When I was told I’d be reviewing a vegan restaurant I was apprehensive, to put it mildly. The few lacto vegetarian restaurants I’ve visited have all shared a fatal flaw – a lack of confidence. Embracing a strong fear that vegetable-only menus wouldn’t appeal to the carnivores in the crowd, they served up imitation meals of mock chicken or beef, which tasted like salt and had the consistency of soggy marshmallows. These experiences lead me to believe a great vegan meal was no more than wishful thinking. Thanks to Blossom, I was wrong.

The restaurant’s allure begins with its décor. Blossom has a stylish, somewhat trendy design that features exposed ductwork, natural wood, and minimalist art. It’s not overpowering, and combined with the ample lighting (a restaurant that realizes I want to look at my company and, more importantly, my food) it creates a truly pleasant atmosphere, perfect for a friendly get together or a date.

My friend and I were seated quickly and with good cheer. Upon browsing the menu, I was delighted to see there wasn’t a single “mock” item in sight. We began our meal with specialty juices dubbed Pink Lady – a sublime juice mixture of beet, pineapple, ginger and pear – and Field of Greens – a mixture of spinach, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger that was less successful, only because it was a bit tart.

From there we moved onto appetizers, Goldenbeet Carpaccio and Autumn Sweet Potato Rolls. The beets were served with an excellent sweet drizzle (there was a hint of cinnamon) topped with a dab of horseradish sauce. The sweet potato rolls, raw sweet potatoes wrapped around a medley of raw vegetables, were a little underwhelming despite the efforts of a delightful ginger dipping sauce.

The evening truly blossomed (Get it? Get it? Yeah, you get it.) when the entrees arrived. The first was the Shepherd’s Portobello, Portobello mushrooms topped with a parsnip and truffle mash with a subtle peppercorn cream sauce. The mushrooms were cooked perfectly, and were firm, not crunchy or mushy. They delivered the powerful meaty taste that Portobello is known for, which was complimented perfectly by a smooth and light topping.

The Southern Seitan Sandwich, was no less delicious. It is a perfect combination of crispy fried seitan, which unlike many vegan staples has a satisfying texture, spicy chipotle sauce, and amazing rosemary focaccia bread. I can’t stress enough how much I enjoyed this sandwich.

The real star of the evening however, was the side order of sweet potato fries. No matter what you get at Blossom, make sure you get an order of these delectable finger foods. They may not be the healthiest item, on what is otherwise a very healthy, organic menu, but they are a must have.

I loved Blossom, and I heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a moderately priced, parve lunch or dinner (our bill came out to $30 per person, a bit more if you choose to partake in Blossom’s extensive wine selection). In the interest of full disclosure I should point out that my meal at Blossom was free. In the interest of even fuller disclosure I’ll let you know that I gladly paid for my meal the next night. Blossom is a unique restaurant, in my experience – a vegan restaurant without an inferiority complex.

Click here for the Cafe Blossom listing