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    Spring Cafe Aspen

    3.1 (111 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    SPRING CAFE ASPEN ATMOSPHERE

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    Loud
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Spring Cafe Aspen

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    Beetroot rose latte
    Lauren C.

    This may our new favorite restaurant in the NYC!! In a city that is increasingly vegan-friendly but that won't stop assaulting us with deep-fried mushrooms and buffalo cauliflower, Spring Cafe Aspen sets themselves apart by serving up vegetable-forward dishes that are healthy, delicious, and generously portioned. First, the health-conscious aspect. We came across them on a (very short) list of seed oil-free restaurants. Their website says they are free of "inflammatory oils." Very little of their food is fried or highly processed. They use whole/sprouted grains in their wraps/bread, as well as having gluten-free options. It's next to impossible to find restaurants in NYC or anywhere that accommodate a whole foods/plant-based diet, and even harder to find staff knowledgeable about the ingredients of their food. At Spring Cafe Aspen, the staff actually knows the ingredients of each dish and are very accommodating of questions and preferences, such as my wish to avoid coconut oil. If they don't know the answer to a question, they have access to the ingredient lists for everything. Next, the flavor of the food. Despite being low in oil and free of overly processed ingredients, their food is delicious! Our favorite item so far has been the cauliflower risotto (warm, comforting, creamy and rich; packed with vegetables and flavor). Our other favorite is the lentil meatballs and spaghetti (incredible meatballs, excellent sauce full of basil, and pasta you would have no idea is made with brown rice). We also enjoyed the superhero tofu burrito and the blueberry pancakes. The menu is full of great tidbits such as the epic cashew mac and cheese and the tempeh that is raw and locally sourced (Barry's). The portions - while other vegan/vegetarian restaurants in New York are serving up portions that get smaller every year, Spring Cafe Aspen actually provides generous portions that will nourish you without going overboard. (You won't go home hungry after eating the cauliflower risotto!) It's also worth mentioning that the vibe of Spring Cafe Aspen is a little different from the typical hippie or hipster flair of many other vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the city. The vibe hovers somewhere between hot yoga studio and business school seminar. Also slightly confusing is the setup - they have all the makings of a sit-down restaurant right down to cloth napkins, but they do not truly have table service. You wait in line to order and then bring a number to your table. Makes it harder to enjoy a cup of coffee or spontaneous turmeric latte after lunch, but definitely not a dealbreaker. Lastly, we initially wondered why they didn't take the plunge and turn fully vegan, but when we saw the gusto with which workout couples were demolishing egg white omelettes, we understood. Overall not a real issue for us since they make the food with such care that we aren't really worried about any stray goat cheese getting into our food by mistake. And the attention to detail in their homemade condiments like vegan sour cream and even homemade nut milk rivals that of any vegan restaurant. In conclusion, this is an epic brunch spot whipping up healthy food that manages to be both comforting and innovative; they have already become one of our regular spots.

    Superhero burrito with tofu and Chai Tea Latte
    Anne B.

    Spring cafe aspen is a breakfast/lunch/dinner spot with a majority of the menu being menu is vegan & gluten-free. Outside of food, they have smoothies, fresh-pressed juice, an espresso bar, and some beer & wine. The dirty chai is great and felt VERY caffeinated, I also love that the default here is nut milk. The juices are also super fresh, you can see them made at the counter right in front of you. The space is versatile as there's people there for just dining and also some people set-up to study/get work done during the day. I enjoyed the superhero burrito with tofu, the wrap itself could be slightly more seasoned but the salsa that came with it definitely made up in flavor. The cashew-based sour cream that also came with it was really watery and difficult to eat with the burrito. My friend got the huevos rancheros which was similarly a sizable portion. I've previously tried one of the grain bowls with tofu, and again the bowl itself wasn't very flavorful but the sauces made up for it. I really like both the peanut and tahini sauce! I was really apprehensive of the fact that all the baked goods were gluten-free but the chocolate chip cookie was soft and delicious. The pumpkin chocolate chip bread was a bit more noticeably gluten-free due to its crumbly texture, but the flavor was great in this one as well. As expected, you pay a pretty penny for the clean & healthy aesthetic, but nothing absurd for New York standards.

    Johnny N.

    I will be vulnerable with you, my dear reader. There are 2 versions of me: Version 1: I can't for the life of me find a good coffee shop to work out of in NYC. Sometimes I just NEED to get out of my shoebox apartment and work somewhere else as the dark thoughts begin to encroach. I will step out and go to local coffee shops, but none seem to have wifi. How do you not have wifi in 2024?! ... And the ones that do have wifi are so packed I either can't get a seat, or I do get a seat and am literally rubbing shoulders with two strangers, as they pack as many seats as they can in there. Version 2: I love to get out of the house to go grab a coffee with a friend, sit and write or read a book, or just enjoy my me time and some good coffee. I will walk into my local coffee shop and get SO annoyed that someone has set up a full battle station working from their personal hotspot, taking up 4 seats in an already tiny coffee shop. They have 2 screens, mouse & mouse pad, headset, etc. They think they are like Brad Pitt in the Big Short when he makes that big trade from his laptop in the bar lol... Like dawg they don't have wifi in here for a reason, take the hint. Enter Spring Cafe Aspen. The perfect balance of my contradictory moods. It scratches the itches of both my personalities, Johnny & Patricia. They should rename this place Goldilocks Cafe Aspen ahahaha. When I need to get some work done, this is the only place I go to. There is an abundance of space & seating, beautiful white faux marble tables, great wifi, good coffee, big windows to allow light to flood in, a full food menu, bathrooms, etc. I'm LOCKED in when I'm in here. I've also been in here when I'm with friends after walking through Washington Sq Park to just grab a coffee or some drinks. I've never seen it packed to where I can't get a seat, and it is CLEAN. Spotless damn near. I always feel at peace in here. They nailed the feng shui. As I'm writing this I'm like damn maybe I should gatekeep this spot... but honestly who do I think I am lol this place not going to blow up over a yelp review ahahahaa. Can you get better coffee? Yeah. Can you get better food? Dumb question c'mon lol you're better than that. Yes, it's NYC. Can you find a better place to focus and work? NOPE! IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__

    Blue beauty smoothie
    Liz B.

    I came in Friday afternoon and grabbed the Blue Beauty smoothie. It was a nice interior with plenty of space and light. The smoothie tasted mostly of almond butter and wasn't sweet at all but I enjoyed it! I came back and got the pretty in pink and I liked it better!

    Linan C.

    I've never been to a cafe and was refused to make me a flat white... and their cold brew tastes like iced drip coffee... I don't know if it's a management decision or just staff decisions. It seems like they source their coffees from coffee project but it doesn't live up to it here. The location and place is great but they need to work on their quality.

    Beer
    Nancy C.

    I can't wait to go back. The menu is so healthy & I love nutritious food. I had a beetroot latte and zucchini bread (total perfection)

    Sofia L.

    spacious, bright, and calming place to get work done and have a good drink/meal. worker who helped me order and made my drink was so patient and kind as it was my first time here. their menu has a wide range of items! i was able to sit down, drink my latte, and use their wifi. I think this place is geared toward being more of a sit down and have a waiter attend to you, as there were no napkins or straws just out to grab. I have the blackbird breakfast club pass, and I'm glad this restaurant allows me to get any drink, aside from smoothies, for free every day. I had the dirty chai latte, but I think I'd get just a regular latte the next time around. the dirty chai was spiced a little too much, and I couldn't get past that taste. hoping they add more syrup flavors, as they only have agave right now.

    Falafel Wraps
    Kuki T.

    Visited Spring Cafe Aspen for lunch and was really disappointed. The ambiance is what initially peaked my interest and I will say that the outdoor seating is nice. The service and food, however, were beyond mediocre. We tried the falafel wraps and while they were well portion sized, they were bland, dry and crumbled apart immediately when we picked them up. Ended up taking home leftovers not because they were too big to finish but because they weren't enjoyable enough to finish on the spot. On top of all of that, they were incredibly overpriced and took 30 minutes to come out. It's easy for me to say with confidence that this place simply doesn't live up to the standards that a "healthy" lunch spot should. I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon unfortunately.

    Breakfast wrap and Falafel Wrap
    Nicole S.

    Lots of healthy options! Good place for a quick meal. Usually super busy so not the easiest to get a table. They messed up my first burrito but would go back to try again. Food was decent

    Spring Aspen Cafe.
    Carol T.

    Spring Cafe Aspen is a great breakfast stop. They have good coffee. They have wonderful local artists work displayed on the walls and they are open at 8 am. Good place for relaxing or having a quick business meeting. Near NYU

    Falafel Wrap and Huevos Rancheros
    Rose B.

    Nothing special but not bad. First off, took about 30 minutes for our food to come, which was quite slow for an order at the counter spot. The falafel wrap was massive and my fav item. The salad it came with was meh. Tried my friends huevos rancheros and it was so bland - glad I didn't order it lol Very loud inside on a Sunday

    Menu
    Dipali G.

    I stopped by on a cold day for some coffee with a friend. I loved the location of this coffee shop right next to Washington square park! The best part about this is that there is a ton of seating! They have both indoor and outdoor seating! The outdoor heating is heated and very comfortable! The coffee is good! They also have a lot of food options and I noticed that many people buy meals here, so I'd come back to try that!

    Fall Spice Vegan & Gluten Free Pancakes

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    4 years ago

    so yum and really big portions!!! i also thought the food was so flavorful and i cant wait to go back o

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    4 years ago

    Just not good all around. Takes forever, food not great, overpriced, staff are either friendly or completely clueless/ignorant.

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    5 years ago

    This was the worst rip off. Two lattes for $15, because I added their proprietary nut milk. It had no flavor and tasted like water. Avoid!

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    Page 3 of 3

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    Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant

    Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant

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    A vegan dim sum restaurant! Of course my sister was the one that found this, and my my was it a…read morefeast! It was a perfect addition to Mother's Day weekend festivities. Their square tables comfortably seated six of us, and the staff was consistently on top of things. For the first 10 minutes or so, they walked by several times and noticed that we were nose is deep in our menus trying to figure out what to get. When we were ready to order, everything was super efficient from then on. We had too much to name, but some highlights were all of the dumplings, the vegan chicken and pepper on tray, turn up cakes, sesame balls... There was just so many amazing items that we had. For Saturday afternoon, no surprise that the place was full, so well done for managing everything so well. I would definitely return to try all of the things that I didn't have. And all of it is vegan, how cool is that?!

    Amazing service and everything is delicious! Came at 6 on a weekend and we were seated before a…read morehuge rush of people. The General Tso dish was the standout. I am not vegan and I prefer it to the chicken version! Service was above and beyond. We had soup dumplings and they prepared and served each dumpling to us in spoons for us individually, putting the sauces on for us even. Definitely try this out for great vegan Chinese!

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    The Original Buddha Bodai Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant

    The Original Buddha Bodai Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant

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    This is the place to go for vegetarians and meat eaters. The restaurant is fully vegetarian (and…read morekosher). They manipulate the food (tofu or soy product) to resemble meat. My favorite is the BBQ roasted meat that resembles roasted pork. I find that it always is moist and packed with pork flavor. This time there was a seafood special that arrived in a sizzling pot. The sauce was a typical brown sauce with some seafood broth added for flavor. The scallop by the texture, look and taste did resemble the real thing. Mushroom e-fu noodles is another favorite dish that I always get. Noodles are sauced just right to carry the umami from the mushrooms and not be soggy. They usually have a subtle plumpness to them but last time they seemed to be a bit on the flatter side. They renovated since the last time I visited. Most of the circular tables have been removed replaced with rectangular ones. Bench seating is now along the perimeter. I think they can accommodate more people this way. Another plus is they now accept credit cards and participate in several dining cash back programs (Seated, Upside and Franki).

    I wanted to like this restaurant, but overall the dishes lacked flavor. We ordered the spicy…read moreeggplant and tofu with mixed vegetables. While the sauce with the eggplant was good, the tofu and mixed veggies came in a watery sauce that felt bland and under-seasoned. One thing to note--none of the entrées come with rice, so that has to be ordered separately. On the positive side, they do serve hot tea, which was especially comforting on a cold weeknight. The interiors are simple and clean, the service is quick, and the pricing is reasonable as well. Overall, not a bad experience, but the food itself didn't leave a lasting impression.

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    Ras Plant Based

    Ras Plant Based

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    Ras Plant Based is absolutely spectacular! I just finished volunteering at the Brooklyn Half…read moreMarathon and was looking for a vegan restaurant to eat at while visiting this neighborhood and I feel like I hit gold! This 100% plant based restaurant serves Ethiopian food and has some of the best unique flavor profiles I have ever tried. Food Ordered - Mercato Platter --This plate came with a lentil stew, ground chick peas, collard greens, and a pepper/carrot veggie medley. Everything in the platter was amazing - super flavorful and hearty. - Spiced Mac and Cheese --If you told me this Mac and Cheese was dairy free I would think you are trying to pull a fast one. The sauce was super creamy and light and had that amazing cheesy flavor. - Chefs Special --The Chefs Special was the star of the show for me! This dish was Kitfo covered in collar greens and avocado with the most amazing smoky sauce. All of the ingredients went together amazing to create a perfect bite.

    If you've never tried Ethiopian food this is your sign to go!…read moreRas has an all vegan menu with the most incredible variety of plants that will be the most flavorful and healthy meal ever! The food is so appealing that it's always on our list whenever we are in town. The staff is friendly and we've always had a great experience. They had an outdoor seating area but city rules made them put it away and apply for a permit. They are waiting for approval and plan to put outdoor seating again.

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    Fries...we ok, nothing exceptional
    Avant Garden

    Avant Garden

    4.4
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    Had the most magical Valentine's Day dinner at Avant Garden in NYC. They offered a beautifully…read morecurated menu for the evening and every dish felt thoughtful, creative, and incredibly satisfying. We were honestly surprised by how filling everything was -- so many generous, flavorful courses. The pizza ended up being our favorite dish of the night -- absolutely delicious and such a standout. And the sweetest touch at the end: cookies to take home! Such a small detail but it made the whole experience feel even more special. If you're looking for a plant-based spot that still feels like a true night-out experience, Avant Garden really delivers.

    I had been looking forward to trying Avant Garden for a long time and chose it for a birthday…read moredinner, so this was especially disappointing. We had a 9:30 reservation on May 9. The reservation email said they would hold the table for 15 minutes, and we arrived at about 9:43 after getting stuck in traffic. We were still within that window, but as soon as we checked in, the host immediately told us the kitchen was closing in one minute and that the bar would close in about 20 minutes, so we needed to place our food order right away. It made the meal feel rushed from the moment we arrived. The restaurant was virtually empty, but we were seated directly next to the bathroom. There were clearly plenty of other seating options available, which made that choice even more frustrating. Unfortunately, there was a noticeable bathroom odor from our table, which was really unpleasant and not what I would expect from a restaurant at this price point. Servers were also constantly going back and forth between the dining room and what seemed to be either a storage or cleaning area near the bathroom, so in addition to the odor, there was steady foot traffic throughout the meal. There were also papers or sugar packets underneath the table next to us, which added to the feeling that the dining room was not being carefully maintained. We ordered the paella, fig toast, and Calabrian flatbread. The food itself was fine in terms of flavor, but the rest of the experience made it feel understated and much less enjoyable than it should have been. The paella and toast came out quickly, and then we waited about 45 minutes for the flatbread. During that time, no one checked in, explained the delay, or asked how anything was. We honestly thought the flatbread had been forgotten. Then, after that long wait, the flatbread and dessert were brought out almost at the same time. The server explained that the kitchen was telling them to bring everything out at once. We had also ordered a bottle of Lambrusco, but it was not available, so we were given a different wine instead. Overall, the pacing and service felt very disorganized. We were rushed to order immediately, then largely ignored for the rest of the meal. No one asked how the food was, no one checked on the delay, and the timing of the final dishes made the meal feel chaotic rather than enjoyable. Even though the food was fine, the experience around it really took away from the meal. I also think there is a practical issue with the reservation timing. If the kitchen closes 15 minutes after the last available reservation, it does not make sense to offer a 15-minute grace period. Either the final seating should be earlier, or the kitchen should remain open long enough to properly serve guests who arrive within the stated reservation window. For a restaurant with Avant Garden's reputation and price point, I expected a much more thoughtful and polished experience. I wanted this to be a special birthday dinner, but we left feeling disappointed. I don't feel eager to return, and based on this visit, I would have a hard time recommending it to vegan friends.

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    Interior
    Interior
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    Obao

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    So yum!!!! Top 3 thai spots for me…read more Food- Classic order of Pad Thai & Drunken Noodles. The pad thai noodles are a big thinner than i've had before but that didn't bother me, it has such great flavor too. I recommend ordering it spicy, it's the perfect heat if you're looking for that kick but don't add it if you can't handle spice. The drunken noodles are not spicy in my opinion but i can handle a bit of heat. Loved the flavor and the noodles had the right texture, could've done without the huge chunks of tomato but great otherwise. The summer rolls were good, hard to mess those up. We also got a free mango salad with the order and that was so fresh and delicious. We just popped in for pick up but the hostess was really nice and attentive as soon as we walked in. It looked to be a nice casual spot, could be good for dinner with friends or date night.

    Obao has delicious food. If you're in Hells Kitchen and happen to stumble by Obao, it is worth…read morecoming in. Obao is has both Thai and Viet food. It does well with doing the whole "fusion" schtick without losing the essence and flavor of the dishes. Pad Krapoa Moo Krob, the meat on the pork belly was so juicy - the pork skin was crunchy and chewy at the same time, flavors of Thai spice, basil, and bell peppers harmoniously working together to bring a balanced meal. The shrimp basil fried rice was delicious, a great alternative if you're not feeling the crab fried rice. The service at Obao is always prompt and helpful, whether it's questions about the menu or recommendations, anyone is willing to help. Inside Oboa is dimly lit, a moody vibe that is fun and invites playful conversations.

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    Spring Cafe Aspen - vegetarian - Updated July 2026

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