It’s not that that I’m against saving the lives of adorable animals, but I like my meat. I think beef is juicy and scrumptious, chicken is tasty and pork is just pine (especially the bacon variety). There’s nothing that screams “summer” more than tossing a burger and hotdog on the grill (or paying someone to do so) and then taking a nap on a hammock after my meat-induced coma.
You can imagine my hesitance when The Insiders asked me to get my next lunch at Café Indigo, 128H Hall St. If you haven’t already guessed, Café Indigo is an all vegan café, best known for its bakery. If you even mention “carrot cake” anywhere in Concord, at least three people recommend you try Café Indigo’s version. The amazing part is that the majority of these carrot cake enthusiasts aren’t even vegan and swear that Café Indigo’s eggless and nondairy version is way better than its non-vegan counterpart.
Okay, fine. They can have their carrot cake and eat it, too, but what about their lunch menu? Can their TBLT (tempeh bacon, lettuce and tomato served on a homemade roll) satisfy your taste buds the same way a greasy BLT does? Does “The Rachael” (the café’s meatless adaptation of a Rueben made with seitan, special sauce and coleslaw) really make you want to come back for more? I was doubtful, but up for the challenge. Who do they think they are with their portabella wraps, and what the heck are tempeh and seitan, anyway?
Riled up, I grabbed my dining companion and headed to the café. “But I don’t even know what half of the things on the menu are,” she whined. For once I actually agreed with her.
We arrived at the café, which is oddly placed amid a hodgepodge of businesses ranging from commercial to dance classes. Not the place I imagined a vegan café to exist. However, I figured it could be a diamond in the rough and forced my companion inside with me.
Admittedly, once inside we were slightly confused about what we were supposed to do. We wanted to get the full dining experience and eat there, but there was no sign to seat ourselves. Plus, it strangely felt like we were in an office pretending to be a restaurant, given the nature of the building. A very pleasant woman eventually appeared and stood behind what I can only assume was once a secretary’s desk and told us to take a seat.
The dining area was small but welcoming. I could tell the women behind Café Indigo tried their best to brighten the place up and shake off that office-vibe with bright curtains and funky décor. We were there around noon, typically a busy time for lunch, but were the only ones in the dining area. As people came in and out for takeout orders, I realized that much of the café’s lunch business was “to go.” One man popped in and just blurted out the words, “just one today,” and somehow the hostess knew he was talking about a falafel. I found comfort in the fact that the café had regulars.
Craving something rich and filling, I ordered the spinach and soysage (an organic meat alternative) burrito, which was described as “a creamy spinach and soysage mixture, lightly grilled and served with fresh salsa and vegan sour cream.” I love a burrito with cheese oozing out of every crevice, so the café had quite a bit to live up to. My companion eventually settled upon the homemade veggie burger made with black beans and rice and served with garlic aioli.
While I waited for my food to arrive, I ordered a cup of tea. I was pleased that our hostess turned waitress brought over a large assortment of teabags, because I’m finicky and don’t know what I want until I see all of the options laid out in front of me.
I didn’t have to sip my tea for long because the food came out quickly. Ah, the benefits of being the only diners! My burrito looked much like a regular burrito, but was oozing with creamy spinach and soysage instead of cheese. On the side were salsa, sour cream and blue corn chips.
After inspecting the burrito for a few more moments via poking and prodding, I finally dug in.
Now, the Food Snob is never wrong, but I’ll admit, I was correctively-challenged when it came to my judgment of the vegan café . . . my burrito was delicious. The creaminess of the spinach and soysage mixture was just as gratifying as melted cheese. Sure, it didn’t taste like your typical burrito, but it was just as good (and probably better for you) than the dairy-filled version.
I ate my burrito slowly, savoring each bit of its creamy texture, as my companion shoveled down her veggie burger. Her only grievance was that they didn’t give her enough corn chips, but she kept mum about the burger. No news is good news from my often whiney companion.
Despite the fact that we were both full, we ordered a piece of carrot cake. Our waitress brought us a slice that looked much larger than the ones in the café’s takeout refrigerator, therefore proving that there are certain benefits to eating inside.
Our heaping slice of cake was presented nicely with powdered sugar sprinkled over the plate. I felt as if I was on a date with my companion, since we were eating off the same plate, but got over it by the first delectable bite.
Now, I know I said that the burrito – albeit extremely tasty – did not taste like the real deal, but the carrot cake did. The nondairy cream cheese frosting was tremendously satisfying. If anyone told me that it wasn’t the “real thing,” I would have called them a liar. The same can be said about the cake itself, but I was most impressed with the frosting.
The grand total was $26.30 (including tip). I would definitely go back to Café Indigo. Next time, I may try takeout because I prefer to feel like I’m leaving the office when I actually leave my office, but that’s just me. Although my experience at the café was delicious and enjoyable, I have not yet converted to being vegan. However, the next time I fire up my grill, I’ll at least consider throwing a veggie burger on instead of its meaty foil.
Café Indigo, 128H Hall St., is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 224-1770 or visit cafeindigo.com.
