I came for lunch and had the vegan steak . It was served with mashed potatoes, various mushrooms, asparagus and a red wine sauce. The flavor was good and everything was perfectly prepared. I also had the chocolate peanut butter bliss for dessert. It was one of the best desserts I've had. It's a double layer ganache and peanut butter mousse, topped with caramel sauce and strawberries served with cranberry sauce candied peanuts Candle still continues to stand the test of time. The original Candle 79 closed almost over a decade ago. A few years ago I discovered that Candle Cafe had still kept its doors open I've visited a few times for brunch and finally came back for lunch; I haven't made it for dinner yet and would gladly return. read more

SERVICE - located in Kips Bay near 23rd St and 3rd Ave - One of the oldest restaurants in NYC that focuses on plant based food without faux meats - Service is very friendly and helpful. The bartender Carlos makes you feel welcome as soon as you step in and gives you a thorough and honest walk through of the menu - Ambiance good for a semi casual meal - Not very crowded on a weekday lunch MENU - Global inspired shareable small plates and larger entrees - All vegetarian/vegan - Slightly pricey but portions are generous FOOD - Zaatar cauliflower (8/10): grilled cauliflower steak on a bed of tomato chickpea stew topped with a generous dollop of kale pesto and tahini. This dish sounded simple yet each component added a significant flavor and textural element. The cauliflower is tender enough to break with a fork with a crispy exterior from the grilled crust. The chickpea tomato stew is comforting and slightly spicy yet stays light and fresh. The kale pesto is earthy and bright and pairs well with the generous pour of tahini. The portion is good for one person as a lighter entree or can be shared as part of a larger spread. - Mexican brownie sundae (9/10): brownie topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge, balsamic cherry reduction, and bananas. I was not planning to order dessert but I am so glad that I did. This dessert was the perfect blend of sweet, bitter, and acidic. The brownie is soft and fudgy and melts in your mouth as you take a bite. The ice cream is rich and lightly stuffed with vanilla flecks. The cherries add a strong tartness which contrasts the rich chocolate and sweet vanilla. Highly recommend getting a dessert at the end of your meal. WOULD I GO BACK? As much as I would want to, this place is sadly closing at the end of September 2026 read more

Candle - Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

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Very cute vegan restaurant with a lot of delicious food. We loved everything we tried from food to drinks Service was also great and the place was very cute I recommend for sure read more

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I ordered from DoorDash so didn't visit the location but loved the food. I ordered the tom yum soup and the Aztec salad. Both were delicious. Would order again. read more

Candle is one of the original vegan/ vegetarian restaurants still in NYC. I visited their newer location in the Gramercy/ Kips Bay Area. Place is pretty chill and has a nice ambiance. The portions are hearty and ample. Their desserts are amazing . The menu has something for everyone : Italian , Asian, middle eastern and Mexican inspired as well as brunch dishes. Give them a try if you're looking for a healthy restaurant in this part of town. read more

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Came here for brunch on a Sunday and it was just as magical as I remembered! The ambiance is so lovely and the seating is comfortable and cozy. The service is very friendly, helpful and prompt. Unfortunately on this visit, their espresso machine wasn't working, so I sadly wasn't able to order a latte. The delicious food more than made up for this, though, and I was so enamored with the decadent pumpkin spice French toast and savory and stacked nachos! Their homemade queso is truly out of this world! Their tempeh bacon is a must order as well when you come for brunch! I left feeling very satisfied and uplifted and I cannot wait to return once I'm in NYC again! read more

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Candle remains one of the best places for vegetarian dining. I was a fan of the original restaurants and the menu here continues that legacy. We had lunch here with friends while in town and had a great meal all around. read more

Candle - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

First off, the space is lovely, candlelit tables and banquettes in a cozy setting. The service was attentive, and welcoming. The food was the best vegetarian dishes I have ever tasted. Jorge, from Candle 79, has been serving the city for 32 years, first on the upper east side as Candle 79, now as Candle in the Murray Hill area, and loves cooking for patrons. Everything is fresh and made to order. I have eaten there many times since its arrival on E. 27th St. and try something different each time. I am always delighted with the meals and their presentation. My favorite is the seitan piccata, as well ad the cauliflower, the crepe, and the chickpea cake are amazing. I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough. read more

Candle - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

Good but didn't blow me away! I got the berry smoothie and truffle crepe. It was okay, probs won't come back. But to be fair, that could be a one off and I was hung over. read more

Candle - Berry Nice Smoothie - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

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Oh Candle, I thought I couldn't possibly love you more (and I'm one of your OG customers from the early aughts) but recently I had a need for a healthy lunch and a place to work and you not only came through in my time of need, but you have the nicest and most accommodating server, too! I almost don't want to reveal what a lunchtime treasure this place is (people know, it just seems they do a bustling daytime takeout service), but I practically had the entire place to myself for three hours! The last time I was here, a year and a half ago, I had a midday meeting and we also had almost the entire space to ourselves. As much as I wanted to try something different, memories of that glorious burrito bowl prevented me from seeing anything else. Like I said, it's the best I've ever had and adding that succulent grilled seitan makes it next level. I still have yet to stop by for dinner, but the space is so beautiful and I can imagine how it would look lit by candles. I think a special dinnertime visit is warranted soon. On my way out, the waiter told me to feel free to return anytime if I needed a space to work during the day (who does that in Manhattan?! I can't get over it). My love for Candle is an eternal flame. read more

A vegan restaurant with a good variety, so this place is not for everyone. The size of the restaurant is on the smaller side but pleasant. It appears that most orders are take out orders but the restaurant gets a small steady traffic. Overall, dishes are tasty and portions are relatively generous (you don't leave hungry). As this is a vegan restaurant, there are a lot of meat alternatives which might not suit everyone. Staff is friendly and helpful. As with most restaurants, the check includes suggested tipping amount starting at 20%. Be aware that the restaurant will charge a bit extra for use of credit card. read more

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Outstanding food, excellent service, and cozy atmosphere--what's not to love? The flavors were outstanding and even my non-vegan, normally cruelty-dining guest enjoyed his meal as well. Can't wait to return to NYC to dine here again:-) read more

Candle - Roasted Cauliflower Za'atar Side, IIRC - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

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I was able to try a large variety of dishes here with a group of five people - three from the Thai menu, and two from the main menu. Pumpkin curry - got this with tofu. This was about on the level as any other average Thai spot, but with the added bonus of a huge variety of vegetables. Pad Thai - a bit on the sweet side, but otherwise decent. Also with large variety of vegetables. Chose tempeh as the protein for this one. Fried rice - surprisingly good, with lots of flavor and nice texture from the rice berry. We also picked seitan for this dish, which was pleasantly crispy. Moroccan chickpea cake - nice warm spices and beautiful presentation. Mushroom crepe - not bad, but nothing too special either. Overall, the meal was solid and the portion sizes were reasonable. The Thai food mostly didn't stand out apart from a regular Thai restaurant, apart from the fried rice. The dishes off the main menu are probably more interesting overall. read more

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I was at Candle for lunch when I visited NYC this summer. The food and service were superb. I had the wild mushroom crepe which was divine. The three others who were with me also enjoyed their food. I recommend it to anyone who is in the vicinity. read more

I had the tempeh here -- after totally throwing in the towel trying to make it at home, today I'm officially back in the game. Absolutely delicious. I'll definitely be coming back again. And Chef Jorge's homemade ice cream? Unreal. Sweetened with dates instead of refined sugar, and somehow still incredibly rich and satisfying. Candle Cafe keeps proving plant-based food can be creative, comforting, and seriously crave-worthy. read more

I don't have enough good things to say about Candle. Tonight, my party of three had the chickpea cake, seitan piccata, kale Caesar, a market plate and the chocolate/peanut butter dessert. Every dish was excellent, but the seitan piccata is in a class by itself. read more

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Usually enjoy Candle. Went 7/11 and ordered our fave entree and app... seitan piccata and chimmichuri skewers. The skewers were pretty tasty tho a bit undercooked but we could barely saw thru the seitan cutlets in our piccata they were overdone and hard. We didn't say anything to our server, we just agreed not to go back. Sad bc we loved all the Candle restaurants and were so happy when they reopened read more

My friend and I shared the butternut squash ravioli appetizer. I had the seitan picata (I always ordered this dish at the other Candles and this location has the same chef, surprise!) and my friend had the salmon with asparagus, which she loved. Of course I enjoyed my margarita. Ambiance is casual, service is great, I look forward to returning. read more

In the last 12 months, I have eaten at Candle 3x; the last time was earlier this week. I can say that food is consistently good and the service attentive and gracious. Neither one of us on this last visit were vegan or vegetarian and we thoroughly enjoyed our meals. I took my dessert, carrot cake, home. I fully intended to split it in half, but ate the whole slice! It could have used more cinnamon and nutmeg, yet was still tasty. Their guacomole is consistently flavorful; their dishes are inventive, with gorgeous presentation. I have yet to see it busy, so I assume most of their biz is take out. So if you eat in, you don't feel rushed or crowded. I'm not sure if the address reflects it, but they have moved just next door where Turkish Kitchen used to be. read more

Absolutely loved our dinner at Candle after our matinee show. A great variety of dishes, and flavor and presentation was fabulous. Seated right away even though we were a bit early, and the hostess was very welcoming. Ambiance was very low key, with pleasant background music that did not impede conversation. As someone who eats a vegetarian diet, and has had vegan that is bland, I was very happy with the dishes served. Great seasoning and sauces, even without actual dairy. Highly recommended! read more

Candle - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

Candle is my new fav vegan spot. The ambience and service are top notch and the food is more than delicious! I live in Lincoln Square but consider Candle a new Kips Bay destination. read more

What an amazing experience at the Candle Cafe. An oasis of delicious food that happens to be vegan. Definitely a must when visiting Murray Hill. read more

*** 4.5 stars *** Delicious vegan spot that I would call the smart casual of restaurants. While it feels like a casual neighborhood spot that you could just walk into, it has a chic/hip vibe and you could still come here for a special occasion (the table next to us was celebrating a birthday). The prices align with that, being more than you'd expect to pay at a casual place, but less than at a fancy restaurant ($20-$30 for a main). I'm not vegan but everything on the menu looked delicious. Because I am a huge mushroom fan I landed on the mushroom crepe and was not disappointed! I was also quite full for the rest of the night, which is not always the case after dining at a vegan restaurant. It was very easy to get a reservation (probably wasn't necessary as the restaurant was 30% full on a Saturday night). Hopefully they get a lot of business via take out, otherwise I'm concerned that they'll be able to stay open (but they are took good not to!). read more

Candle - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

My new favorite vegan spot in NYC. Great options and such friendly service. The entire energy, from the ambiance to the staff, was really nice. I can't wait to go back. read more

An NYC vegan institution! Delicious food, great vibes, friendly staff, amazing drinks and scrumptious desserts. Natural, healthy, well-seasoned without being too salty or sweet. Everything vegan food should be. read more

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I'm so glad Candle reopened! It was a New York institution and one of the first vegan restaurants I ever ate at. None of the dishes here disappoint, and there is a wide range of cuisines represented on the menu. I love the polenta fries, grilled kale salad, and seitan chimichurri. Their desserts are amazing as well! read more

I ordered on ClassPass. This place is definitely a cute sit down spot for a date or meal with friends. But you can order a few of the dishes from their menu to go on ClassPass. The food came out quickly and the ravioli was better than I expected. The spinach was prepared well and flavorfully drenched in the marinara sauce. The ravioli itself had chickpea or something inside which made the texture nice. All in all would recommend. read more

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Fabulous food and service. Went with a friend and shared the chimichurri skewers, Aztec salad and Mezze plate. All were exceptional. We also both started with the ginger mocktail. Delicious! Will be back ASAP. read more

Came here with my spouse recently, to belatedly celebrate my birthday & wasn't disappointed. It was a bit of an adjustment because we were used to their pre-pandemic locations. We had made many good memories at their former UES location, to be exact, so that felt wistful. Yet, this one was also pleasant, physically beautiful (albeit smaller than before), and truly enjoyable. The calm atmosphere was an ideal vibe, in which to enjoy our date. : ) The food was excellent, and everything that we ordered was tasty and fresh. The food came quickly and our server, Tatianna, was kind, warm and welcoming. Thanks for your sweet smile, lady! At the end of our nurturing vegetable and fruit-based meal - which tasted delightful, even though it was so healthy LOL - we got to meet their chef, Jorge. He was lovely and also extremely welcoming. All in all, it was a fun and mellow evening, which reminded us once again of why we love this restaurant and why we should come back more often! Thanks so much, Candle Team, for your care, talent and memorable hospitality! Warmly and with Gratitude, Katherine "Kat" & Goldalee read more

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Got takeout from this fancy vegan place a while back as I was in the mood for something healthier. Guy who gave the order was friendly and the music was low during lunch time. Their lunch menu like their dinner menu is expensive. I got the Wild Mushroom Salad with baby arugula, wild mushrooms, corn, zucchini, olives, pickled red onions, and a horseradish dressing. This was a $20 salad which is of course quite expensive. It was packaged nicely with the salad in one large container with a whole heaping of just about everything outside of the pickled onions unfortunately with the dressing on top and the mushrooms/zucchini packaged separately which was a nice touch. The dressing had a very strong flavor but helped with the arugula. I prefer a stronger pickle for the red onion but it was fine. The mushrooms were delicious and roasted perfectly. This would work as a light dinner which makes the price a bit more worth it. Would I get it again? Maybe. It's a bit out of my lunch comfort range and is an odd in-between dinner and lunch in terms of portions. I think they need some less expensive options if they want to stay open for lunch. read more

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I came right when they opened back up and was disappointed. The mac and cheese definitely doesn't taste like mac and cheese and it was good but just nothing like what I expected. The best item was the fries, which were unique and delicious. The taco was good but not mind blowing. Overall, it was good but there's much better vegan food in nyc. read more

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So Happy Candle is back! Had frequented all of their restaurants since I went vegan in 2009 Took my mom to the new candle for an early Mother's Day brunch. She's not vegan but always loved candle 79. The French Toast got her seal of approval. That is a hard one! I got the Cajun seitan Sammie. Forgot how amazing their seitan was. Best service too . My mom is .. not easy read more

Candle - French toast - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

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The food and selection at this newer version of Candle Cafe are as delicious and creative as ever. It is new owners, but same terrific chefs as prior Candle restaurants. The service is friendly, warm and attentive. They serve beer, hard cider, wine & marvelous cocktails! They also have delicious mocktails, coffee, hot chocolate, and smoothies! They know how to make fabulous vegan food that is truly tasty and healthy simultaneously. They have numerous appetizers and main dishes and a great selection of sides to create your own market plate with terrific innovative dressings. Candle has the best tofu and tempeh in the City. And the prices for superb organic, vegan food are good. Be prepared to be happy, satisfied and enchanted. read more

I was a fan years ago at the uptown location. Still delicious. Service and ambiance is still superb. So far I've enjoyed the mushroom crepe. Upon first bite, I was skeptical. Keep eating. It is a delight. The mac and cheese is solid. The cauliflower is also wonderful and has a really unique sauce that is a great complement. The Morrocon chickpea is tasty. The peach cobbler and date bar weren't my favorites. But the carrot cake with pineapple dessert ... B-A-B-Y it is deliciousness!!!! Whew! read more

So happy Candle is back! I really look forward to eating here every time I visit NYC, so when I heard they just opened back up I was ecstatic. The decor is chic yet unpretentious, warm and comfortable. Staff was incredibly friendly and the service was on point. I had to tell our waitress (and anyone who reads this for that matter) that the Seitan Piccata is legit my favorite dish. Period. Full stop. Mic drop. read more

Candle - Exterior - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

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Good fresh tasting food, good friendly service, clean relaxing, space, menu not too inventive, but satisfying

Great food and wonderful service! So many delicious choices! I recommend the Latin and Asian flavored items. read more

Whatever you do, do not order the seitan piccata -- slop city! Had this dish many times at their other UES location and I swear I don't remember ordering pea soup with dried out seitan floating in it. read more

Candle - Slop - Vegan Near Me - New York, New York

I've been coming to this lovely place since they opened. The space is clean modern and cozy. The food and service are both great! Wonderful plant based vegan spot that is reliably delicious. I love the kale ceasar the seitan piccata and the delectable polenta fries! I've been here for vegan brunch several time and it never disappoints! So thankful they exist and that I am lucky enough to have them close by! Candle you like you my life! read more

I received a gift certificate from my dad for my birthday to Candle 79. I was excited to see Candle reopened as Candle, and today I called today to ask if they would honor my gift certificate from Candle 79 which I received from my father for my birthday. They said no. So Candle is not really the quality vegan restaurant related to the prior iterations and my family will not go. Definitely do not buy a gift certificate here... read more