In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not a vegetarian, more like a Mark Bittman type of "flexitarian". I prefer eating vegetables, salads and lighter fare on a day-to-day basis. I can go without meat for extended periods of time (months). Anything more than strict moderation is religious. Vegetarianism and veganism are in fact religions. The truly enlightened should avoid any and all religions at all cost (one of the few things one should not do in moderation). I don't make it a point to avoid good food or to deny myself the cheap thrill of getting engrossed in a culinary culture. Enough of my entirely self-absorbed rant against vegetable religions. Fresca is a simple no-frills place. The menu is painted on the wall and encompasses salads, pizzas, wraps/sandwiches, soups, ratatouille, and curried veggies. They also serve beer, sodas, and tea. Order at the counter. The staff are friendly and patient and the waits are shorter than longer. Their salads are fresh and not the bagged variety. The arugula actually has the spicy kick it's supposed to have. The pita bread is baked in-house and the hummus is the real deal. Their coffee is incredible. The cappuccino with almond milk is a bit too sweet, so I'll cheat and have it standard with milk. In fact, if you can't handle the chaos at the famous coffee shop down the street, stop in at Fresca for a pleasant surprise. read more

I am a huge carnivore, and I love love LOVE this restaurant. Everything is so light and fresh and delicious. It is my goto-takeout when I'm feeling lethargic and bloated. I always get the spinach salad - what is in that dressing? It's totally unique and completely delicious. I also always get the pear tart, which I love but friends say is so-so. The Greek pizza is my favorite, but I have never - never! - had a bad dish here. On top of all this, they deliver by bike! I would give 5 stars if it were a little less expensive. read more

It's so nice to have another healthy, delicious, vegan-friendly restaurant in the Richmond area!! My fiancé and I are both vegans, and we appreciate that nearly everything on the menu at Fresca can be made vegan. My meat-eating parents came along on one of our trips, and they both raved about their meals. We've made two trips to Fresca so far, and have tried the BBQ Seitan sandwich, the vegan chorizo pizza, the vegan kale pizza, and the veggie + hummus plate, all of which didn't even make it long enough to be leftovers.The atmosphere is casual and fun, with cute paintings and slogans on the walls and funky mismatched tables and chairs. There's also a good selection of snacks and baked goods at the counter (VEGAN CUPCAKES!) that you can take home or devour in the car. read more

I love Fresca. I've eaten here probably 20 times. I've been to a lot of local restaurants that specialize in vegetarian/vegan food, and this is by far my favorite. The owners are total sweethearts. The ingredients are fresh and flavorful, and the bread is ridiculously good. They make the bread to order, so it's still warm, and fluffy, and lovely. My personal favorite: the lentil burger with a side of orzo. It will knock your socks off. read more

I had a wonderful lunch here while passing through Richmond. I ordered the roasted garlic & broccolini with white bean spread pita sandwich along with apple and fennel salad on the side (I freakin' love fennel!). For dessert I had the amazing tapioca pudding made with fresh vanilla beans. Even if you don't like tapioca I would try this pudding, because there were not that many tapioca pearls in it. The pudding was pure thick, creamy, old-fashioned, vanilla goodness. Their ice tea was great too. They have free wi-fi and coffee, and the staff were super nice. It was also very clean. If I lived in the area I would probably stop by often to do work here or just chill out. My only gripes are: not enough fruit, no chocolate, and the lighting needs to be improved in the bathroom. read more

Simple. One word that sums up Fresca On Addison. Simply Good. This is a small, menu-on-wall, order-at-the-counter lunch establishment. No messing around, Fresca On Addison advertises 6:00pm closing hours on weeknights - accentuating their target demographic. Think Panera for Vegetarians. The menu is balanced - pastries, sides, sandwiches, pizza, soups, dessert - all Vegetarian. After placing an order for vegetarian (vegan cheese available) pizzas with our very patient and kind 'barista', we turned around to grab some small water glasses, utensils, napkins and snagged one of the 4-5 tables inside the restaurant - all of which are close enough to the door to be slightly uncomfortable on a cold day. However, there is a nice looking patio outside and its location at Cary and Addison undoubtedly serves many walk-up customers throughout the week. The freshness of both of our pies were noticeable. The stone oven crisped wheat crust was delicious. I would expect a bit more crunch from a stone oven and a little less blackening, but overall the hearty flavors were there. The roasted cauliflower and broccoli pizza with creamy mozzarella was adorned with 1/4" sized, perfectly salted, veggies - a very fresh, light, simple slice. On the other hand, the "chorizo", roasted garlic, and red pepper pizza had a wonderful punch of spicy flavor from the mock meat while large chunks of fresh garlic and hidden morsels of roasted red pepper were found throughout. Overall these were quite appetizing and quite simple personal sized pizzas. All-in-all, Fresca is serving up some great, healthy, light, and flavorful cuisine. It won't have you jumping out of your chair (unless someone opens the door on a 36 degree evening) but they definitely know what they are doing. This feels like a warm, community-driven, family establishment - complete with a kind "Hello" and "Goodbye" from the staff. Fresca On Addision is a lunch spot worthy of every Richmonder's weekly rotation - vegetarian, vegan, and carnivores alike. Expect simple, flavorful fare to help you get through your day and light enough to not slow you down. read more

Sushi Sandwich: is it a sushi-like sandwich? Yes! Is it delectable veg fare? Oh yes! Is it one of the best sandwiches I've had bar-none in a long while? Well, now that I am asked, yes indeed! Fine shaved carrot, avocado and seaweed in a scrumptious house-made pita, with side soy sauce drizzled atop, to gather later in said pita pocket. Just excellent. Very courteous service as well. Way relaxed vibe. I'm a Fresca fan. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in the entire Richmond hands down - it's so incredibly delicious AND so healthy. Such great variety too- can't go wrong with any option on the menu. The only thing that can be improved on is the hours- I would love to eat here more if only you guys stayed open later. read more

A great vegan / veggie lunch spot - its quick, delicious & close to downtown corporate offices. Took me forever to decide what to order... there were so many options and they all looked delicious - seriously, I wanted to sample everything... Really great veggie / vegan spot - very fresh and delicious options offered - Think even the carnivores would be satisfied. Offer coffee, beer and wine available as well. Check them out. read more

Oh my! Fresca is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in town. The staff is always friendly and helpful to everyone who walks in. The food, ALWAYS good. I have tried almost everything: salads, soups, sides, entrees, sandwiches, desserts, specials, tacos, and other things they may offer. They have always been good. Even on days when perhaps they have had a particularly busy day, the food is always fresh and delicious. I honestly couldn't tell you my favorite dish, but I tend to order one of their sandwiches and a side. However, their pita is the best in town, and reminds me of what I found in Beit Sahour, Bethlehem. When you eat in, you do have to clean up after yourself, but I don't mind. The staff is attentive to their customers, even during peak hours of service. Keep on chugging along, Fresca! I will always be willing to come here for a wonderful lunch. read more

One of my favorite things about living in Richmond is the multitude of rich and diverse options of vegetarian and vegan cuisine. You can barely throw a rock and not hit a vegetarian these days and it's nice to see so many chefs accommodating this lifestyle with some flare. As a vegetarian myself, Fresca on Addison has become one of my go-to restaurants lately. From their homemade pitas to their downright delectable kale salad and scrumptious illy coffee, it's hard not to fall in love - vegetarian or not. Their pitas and pizzas are made to order - even the dessert pizza, which I've heard amazing things about. They also offer a small assortment of grocery goods including beer, wine, pastas, and kombucha. If you haven't yet, make a plan to spend your next lunch break sitting on their umbrella shaded porch sipping an illy latte and feeding your body some serious goodness. I've yet to leave Fresca without feeling completely energized by the incredible freshness and nutrients their meals have to offer. As their tagline states, they want you to eat better, dammit!, and I think they're doing a great job at it. read more

Cute Vegetarian cafe. The portions are perfect and the ingredients are fresh. Nice breakfast or brunch spot for vegetarians or FOVs (friends of vegetarians). My "sausage" with peppers and onion pita was just ok - the dijon mustard was way too salty and there was simply too much of it. My side of potato salad had great flavor but again, a bit on the salty side and the potatoes could have been cooked for just a few more minutes. Despite my lackluster experience, I'd return to try other menu items. read more

This place is decent, but on the pricy side. I enjoyed their curried butternut squash soup, but both my pizza (I got the kale with roasted peppers and pine nuts) and my boyfriend's curried vegetables were mediocre. The pizza was standard and the curry was lacking in flavor. Their dessert pizza, however, was delicious. We got the peanut butter, banana, and chocolate one and loved it! Since that dessert went well I decided to snag one of their Vegan cupcakes to save for later while we were checking out and we both thought that was great too! We got the ginger cupcake with lemon frosting, and if no one told us it was Vegan we wouldn't have ever guessed it. I'd be willing to give Fresca another shot, mostly to try out their other desserts ;) read more

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I had a black bean burger that was not bad but nothing special for $10.00. I want to like this place but wish they would give the dinning room a good scrubbing. p.s. I cannot judge a restaurant on one sandwich and hasten to add that there were a lot of folks who seemed to be enjoying the food. read more

Never had a bad experience here. Friendly staff, great food, and always has dogs to pet on the patio. I love the "chicken" salad sandwich, pesto pizza, and their potato salad. Very reasonable prices too! read more

This place never seems to disappoint. We've been many times before, but recently started going on Saturdays which is their half price pizza night and it's a phenomenal deal for great pizza. My boyfriend and I are both vegans and to date we've tried the vegan version of all of their pizzas except the four cheese pizza (for obvious reasons). All were delicious but our favorites were the pesto pizza (which isn't part of their permanent menu) and the one with "chorizo." I like the thin crust version but the thick crust version is far superior. I have yet to try the whole wheat version but I'm sure that's delicious too. The woman who owns the place is always super friendly and does a fantastic job. My only criticism about the place is that I wish they would change up their menu a little more or at least create different menu items on a regular basis that they run as specials. I know they sometimes do this, but it needs to be more consistent. All in all, this is a great place, I love it! read more

The wife and I stopped by Fresca last Saturday after a nice stroll down on the Canal Walk. Doing the New Years resolution thing and after some exercise, we figured something light was in order and I'd been meaning to stop by this place for some time. Neither my wife or myself are vegetarian, but we love food and certainly respect the lifestyle choices of others. My wife can be a little picky so I was happy when she quickly settled in on the "Chorizo" pizza with whole wheat, thin crust. Initially we thought we might share, but when I saw someone else's pie come out, I figured I should get something as well. I settled on the Fresca Cobb and we took our seats. The place was pretty full when we got there, apparently at the end of the lunch rush, so we sat for awhile. Not too long, but enough to notice... I assume we were in line for the pizza oven, as a few other pies came out before ours. It proved worth the wait. The faux chorizo had a nice spice to it, the sauce was right on and the crust was crisp, not burnt. The Fresca Cobb was a bit of a surprise. A bacon substitute was certainly to be expected, but it seemed to take a whole veggie tray to replace the customary chicken, as the bed of greens, hard-boiled eggs, tomato and avocado were also joined by broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers and carrots. A bit much and probably a stretch to call it Cobb, but for those looking for a filling entree salad, it fits the bill. On our way out, we couldn't resist a sweet snack after an otherwise healthy afternoon. The wife wanted a cookie and I couldn't resist a peanut-butter creme filled chocolate cupcake, both of which proved to be the perfect endings to a pleasant first visit to Fresca on Addison. -TM read more

As a dedicated omnivore, I'm happy to say that this place was lovely. I had the brie [real cheese, in case there is some confusion- not everything here is vegan] and pear panini with arugula and the orzo side and quite enjoyed both. I haven't gotten up the nerve to try the faux meat dishes yet, but shall likely do so on my next visit, since the one at the next table over smelled quite tasty. read more

Yay! What great gluten-free and vegan options! I was very skeptical of a vegan pizza, but I was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely go back and try just vegetarian. No matter which way you slice it, nothing compares to real cheese (sorry Veganites). Definitely recommend! read more

SO GOOD. We came here for lunch and everyone got something a little different, but all were very impressed. They even have vegan deviled eggs, which I never thought I would ever see. Their pita bread is homemade and absolutely amazing, so make sure you opt for this when given an option for bread. They have plenty of options for drinks and desserts as well. The cookies were delicious and the perfect ending to the lunch. They have catering options, which I will definitely be considering in the future. The only bad thing about this place is the fact that it isn't open for longer hours! read more

Cool place near the centre, with a varied menu of salads, sandwiches, burgers and tacos. We both ordered the mix-and-match tacos (pick 3 for $10) and were satisfied, but it didn't blow us away and we were still kind of hungry after. Not a bad stop, but didn't wow us either. read more

I finally made it to Fresca on Addison after getting a recommendation ages ago and professing I would go within the week. Oops. As I may have established in previous posts, I tend to prefer places with table service. And from driving by I was always under the impression that it was a table service style restaurant. Well, admittedly, there is a little table service - the girl who made my pizza brought it out to my table, as well as my iced tea. I did also put a tip in the jar before I sat down though, so not sure if that made a difference. When I walked in, I figured out it was counter service and menu boards, but I was a little unsure about the menu, I saw "chorizo" and "bacon and eggs" on pizzas and it didn't register for a minute that they were mock meats. When I confirmed this with the girl working, she said "Yep, no meat enters this premises." Cool, nice commitment. I ordered the "chorizo" pizza and an iced tea. I pay mostly in cash these days and am sporting a goatee, so I really have no issues with being correctly gendered in these brief interactions. In an athletic event or an emergency, I will still occasionally be misgendered because of my voice, but it's not really an issue in restaurants anymore. When I leave a credit card behind somewhere and have to go fetch it the next day, that can be a little awkward. She brought out my tea, and about 8 or 9 minutes later brought out the pizza. It was as delicious as it looks. See those big grains of salt? They were sparse and awesome. The mock chorizo tasted fine (keep in mind, I'm not a vegetarian). It was probably a 9 or 10 inch pizza and fairly thin, which I considered a good portion - I managed to finish it while I was there. Pizza is so much better fresh that I'd rather have a reasonable portion and not deal with leftovers. It was pretty quiet. I didn't use the restroom, so I can't comment on it. read more

Fresca On Addison - Chorizo pizza. - Pizza Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

So good!!! I tried the chicken salad, sooooo good! I have to order it when I'm on the run. I got the ramp oven roasted pizza, the garlic and onions were perfect. Ok the raspberry chocolate chocolate chip was the best cupcake I HAVE EVER HAD!!!! Totally worth the $3. The ratio of frosting to cake was divinely perfect. Will definitely be coming back for more yummy vegan food. read more

I was concerned about visiting a vegetarian restaurant, but the experience was great. They have plenty of choices for those of us who eat meat while remaining true to their vegetarian goals. Additionally, they have a pizza oven. The women were helpful and pleasant in helping us navigate their menu, especially Toni. I may consider eating more vegetarian meals after this positive experience. read more

BEST VEGAN CUPCAKES IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND! Oh, not to mention the homemade Pitas cooked in their stone hearth oven, their amazing hummus, and the fact that they have roasted Brussels sprouts and asparagus as a side for a little extra ($1.00). I love their lentil soup, their dessert pizza, their BBQ sandwich, and my go to is ALWAYS the Greek salad pita with a side of orzo! I wish they were open late at night! Ps. Nicest people on the planet! read more

Great little place. Had the tacos and love the fact that you can mix and match. Very pleased with this place. Will come back when in town. read more

Fresca On Addison - Pizza Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

So, I've been living in Richmond for over 3 years. Ive driven MANY times past Fresca and it never interested to go in. But tonight I realized I've been missing out! On the hunt for whole wheat crust pizza I found this spot and could not be any more excited to try more dishes in their menu. The pizza was wonderful, I seriously recommend the whole wheat crust. I also appreciated the fact that they had both vegan and regular cheese and more interesting toppings like kale. I would def get pizza from here again. The only bad thing is that the establishment itself is not as nice so I would probably get my food to go, but this doesn't really bother me. I'm excited to try their sandwiches, salads and soups! read more

RAMPS! RAMPS ON A PIZZA! PIZZA WITH RAMPS! Yessssss. We are pleased with this offering. The pizza was pleasantly crisp, and delicately flavored. I do favor this kind of thin crust pizza, so I'm particularly vulnerable to what they're serving here. But the freshly vegan significant other seemed positively delighted to be here, and had a lovely pita with some rock-solid hummus. Service was kind and polite, and dealt well with my bewildered exhaustion. read more

Best in Richmond for Vegan Food. The tacos are fabulous as is the pumpkin and white bean burger. Plus the vegan cupcakes are amazing.

Excellent food, friendly staff and service, and a laid back atmosphere. This is my favorite lunch spot. It's hard to go wrong here, but the Greek pizza is my favorite. The salads are also fantastic, as is the vegetarian chili. To top it all off the staff is some of the friendliest you'll find. read more

This place can do no wrong. Nestled in a quaint location deep in Richmond's downtown district you'll find a simple, yet elegant little eatery. The first thing you'll notice is the smell of real, fresh food cooking. The staff is beyond friendly and the food ... I would give just about anything to have this made for me at home. They don't serve meat but there is absolutely no need. The vegetables are cooked to perfection and the pizza is like no other! Do not pass by this place without trying anything on their menu. We loved our dinner so much, we got another order of different foods to go. Couldn't be happier to find this gem. read more

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Vegetarian heaven!! Great choice of entrees... Everything taste so fresh and yummy. Interestingly, they offer dishes that kinda reflect different cuisines - American, Italian, Thai, Indian... We had the Veg Panini, Curried Vegetables, Pesto Pizza, and Tacos read more

One of my favorite lunch spots in RVA! Whether you're vegetarian/vegan or not, you will love this place! All of their food is delicious, but my absolute favorites are the tacos, vegan 'chicken' salad sandwich, and the curried butternut squash soup. And don't forget to grab a vegan cupcake/cookie on the way out - they're amazing! :) read more

Updated review: I still really enjoy the food at Addison, normally opting for the sandwiches or tacos. The burgers and jackfruit BBQ are my current favorites (haven't tried the Pizza yet). I wont take a star away for it, but it should be noted that you will wait at least 15 or 20 minutes for them to bake your pita fresh, so if you're in a hurry this is not the place to go to unless you call ahead. I would also love it if everything was a little bit cheaper, but I understand they are trying to bring great quality. This is one of the only vegan/veg restaurants in Richmond and they do a great job. read more

I am not vegetarian nor vegan, but this place is amazing. First things first, the chef is a baby-wearing badass! I placed a takeout order and walked in to see her cooking up a storm with a happy smiling baby girl on her back- so cool! The staff was so friendly and accommodating. My white bean burger and mustard potato salad was seriously delicious. I will definitely be back- probably at least once a week! read more

I always tell people this is the most underrated vegan/vegetarian restaurant in the city. Everything I've ordered has been on point- carefully prepared to specification, delicious, and artfully arranged. I recommend the sushi sandwich (don't bash it until you try it!), the pizzas, and the potato salad. Also any of the goodies around the cash register are usually locally made and haven't disappointed yet. I would give it five stars but it's a little pricey, which is probably a good thing since I would go here everyday on my lunch break if I could afford it. But going on deliciousness alone, definitely six stars. read more

Honestly think that Lentil burger could be the greatest thing I've EVER eaten. WOW. They may have to open up Lentil Burgers Anonymous. Incredible. read more

Delicious cookies; garlic hummus, pita and veggies are sooo out of this world; wonderful and addictive vegan chicken salad sandwich. This place is my vegan go to place in Richmond. read more

This is a great vegetarian place to eat. It's small but don't let that fool you. They have pizzas, sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers, etc. I recently ate the vegan burger with cilantro mayo, slaw, and avocado all on a wheat bun. It was amazing. I've also had the chorizo pizza and loved it. Also the staff is really friendly and all the food is made fresh to order. If you're looking for a great local vegan place to eat, you have to try this place. read more

Fresca On Addison - Pizza Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

A so-so beer selection, which is fine as it's not a beer-oriented place. They'd just run out of barbecued seitan (at 6:20 p.m.), which is what I wanted. Oh well. I ended up getting the sushi wrap. It was very tasty, but it had no rice, which was unexpected. My wife got the Greek pizza. She said it was pretty good but a bit light on ingredients. My wrap was, too. The other person with us - the only true vegan among us - said her dinner, while tasty and well-made, also could have used more heft, ingredients-wise. I can't recall what she got. It actually had seitan in it, but only a few morsels. So I'd give the place an "OK." read more