I tried the Rainbowberry smoothie from the happy hour menu ($5 from 3-5,8-10) and it was spot on. The texture was perfect, closer to a kind of puree than a frapp. Was delicious with all the fruits inside, and the perfect refresher for a hot day. Also had the dragon fries ($8 from happy hour) for takeout, and the flavours were good (a kind of peanut sauce with some peppers) but the portion was a bit small for the price. The service was a bit slow, so that could be improved. Overall I was delighted to find out about the happy hour promo and will definitely be back for the smoothies! read more

Fresh on Crawford - Rainbowberry smoothie - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

QUICK TAKE: A plant-based powerhouse that turns healthy eating into a crave-worthy experience. Trust me, even your carnivore friends will be impressed. INSIDER TIPS: * Peak hours: Weekends 11am-2pm get packed * Secret menu hack: Ask for extra puffed quinoa on anything * Patio seating has heaters, perfect for those crisp Toronto evenings * They take allergies SERIOUSLY (tested personally with my fiancée's restrictions) MUST-ORDER DISHES: 1. Nachos ($16) - Not your average tortilla chips situation. These are loaded with house-made cashew queso that's somehow both rich and light. PRO TIP: Add the buffalo jackfruit (+$4) 2. Onion Rings ($12) - Forget everything you know about onion rings. These babies are encrusted with puffed quinoa (genius!) creating a next-level crunch that'll haunt your dreams. The batter-to-onion ratio is PERFECT. 3. Avocado Toast ($14) - Yes, I'm that millennial ordering avo toast, but LISTEN: their house-made sourdough is the canvas for perfectly ripened avocados. They nail the seasoning every. single. time. 4. Matcha Latte ($6) - As a matcha snob, I can confirm these are legit. Perfect temperature, no bitterness, just pure green tea bliss. SERVICE: 5/5 The staff here deserves their own review. Special shoutout to the morning crew who remembered our allergy requirements after just one visit. That's the kind of attention to detail that builds regulars. AMBIANCE: 4.5/5 Modern meets cozy with plenty of natural light. The heated patio is the crown jewel - somehow they've created an outdoor space that works year-round (a miracle in Toronto). THE EXPERIENCE: Visited 7+ times during a week-long stay (yes, it's THAT good). Each visit was consistently excellent, which is rare in the restaurant world. Whether grabbing takeout or dining in, the quality never wavered. WHY IT WORKS: * Allergy-friendly without compromising flavor * Consistent quality across multiple visits * Equal attention to both dine-in and takeout orders * Thoughtful touches like biodegradable packaging * Menu variety that prevents healthy-food fatigue BONUS TIP: Join their rewards program. The points add up quickly if you're a regular, and the birthday perks are worth it. BOTTOM LINE: Fresh at Crawford isn't just another healthy restaurant - it's a testament to how plant-based food can be both nourishing and crave-worthy. After trying practically the entire menu (no regrets), I can confidently say this spot deserves a place in your regular rotation, whether you're vegan or not. PARKING: Street parking available, but can be tricky during peak hours. Consider using public transit or rideshare. read more

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A staple vegan restaurant I love frequenting. They have a couple locations in the city but I visit the one on Queen street west and Crawford street the most. The squash tacos are my absolute favourite, it's a must try. The hot sauce is so unique and spicy, it's truly elevates any dish. They also have a great wraps and smoothies. The hello gorgeous smoothie is like a strawberry milkshake and the glow up smoothie tastes kind of tropical and like coconut. As for deals, they have happy hour everyday from 3pm-5pm and 8pm-close which include $8 bites (including squash tacos), $5 sips and $10 cocktails. The service is always good and the outside patio is a nice aesthetic read more

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Highly recommend the quinoa onion rings. It's crispy , doesn't tastes the healthiest but it's so good! I also got the Buffalo wrap, big green smoothie and fresh ginger ale. Everything is really good. Service was a bit slow but he was the only one managing the patio so can't expect much. Everything is vegan here. It's a great spot if you want to have a healthy meal and people watch. The happy hour menu is great, you can get food for $8 and drinks for $5. It's from 3-5pm everyday. read more

Fresh on Crawford - Quinoa onion rings - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

STAY FRESH, EAT VEGAN. Ambiance: 4/5. Patio area is a stunning modern spot, perfect for people watching (you nosy dogs!!). NO aircon so not suggested if you are going with friends that don't wear deodorant. Inside is stuffy so be careful not to trip on people's feet if it's busy. Food: 4/5. It's good and I'm a beefeater (jk I'm vegetarian but my meaty friends enjoy it too). I highly recommend getting the squash tacos or any of their wraps (they are thick, it's like eating for 2!). Drinks are refreshing. The glow up smoothie was sweet (Hailey beaver glazed donut who...). The watermelon crush was watermeloney (duh) while salty... think margaritas without the alcohol. Service: 3.5/5. Service never wows me but it's solid. Quick tips: - come during "happy hour", they have great deals on foods!! - if you LOVE HEAT, get their hot sauce!!! It is delicious and unique . I put that ***%%#% on everything! - bring regular mayonnaise and do a taste test against theirs ... I'll bet you won't guess which is which! read more

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Great vegan/vegetarian restaurant in TO... service was super slow but friendly Portion size small but tasty Hot sauce - fantastic!! Definitely get it on the side and buy a jar for home if you like hot sauce read more

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I'm not usually one for vegan food but the food here was pretty good. Unfortunately, service (though really nice!) had some pretty major missteps that we had to speak up to correct. To me, food matters way more than service hence why I am giving four stars instead of three. It's closer to a 3.5 though. The space is absolutely gorgeous, with tons of greenery, macrame planters, and pastel. Diners are seated in a covered patio and the lighting is impecable. I'm a terrible photographer but my food photos still turned out great! I think this restaurant may be understaffed because it did take a noticeably long time for us to get water and have our orders taken. We ordered the avocado toast (with sweet potato instead of toast), the all star salad, and the squash tacos. This is where service really fell off. It wasn't on our server Audrey, she was really apologetic about the mixups, but rather I think it was due to miscommunication in the kitchen. First of all, the avocado toast literally arrived without avocado. What. How do you forget half the name of the dish? To be fair the plate was basically an arugula mountain so the lack of avocado isn't immediately apparent. She eventually got a little bowl with half an avocado for her to put on her toast. Secondly, my salad arrived without dressing. The person who brought it (not Audrey) said that the dressing was added to the salad but the top was clearly dressing-less. Thankfully it was quickly amended, though I wish I had thought to ask for the dressing on the side so that I could control how much went in. The food itself was quite lovely, and my friends and I all enjoyed our dishes. In general, the ingredients were fresh and flavorful, not a brown leaf or soft spot in sight. The tacos were a standout. Each order comes with two very large tacos, and the squash in ours were perfectly fried. The jalapeño creama was also super tasty. My friend also praised the feta on her avocado toast for being just like the real thing. My salad was super flavorful, and the 369 dressing was a good dressing to pair with it. It was sweet and savory and nutty, very nice! I do wish my salad had less quinoa and beans, and more greens or sweet potato. I had maybe two or three thin, round slices of sweet potato in a large bowl of salad. It felt more like I was eating a grain bowl than a salad. Overall, service aside, great first experience at a vegan restaurant. My friends and I agreed that if our server hadn't highlighted the fact that the menu was all plant based, we fully would not have noticed. We didn't miss meat at all eating here, and that's what I think makes a good vegan place (as a non-vegan). I left feeling inspired to make more plant-based meals for myself! read more

Fresh on Crawford - All star salad (missing the dressing) - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've been eyeing their patio for ages, and finally got to try it for the first time. This was one of the first patios I visited post COVID reopening. The service: the server was really nice and attentive. Sadly, the kitchen missed one of my friends requests to have the tomato on the side. The menus is all online and there was good distances between tables. The patio is super pretty, and despite it being a really hot da, I wasn't dying from the heat. The food: The quinoa onion rings are really good. I tried to get it on the side, but they don't do that, so we got one to share. We got Chipotle sauce, ketchup and hot sauce for dip. The hot sauce was my favorite. It is pricy though, 10.50 plus tax for 6 onion rings. I got the 9-layer burrito with salad for main. It's HUGE, and I only finished half. I got the arugula salad to be healthy (was so hard to say no to fries) and it worked really well with the creaminess from the avocado in the burrito. I put on some of the hot sauce as well, and it was so tasty, definitely recommend. I think I'll come back to try the other wraps next time. read more

Fresh on Crawford - 9-layer burrito - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Popped in here after a bar crawl on queen and ossington. this was our final stop as we'd been wanting to try the food here for a while. we were seating right away and on a cooler summer night it was still warmish with how their outdoor patio is set up. one of my friends is a vegetarian, and the rest of us do eat meat. I had the ham and pineapple pizza and i have to say as a meat eater and pizza lover, this pizza was amazing! I actually finished most of it outside of the pieces i shared! my friend didn't love her mexican style wrap, she felt it was extremely heavy on that beans but enjoyed the flavour it was packed with. my friend who had the club wrap enjoyed it, he felt that the chicken taste wasn't as authentic as he'd expected (compared to the ham on my pizza) but still enjoyed it. if you're in the mood for some vegan food and can get a reso here - i'd check it out! read more

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So.... You know sometimes I won't go to a place because so many insist on going. Not wanting to fall for the hype. But on a random day, trying to be different and also trying to seem like a healthy choice might be a good idea and I have to admit, because it wa literally right in front of me and I was lazy- finally made it to one of these places. I walked into what I can only call a machine like pace. They told us they had a table and how much time we had to eat. That threw me a little because it seemed a bit abrupt. But I have to say, aside from that I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh and delicious tasting my mashed avocado on sweet potato was. Who knew that could be exciting? And the coffee with oat milk ....fantastic! On top of that the server was great! The space was a lush greenery bubble. I was very happy with this lunch. The beginning started a little strange but definitely satisfied. read more

When I was in my 20s I had a brief, obsessive love affair with Fresh. Overtime, it kind of fell off my radar, unless I had a vegan pal in town or needed a quick to-go smoothie. Recently, I have been desperate for healthy delivery. It was time to dial my favourite ex. Hey Fresh, you up? Last night at 6:00pm my family was hangry. I made a box of mac and cheese for my kids (mom of the yeeeear) and ordered Fresh for my husband and I. We shared the Buffalo cauliflower bites which were *incredible* and each had a soup/salad combo. The soups and Fresh are always deadly. Delish. read more

Everything is always "fresh"! Favourite place for vegan food. I could eat from here every day and not miss the taste of meat. Whenever I want to eat healthy and meatless. My go to are: squash tacos, beach bowl and quinoa onion rings! read more

Fresh on Crawford - Squash tacos and beach bowl - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We need more of these around the GTA, not just in Toronto so let's get to that. If you've tried Freshii this would be it done propertly. Less franchise-y, more quality, selection, and more authentic. The menu is huge and they have a retail selection as well. I feel like this would be a staple if you were to eat out lunch in the city as it's clean and fair priced. Found the juice to be refreshing; the cauliflower bites to serve two/three, and the tempeh buffalo wrap to be a lot less Buffalo-y then you'd expect it to be. read more

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Found both hair and a fly in 2 different dishes. This is absolutely disgusting. The service was not bad but overall its definitely not worth. read more

Nice healthy options in a clean cafe/outdoor patio. I got the two piece cornbread and hummus appetizer to go ($3.15) The two pieces or cornbread were really small, it's actually one piece cut in two. The hummus doesn't have a strong garlic flavour; it was lumpy and mild in flavour. The cornbread was crunchy, with a lot of corn taste, it's like eating corn meal. It's not gluttony or sweet at all. But for me, the bread was so crumbly, it disintegrates when I dip it into the hummus. Overall it's a good little snack. read more

Fresh on Crawford - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Essential greens on brown rice, bbq burger and fries, quinoa onion rings all fantastic with excellent service. Sitting in the outdoor covered patio on a sunny Saturday morning made it even better. I highly recommend this vegan restaurant. Go now! read more

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I stopped by for lunch and had a positive experience. I placed my takeout order before arriving at the restaurant and it was ready when I arrived 20 minutes later. I told them about my food allergies and they made sure my item was gluten free, dairy free and cucumber free. I asked if I could sit somewhere even though I ordered take-out and they said I could sit at the bar but I might have to leave if someone comes in because people who order takeout can't eat in the restaurant (I thought that was a little weird but I ate my salad in peace). I ordered a small "Big Salad" and really enjoyed the flavours. I found it really filling and would definitely order it again. Would I return? Absolutely! PS: the patio looked amazing! I'd definitely request a spot on the patio if I arrived normally and dine in. read more

We came here for lunch on a Sunday and I really enjoyed my meal :) Best part of the meal was hands down their buffalo cauliflower wings - they're the best I've ever had! The perfect texture between soft and crunchy, not overly battered, great buffalo flavour with a bit of a kick and some yummy house made dressing for dipping. I ordered a small Buddha bowl and it was more than enough for me - with leftover to spare! It's a peanut sauce rice dish with tofu, tomato, cucumber, green onion, red cabbage - and it's super fresh tasting and yummy! My partner got the full breakfast which came with tofu eggs, tempeh bacon, beans, home fries. It was good but not great - I personally really liked the tofu eggs but felt the tempeh bacon was overly salty. For two people it came to around $25 each. Overall solid meal - we wouldn't order the breakfast again but their salads and bowls are always great! read more

Fresh on Crawford - Buddha bowl and full breakfast! - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The truth is, I'm slightly obsessed with Fresh. A recent visit to Toronto had me stopping in at three different locations but the one on Queen remains my favorite. Five check-ins & the truth. Though I tend to go for the hearty, warming bowls in the chillier months, my most recent visit had me admiring that salad menu and I felt I *needed* that Superfood salad. I swear, it felt like I was giving my body the perfect medicine. It's bursting with vitality-- so many green crunchy things. This salad will make you glow. I also recommend ordering the bread, olives & dukkah to go with. read more

Fresh on Crawford - Superfood Salad - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The food is so good!! You can't go wrong with anything. The hummus was the best I have had!! They do need to get gluten free buns and wraps though for their entrees! read more

Fresh on Crawford - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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A great place for some good vegan food. While the food was delicious their layout made it a bit messy to eat. We went for Green Poutine and Sweet Potato Fries for the appetizer, followed by Falafel Taco and Flying Cashew Burger. Green Poutine was good but too large portion for an appetizer. The sweet potato fries were great. The taco was great in taste but very messy to eat. The filling was out of proportion with taco size which made it quite difficult to eat. The burger also had the same issue as Taco - messy to eat as the avocado slices slide very easily - not a good idea to put it in a burger. Not at least like that. Having said that, I loved the bun!! We also went for the Green Detox and Big Green smoothies. Green Detox was really amazing. The flavor of ginger was great and the overall spice was quite punchy. But the heaviness of the ginger and banana was very well balanced with the lightness of the greens. The Big Green was great as well. Very light and refreshing. read more

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I've read the recent reviews and I was a bit worried to see comments about slow service, bad service, or lack of flavour. I thankfully didnt see any of those issues creep here. I saw all of those when I went to the Bloor St location but I would say of the 3 Freshs I've been to (Bloor, Spadinda, and Crawford), this one was the better experience. Arriving on a Sunday brunch, we were able to book online a reservation and so we had no issues getting a table quickly. I think it's not well known that they're on OpenTable for reservation. It's super easy to book a spot that way. With only 30 minutes after opening, the patio was nearly taken. I think we took one of the last 2 tables. The inside though... was bare! Maybe only 3 tables were taken. With the patio, it nearly doubles their capacity. So if you see a line up out the door or crowding the front, take a peak... it might be people waiting for the patio in the summer. You can score a table with zero wait inside. As for the seating, it's not so crowded on the patio. Definitely busy and definitely full but there's enough space that you dont have to move tables to get out (like in Bloor). As for the space itself, it's clean and open with a lot of shade. You can be at the edge where it meets the sidewalk and you will have lots of sun. That morning, they were still using the heater and I sat underneath it. I was kept cozy as it was late spring. Service here was 3 times faster than the other 2 spots (Bloor and Spadina). Though there was about 3 staff managing the patio, they kept the food coming in and out as they were trying to bring more and more of the line into the patio. I dont think we waited terribly long for anything. We might have waited a bit to order but it was no where as bad as the other 2 spots. Maybe a little more than 10 minutes. After our order, the app came in quickly with our salads and bowls shortly after. I think your experience will heavily depend on how good your servers are... cause we got some terrible ones at Bloor but here, they're faster and more aware. Buffalo Cauliflower - This has to be my favourite app on the menu... I keep ordering it and there hasnt been a bad plate yet. Tender cauliflower is battered then fried up crisp and dressed with a tangy hot sauce. They always arrive hot and crispy. Some people love the onion rings or the sweet potato fries... I always go for the cauliflower! 4/5 Ultimate Falafel Salad - I tried this this a while ago and though I love all the vegetables they put into this, the falafels themselves were just ok. They werent really crispy or hot... just kinda warm and a bit mushy. They generously piled on the crispy onions, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, mint parsley, and cranberries on the salad base. A nice drizzle of the tahini sauce just made things perk up in flavour. Maybe I'll try a new salad next time but this still is one of the better ones I've tried. 3.5/5 Tangled Thai - This was a nice colour salad with the spirals of carrots and beets. They had also the purple cabbage, cucumbers, red peppers and tons of peanuts on top. We did ask for few extra add ons and they gave a super generous amount. Unlike some places where they only give you 1 tbsp... they pile it on. So never feel like the extras are a waste of money. The peanut citrus sauce was a good way to add more nutty flavour to the salad. 4/5 I think Fresh can be hit and miss but this particular Sunday, they were much better than usual. I think if you arrive before the crazy rushes you'll have a better experience. Sunday brunch seems like a good time to hit the patio if you want. read more

Fresh on Crawford - Falafel salad... generous portion filled with lots of great vegetables - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Look up the BlogTo article regarding all of their infractions from the health inspectors. They need to remove the word Fresh from their name

So for breakfast/brunch Id give this place a 4 but all other times a 3. Its always crowded and buzzing which can get frustrating but the menu has LOTS of options and you always feel better eating here. The onion rings - YUM! The dosa is very non traditional so if that's what you are looking for, Id skip this one. The tempeh bacon in the brunch menu is really good. Honestly, just call it tempeh, it really doesn't need to be "baconized" to be delicious. read more

Made a reservation, travelled a distance and arrived to the restaurant being closed. A heads up to cancel the reservation would have been appreciated. Ruined my friend's birthday. read more

Fresh on Crawford - Closed without notice for reservation - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Do not sit on the heated patio in winter unless you are dressed for wind and cold. The heat lamps are a bit too high to reach the tables and once you've ordered you can only move inside if you cancel your order and re-add your name to the waitlist which is like no restaurant policy I've ever heard of. The bar was busy so we didn't get our drinks until then the food came and the service was medium - we had to flag servers down a few times for things. The food was mostly good. The Poutine was excellent as was the superfoods salad - I loved the 3-6-9 dressing. The banana split milkshake was amazing. The cornbread was okay but would have been better warm and the cashew cheese tasted more like a hummus spread and was a bit bland but really nice with salt and cayenne added (which you can ask for). The hot sauce was also great. I'd go again but research the food items other people recommend and definitely sit inside!!! read more

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normally I like this place. but when they say your food will be ready at 12:20 and you are still waiting at 12:35 with an epic amount of work to do and they barely apologize, I think this will be my last order. thanks fresh for the good times. but some people have work to do. read more

Be prepared for a cockroach in your salad! Look under everything because I found one and complained but was so grossed out I dieclined the replacement salad that was offered! read more

Walked in with a friend and received the RUDEST reception from two blond women who doled out FRESH attitude. I've had experiences where POC friends have been treated poorly before (e.g., white customers given tables before POC). Take your stores to LA and stay there. read more

I was in Toronto earlier this week for a concert, and before we headed to the venue, we came here for dinner, meeting up with friends who were also going to the concert.This was a great choice! The whole menu was plant based, which is amazing. I had ordered the Clubhouse wrap, with the tempeh bacon and crispy tofu steaks, with that garlic mayo. It was so delicious! The wrap was warm, and crunchy. and the side salad was a bed of greens with hemp seeds on top with a basic dressing, I had also ordered the sparkling lemon soda with raspberry, as per recommendation of the waitress, who was friendly and very helpful. The only thing I'd like to see is the restaurant being more accessible. Unfortunately, the door wasn't automatic, and my friend was in her manual chair and it was not easy to open the door and push her, luckily someone held the door for us. We had a table near the front which was easier to get in and out. Overall, great food, wonderful company, great service. Next time I'm in Toronto, I'll definitely want to come back here and try something else. read more

They've changed their portion sizes. If you order a small protein bowl it now comes in a very tiny side dish size. Think cat feeding bowl. It's really hard to mix anything in it. My protein bowl said it was going to have to have tofu steakS - it had 1 piece of tofu. It was tasty, but very expensive for what was actually served. Definitely don't bother getting a "small" bowl and get the large as the price difference is negligible. Also they should warn people how small their new small bowls are. Also don't get the small protein bowl in general. 1 piece of tofu, 12 black beans, a handful of veggies and some brown rice - shouldn't be $20 with tax and tip. Even by Toronto standards, that's kind of lame. read more

This place does not include those who are gluten free, they just tolerate them. My friends (non GF) enjoyed their food well enough and the outdoor patio was very pleasant (despite a little cramped). Their juices are not made on site but I did enjoy them. As Jonathan G said " this isn't the kind of gluten-free restaurant where celiacs/GF'ers can take pleasure in enjoying the foods". So, the menu is quite limited from a GF perspective. No gluten free bread and the fries are cooked in the same oil as wheat based foods. So, all we get is salad and rice fun!! Nope, if I'm eating at a restaurant I want to actually feel full. The rice was kind of bland and the lemon sauce was pretty basic. I used chopsticks and the rice didn't stick together. I don't remember much about my bowl aside from 3 pieces of very basic tofu, chickpeas and an overkill amount of very bland rice and a bit of greens and it was $20! I did enjoy the ambiance and the service and again my friends (who are not GF and are not picky) said they enjoyed their meal. read more

I absolutely love their cold press juices. Their Urban Detox juice is incredible. A really great blend of green juices and a little kick of cayenne pepper. My friend had the Rosy Glow and loved it also. Highly recommend! read more

Fresh on Crawford - Rosy Glow and Urban Detox - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The service here disappointing with the staff being negligent to allergies. My friend ordered a beach bowl, notified the staff about her soy allergy, and specifically asked that tamari be excluded from her dressing. The front of house staff suggested an alternate dressing (369). We left the restaurant to eat our food in the park. My friend called the front of house to make sure there was no tamari in her food as the exclusion wasn't captured in her receipt. She received reassurance. When she ate her food, however, the symptoms of the soy allergy started. We called Fresh and told them what happened. The front of house person refused to take responsibility as she had notified the kitchen. We insisted that the allergic reaction was happening and asked her to inform the kitchen. Later my friend checked the ingredients of the sauce that was recommended as an alternative and it had tamari in it! The lack of ingredient knowledge displayed by the front of house person and her refusal to apologize about my friend's allergic reaction was annoying and dangerous. Fresh should train their staff more thoroughly on how to deal with patrons' allergies and how to respond when mistakes are made. In addition, Fresh should highlight ingredients that are commonly allergy inducing in their menu. It wasn't the first time my friend had this experience at Fresh and had even mentioned this to staff when she placed her order. It's the last time we will go to this location. read more

I personally really liked this location, I went with my boyfriend last night and we sat on the patio which was so pretty with lights and hanging pots. The service was amazing they were really on top of everything. We ordered quiona onion rings for our appetizer and I had the cauliflower tacos which were pretty filling a big and my boyfriend had a protien bowl. Both which were lovely! And our drinks tasted divine... I am going to recreate the gin and edible flower - We could go vegan if we ate here everyday 100 p. read more

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Came in here for lunch - had a soup, gluten free cornbread, and a Energy Bowl! It was truly delicious. There are many options all are Vegan including gluten free. Cashew cheese spread for the cornbread was amazing. Some items cooked in the fryer with oil from gluten and non-gluten so thats all you need to watch out for. Staff was friendly and told us about the menu answering any questions we had. read more

Fresh on Crawford - Vegan Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Top notch choice for healthy vegan food that still satisfies cravings for sweet and fried flavors. I enjoyed everything I tried after ducking into this small Queen Street joint on a rainy evening. The quinoa onion rings deserve their city-wide fame, as they are large, piping hot and equipped with extra tantalizing texture thanks to the quinoa crust. The October special matcha shake with coconut milk and coconut whipped cream featured a strong matcha flavor tempered by the sweetness of the coconut. The dosas were a far cry in size and texture from what you'll find in a south Indian restaurant, but I enjoyed Fresh's take as the chickpea "curry" is quite flavorful if mild and melds well with the soft consistency "dosa." Wish the music/noise level were a bit lower, as I was engaged in lengthy conversation with a colleague. Also would have liked more pieces of fried squash blossom in my tacos, which contained a bit too much kale and lettuce, but they were still good. Everything tasted unique and delicious to me, so I will definitely return. read more

Returned to Fresh on Queen for the first time in nearly two years for an early birthday dinner last night, and it remains my favorite food establishment this side of the Atlantic. In those nearly two years, I've also visited Fresh on Spadina and Fresh on Bloor, and can confirm that the Queen West restaurant offers by far the most pleasant dining experience. The interior is even more minuscule than the location on Spadina, but the tables are arranged in such a way that you aren't constantly elbowing the people next to you. This one also has a lovely patio on Crawford street - it was raining during my last visit, but I can envision myself having brunch and a laugh with my friends out there while people watching. Brunch Aspirations, my friends. The dishes here are not fancy or complicated but manage to taste upscale. I recently received a Fresh cookbook as a gift, and insight as to how simple and clean each recipe is has given me a greater appreciation for the thought that goes into the menu here. You'll leave here satisfied, feeling good about what you're giving your body. After several visits, my favorites are the squash tacos, the green poutine on sweet potato fries, and the powerhouse bowl on soba noodles. I hope to come back in the winter to warm up with the soup, salad and cornbread combo. I have never found the service anything but friendly, and even with a full house and a takeout line out the door, my meal last night was in front of me in a hot second. This is and forever will be my favorite restaurant, world without end, amen. read more

Vibrant veganism. Ginger tea is lovely served in bistro glass. Baby Buddha bowl with brown rice and peanut sauce arrived quickly. Busy and noisy but healthy and quick. I come here often. The food is healthy. The staff, however, need to be more accommodating. I came to pick up some take out for someone who is ill. I asked if I could sit and have a tea and snack while I waited. It is their policy to not seat take-out patrons and I understand that ... But I am a regular patron and the place was empty. There were five serving staff in the front and only two tables occupied but no one even offered a glass of water while I waited. Not cool. read more

I thought I was finished with Fresh, but a friend from out of town came to visit, and wanted to come here for brunch. So... okay, back to Fresh. It still didn't win me over. But this visit was better than before. Our server was a bit weird, but ultimately helpful and friendly so that's all that matters. One of the other servers "helping" the table next to us was terrible and I'm glad we didn't have her. She seemed to be all attitude, and no help. Brunch was great. I got the pancake platter, which comes with two pancakes of your choice, two vegan breakfast sausages and tofu scramble (for 12$). I could have done without the over-spiced boring tofu scramble, but the pancakes (banana-nut flavoured) were excellent, especially when slathered with margarine and dark rich maple syrup. Tofu sausage was fantastic. I got an americano. And while it wasn't a very big cup of coffee, or very caffeinated, it was very tasty. I also ordered a side of soy yogurt, but really, I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you get some jam. It's not flavoured with anything so when you order soy yogurt that's really all it is, and it's not very good. Next time (since there will probably always be a next time with this place): BBQ Burger. How can I go wrong with a veggie burger, that also includes a couple of those delicious quinoa onion rings? read more