) food that's tasty (I promise!) too.

And the best part? Quintessence is VERY reasonably priced, considering that all food is not only raw (which requires quite a bit of processing and chopping) but also organic and local where possible, not to mention fresh-as-can-be. No wonder the place is usually half-full of regulars even at odd hours.This resto also makes a conscious effort to reduce waste and gives raw food classes, earning it the max number of leaves (four) in Greenopia's green biz classification.

Quintessence Restaurant in the East Village is a local fave among those health conscious individuals who are into the very purest forms of body-care they can find. Located in a modest and always toasty-warm space between 1st Ave and Ave A on 10th St, it's cozy size could make it easy to miss.

I first got excited by this temple to raw-done-right after a long night out with my friends (I'm into a healthy balance between wellness and partying and by no means a raw purist). I knew I needed something nutritious, rather than greasy to genuinely feel better, and when I noticed a kale salad on the menu, I knew I was in the right place. And yes, I felt so much better after eating, that's it's become my morning-after ritual. This is wholsome, healthy (for you and the planet) food that's tasty (I promise!) too.

And the best part? Quintessence is VERY reasonably priced, considering that all food is not only raw (which requires quite a bit of processing and chopping) but also organic and local where possible, not to mention fresh-as-can-be. No wonder the place is usually half-full of regulars even at odd hours.This resto also makes a conscious effort to reduce waste and gives raw food classes, earning it the max number of leaves (four) in Greenopia's green biz classification.

Appetizers range from a mini pizette made from kamut crust piled with a tangy nut based cheese, fresh tomato, avocado, pesto sauce, and caramelized onion to a 'tuna' salad which is really a walnut pate with chopped celery, onion and dill served on tender romaine leaves with avocado, tomato, mustard and mayo. Prices range from $8-10 for apps, so you can split one with a friend, enjoy a main and still come in for dinner around $50 for two.

Of course there are salads galore, from kale-based (my fave!) to a vegan Caesar (dressing is made from live pignola and miso), sea-veggie, Greek, and build-your-own, with an extensive list of options and add-ins. The house dressing- a dark green combo of flavorsome fresh lemon, olive oil and other secret ingredients, is recommended for any of the piles of greens. 

Mains are creative, superflavorful, and surprising, even if you've enjoyed raw food before. One of my favorites is the Mexican platter which includes both an enchilada and a taco; shells are made from dehydrated grains and rehydrated beans and topped with nut cheese, mole sauce, nut-cream and fresh herbs. An Indian platter is as colorful as it is filling, relying on chickpeas and veggies and curry-spiced almond-curry sauces topped with mango chutney and tamarind sauce. Design your own pizzas with vegan sausage, 'cheese' and whatever seasonal veggies catch your fancy. Be careful as mains are all incredibly filling and won't leave much room for dessert. A recent visit with a friend found us taking most of our main dishes home to keep for lunch the next day in order to indulge in sweets- both would have been an impossibility.

Three soups are on offer (they can be served hot or cold, and since nothing is allowed to be cooked over 120 degrees or so in raw food prep, this means more like lukewarm or cold. The new Mexican soup (pictured above) is a chunky stew of marinated garden vegetables in an authentic Mexican-spiced chipotle pepper soup. It's not overly spicy but still gives a nice kick. It's served with a dollop of vegan sour crème which is a lovely contrast to the tangy, spiciness. And The green soup is a clean-living classic - a house blend that consists of kale, spinach, celery, extra virgin olive oil, celtic sea salt, and lemon juice and avocado. Either of these can be ordered as a part of the lunch special which gets you a cup of tea, bowl of soup, a salad and dehydrated bread with cashew nut spread, for just $10.

Desserts are a stand-out (and sugar-free as well as animal-free and live). I've tried two, the mango pudding parfait (sweet real mango-flavor creaminessand the chia-seed pudding (which is a mix of vanilla cashew milk, chia seeds - protein rich and smooshy delish), fresh berries, walnuts and vanilla cream. The finishers here are so good it's worth stopping by just to try them out. 

Quintessence offers a brunch menu, which is filled with a mix of classic brunch dishes gone raw like fofu Benedict, crepes, quiche and de rigueur in NYC (even if it's raw!) bagel and cream cheese. Give raw food a chance; I guarantee you will feel great after your meal and will enjoy it too (even meat-eating junk foodies have enjoyed eating here.)

Quintessence Restaurant
263 E. 10th St.
New York, NY 10009
646-654-1823
Cross Street: bet. 1st Ave. & Ave. A
Bus Line: M15
Train/Subway Line: L to 1st Ave.