Reviewing Café Flora: Creative vegetarian cuisine for all in Seattle.
Café Flora is one of my favorite restaurants of all time, and this visit did not disappoint.
Café Flora is a vegetarian restaurant that offers vegan substitutes for all of its dishes. I do not have any dietary restrictions, but I would not mind going vegetarian after eating here. After a long week, this meal was a great pick-me-up and satisfied all of my cravings when I imagined a nice dinner out.
When you walk into Café Flora, you are immediately welcomed by the gorgeous interior. There are several different dining areas, and they are all warm and inviting. My choice is the open atrium room with huge windows on three of the walls. Wonderful sunlight streams in and brightens the space perfectly. There are large plants and a small water fountain that is calming and sets the mood. The ambiance is comfortable as a cozy living room; I would come here just to sit in the open space.
On this day, I ate came early on a Friday, so the restaurant was relatively empty. Being in the atrium was relaxing, and having light pour in through the big windows was picturesque.
I had been thinking of what to get all day and finally settled on a dish, but when I heard that the daily soup was a coconut curry with lentils, I had to try it. I split the soup with their portobello mushroom French dip, and got a starter of burrata. It hit the spot. To accompany the order, I sipped on their rosemary lemonade. I am a lemonade person and love to try fun flavors: strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, charcoal, and peach; any type I will try it. The rosemary flavor is unique but not too strong. It is very subtle and leaves a nice aftertaste. The curry was creamy and had just enough of the coconut flavor. The potato cubes complimented perfectly, and the spices were warm and comforting, perfect for the beginning of fall. I am very glad I tried it and will be getting it again in the near future. I have had the French dip before, which has never failed me. The baguette is crunchy and chewy and soaks up the au jus very nicely. The portobello mushrooms are seasoned very well, with all of the umami flavors you look for in a French dip sandwich. I did not miss the beef that French dips are usually accustomed to. Alongside the French dip were sweet potato fries. These are my favorite fries of all time: crisp on the edges, soft on the inside, and served with a creamy aioli. The sweet potato flavor came through so subtly and left me wanting more.
I could go on for hours talking about the burrata experience. I am in a burrata phase, and this one takes first place in my ranking. Perfect for 2-4 people, the dish came deconstructed, so you can add what you like to yours. Bread, caramelized onions, nectarines, and arugula are accouterments to the burrata. Of course, I piled it all on. The thick bread was a great vessel to hold everything together. The burrata was refreshing and silky. The arugula and the caramelized onions really elevated it with another layer of savory flavor. The piece that brought it all together was the nectarines. They were the perfect ripeness to add some crunchy texture, and the sweetness was not too overpowering. Overall, this appetizer is a must-try and will be ordered with all of my future meals at Café Flora.
Altogether, dining at Café Flora is a great experience. The food is spot on for high-quality vegetarian food, and the ambience is attractive to the eye. It is perfect for a quick, comforting meal, celebrating an occasion, or dining alone. If you come to Café Flora, you will not be disappointed!