Beautiful decor - open, airy, contemporary, fresh Amazing food - had gluten-free options too. Very accommodating - my meal came with bread and they substituted it with a salad instead with no hassles. Owned by Kyle Patton, who is also the chef. Kyle was super friendly and answered questions about the food. I had the lentil, mushroom and spinach ball, which he made into a patty and was served with a roasted tomato salsa that had a delicious smokey flavour. Yum yum all around! My friends got the enchilada, which looked amazing and came with a side salad. I also tasted the brownie, which was delicious, rich, chocolate-y and super decadent. Fingers crossed that Kyle will develop a gluten-free version of the donut soon! read more

Rise Above is the vegan restaurant I've been dreaming about: great service, warm and artsy atmosphere, decent plates and good prices. They also serve local wines and brews which I really appreciate. Likely my favorite thing about Rise Above is the dessert. The donuts, when they are available, are phenomenal. The milkshakes have rocked my existence before. Oh and the other stuff is really good too. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the upcoming vegan donut shop I have heard through the grapevine is a thing. The only detail I find to be a real stinker about this place is that with the new management the meals have become much more tofu-centric, which really doesn't appeal to me. Furthermore, I think it makes the plates fall much more in the category of "typical vegan food" than they did before. Example: last time I visited I ordered the benedict plate for brunch, which alas, tasted a lot like salty tofu. But that's just me. You should still give it a try. read more

From California but I make it a point to stop at Rise Above every time I have been to St. Catherine's. Been here 4 or 5 times and the menu has new additions every time I have gone. No doubt a great place to get top tier vegan food, but I recommend it to anybody who loves good food made with good ingredients. Baked goods are also A+ read more

An amazing spot for vegans. A few gluten-free options and a great focus on sourcing local ingredients. I absolutely die for the little g-free vegan cheesecakes in mason jars, gfree vegan nanaimo bars and the vegan milkshakes. The greek salad with vegan fetta is killer. A must-try for any foodie, not just for vegans! read more

Vegan donuts?! Amazing! It seems that, more often than not, vegan donuts are more like tiny bundt cakes, donuts in shape only, but not these! I would compare them to Tim Horton's so you'd have an idea of the texture but I think I'd be insulting the kitchen. ;) Picked up a box of 8 for a mere $14 and a giant brownie for just $2. The lemon filled coconut is the front runner so far but I've still got 4 donuts left to eat. It's ok to have a box of donuts for dinner, right? My non-veg family also loved them. The place also had some very tempting little pizzas and bagels, complete with vegan cheese, and some soups and sauces you could buy by the jar to take home. I understand they'll soon be moving into the former Pan Cafe and expanding the menu to become more of a full cafe. Exciting news! If you're vegan and you miss being able to grab a donut with your coffee, go! Go now! You won't be disappointed. read more

Love the food here! Great ambience, lovely art to look at on the walls! Best of all, I don't have to think about any being suffering so that I can eat! I haven't had a bad meal here. They have some interesting drinks and a good craft beer selection. The prices are very reasonable. Make sure to make a reservation as they are always busy! read more

This place rules. Coming from vegan-mecca Portland I was truly skeptical of this place. The sign outside said their new menu started that day so I can't say what it was like before. I got the pizza of the day which had BBQ seitan, onion, and Daiya. Pizza snobs might think the crust isn't quite chewy enough but I was driving across the country and I was just happy to have some respite from the wasteland that is the central US. My girlfriend had the house burger that was tasty if a little soft. But yeah, those donuts. Damn. And the art happened to be all Bill Murray. Keep this place going. read more

We were visiting Niagara-On-The-Lake and Niagara Falls and searching for a lunch or dinner option and found Rise Above. Note in September 2018 there is facade construction going on but the restaurant is open and very worth looking for. My boyfriend and I split a Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burger w/ jalapeño aioli and a Grilled (cashew mozzarella) Cheese & Pesto sandwich. I didn't want to finish because I wanted to keep experiencing the delicious tastes & textures. Both came with sides and we both opted for a curried chickpea soup that was also delicious- flavorful without being just a heavy dose of curry. The breads on the sandwich & burger were both tasty but the Grilled Cheese was to die for! Everything on the menu sounded delicious. Though I'm personally not a fan of any mushrooms, other folks were raving about the stuffed mushrooms. Lastly we had to try the strawberry cheesecake cake and I can honestly report that non-vegans would have no idea it was vegan - it was light & creamy - so yummy; apparently made with magic! And I must add our server was great - nice and helpful. An all around great experience. We travel throughout the US and Canada and this was an exceptional dining experience! read more

Rise Above - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - St. Catharines, Ontario

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Wow, this place was great! So glad that we hit traffic and had to find somewhere close to the venue we were heading to. I called them about 25 minutes in advance and they reserved a table for us (they will hold for 15 minutes past your reservation time). The restaurant is fairly small but cute, exposed brick, different salt and pepper shakers on each table, lots of mason jars! The menu was a good size and I had a hard time picking because it all sounded so good. I went with the crunchy wrap and oh my goodness it was amazing!!! We ended up sharing both meals the other was a burger, also to die for. Got a side of Mac and Cheese and you cannot tell that's not real cheese. I hope this gem lasts in this small town because I would absolutely come back. read more

Rise Above - The crunchy wrap, highly recommend - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - St. Catharines, Ontario

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Rise Above has quickly become one of my family's favorite restaurants. It's in a great location with a good vibe, it has friendly and efficient staff and tasty food, and it's got the very best desserts I've ever eaten (seriously!). Even better, Brian (the owner) is extremely committed to ensuring that the restaurant thoroughly sources all of its ingredients, to ensure that everything in the restaurant is appropriate for vegans. I can't say enough good stuff about this place. The food is very, very good. The Buffalo Seitan is the best vegan 'wings' approximation I've had in half a decade: tender but lightly crunchy seiten nuggets with a perfectly seasoned hot sauce and some delicious aioli. I also really like the Crispy Seitan Wrap, which is made with the same seitan nuggets. The Grilled Cheese Sandwich comes on thick slices of fresh bread with a delicious basil pesto, and it's just fantastic. The Beet Burger contains one of the best burger patties I've had in years; try it with the gluten-free bun (the best I've tried, anywhere). Some of the items are good but a bit underwhelming. The Mushroom Mac & Cheese had a nice flavor, but it was slightly under-seasoned. The chili in the Chili Cheese Wrap was inoffensive, but extremely basic. And I found the crust on the pizza to be a bit too dry. But these are small complaints. Most of the food is great, and even the stuff that's a bit less-than-great is still quite good. The desserts, though. The baked sweets. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. It's not even worth trying to describe them. They're that good. Yesterday, my family went in (and after eating more than a dozen donuts at the table) bought two dozen to go. Just do yourself a favor: go buy a Blueberry Crumble donut and a Cookies 'n Cream donut, and stuff them into your maw. read more

The food, service, and setting are just spectacular. I've been to Rise Above three times in the last month, and my experience has been consistent. read more

I have been to Rise Above numerous times. They have a fantastic menu and a fun crew of servers. I am always waited on in a timely manner and given exactly what I ordered. I have had the lentil ball, arugula ceasar salad, varieties of daily pizzas, gnocchi, lasagna, mozza sticks and almost every pastry. I think my favourite dish was the lentil ball and frites and my favourite dessert is the lemon pie filled coconut donut. Amazing! I will continue to eat here. read more

If I could I'd give this place 3 1/2 stars instead of 4. It was good overall, but also hit and miss. The stuff that was good was delicious. The stuff that was bad was quite disappointing. There were three of us and one of our entrees (seitan wrap) was very good, one (mushroom strudel) was also pretty tasty, and one was extremely disappointing -- the taco, which was the size of an appetizer not a main course and was basically a bunch of dry shredded cabbage inside of a soft shell that completely broke apart after two bites and tasted as bland as paper towels. We paid extra to get a side of the mac n'cheese and left it uneaten. It was totally bland. For an appetizer, we ordered the buffalo seitan, which everyone seems to be crazy about. Indeed, that was delicious. We also had a yummy milkshake. Another thing that wasn't great was that although we made a reservation and altered our arrival time for when we were told to arrive, there was no table ready when we came and the server simply said it's not ready, no "sorry." After about 10 minutes someone else came and said "sorry" and that a table would be ready soon. Still, when hungry people arrive and are told their reservation wasn't honoured, it's good to give them a "sorry" at that point. It makes a big difference! I'd likely return if I'm in the area, but I'm not in a rush to do so... read more

My hubs, two friends, and I sure enjoyed our meal at Rise Above on Thursday. The food is great and happens to be vegan. We all ordered different entrees and all were excellent. Also, the soup was heavenly. I love the casual atmosphere, and the servers are very helpful. We'll be back. read more

Amazing Food!!!! Just wao! Still blown away by the quality, flavor and creativeness of the dishes

I've visited this establishment over the years since it first opened, whenever I've found myself in St. Catharines. I've never been the slightest bit disappointed. Wait, maybe when they've run out of doughnuts. Most recently I booked a weekend trip around visiting Rise Above. As such, I made reservations for both a Saturday evening dinner and a Sunday brunch for myself and a guest. This way we were able to sample both menus. Our table was ready for us on both occasions, the service was attentive, friendly and always helpful. The food was simply outstanding from the apps straight through dessert. St. Catharines has a real jewel here. Well worth a trip from out of town for. read more

Came here for a friend's bday. What a cute cafe. The BBQ wings are to die for especially the maple garlic. I like that they serve and support Ontario farmers and wineries. Here is why I give 4 stars: I ordered the souvlaki bowl. Instead of tomatoes as described in the menu, they put in watermelon. What? Sure not a big deal right? Well my issue was that the server told me sometimes the chef "just does that". So there. Take it it leave it. Well F that. The description on the menu didn't mention watermelons. I'm more ticked off that they didn't apologize. It was rude and off putting. I'm was not going to make a seen but surely at least an apology was in order or comp the bowl. Would I go back? NO. read more

Very impressed! Being new to the vegan world, I find very few dining options in Niagara. I am so glad to see a fully vegan menu. But you don't need to be vegan to enjoy their excellent food. Also, I am also impressed with the value they provide. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced. I will be back! read more

I went to Saint Catharines for a conference and decided to check this place out because my friends recommended the satan buffalo wings. It turned out that the wings though a bit spicy were delicious but everything else even better. The sandwiches and comfort bowls are well done. But the desserts are the best part. The vegan cheesecake they have is to die for and made us come back the next day for lunch. It is better than anything I have had vegan or not. I would consider going back to this quaint town for the food next time I am in Toronto or Ottawa or making a trip to the falls. read more

Rise Above - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - St. Catharines, Ontario

Found this restaurant on Yelp and as we are vegan, were eager to try it. The place is on the small side but doesn't have a crowded feeling. The place was full and the staff was a bit overwhelmed. The menus has plenty of choices and they all looked tasty. I ordered the Spring Pie and it was outstanding. The portion just right. Carrot cake for desert was a nice large slice very tasty. My wife had the Mac n' Cheese and it was delicious (I had a taste myself...). My wife's son and girlfriend who are not vegan enjoyed their meals as well. The service was slow but the food more than made up for it. Since we are out of town, I'm not sure we'll be back anytime soon, but if we do ever come back to St, Catherine's, we will definitely eat there again. A reservation is suggested as the seating is limited. read more

My husband and I recently took a mini get away from buffalo to Canada for our one year anniversary. Stuck in the middle of Clifton hill wondering where can a vegan eat, I looked up "Vegan Restaurants" in maps. Rise Above was one of the many choices that popped up and to my surprise not too far out. (Even if it were I'd travel far and wide for a great munch spot) We drove about 15-20 mins. To my surprise and past experiences, the WHOLE restaurant was VEGAN!!! I was expecting 'Veg Friendly' as many restaurants would have. Didn't have to ask "is this dairy free, is that made with butter, is the batter made with egg" haha and being Vegan for almost 13 years I was a happy camper. My husband on the other hand, that's a different story. We walk in the front door and there was a young lady greeting and seating. I looked over the menu trying to figure out what to get because I wanted EVERYTHING on the menu. My husband didn't have a hard time because there was little he liked or could tolerate/eat as a carnivore. I told my husband "how you feel right now is what I feel everyone we go out". He understood my pain. I was amazed and blown away. Never have I ever had a FULL menu dedicated to my dietary needs. The waitress was very accommodating and she answered every question I had. Well versed in menu knowledge. We ordered our food and I anxiously awaited the arrival. The vibe and atmosphere was super chill and relaxed. Prices were fair and wait time wasn't bad at all. My husband ordered the sweet potato burger with a side of fries. Our Drinks incorporated the sparkling water mixed with cranberry juice.. Husbands idea. I ordered the vegan Mac n Cheese and a BBQ Seitan wrap. Dinner was Bomb! :-D For desert, the vegan cheese cake. We ended up taking it back to the hotel to share with some coffee and tea. It was......THE BEST VEGAN CHEESE CAKE IVE LITERALLY EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. It Is a MUST if and WHEN you go. It's that good. The next morning I begged my husband to go back for breakfast and I ended up ordering out to head back home with food in my lap. Side note: I wanted to buy a T-Shirt but I didn't have the money so I asked if I could order it online but unfortunately they only sold in store. I told them I would come back. (Of course for the food but my T-Shirt as well) Getting back to the food....... Breakfast was brown toast with tofu, avocado, vegan cheese sauce, sautéed and sprinkled fresh organic tomatoes on top. Home fries on the side. It was delicious. Another side note: I ordered another vegan cheese cake for home. What can I say about Rise Above? Rise above, simply.... Amazing. I just want to thank you for having such a creative, artistic, delicious spot! It really pulled home for my anniversary. I can't wait to see you again! (Very soon!!) read more

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Having visited this restaurant twice now, I can say confidently that there isn't anything outstanding or remotely extraordinary about it. Rise Above serves a seemingly exciting all-vegan menu including sandwiches and entrees of bowls and pastas. So far, we've tried: -Comfort bowl -Pesto pasta (gluten free) -Stuffed mushrooms -High rise burger with chickpea patties -Potato wedges Though we really enjoyed the pesto pasta and mushrooms, everything else was mediocre at best. The presentation for each dish was beautiful, but the taste was not consistent with the appearance. The burger was mushy and bland, with the patties having containing no binding substance. The potato wedges were nearly burnt and weren't crispy at all. They seemed rushed and disregarded. The comfort bowl was bland, often unsalted, and ultimately uninspired. The service wasn't able to make up for the subpar food, either. Our burgers took 40 minutes to reach our table and our servers seemed irritated throughout the evening with us. On our first visit, we were told that the kitchen was out of potatoes and mac and cheese, though soon after this, we were able to order dishes that contained potato (like the comfort bowl), but not potato wedges. Rise Above's appetizers are decently priced and I would have liked to try more, but their entrees were ultimately disappointing, as they were insufficient in taste and value. Probably won't be coming back unless we're at a complete loss for vegan options in the city/region. I'm sure other experiences were better than ours, but we happened to be the unlucky ones. read more

I was mighty impressed. Not usually a veagan place kind of fellow but both the cucumber sandwich and the curry bowl were on point and satisfying. Will go back to try yam burger read more

Rise Above - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - St. Catharines, Ontario

Just had the worst latte ever by a new worker bee. The treats and food is totally top notch. But please get your new employes to make and try stuff before you unleash them on customers..... read more

I went to Rise above on sat. July 5/14 for my birthday. It was my first time. I absolutely loved it! My daughters and my grandson took me. My daughter had the seitan wrap and I had the eggplant sandwich with potato wedges. We shared our sandwiches and tasted both. Delicious!!!!!!! The wait staff were so friendly and kind. My grandson was hesitant to try anything . (He's 14). So the wait staff suggested the chicken wings. (Seitan). He made a good effort but opted for the great donuts baked on site. I also tried the vanilla milkshake . YUMMY!!!! All in all it was a great dining experience! Wonderful decor as well! Happy birthday to me I loved it. read more

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Lately, I've overheard rumors that St Kits is where the culinary scene is at! On this day, we set forth a journey into this often forgotten town on a culinary conquest....well, sorta, no, not really but we did manage to squeeze in 2 fine meals! After a morning of surprise at the Diner House, we were hoping to be in for a treat! And boy... was it ever! No reservations, no suit and tie as we rolled in early evening around 5pm. We were fortunate enough to score a table because from the sounds of it they were fully booked for the evening (Saturday). The space is warm and inviting with subtle rustic French country flare. Love the hints of mix-and-matching details even down to the salt and pepper shakers. You know these guys take great pride in what they do and it shows on the table. We went lighter this time around starting with a soup followed by the Umami bowl and a salad. The soup was great though it can be a little hotter but had nice clean flavours. It was really a great way to "wet" your appetite for what's ahead without being overwhelmed with salt, spices or oil. The salad greens were fresh, crisp and the various textures complimented each other perfectly in a light and subtle dressing. Same can be said of the Umami bowl as well; earthy, unadulterated flavours of the various ingredients really pull through. Light on the sauce and light with the oil as well. Overall, it was a meal that tasted very organic but also had many subtle layers of flavours and fantastic harmonious textures. It was the meal that gets you full but feeling great on the way out the door with almost zero heaviness. I reckon to say this is probably one of the best vegan meals I have had anywhere. read more

Service was great. Crispy Seitan Wrap was a little dry. I suggest a sauce or grill the onions. Poutine was good but it doesn't go well with dry wrap. read more

I live in another nearby city and my vegan daughter came for a visit from Toronto for my 60th birthday. We went to Rise Above last night -8.6.14- for dinner and it was incredibly delicious and satisfying. I am a carnivore but I am also lactose intolerant, so I can eat anything on their menu! (I had the red pepper soup - delicious and delightful - along with the ELT - eggplant, lettuce and tomato sandwich - again, amazing flavour and portions so generous I brought half home and I am salivating when I think about having it for my lunch today.) A lady and her two very well-behaved little kids sat near us and they were eating several different kinds of pizza and I will be having that the next time I go there. The service was wonderful and I brought home an insanely delicious strawberry cupcake along with a macaroon and a chocolate coconut cupcake. Go there! It just keeps getting better! read more

Being a third generation vegetarian and vegan for 3 years I can honestly say this place is amazing. The spicy buffalo wings are a MUST (crunchy, packed with flavor, and perfect texture). The portion sizes are just right and the price cannot be better. We also loved the cheesecake and the coconut ice cream. We will definitely be telling friends to come here and feast! read more

a group of 9 of us stopped there for a lunch. well a couple of first impressions. - it looked like the waitresses were not very familiar with the menu and couldn't really explain what is in every dish. - it took forever (about 40-45min?) for the order to arrive. we were told that there is only one cook and that's why it took so long... we were starving. food (once it came) wasn't bad but wasn't super amazing either. burrito, enchilada and a wrap all looked exactly the same so even the waitress confused few plates around... tastewise the food wasn't bad... but then we were so hungry that anything would taste amazing. so... on a plus side - huge brownies only cost $2.50+tax read more

Absolutely delicious food. Seating can be hard to get during peak hours though so always try to make a reservation if you can. Saucy Seitan is a MUST read more

I'm so glad to see how successful this restaurant has become. A recent lunch with a friend gave me a chance to catch up in the casual friendly surroundings of Rise Above. The spiral salad (carrots, broccoli and beets) was very tasty and the portion of potato wedges was very generous. I always enjoy dining here. read more

The good: The baked goods are AMAZING!! The food is good depending on who is cooking. It is very nicely decorated and cozy inside. The bad: This place has a serious customer service problem. The servers don't care about you and don't seem to be able to multi-task at all. It seems like they are more interested in hanging out then serving tables. The last time I was there the food was not so good. My husband had the lasagna which was tasty but pretty much cold. I had the crispy seitan. The previous time I had this sandwich I almost died it was so good, but this time, It was limp, cold and soggy. I hesitated to complain, because I go there a few times a week and didn't want to make a scene. But this was a few weeks back and I found myself not wanting to go back. I recommend getting take-out only for desserts and coffee until they decide to train their servers properly. read more

Amazing food! Even if you are not vegan, you will love the food at this place. It is over the top! We had the vegan broccoli Mac and Cheese, the Chili Lime Buffalo Wings and the cashew cheese stuffed mushrooms. Everything was excellent and very fresh! Very friendly service and great ambiance. We will be coming back thru at the end of our trip and will be stopping here again! read more

Delicious food. We stop every year when we go to the Shaw festival in niagara on the lake.

This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The food is absolutely amazing! They have delicious, nutritious comfort food. I ordered a hot wrap that had chickpeas, vegan cheese, pickles, and a delicious sauce in it. I wish I could remember the name of the wrap because it was absolutely delicious...so flavorful and unique. I also had the spicy "wings" and a chocolate milk shake. I'm getting hungry just writing this review. The restaurant was very clean, charming, and the service was great. I can't wait to go back. read more

Okay know what? I'm just gonna make it simple..I like this place, alright... yah it's vegan I know and ya i have some insecurities for my own reasons which I'm not exactly sure of and not going to go into detail about here but being an alpha male who has a reputation for being a bad ass it could be confusing when paparazzi sees me eating at a place like this. I'm aware of what stigmatism's go along with the whole vegan trend but I must say; not only are the staff excellent but the menu items are truly delicious, seasonal, and exciting as if you're not used to eating vegan (like myself) it gives you a great opportunity to try something new. The staff are very fun and the venue is kinda cool so step out of your comfort zone and go eat some green beans. 4star! read more

Hipster place with a nice ambiance. Water on the table and a friendly smile. The Po Boy was good and the vegan Mac and cheese was good too. I don't expect too much from Vegan food considering the restrictions however this place was very tasty. read more

Amazing! Pretty fancy and pricey (about $12-$15 for an entree, and sit down waiting service), but the quality was almost worth it. I've only been here twice so far but I know I'll always come back if I'm ever in the area! The first time I went, I had the seitan wings appetizer and the tourtiere, a lentil and mushroom pie with a side of roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts, and it was one of the best things I've had in a long time from a vegan restaurant. I appreciated that their menu wasn't full of processed alternatives, there were plenty of whole-foods and home-made options. read more

My family and I were on vacation from California, and I found Rise Above on yelp while searching for any vegan places in the area. It was almost closing time for them (we took a wrong turn on the way) like we literally showed up at like 9:55-9:58p and they close at 10:00p. Regardless of how annoying that was on our part, the staff was still very gracious, sweet, and patient. I really appreciated how nice they were! We ordered a bunch of desserts to go, the nanaimo bar and lemon raspberry cake were both so amazing. Great place and thanks to the staff that night who were really cool!! read more