Found this cute little smoothie place in Salem and in Boston. Cute healthy vibey ambiance and good service! Obsessed with the PB&J smoothie read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - PB & J smoothie - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This life alive space was very unsuspecting sharing an entrance with a yoga studio but there are lots of seating options downstairs which I appreciate it that have a very naturalistic ambiance. Life Alive has vegan and vegetarian options and lots of fun drinks. I had the green smoothie and the vegan cesar wrap. The green smoothie was classic, and with added protein powder tasted good but nothing special. I was really pleasantly surprised with the cesar wrap - i thought it was so delicious. The chickpea based sauce was super salty (in a good way) and creamy. And the crunch of the lettuce and croutons was perfect. Service was nice and I like that if you dine in they serve to your table. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Everything was delicious... I got avacado toast and a tahini iced latte.... so good... have ordered from them before... read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Avacado toast and hard boiled egg - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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They changed their menu again & not for the better. What is shaved vegetables listed on the menu? I don't get it, just list the ingredients in things because that is too vague & now we have to get more specifics?! Annoying. Not only that, but now substitutions are costing extra, unlike before?! Seriously?! I am not liking this one bit. I got a bowl, it barely had any dressing & then there was something spicy that I didn't like nor anticipate. I am super disappointed. Better places to go. read more

Buddha bowl and adventurer bowl. I go to many life alive branches, this was my first time trying Harvard sq. Very good. Service was fast, the place was clean, I believe they have more seating downstairs. Very pleasant experience but we used to get more food in the bowl. I like that the almonds for the adventurer are always on the side now! Fresh and crisp, it's a nice way to get veggies and a hot meal all in one. Cannot wait to go back! read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Adventurer Bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've come here twice for a little afternoon pick-me-up before a yoga class - Down Under Yoga holds their classes here. I really like the ambiance, especially downstairs in the basement area - very cozy, low lighting, eclectic seating. I always order online so I can't comment extensively on the service, but I will say that when I ordered an iced beverage I meant to order hot, they were very kind about changing my order. I have had the butternut squash latte (hot) and the Blue Breeze Smoothie. I loved the latte - it was a great balance of sweet and salty and spiced. It was very cinnamon-forward and as a cinnamon lover, I was happy about that. The smoothie was a little odd. Not my favorite but definitely not bad either. I think I must have been tasting the spirulina because it was a flavor I couldn't quite place. It tasted very... healthy. It is quite expensive but I think they use good quality ingredients. I do want to try their grain bowls and salads so I will be back on a day I feel like treating myself. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Blue breeze smoothie - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Rainbow Harvest Bowl: 10/10 This bowl just gives you the warm and fuzzies. The combination of all the chopped vegetables, topped with sweet potato mash, and a tasty and unidentifiable dressing, is amazing. I love it. I highly recommend this bowl and it tastes great with udon noodles instead of rice too! The inside of this place is nice. You go up to the counter and order and then there's plenty of seating. I also got some of the juices. They were good but pretty expensive. I also thought the woman who took my order was so rude. I ordered the Rainbow Harvest bowl and asked to add Brussel sprouts, as suggested by the menu, and she said no because there was too much stuff already in it so it would have to be on the side. I was like okay fine but weird since it's suggested. Then I asked if I could substitute the rice for udon, which I've done before, and she said no I can't do that. Um okay. Then my order came out completely wrong and was a wrap haha. My review is only on the food but this woman needs to be friendlier. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Rainbow Harvest Bowl - delicious!! - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Food: Shiitake udon was soooo good. So warm and hearty, perfect broth. Service: The staff were very knowledgeable on the menu, food was also super fast. Ambiance: This is such a cute Life Alive in a wonderful area of Harvard square! read more

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I came here on a Monday evening to grab a bite with friends. It was decently busy but we were still able to grab a table. I tried the falafel bowl- unfortunately I really was not impressed. While I loved the crispy chickpeas, the falafel was dry and the dish overall was bland. In my opinion, Life Alive has amazing drinks and okay food. The workers are always nice though, and the inside space always has ambiance and nice vibes. Overall, I would definitely recommend other restaurants in the Harvard area. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - falafel bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This spot is definitely the vegetarian/vegan dream. Their entire menu is health focused without any meat choices. Their dining room is very large with different assortment of seatings for small and big parties. The service is pretty fast with an order and sit down format. There are plenty of people with their laptops open getting some work done as one would expect in a café. I opted for a breakfast sandwich, which was pretty good considering it didn't have any meat. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Delicious and nutritious option, now with a convenient location in Harvard square. However with the expansion from its original location to multiple locations around Boston, it feels more and more like a chain. It's completely lost the hippie local co-op-like charm of its original location (both in terms of decor which now feels more upmarket, serving size which used to be much more generous, and service level -- staff looked at me dumbfounded when I asked for utensils for a takeout order, with no initiative to locate any). Another example -- the juices are no longer freshly pressed, they're pre-bottled. Hopefully the original location has kept its charm! read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Green Goddess Bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I came here for a quick bite during lunch and enjoyed their cashew cauliflower soup. It took a little long for the food to arrive, but it was somewhat busy so this was understandable. The soup was good, but a little salty for my taste. I did like the texture from the crunchy bits they added to it! In addition, I also tried their golden milk latte. This drink was yummy, with a strong tumeric taste, as expected! I'm not sure if I would come back to try their other offerings, with many other restaurants/cafes in the area. However, I am glad that they are more health-conscious than some other options! read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The smoothies are good but also somewhat exaggerated, which seems reflected on the price as well. The food is ok but not particularly attractive. read more

Well, the people at the checkout should know that no matter how the food and drink and ambience was, customers will always remember how you made them feel. This was my first time at this place, they had a variety of selection and since I avoid sugar and milk, I wanted to make sure that they add the right substitutions in my drink. Not many places offer honey in drinks, they did, so I while I was trying to make up my mind to whether to get honey added to my drink or not, the guy made a frustrated face, just on that I felt like leaving right there and then. My hot matcha with honey was good though. read more

I stopped by the Life Alive booth at the Mayfair festival in Harvard Square, stationed right outside their storefront. They had a few options available, including a number of juices. We went with the Morning Moxie, which was absolutely delicious and nutritious! It was the perfect drink after a night of drinking or if you're not feeling well. The lemon, honey, and ginger balanced out the flavors nicely, so I couldn't even taste the carrot juice. Next time, I would probably try a green juice. I didn't actually check out the interior of the store too much, but it looked very cool. The staff was very friendly and speedy with their service. I always pass by the location in Central Square, so I'll have to stop by there one of these days. Good spot if you're on a health kick, for sure! read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Morning Moxie - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

What I Ordered: Honey Mango Acai - $12.25 * on the sweeter side * small serving * a good variety of toppings * favorite item ordered Blue Raspberry Acai - $9.25 * unsweetened Butternut Spice Latte Hot - $5.25 * creamy * bitter aftertaste * butternut squash overpowers coffee * has a powdery taste * lots of places to sit/study at (has a downstairs seating area as well) * on the pricier side * laid-back ambiance 5.5/10 total: $28.62 read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I love Life Alive! It is such a fun vibe, from delicious food to a calming atmosphere. They have plenty of options naturally vegans gluten free, without having to compromise quality or fun! Can get the food take out or eat in. I think it's a great place to catch up with friends or journal as you munch on the amazing superfood waffles. They make great drinks. My favorites are the maple cloud cold brew, matcha, and ocean blue latte. I go out of my way for Life Alive to get these because they're that good! As for food, I love the rainbow harvest bowl and the superfood waffles. I haven't had a bowl that I didn't like though and they have seasonal specials that are always fun to experiment with. The service is usually great and fairly efficient. I have had some wonderful experiences with servers genuinely having a conversation and making the experience 10/10. I have come across some servers that rush people unnecessarily (like as soon as you're done paying (while the card is still in the machine) they are calling the next person up. I get it during a busy rush but I was there during a lull. The price is a little above average, so being rushed as I just paid and tipped is not something I particularly love, but hopefully those are off experiences. Overall, would recommend! read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Maple cloud cold brew - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I was pretty disappointed by my experience at Life Alive, but I have to preface by saying a portion of this review is going to be subjective. Let's start with the objective facts. This place does not have your conventional menu. While it is plant based, there aren't any basic options, and all dishes are overloaded with flavor- which automatically loses a handful of consumers as not everyone has a taste for nearly ten-ingredient salads. As for my own experience- I came in here on a Saturday as a part of 3, and it was pretty much all full (to be expected at Harvard Square on a weekend afternoon). We got our order taken within 5 minutes at the front. I ordered the PB&J açaí bowl and paid $14 for it. We got taken down to the basement room for seating, but it was all full! The restaurant was stuffy, and we were forced to ask another customer if we could borrow a chair. This is unacceptable. Customers should not be responsible for figuring out seating arrangements in such a crowded environment, let alone asking other patrons for chairs. Now onto the food. The PB&J açaí bowl was brought out and I was shocked. For $14, I was expecting a bigger bowl. The bowl and the price were simply disproportional. Additionally, I did not see any of the "J" (jelly) in the PB&J bowl. It's almost as if they tried to mask it with the açaí base. On top of that (quite literally), the glob of peanut butter was not given in a sufficient amount. For a peanut butter based item, I was expecting much more. It seems as if they tried to compensate by throwing in a bunch of nuts instead. False advertising, and I hate to say it, but possibly borderline scamming... read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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When I lived in MA I would go to Life Alive in cambridge all the time. I would spend the day on the love couches- reading, writing, drinking smoothies (Elvis Alive) and eating my favorite veggie bowls. When it was nice outside I would eat on the grassy hill across the street in front of the town hall building. It was an eclectic place to hangout and there was always someone interesting to talk to. Since moving to Florida I really miss this place. It brings back so many good memories. I can't wait to go home and visit! read more

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Life Alive is one of my favorite go-to places for lunch or breakfast in all of Boston! They have healthy bowls, salads and smoothies with many vegan options, all of which have fresh ingredients that are well sourced. The inside is cute and a great place to have a long coffee or lunch with a friend. I also absolutely love the açaí bowls at Life Alive; they always have fresh fruit and granola. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Açaí bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I got sick from a takeout bowl from this place. They do mark their allergies, but failed to mark a tree nut allergy on a menu. It's quite overpriced for what you get. The quality is mediocre, which the item is made up for in quantity. The service was quick since not many items are cooked. The counter where you order is on the right hand side across the bar. It's quite confusing since there are other activities going on in that area. read more

The Açaí bowls are amazing. I love the warm grain bowls too, and the drink made from dates and tahini. Wonderful people working there too.

I've missed Life Alive since I moved away, and it didn't disappoint. Good experience for a hearty lunch while remote working! Food/drinks: I got the Buddha Bowl and the hot ginger lemon beverage. Big portions. Well seasoned. It just feels "nourishing." Service: Good! I was a little confused upon walking in, eventually figured our to order at the counter on the right, and then took a seat. They easily adjusted when I moved to a different level and quickly brought out my food. Ambiance: It definitely has a bright, artsy vibe. There are 3 sections of seating (including lots downstairs, with outlets). Music was a little loud for taking a work call and upstairs there were some flies, but a fun spot overall. Would also be great to come with a friend or two for a quick, filling meal. It's not cheap but it was exactly what I was craving. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Buddha bowl with hot ginger lemon - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Love Life Alive: simply the healthiest tasty food in the area. Especially this newer location in Harvard Sq, beautiful 2 levels with plenty of seats plus 2 yoga studios! Love the partnership with Down Under Yoga. All the bowls and salads are delicious! My favorite is the Swami and I always add fresh tofu cubes. organic local veggies just does a body good. Eat well, move well, be well. read more

I've seen a few other stores of this chain around in the area - there's one also nearby in Central Square, as well as in downtown Boston, etc. - but I've never gotten the chance to try it out; so, I was looking forward to giving it a shot when a new location opened right in the heart of Harvard Square. I came by with 2 of my friends just before noon on a Saturday for a late brunch/lunch - it was actually quite crowded, with only a few seats available that we had to hunt for (nothing in the downstairs level and two adjacent tables upstairs). The vibe is definitely consistent with the type of food - it's clear as soon as you walk in that the place is centred around healthfulness, organicness, etc. etc. which makes sense given that it is indeed a vegetarian bowl/coffee shop type spot. Anyway, despite the colourful ambience and helpful/efficient service, the food was a bit underwhelming. I ordered the spicy peanut noodles, which was... fine (?) overall but probably not worth the price. The sauce was not bad (heads up: not spicy) - pretty standard Asian-style peanut sauce - and the lettuce/other veggies were decently tasty, but the noodles were overcooked and soggy. The matcha latte I ordered was unfortunately quite disappointing - as a matcha enthusiast, I had quite high expectations, especially from such a popular cafe. Unfortunately, the latte was too powdery throughout, overly sweetened, and very much lacking the natural bitter/earthier aromas of quality matcha powder. Also pictured are my friends' dishes - the Green Goddess and the Sesame Shiitake Tofu - not bad by any sense but nothing too amazing. Overall, the food was OK at best, and definitely overpriced. While I can certainly see why this place is popular, I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon. read more

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Stopped in here with a friend and just wanted something refreshing to drink so I tried one of the smoothies. It was super delicious and foamy. I don't live in the area but would definitely come back again. They also have lots of outlets if you need to charge your laptop or phone and lots of seating too. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Orange pineapple smoothie - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

For a fresh and healthy restaurant. This is a 5 star option. Located at Harvard square, you will find a true (not wanna be) healthy menu options. It appears that the menu options and their ingredients were very carefully selected to ensure a real healthy meals. No gimmicks or heavy sauces or or or. The taste of the food was excellent. The service was very nice and welcoming. Orders are delivered relatively quickly. The atmosphere is very chill and relaxing. Probably reflecting the healthy theme as well. read more

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Came here for a late lunch but meal was so filling that it became linner Pros: - Autumn Falafel Warm Grain Bowl was delicious and hearty - highly recommend - Others in the group also really enjoyed their meals - Really large space downstairs, great for catching up with friends or for studying - Multiple single stall bathrooms, require key code Cons: - None! read more

Stopped here while on a walk and was not disappointed. We went for the salad and it was great. So much chickpeas and falafel was good. Definitely will be coming back and getting this salad again. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Mediterranean Market Salad - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Life Alive sucks ever since it was bought by panera. I just spent $15+ on a bowl that tastes exactly like, if not, worse than a frozen meal from Trader Joe's that costs $3.99. But I blame myself for giving it another chance. read more

Kind of pricey but large variety of vegan options and it's tasty! Love the quaint seating options on the first and second floor. You order your food, pick which floor you want to sit on (I recommend downstairs if you aren't in a rush), go to your table and they bring you your food. The place is clean and friendly staff. Again, I love a place with tasty vegan options so I will be back to try more food off of this menu. We had the mango açaí bowl 4/5, we ordered the ginger smoothie but that was no so good because it was so foamy and low key tasted like soap and then we ordered a salad. read more

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I love this place. Right when you walk in, there's so much color, and you feel a burst of serotonin with the decor and ambiance. I went twice during my weekend trip to Boston. The first time, I ordered a pineapple-ginger kombucha smoothie, and it was delicious. It had just the right amount of spice from the ginger, a hint of fizz from the kombucha, and the sweet/fruity note of the pineapple. I went back for a couple snacks for my flight the next day and was not disappointed. The only thing that put me off was that the pressed juice was a bit pricey. The combination of ingredients and flavors slightly made up for it though. It reminded me of a homemade, sweet remedy that I used to drink when my throat was acting up. I loved it. I spotted the chia pudding the first time I went, and decided to snag it when I returned. It is a perfectly balanced snack with all the right flavor combos: coconut-chia base, banana, dark chocolate fudge, and peanut butter. Très magnifique! read more

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soup and salad is okay, bowl is bland and... hard to swallow, smoothies are great. My only reason for coming to this spot for the torture of these blandness is for my own health. read more

My daughter and I decided to try this this place during Harvard's student move out. Daughter confessed that she hadn't visited through this entire (freshman) school year although she wanted to. This looks to be one the area's full vegetarian menu options Upon entering I noted right away the decor is an eclectic, contemporary mixture of colors, shapes, & sizes in the furniture, art, and objects. The young woman who took our order was not very friendly and did not smile nor engage in conversation with us beyond taking our order even when we asked a question or two. We were clearly curious at the menu selections and wanting to know more. But hey it was just after 8 PM and perhaps it had been a long day for her? An assortment of seating options are available on the main floor but we decided to eat our order on lower level which turned out to be the best choice! OMG the lower level is gorgeous! Various wood tables in all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Even the wall paint is an interesting hue. We opted for a rear bench adorned with gorgeous pillows arranged as back accompanied by a round & a rectangular table (probably intended for larger group seating). I tried to take photos but the lighting didn't show well. (It is dimly out in lower level) All evening I admired what looked to be bamboo light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. Artistic rope arrangements decorate the walls. I guessed Native American? I enjoyed a miso soup with scallions, & porta bella mushrooms. It had bit too much ginger to the point I had to take early bites of my açaí bowl. Plus I could have done without the porta bella mushrooms (l just don't like) I also had an açaí chocolate bowl which arrived in a semi frozen state. Delicious! They have an assortment of other fruit bowls I made a mental note to try next visit. I asked a gentle man at front about some of the decor items because I was interested in trying to buy a couple of pieces myself. He shared that a interior designer from the corporate office comes in to do it all. CONS Unfriendly service Pricey Overwhelming spiced soup PROS decor Abundant Menu variety Location (Harvard square) Spacious Open late read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Lower level adorable eating space - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Absolutely love this as a place to study with a friend- compared to a more stuffy library environment, this has the best relaxation/hippie vibes to it (as it is also partly a yoga studio). I like the different seating options and the pillows that are everywhere and provide good back support. The acai bowls are consistently bomb!! Also outlets at tables are a nice addition! read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - PB Cup Acai Bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Incredible! Not. First of all, my drink was so hot I screamed and threw it at the wall. Second of all, they gave me the wrong drink so I asked them to correct it. They proceeded to hand me the worst latte I've ever tasted in my life. Boiling water with a hint of milk. Conclusion: this place blows. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Genuine Question; What is this? - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The food service workers here are terrible and need to be replaced. My husband needed to use the restroom but wasn't being helped. When he pointed out that he wasn't being helped, the workers became upset and started verbally harassing us while we were eating our meals. A lot of what they had to say was racist. (I'm Black and they appear to be mostly Latins.) When my food came, I was served on a very chipped plate. Most tableware like the kind used at this establishment contains lead and the chipped glaze makes it more likely that lead will leech into the food. So much for being a healthy eating establishment. Our table hadn't been wiped. The taste of my food wasn't very consistent. I could taste the salt in patches throughout the dish like it hadn't been stirred while cooking. The tastes here are rather harsh. The lemon iced tea tasted like cough syrup. Whatever you do, don't tip the employees! You are asked to tip at the point of sale, which is handled like fast food here even if you dine in here. You pay before you eat. One of the workers who was harassing us taunted as she was insulting me that I tipped her $3. I may dispute that portion of the charge with my credit card company. Good low skill employees are very hard to find in Massachusetts because even if you pay them a relatively paltry $15 an hour, that's still a rough life and not enough to make an effort towards good customer service. This place should try a little harder to find good employees though. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Chipped plate. - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place has a fun "hippie " vibe which is cool for this seasoned reviewer. Ingredients are fresh, flavorful and decent value. I enjoy the bowls and there are several to choose from. My daughter got this beverage which is worthy of a photo. Enjoy! read more

Not sure why this location is so maligned, but it may be a consistency issue. I've only been here once but was really pleased with the experience. Stopped by about 30 min before closing on a weekday and my order was quickly taken. Came out within 10 min or so. Tried two warm bowls: the green goddess and the thai peanut. What I really enjoyed about both bowls is how hearty and savory they were without being heavy. It really is an ideal lunch, late night dinner, or post-work out meal. The green goddess had avocado, kale, tofu, broccoli, brown rice, with a ginger soy/tamari sauce. The garlicky background really lifted these hearty veggies up. The thai peanut was punctuated by some sweeter touches like pineapple and beets, with a savory kick from a peanut based sauce. Overall I would definitely return for the food. The lovely ambiance also helps too! read more

I usually love life alive but had a miss today. Ordered the sesame tofu chop and I got a total of 4 small pieces of tofu on it. I rummaged through the salad to count. Weird... read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe - Sesame tofu chop - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts