I'm not raw, nor a vegan, but I am health-conscious, and I love food.
First off, the food is DELICIOUS. Like, it's just as satisfying as any other restaurant. Secondly, it's all things that I wouldn't think to make myself, and thirdly, it's all fresh.
They are very allergen friendly, and the shop is really cute. I've eaten the taco salad and I've gotten a couple of juices. I'm not normally into juice, but I like theirs.
I will be back!
DISCLAIMAH: I ain't vegan, but I'm totes sympathetic, so there's a double-whammy benefit of the doubt thing going on here [no point of reference, wide leeway].
Basically, things here taste good, and yes there's a price premium, but I feel great despite it because I feel like I'm both supporting a local business and doing something healthier. Foodwise, I had the chipotle burger--"burger"--combo, which was this interesting [in a good way] ensemble of veggies, a kind of crisp-fried "bun", and a dense, cake-like patty of seeds and nuts with a chipotle "cheese" spread. YAY SCARE QUOTES.
Point of caution though: don't bring dairy or other possibly allergenic things into the dining area. My friends and I visited the adjacent farmers market [we went on a Sunday morning], and one of my friends got breakfast tacos, which had feta cheese, and we were abruptly booted out when walking back in so I could eat my order. We came back in after she finished her tacos; our feelings were assuaged when they gave use one each of their 3 bar desserts [chocolate brownie, lemon bar, I forget the last]. A considerate touch, and probably saved them as far as my visits are concerned.
I am not vegan but my school is right next to Bgabs, so I stopped in to give it a try. The staff is super personable and helpful. Especially when you ask dumb questions like, "what is yohimbe?" Now I come in regularly to get a smoothie (which are really awesome) or to eat lunch. My biggest concern before eating here was that I would not be filled up and would leave hungry.To my surprise I left completely stuffed. Whether you are vegan or not this is a fun local business that is worth supporting. It is also a great place to learn more about eating vegan and eating raw. The staff has been very helpful and patient in answering my questions.
Review Source:So this was my special birthday lunch as I was busy for the evening... aaand I must say pretty good!
Just for clarity, I've been a vegan for over a month now and am still deciding if I want to maintain this lifestyle. I think about cheeseburgers a lot lately and I miss hot dogs in addition to many other things. The last two birthdays, I've been treated to steakhouses which I used to love (any leftover steak gets converted into Thai Beef salad by the gf!) Anyways, finding something good to eat isn't that easy for me right now.
As another disclaimer, I am currently eating very, very healthy before a weigh-in I have in 2 weeks. Enter B'Gabs... Not only is this place vegan, but it's raw vegan which I think is really hard to do. Somehow though, probably through magic or putting crack in their food they make the food here really tasty! I'm going to say it's the latter. Gf got the tacos which she said was ok and I would have to agree. The tacos were huge being stuffed with chopped up kale. My chipotle burger I thought was great though with the onion "bread." If you're going in expecting a burger and something juicy and meaty with grease dribbling down your face... you know that good unhealthy stuff like that then yeah, you won't really like it, but for what it is I really enjoyed it.
Kale salad that accompany's the entrees was simple, but the dressing with the sesame seed oil and coconut aminos... delicious! So were our side salads of tomato salad and brocolli salad.
As part of my birthday celebrate we split a chocolate cheesecake bite. It's sad to only split a bite size portion, but that's what happens when you need to lose weight... The cheesecake itself did not disappoint and I really enjoyed the chocolate taste of it. You could kind of say it's more of a fudge/cake.
Will definitely be back even if I don't choose to stay a vegan as the food was good and you have to eat healthy at least once in a while!
I love this place! The food is so fresh and the quality is top notch. After chatting with the owner, I know she is serious about her food. Â
I've tried the pad thai, which is very good, and the tacos, which are delicious! Â If I never eat another "traditional" taco, i'll be good. Â Service is outstanding; friendly and knowledgeable staff. Â I am so glad to have this place in my neighborhood. Â It's such a welcomed addition and change from traditional food establishments in the area.
Thanks B'Gabs!
I was in Hyde Park and was looking for something different for lunch and came across this place on Yelp. For me, vegan/raw fare is not only a nice change of pace but downright exotic.
Hidden? It's more than that. Its on a dead end street near the university's power plant. But veterans of the 61st Street farmers market will know exactly where its at. I was there on a weekday and despite the out of the way location they seem to do a steady business.
I got the mushroom burger and the pad thai to go. Both were really tasty. The "pad thai" is an assortment of vegetables, predominantly kale, with a really tasty pad thai sauce. I also picked up some granola and a dessert.
Since everything is made to order, allow some time if you are in a hurry. The only non-water choice that day was barley tea which I don't care for. I'd like to see some simple drinks other than the juices. Pricing is similar to what you'd find in Whole Foods but you're getting impeccable quality in a great atmosphere.
This will sound cliched, but the place has a tranquil, friendly "vibe" to the place. Even the customers are friendly and eager to strike up a conversation. Not only is the food tasty, it is prepared with a lot of love and passion.
Excellent, Excellent raw food. The prices are very reasonable, the portions filling. It is a unique place with actual tree trunks as beams. The pudding is delicious and tastes of rich, dark chocolate. The "mashed potatoes" are amazing! They also have organic herbs that you can buy and make your own tea blends.
Review Source:It was a fortunate coincidence that my plans allowed me to visit B'Gabs rather than find a place in the Loop where Restaurant Week was calling. I'm an omnivore, but I'm mindful about my food and can appreciate a well-prepared raw, vegan, or vegetarian meal--maybe more so because I eat the real deal. I wasn't feeling too well, and I'm convinced that this meal helped my healing process. Raw food retains a special kind of vitality that the whole shop emanated. With help deciding from the gentlemen at the counter, I ordered a chili burger and a "green machine" juice from their pretty simple menu and was told to pay in the next room. I walked in there and was like, "Wat? Is this place real?" I didn't plan on doing this that day, but I found a few herbs to help wean me off my asthma medications that I've using for about 20 years now. The, uh, melanin challenged fella was super nice and helpful in guiding my purchases and preparations. I'm drinking a wild cherry bark and mullein leaf tea at the moment, feeling pretty clear and wondering why I didn't get on the herb tip sooner. The food was great, priced right, and hearty but not heavy. I'd love to learn how to make that onion bread; it's delicious. Thanks and I'll definitely be seeing yous again!
Review Source:This is a hidden gem. Â Seriously, it's hidden. It's tucked away on the outskirts of U of C on a narrow stretch of Woodlawn.
I've tried most (if not all) of the raw food places in Chicago. Â RAW is still my number one, mainly because of their tiramisu, but B'Gabs is tied for second along with Cousin's. Â
B'Gab's is more flavorful than Karyn's, but then again, everyone is more flavorful than Karyn's! Â I bought a Groupon for them and picked up enough items to hold me over for a few meals: chili with the kale salad, pizza, pudding, energy balls and blueberry scones. I liked everything except the scones.
The chili smells of fresh tomato and cilantro. Â The consistency is similar to salsa or tapenade, but with a crunch from the carrots. Â The first bite has a spicy, cajun-like seasoning, and it is more sweet than salty. Â The kale salad is salty and slightly oiled, but not so greasy that the leaves sag. Â They still have crunch even thirty minutes later.
The pizza is basically a salad on top of flax crackers, which makes it difficult to eat with your hands, like a "normal" pizza. You need a fork. Â The vegetables fall off the crackers a lot. Â There is a green spread on the crackers too.
The pudding is like fudge, and chocolately instead of carob-y (thank goodness). Â No soy taste at all.
The energy balls are dates and almonds with a hint of cinnamon. Â They are soft on the inside with a crunch on the outside. Â It is recommended you eat them at room temperature, but I liked them straight out the fridge. Â You can leave them at room temperature for twenty minutes to help soften them and enhance the flavors.
The "blueberry" scones are nothing like real scones, though you really can't expect raw desserts to taste like their not-raw counterparts. Â B'Gab's scones are chewy with bits of nuts. Â In terms of taste, the walnuts and raisins are most prominent. Â They also are not very sweet. Â I prefer raw desserts that use dates.
Even if you don't have the Groupon, you get a good amount of reasonably-priced food that is fresh, filling and flavorful. Â Definitely try them out!
Totally worth the trip.
If you've ever thought about doing a juice cleanse, need a quick hangover cure, or simply want to eat something delicious that is good for you... look no further. I've tried all the raw food in Chicago and B'gabs is the most flavorful with the best bang for your buck. Â Every time I make the trek, I end up buying a few extra meals to-go for lunches.
You can't go wrong with the pesto flax burger or the stuffed peppers w/ lasagna. This is hearty and healthy stuff... but will leave you feeling great.
Wow, I'm impressed with B'Gabs. I'm generally skeptical about raw food because it's usually overpriced and just not worth the money. But that simply was not the case at B'Gabs. To start, the location is a bit hard to find, but don't give up, it's there! The owner was super sweet and helped me navigate the menu, and I walked out with many items (for lunch and dinner) for a decent price:
1) Smoothie (banana, pineapple, strawberry) - very good!
2) Garden Flax Crackers - also really good, but don't plan on talking closely with anyone until you brush your teeth!
3) Raw Pizza - this was not my favorite, I didn't care for the pizza crust or the green spread on top, but I did eat the toppings, and they were very good.
4) The Nut Burger - WOW this was AMAZING! If I could eat this a few times a week, I'd be pretty happy. The thing I liked about this burger is that it was mostly veggies, and not grains. The "bread" was very good as well as the patty - they'd be smart to keep this as a regular item on their menu.
5) Kale Salad (came with the burger) - I loved this salad!!!
6) Pesto Tomato Salad (came with the burger) - Fantastic!!!
7) Strawberry Pie - this dessert is good, but it's not my favorite, it's also very heavy (a common trait among raw food items)
Overall, B'Gabs is truly a find. If you like raw food, you should get over there immediately. I actually prefer this place over Karyn's and Cousin's. The food is not as heavy as RAW's food (which is good for me) - I'd say B'Gabs is among the best raw food places in town. 4.5 stars
I saw this was up on Groupon today, so I was motivated to finally sign up and write a post.
B'Gabs Goodies is a smoothie/raw vegan restaurant (small) and spice and herb store (very large selection) just a block away from us in Woodlawn (just south of Hyde Park and the University of Chicago). Â Gab, Ron, Marley, and James are so sweet and we make it a point to try to stop in weekly, as we were very sad to see the last business in this location close due to financial concerns.
So, the smoothies are fantastic (just ask my kids who like all sorts of combinations and especially love them with carrot juice) and the herb selection is great--I have bought oregano (excellent price and tastes great), cinnamon sticks (also an excellent price and I'm looking forward to using them), and chia (a little on the steep side compared to online/Costco/etc. but I highly doubt any stores within the next 5 miles carry it).
They also have a booth at the weekly farmers market on Saturdays at E 61st St and S Dorchester!
(Oh, and if you're having trouble finding it, go to E 61st St and S Dorchester and walk east along 61st. Â Turn right at the end of the street. Â Yes, it seems like you are in an alley, but the correct door is the first place on your right. Â You will enter in the restaurant area, then the door to the store is to the left.)
5 stars for the category Raw Vegan food, 4 stars overall.
I had a friend in town who was interested trying all the raw restaurants Chicago has to offer and B'Gabs made it on the list. This was the best raw restaurant we went to, hands down. The chef has a very good sense of how different flavors work (or don't work) together and her compositions are balanced and quite tasty. She's willing to work around people's likes and dislikes such as sensitivity to heat/spice, no onions or garlic. I tried the pizza - a veggie & flax seed bread with a pesto sauce topped with fresh and oil cured veggies and nut "cheese", all of which were very fresh tasting and very filling. My friend had the burger, side salad with the pad thai dressing, pesto tomatoes, and fresh juice (carrot/apple/lemon/celery) - all fantastic. She returned a few hours later and tried the chocolate pudding and a fruit smoothie.
Bottom line(s): If you asked me to pick between this place and other restaurants (cough-Karyns Gourmet-cough), B'Gabs is WAAAAAY better. Oh, and did I mention I'm not vegan/vegetarian? Yeah, B'Gabs is that good.
This place is worth the trip! Â Even if you do not eat raw food, you will love the food because it tastes amazing! Â This place differs from the other raw food places because it is affordable, fresh and delicious. Â Raw food can feel very heavy when you eat it if it is all nuts, but at B'Gabs Goodies there are lots of fresh entrees with no or little nuts. Â Gabrielle is just an amazing chef and she knows how the "regular" version of the things she makes are supposed to taste and her raw equivalents do not disappoint. Â You will feel full, but energized from this food.
Review Source:My friend and I went here last week. We both loved the hand crafted, organic and nutritious meals Gabby served us. Â I had the burger with a side of mashed potato and she had the chili with sour cream. Â Both dishes were very satisfying and flavorful. The meals were great portion sizes and kept us fool for the rest of the day. We ended up taking a raw blueberry cheesecake and a scone home. Both were to die for!!
The owners are friendly and very knowledgeable. Â They are committed to serving their customers meals that only have fresh and organic ingredients. . Â The store has two sections. Â The front of the store is the cafe and juice bar, and the back is a natural tea and herb store.
We've gone back since then. Â I had the tacos in red cabbage shells which were awesome. I had a few non-vegan friends try the tacos. They were very impressed and wanted to know more about vegan/raw food.
This spot is defiantly a great addition to Chicago's raw/vegan scene. With that said, I think everyone can appreciate eating a nutritionally dense meal that has been made with lots of love. I can't wait to go back and try the other items on the menu.
Vegan and Vegetarian fare; many raw options as well. Â Please support this local business!
From the Farmer's Market e-mail sent out today:
B'Gabs Goodies is now open for business! This week, your favorite raw food and smoothie queen opened her "raw food deli" at Experimental Station (in the old café space). Be sure to head around the corner onto Blackstone Ave this Saturday to check out what she has to offer. B'Gabs will be open from 9am to 2pm on Saturdays and 9am to 3pm on Tuesday thru Friday.
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