We don't live in a health-conscious, much less veggie-friendly culture, so its no surprise that the UP Town branch of Chimara Neo-Vegan Cafe is positioned between a Korean fried chicken joint and a Filipino barbecue restaurant, in a dark corner away from the foot traffic. That's pretty much like your typical refrigerator: animal products and carcasses in the front, wilting vegetation in the back.
Upon stepping into the cafe, it first feels like a waiting room for hipsters: cold, clinical, but with pretty touches of nature-inspired decor and various food and client photos. Their array of healthy snacks (dehydrated fruit, trail mix, and popcorn) also add to the aesthetic.
Because the place touts itself as a 'neo-vegan' cafe, expect to see vegan-friendly options like their soy chicken, faux beef, and tofu dishes, plus a variety of fresh fruit smoothies and salads. But since it's also a health food restaurant, it serves a few chicken and tuna-based selections. You have a number of accompanying carbs to choose from -- brown rice, pasta, panini, or wrap -- all of which go with their protein and veggie choices. They also recommend dishes and drinks according to temperature, your physical and mental state, and your overall health needs.
Can someone just please tell me what 'neo-vegan' means? Is it like born-again vegan, where you were already vegan to begin with but now with 50% enhanced veggie superpowers?
On separate occasions, I had their pesto pasta with tofu cheese, soy chicken with brown rice, and faux beef salpicao, plus their onion-tofu soup (which, I found out a tad too late, had what tasted like parmesan cheese in it).
Each of these dishes have their own distinct flavor profile, and all of them are tasty. I would say the servings are a little on the hearty side for a health meal, especially since that they also come with a side of crunchy tofu chips. Now these chips can be good on their own or with the cafe's soup, but they sometimes take away from the overall impact of the dish they're with. They're okay served alongside the pasta for added texture, but it doesn't make sense to serve chips with a rice meal. More fresh vegetables would be a better complement to rice.
The onion-tofu soup may seem tepid when served, but it's comfortingly hot. It's also packed with tofu chunks and caramelized onions, so it's hearty. It pairs very well with tofu chips (you have to get these separately though). The flavor-texture balance could use a bit of improvement in that the distinctly rich onion flavor is made a little too rich by the tofu's creaminess, so it can get cloying before you get to the bottom of the bowl.
The service is typical -- not rude, perfunctory, just a sense of people doing their jobs -- and the overall ambience borders on the sanitized side. It's nice to eat in a place that feels as clean as this, but it's not quite the kind of place you'd like to kick back and relax for a bit during your meal.
Overall, Chimara gets props for embodying its clean living philosophy not just in their food, but also in their venue. Because of their hearty and high-carb, high-protein selection, it's great for post-workout recovery munchies, and for those who want to enjoy a full, delicious meal without feeling like you have to plan your funeral afterwards. read more
