The Guayaki Mate Cafe

Tuesdays are free Mate days.  When you show up, they have 3-5 mates for free for you whether you order lunch or not.

This place impressed me for a couple of reasons.  The food appeared to us to be very fresh and huge portions.  The staff is very friendly.

Free wifi.  Huge space for eating, reading, talking.  Although there's not private space, it feels private somehow.  Maybe the table spacing is bigger than I'm used to.  

We walked in to do a tasting, not realizing they sold food too, and without hesitating they invited us to try the Mate and eat our meal in the common room.  

With staff so friendly and non pushy, and delicious Mate, how could I review anything other than 5 stars?

I'm torn about writing this review because the place is like a secret I don't want to give away XD The company Guayaki is well known but this little cafe attached to their building is so inconspicuous I've driven by hundreds of times and never gone in. THEN ONE DAY, I did. Now I go all the time. They are a cafe but they serve food and they have some of the best vegan/vegetarian food options I have come across. Not only that but it is obscenely reasonably well priced considering they attempt to buy their ingredients as responsibly as possible (local, organic, etc.) Also their yerba mate is fantastic. Tuesday is free mate day. They've got a lounge in the back complete with artwork and dartboard. I love going here.

Hello everyone, please pay attention to what I'm about to say.

At first glance, or even visit, one can easily overlook to true value of this establishment. Getting caught up in the Mate drinks is not a bad thing, it's just most of the time you'll miss the number one most important shining gem about this place:

BEST VEGAN FOOD SONOMA COUNTY

Indeed, that is a hard title to live up to, but I implore you to try it. Next time you go in, or even if you've been there before, try the food.

The vegan burger topped with vegan chili. I have yet to have a better one. And I've had many, MANY, before and after it that still don't come close.

Besides, they make the chili from scratch and they're very particular about getting the quality right.

IF you are vegan, and live in Sonoma County, you are missing out if you have not tried the food. Do everyone a favor and go down there before they close at 3pm and order a blended drink and the vegan burger with the home made vegan chili. The bun is GMO free too, and the beanitos chips are the best in the world.

I can't stress enough how many vegan and vegetarian places I've tried, and this one isn't even a restaurant, it just happens to serve food.

Great job guys, you are awesome!