Los Angelites west of the 405 are about to be filled with gratitude. Today Cafe Gratitude opens it’s long-awaited Venice location on Rose Avenue. Nestled into a neighborhood booming with healthy shops and stops and not far from one of our favorite Whole Foods locations, Café G will surely fit right in with the neighbors.
Brothers Cary Mosier and Ryland Engelhart own and operate Cafe Gratitude’s LA locations, both of them glowing with that unmistakable look of health that comes, no doubt, from eating often from their own mostly raw and organic menu.
Cafe Gratitude’s first LA location in Larchmont has been a top stop for health-conscious foodies since it’s opening last year. Finally, the cafe is making it’s way to the beach, and with interest in organic, local and sustainable foods at a fever pitch, it couldn’t come at a better time. The Venice store closely resembles Cafe G’s other LA location, but with a lighter and more coastal feel. The newly built space centers on a long, diner-like bar that makes the cafe feel as though it’s been in the neighborhood for years. Clean, fresh and full of light, the new space matches the classic Cafe Gratitude menu. Simple and relaxed seating lines both the indoor and outdoor space, with a communal table offered indoors and a gathering of over-sized chairs capping off the patio. We also love the small grocery area offering home-made kombucha and Cafe Gratitude’s own supplements, as well as a few other well-reputed brands.
As Cafe G regulars know best, Cafe Gratitude has always been a family affair – both figuratively and literally. Brothers Cary and Ryland took on the LA operations from parents and founders, Matthew and Terces Engelheart, who began creating amazing raw foods for the San Francisco bay area many years ago. When the couple was approached by LA developers Lisa and Chris Bonright to bring the Café to LA it was an obvious match. Café Gratitude opened its doors in the LA village of Larchmont in March 2011, just west of Paramount studios, and became an instant hit with the health food crowd.
The Larchmont location developed a hipper, more trendy aesthetic than it’s Bay area counterparts and become a mainstay for a diverse crowd of celebrities and health enthusiasts. Coming to LA, Cafe Gratitude also began offering a cooked menu in addition to their raw fare.
Cafe Gratitude Venice will offer the same great menu as Larchmont with few variations. All of Cafe G’s dishes are named with intentional titles, such as the ‘I Am Liberated’ kelp pasta with raw pesto, something most health foodies will love and their fellow dinner guests can appreciate with a good sense of humor. As with most raw food restaurants, the employees at Cafe G exude plenty of positive energy that most patrons find refreshing. From the high-energy staff to the positive affirmations lining the walls and menus, Cafe Gratitude can always be counted on as a safe haven in the midst of an urban jungle.
Venice residents and beach go-ers alike should definitely add Cafe Gratitude to their list of must-eats this summer. Whether to reboot post-Whole Foods shopping binge or for a proper ‘I Am Glorious’ dinner on a Saturday night, Cafe Gratitude Venice tops our list of new green eateries to hit up this summer.
Cafe Gratitude Venice
515 Rose Ave. Venice, CA 90291
