On 25th Street, there’s a quaint, slightly hipster little restaurant called A Good Life Cafe & Juice Bar. It’s the kind of place you expect your vegetarian or health-nut friends to go eat or grab a quick juice for breakfast on their way to school.
Actually, the first time I went to this restaurant, a vegetarian friend of mine took me to get some comfort food. That’s when I ordered their Old School Mac n’ Cheese ($9), made with “lots of natural cheeses and fresh local cream.” Honestly, it was not all that comforting. The cheese was bland and a little watery, but at least it was filling.
My friend also let me try his Fresh Mozz Sandwich (Whole $7.49/Half $4.49) with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and shredded lettuce with balsamic and herb mayo. This was also a bland meal. It was light and nice for a hot day, but there was not enough balsamic to give it the flavor it needed to be a successful sandwich.
But, I love supporting local restaurants, so I wanted to give it another try. This time, I was going to order food that I thought I would like, and surprisingly, I did not order any dish with meat in it, although some of them looked tempting, like the Carnitas Tacos ($14).
I tried one of their specials, Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Quinoa ($10.99) made with locally grown heirloom tomatoes, kale, napa cabbage, seedless watermelon, cucumber, tossed with organic quinoa and a side of sesame ginger vinaigrette. I really liked this salad dish. It was incredibly filling and healthy to boot.
It was good with or without the vinaigrette, but the vinaigrette gave a different experience to the food. The only downside was the texture of the quinoa. It felt weird in my mouth and got stuck in my teeth, which really didn’t bother me, but if you’re adverse to weird textures, watch out.
I also had a cup of Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Chili (Cup $2.99/Bowl $4.99/Large $6.99). This was the winner of everything I have tried at A Good Life Cafe. The chili had the consistency of curry without the curry flavor. Don’t get me wrong though—there was a little kick. This is a perfect dish to warm your belly and soul on a cool fall day. Pair that with a Wasatch beer, and you’re good to go. (Good Life has a good beer and wine selection).
This review would not be complete without considering at least one of their juices. I bravely drank a juice called Detox, made from fresh apples, lemon juice, honey, aloe vera, ginger and cayenne. Initially this juice tastes sweet, and then you get hit with a punch of cayenne. The ginger leaves a spicy/bitter aftertaste that wasn’t necessarily unpleasant.
However, the juice didn’t mix very well because as I continued drinking, I got more pulp and spices, and the flavor became overwhelming. It wasn’t a terrible experience, but next time, I may go with a fruitier juice. Although, at $5.99 a pop, I may just go without.
[Ratings: for Graphics]
Price: $
Atmosphere: 3.5 spoons
Food: 3 spoons
Service: 4 spoons
Overall: 3.5 spoons
