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Name: Blind Faith Café
Address: 525 Dempster St, Evanston, IL, 60201
Telephone: (847) 328-6875
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.54

Blind Faith Café

525 Dempster St, Evanston, IL, 60201

(847) 328-6875
Store is closed

Blind Faith Café Menu

Starters

Warm Onion Gruyere Tart

Guacamole

Dolmas

Potstickers

Sweet Potato Fries

Smoked Gouda Quesadlllas

Roasted Vegetable Hummus

Kamoosh

Sweet Potato Crostini
Salads

Avocado Salad

Spinach Lentil Salad

Greek Village Salad

Caesar Salad

Thai Noodle Salad

Curried Chopped Salad

Santa Fe Salad

Blind Faith Salad

Tossed Green Salad
Sandwiches

Blind Falth Burger

Barbeque Seltan Sandwich

Black Bean Tostadas

Sott Shell Tacos
Soups

Bowl of Chili

Soup of the Day

Mlso Soup
Entrees

Pasta Caprese

Stuffed Avocado with Quinoa

Pesto Pasta Prlmavera

Lemon Seitan

Kung Pao

Teriyaki Fried Rice Bowl

Seltan Marsala

Black Bean Ginger Tofu

Mongolian Stir-Fry

Thai Peanut Noodles

Enchlladas Verdes

Fajita Platter

Macrobiotic Plate

Bibim Bop Rice Bowl
Juices & Sodas

Organic Agave Sweetened Sodas

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Organic Carrot Juice

Sparkling Water

Apple Cider

Passion Fruit Green Ice Tea

Hot Cider

Peach Lemonade

Napoleon Black Iced Tea

Flavored Iced Teas

Iced Coffee

Milk or Soy Milk

Fresh Brewed Coffee

Kukicha Twig Tea

Mighty Leaf Teas
Smoothies & Shakes

Blueberry Banana Boogie

Hawaiian Sunrise

Vanilla Milk Shake

Piña Colada Milk Shake
Espresso Drinks

Café Latte

Café Mocha

Cappuccino

Rice Dream Latte

Vanilla Soy Latte

Caramel Latte

Hazelnut Latte

Espresso

Americano
Teas & Chocolate

Chai Latte

Soy Chai Latte

Mexican Hot Cocoa

Hot Chocolate

White Tea Latte

Mighty Leaf Latte
Iced Drinks

Iced Latte

Iced Vanilla Latte

Iced Caramel Latte

Iced Americano

Iced Mocha

Iced Chai

Iced Hazelnut Latte

Iced White Tea Latte
Desserts

Dark Chocolate Eskimo Pie

Brandy Poached Pear

Belgian Chocolate Pudding

Tiramisu

Fruit Cobbler*

Double Chocolate Cake

Lemon Torte

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Cake

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Homemade Cheesecake
Dessert Cocktails

Spanish Coffee

Chocolate Martini

Brazilian Coffee

Mocha Martini

Healthy Meal suggestions for Blind Faith Café

Starters

Warm Onion Gruyere Tart [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dolmas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potstickers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Gouda Quesadlllas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Vegetable Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kamoosh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Crostini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Avocado Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach Lentil Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greek Village Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Noodle Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Curried Chopped Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Santa Fe Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blind Faith Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tossed Green Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Blind Falth Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Barbeque Seltan Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Bean Tostadas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sott Shell Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups

Bowl of Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup of the Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mlso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Pasta Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stuffed Avocado with Quinoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pesto Pasta Prlmavera [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Seitan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kung Pao [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Teriyaki Fried Rice Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seltan Marsala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Bean Ginger Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mongolian Stir-Fry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Peanut Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Enchlladas Verdes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fajita Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Macrobiotic Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bibim Bop Rice Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Juices & Sodas

Organic Agave Sweetened Sodas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Carrot Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sparkling Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Apple Cider [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Passion Fruit Green Ice Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Cider [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peach Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Napoleon Black Iced Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Flavored Iced Teas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milk or Soy Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Brewed Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kukicha Twig Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mighty Leaf Teas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Smoothies & Shakes

Blueberry Banana Boogie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hawaiian Sunrise [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vanilla Milk Shake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Piña Colada Milk Shake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Espresso Drinks

Café Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Café Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice Dream Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vanilla Soy Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caramel Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hazelnut Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Americano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Teas & Chocolate

Chai Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soy Chai Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mexican Hot Cocoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Tea Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mighty Leaf Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Iced Drinks

Iced Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Vanilla Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Caramel Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Americano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Chai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Hazelnut Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced White Tea Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Dark Chocolate Eskimo Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brandy Poached Pear [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Belgian Chocolate Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fruit Cobbler* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Double Chocolate Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Torte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Flourless Chocolate Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegan Chocolate Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Homemade Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert Cocktails

Spanish Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Martini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brazilian Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mocha Martini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Banjogirl A.

I really wanted to like this restaurant. I had been meaning to try it for years, though had been warned that the quality has fluctuated over the years. I can say that this is the first vegetarian restaurant I have eaten at that I wouldn't return to (and I have eaten at many). I ordered a seitan mushroom dish. While that part was okay, the sides were uninspired and unseasoned (white rice, sweet potato/squash mash, and very undercooked green beans). My husband got the peanut noodle and tofu dish. The tofu was cold in the center, and the dish tasted very bland (like unsalted peanut butter on noodles). Even when they provided a side of hot sauce, it was not very tasty. The menu descriptions looked good, but I think they need a new chef to execute the dishes. With so many other great veg places in Chicago, I would skip this one. : (
(1)
Christine S.

I had heard great things about this place so decided to give it a try. Admittedly, I might have built it up in my head so I was bound to be disappointed but I was neither blown away nor disappointed. It was just middle of the road okay. The decor is just so-so. Nothing to write home about. The roasted veggie hummus was amazing and by far the best part of the meal. I ordered the spicy thai peanut noodles with crispy tofu and while I thought it was okay, it wasn't really the best ever. Our waitress was adequate but not particularly friendly or knowledgeable about the recipes (she had to call someone else over to assist in questions about potential vegan dishes) so that was a little disappointing. For vegetarian and vegan cuisine I prefer Karyn's on Green but Blind Faith Cafe is okay in a pinch. I'm just not sure I would go out of my way to eat there again.
(2)
Karen R.

I would give Blind Faith Cafe more stars if they would go back to the way things were about five years ago. The menu was better and the ambiance was better. I remember when BFC wasn't a fine dining establishment - just a fab place to go and eat. I know that we all need to move forward - I guess I'm just stuck in the good ol' days!
(2)
Simone T.

Delicious vegan (but you'd only know if I told you so) chocolate peanut butter cake in particular, though anything from their bakery is delicious. Their Sunday brunch is great. Delicious & potent cocktails, fluffy cheesy broccoli quiche....yum.
(4)
Nessie V.

This place is more geared to vegetarians than vegans. I got the portabella sandwich sans cheese, and it tasted like a French onion sandwich. That was just OK for me. Service was spotty and slow, but they apologized and comped my sandwich without asking, which I think more than evens it out. Desserts were the big redemption for me, and probably the only reason I'd return.
(3)
Colleen C.

Service: Stellar. Food: Vegan. very, very vegan/vegetarian. :) When they asked me if I needed anything with my coffee, I almost responded..."chicken?" Back to food: Despite it not ever having a face, all of the food was very tastey. I had the soup and the poached asparagus salad, very yummy. Topped it off with a flourless chocolate cake slice...mmmmmm. Very nice ambience, comfy, cozy...yet stylish in a homey sort of way. Now, if only I could get on board with the vegan/vegetarian stuff, but alas, I like meat.
(4)
Shawn C.

So this restaurant offers a prime example of why simplistic, one track rating systems pretty much make no sense at all. To somehow "average out" my highly mixed feelings of Blind Faith Cafe, I am giving it "2 Stars," although to be honest some dynamics deserve 5 and some 1. I would give it 3, but I'm giving it 2 to express my dissatisfaction with the directions its owners have taken it. Let's start with the positive: Cupcakes. Those vegan chocolate cupcakes have been bringing me back to Blind Faith for nearly a decade now, because they are delicious. If you are vegan, vegetarian, or a fervent meat-worshipper, you need to try them. That said, somehow, mysteriously, they've shrunk to one-third the size they used to be, and somehow, mysteriously, they're now more expensive. Ah, Evanston. So let's move to the bad: One-half of the restaurant used to be full service, the other self-service, with tables, and an island filled with silverware, a water spout, and other necessities. This was, in a word, awesome. If I went in for a coffee and cupcake, because, like, this place is a CAFE, then I could. But not anymore. The other, creepy, hideous, elitist yuppy half of the restaurant invaded the place, executed the hippy DIY in a brutal coup, and imposed a totalistic regime of blandly colored walls, gross wall hangings (that are vaguely ethnic and "poor") and other atrocious North-Shore-What-White-People-Like nonsense. So now, not only do you have to pay for the over-priced food (and yes, it is overpriced. A LOT) but you also have to pay for the less than stellar and kind of arrogant service, replete with tacky white aprons to signify class and professionalism. Speaking of the food, let me be honest here: It's good but not great. Sure, if you're a wealthy North Shore mom looking for "her place" where the carnivorous, cretinous hubby won't follow, then yeah, this place rocks the house. Otherwise, it's a pretty so-so place for anyone else, and certainly NOT a place that anyone should commute more than 20 minutes to reach. It's not that the food is bad, to the contrary some of it (SOME) is great. I recommend the BBQ seitan sandwich in particular. The problem is that you're paying $15 for a bowl of rice and 4 pieces of tofu (about 4 ozs). Yes, it tastes good, however, IT'S 4 OUNCES OF TOFU AND RICE FOR $15. Ok, if you have a three-story victorian in the Ridge Historic District, this shouldn't bother you. Just focus on the native wall art to remind yourself that you are still "of the people." For everyone else, just stick to Chicago diner.
(2)
Michelle M.

The portions!! Where have they gone?? I know this place has been trending more upscale, but where the hell is the food? I went with my family there for my sister's birthday, and we wound up spending way more than we used to for smaller portions! 1st round was the guac and chips. Probably good for two people, but 5? not so much. We had to ask for more chips. They were pretty cool about it. For the entree, I had the gardein mole. I'm not gonna knock the food. The mole packed a little heat, and the gardein is the best vegan meat substitute around, so it as a delish dish, but I scarfed it down in less than 5 minutes flat. I wound up eating some of my sister's bbq seitan and the rest of my mom's mole dish. I'm not 500lbs I swear! For dessert, I was hoping for the huge slices of cakes we would get in the past, but now the slices are a quarter of what they used to be. Still awesome, but super wimpy. I guess this place just loves catering to the yuppie crowd or something. whatevers. doubt i'll go back there for awhile.
(3)
rebecca g.

Oh Blind Faith, how the mighty have fallen. BF used to be one of my favorites-if not my #1- veggie place in Chicagoland. A beacon of quality amidst bland, mediocre Chicago Diner fare. But I've now visited on 2 separate occasions and been sadly unimpressed. Their prices have stayed the same, perhaps even increased, yet quality has gone way down. (That, or the competition has gotten so sophisticated that I can't justify spending $13-15 on uninspired vegetarian Thai, Mexican, or Chinese food.) I was disappointed in the Spicy Peanut Noodles--not because the flavor was bad, but because I can get the SAME thing (and with more authentic "crispy" tofu, which was pale and doughy) at any Thai restaurant for HALF the price. BF used to excel in meat substitutes- the now-extinct Seitan in Marsala Wine Sauce with butternut squash was out-of-this-world!- but it's hardly unusual to find tofu or even seitan on a menu these days. Likewise, the dish that replaced the Marsala Seitan- Lemon Rosemary Seitan- is not nearly as yummy...for one, the seitan is sliced thinly as opposed to medallions, and the sauce is not nearly as rich & satisfying. As a whole, I've just found their new selections- while still priced on a gourmet tier- to be mediocre and derivative. To be fair, the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cake with Raspberry Sorbet was divine, but I would expect nothing less from a $7 slice of cake. And the Vodka Hard Lemonade was fantastic, owing to a tangy and unusual rosemary simple syrup that I adored. I guess their desserts and drinks are still solid, at least? And service is always impeccable...definitely cannot complain. I just wish their entrees were as innovative and exciting as they used to be :(
(2)
Jean C.

Our go to restaurant. Love it. All good. Any time of day.
(5)
Erin W.

Delicious!!! So friendly! MUST TRY: The grilled apple and brie cheese sandwich. Waiter asked if we wanted dessert, and after we politely declined, he brought us a complimentary chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting. I'm not one for exaggerating but this was THE BEST cupcake I've ever had in my LIFE! And it was vegan! :)
(5)
Jamie B.

I went here earlier this week for lunch with my boss and co-workers. I was pretty excited to go to a restaurant where everything on the menu would be meatless. It definitely made the decision making process a lot harder when figuring out what to order....more choices than I am used to since I don't ever order meat dishes. I was highly disappointed with what I got. I had the thai peanut noodles, which were just swimming in an unfavorable "peanut sauce." All the veggies except for the broccoli just got lost in the sauce and was overall quite spicy. I felt like I had ordered a dish from a place like Noodles & Company. I'm not trying to rip on Noodles and Company, but the dish had a "sub-par chain restaurant aura" to it. We shared a piece of chocolate peanut butter cake which wasn't bad, but it was a little dry. All in all, I wouldn't come back here. It's a shame. Giving vegetarian cooking a bad reputation....sigh
(2)
Jordan G.

Awesome food. The barbeque satan tastes just like chicken.
(5)
Beth M.

We came to Blind Faith for the Valentine's Day dinner. They easily made the special set menu vegan (which was noted on the menu at the restaurant, but not online... Go figure...) We opted for the wine pairing to try a few different ones that would complement the dishes. The dishes were lively and well-made. The garden of salads, which incorporated minced beet, flower petals and sprouts, was delightful. The server explained it was not intended to be eaten with forks; it was meant to represent the crumbled earth and greens one would find in a garden (and we were to "graze", I suppose, haha). What a fun idea! With each dish he served, he gave a brief run-down of ingredients or concept in a hushed voice. I was caught off guard when the server - without a word - took away the plate from which I was still eating. He then impatiently asked "May I have your glass?" when it was still to my lips! Thankfully he did not do such things with the other courses. I am quite territorial when it comes to food. Do not interfere! At least have the courtesy to ask if I am done before you snatch it away. The second dish consisted of roasted beets with frisÃ©e and nuts. The dry white wine paired with it was a wonderful palate cleanser. I don't typically like white wine, but this one was excellent. The third course was a lentil and truffle soup. I was quite amused by the server's explanation of how these were no ordinary lentils; they were "lentilles du Puy" originating from a certain region of France. I personally couldn't tell the difference; all I knew is that it was a delicious soup, and the nori pouch of spicy minced truffle was a delight. The entree was Gardein (the brand of faux meat) with kamut (a grain) and earthy mushrooms in a rose-petal chocolate sauce. Its rich flavour reminded me of mole sauces I've had. The heavier red wine nicely paired well with the deep flavours of the dish. For dessert, we had a champagne granita with rose petals and a tiny cappuccino brownie with raspberry drizzle. Unfortunately the delicate ice melted very quickly and we vainly tried to scoop it with our forks! The dessert wine was a bit bubbly and sweet, not as heavy as a port. We were the last guests to leave - we had an 8pm seating - and I wonder if that was why the server rushed me earlier. The incident still took away from my overall experience though. While generally polite, service seemed less warm than other more upscale places. (Although I must mention that the busser who filled our water glasses made a subtle joke: After the server finished a descriptive bit about our wine - "And this is such-and-such variety of wine from such-and-such region" - and left the table, the busser followed with "And this is water" with a wave of his hand.) I felt the pricing was comparable to Green Zebra's, perhaps even a little less expensive. The creative taste combinations and artistic platings are worth it for a once-in-a-while special treat. Note: Blind Faith has gluten-free offerings as well.
(4)
Cherie T.

Big woop. Big bark, small bite. Presentation pleasing to the eye. A sore disappointment to the taste buds. Go to Amitabul for the real stuff.
(2)
Shradha A.

wow ive lived here 3 years an never tried this place until yesterday!!! i loved their entrees! the one star taken off is because i thought their appetizers and desserts were excessively expensive and really tiny portions. we ended up going to coldstone for more dessert cuz the tiny slice for $9 left no one satisfied! their mexican, thai, italian -- all were so good and even my two meat-eating friends loved the food and want to go back for more!! We ordered the tostada, fussili and massaman curry!
(4)
Karen Anne B.

Yum! I've been here twice now, once for brunch and once for dinner. I intend to go back, even though it is out of the way and wildly inconvenient. All veg-friendly menu, great food, inventive, and different. Good beer list, I think they had a decent wine list. Pretty good service. Hopefully next time I'll save room for dessert!
(5)
Alex R.

Alas, I finally decided to try this vegetarian place that's close to home. Upon entering, I noticed that they have a bakery to the right, and the restaurant is to the left. It reminded me of a slightly more upscale Panera. My friend and I were promptly seated and proceeded to order some $5.50 smoothies that were not that good (banana, berries, apple cider). Alas, we opened up the menu. ::Blink:: is this...the whole selection? A whole 2 small, measly pages...and $10.50 for pancakes....PANCAKES. Not to mention the rude waitress. I'm glad I was here with a girlfriend, as this is NOT the place to take a guy to eat. I don't mind paying oodles of $$ for yummy food, but if I'm paying for the privilege of being surrounded by stuck up vegetarians in a place with crappy food and equally crappy service, forget about it! Perhaps this was an off night? According to the waitress, they change their menu daily, and weekends menu items are mostly a brunch selection. I don't know, but I was very dissapointed with my initial impression and will likely never return.
(1)
Pamela R.

I heard a lot hype before going to Blind Faith and maybe that's why I was left unsatisfied and expecting more. It reminds me of Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh, NC, somewhat reknown in the vegan community, but it was lacking character. The dishes were mediocre, but maybe I ordered wrong. The decor reminds me of family style restaurant and not someplace to hang out and not too imaginative. The service has always been good and that is why I'll probably go if I'm in the hood. It's a good place because of the location and the only place I could think of when I'm in Evanston. I just can't get excited about it.
(2)
M. C.

I've never had a bad experience at Blind Faith. The staff is always lovely and the food is a.maz.ing . I've never had a dish there that wasn't so good I didn't emit waaaaaay to many ooh's and ahh's and moans and groans about its tastiness. The last time we went in was the first time I'd been for their dinner menu. I ordered the stuffed avocado with quinoa and it was, perhaps, the most delicious meal I've had at a restaurant in quite some time. If it wasn't for the prices, which feel a little on the heavy side, I'd be back at least once a week just so that I could eat my way through their menu..
(5)
Joanne L.

Yummy vegetarian-friendly food, though not so reasonably priced. My husband and I will usually split and entree and an appetizer here, without drinks and our bill usually comes to about $30. It's quite expensive for what you get. I think the menu is hit or miss. Sometimes we get something that blows our mind while another menu item is just questionable. Because of the price and inconsistency, I can't see myself eating here regularly. I don't mind coming here once in a while though.
(3)
Christine H.

I came here in high school years ago. It was a treat from my T'ai Chi teacher. I remember liking it, but I also remember it being more similar to the Chicago Diner than it is now. Perhaps my memory is deceiving me, but I don't remember it being chic. We're talking at least 8 years since I went! I didn't even realize it was vegetarian when I went though, and I still ate meat back then. I'm pretty sure my unsophisticated teenage self just got the veggie burger and fries at the time. I brought my mother here for her birthday today. She eats meat and is not always eager to go to all-vegetarian restaurants, but I told her if I'm paying for it, we're going to a place that has food I can eat! I didn't want to sit idly by as she munched on a non-vegan piece of cake for her birthday. Plus, the menu has enough diversity where there must be something she'd be willing to try. Cafe doesn't seem to fit the restaurant we visited today. The food is too upscale (and pricey) to fit the menu of a "cafe," I think. Chicago Diner this ain't, so don't come expecting that. I wanted to try the sagamite (as I've never had anything like it before), but opted for the Kung Pao instead as I needed some protein. It was good (and spicy, as the waiter warned me, but I don't mind spicy). Honestly, though, you can get more for half the price in Chinatown. Mom had the BBQ seitan sandwich and actually liked it! She said the bread was a little hard, however. We split the fries. For dessert, we shared a piece of the peanut butter chocolate cake with raspberry sorbet per our waiter's recommendation. We inhaled it (if only the piece were bigger)! We grabbed some sweets on the way out. So far, desserts seem to be their strongest point. I do want to try this place again, to try something new and to sample more desserts of course. Because of the price and distance from my home, however, it'll have to remain a place for special occasions. That lemon grass rice bowl sounds divine! This chic little place is for birthdays or a special date, not for grabbing a quick bite or a meal with friends.
(3)
Lourdes R.

We had the rudest waiter, Cesar! A friend, sitting at another table stopped by to say hello so when he came to take our order we asked for 5 minutes~well, he completely ignored us for the next 2 hours, which is how long it too to get an amazing lentil spinach salad and dessert! The food was great~but I wondered if he spit in it?
(1)
Alison B.

We maintain a vegan and gluten free diet which often makes dining out a real challenge; especially with carnivores! The food here is very delicious the service is outstanding and there is wide variety of menu items whether you are a vegetarian, vegan or gluten free. What is more important is that we were able to have a wonderful Sunday brunch with my 80 year old aunt and uncle... They had eggs, we had tofu and everyone was well-fed and very happy!
(5)
Nick B.

Kicking off the summer with vegan dining in Evanston! It's probably the first beautiful day in Chicago and I ended up spending it just outside of the city, in nearby Evanston. Evanston is an absolutely amazing community with unique features, shops and restaurants. Doing research on vegan restaurants in Chicago, Blind Faith Cafe turned up a number of times with solid reviews. I went with a friend earlier this afternoon for dinner. Fortunately, we were able to sit outside and enjoy the weather and food. We started with the hummus appetizer. The hummus was fresh, but I was a little surprised by the small portion of bread served. Wasn't really a problem, we just asked for more and finished up the spread. For dinner I went with the Kung Pao. This entree is described as a Szechwan glazed gardein (sweet!) sauteed ginger, garlic, and roasted peanuts with a side of bok choy. Spectacular! The gardein was wonderful, firm, and spicy. Similar to the hummus, I was a little distracted by such a health orientated cafe serving white rice instead of brown rice. Not a big deal though because I was busy wiping away tears from the peppers. My friend went ahead with the killer Barbecue Seitan Sandwich. Again, awesome! Overall, I had a great experience and I will totally come back to try other options on the menu. I have to give it four stars from the few oddities, but I definitely recommend all herbivores to put this on their list to check out this summer.
(4)
Lexy B.

I really wanted to like this place, but my food was just straight up BLAND. I ordered some type of expensive veggie torta and it had absolutely no kick. To make matters worse it was sitting on a massive amount of lettuce- with no other salad ingredients. At least throw some tomatoes on it! From a vegan/veg friendly joint, I expected more- more flavor, more bang for my buck. Make me want to eat ethically and healthy people!!
(2)
Dee W.

Stopping by here to pick up some gluten free baked goods, I was a bit disappointed to see that the chocolate cupcakes and the cream puffs were not gluten free. Otherwise, the cookies and coffee cake were fantastic choices. I was sad to see that they didn't have the vegan carrot cake available - maybe next time?
(4)
Nikki C.

MEAT GOOD! And to my surprise after my first visit here during a recent unofficial yelpers gathering, I left with a smile and happy feeling of satisfaction as my body was well fed with such a great serving of Aztec hash, which included nachos, peppers, onions, something else tasty and 2 eggs my way. Toast was an extra side, but really not necessary as I was unable to finish my very tasty and filling meal. Never once missed the side of bacon or sausages or steak or any other kind of flesh I normally require, who knew? Prices were higher than what I normally like to pay, but leaving satisfied, not a big deal.
(4)
Jodi W.

Once, this was my favorite restaurant. So much so, that it was my birthday choice to drag my family there from the Western Suburbs. Boy, has it gone downhill. Even the miso dressing, which I always loved and thus ordered two containers to go (before the meal), is overly salty and not nearly as flavorful as it once was. What a disappointment!
(1)
Tala K.

"Organic tofu and julienned vegetables in cilantro, lime-coconut sauce with black beans, fresh ginger and garlic. Served with jasmine rice" Mouthwatering, isn't it? One of the first options on The Blind Faith Cafe menu I encountered. Hi, my name is Tala and I have been a vegetarian for four years and I absolutely adore Blind Faith Cafe. I came in with my family after my graduation on a Sunday afternoon. We were seated right away, with no wait at all, and they catered to all we needed. Blind Faith Cafe is a truly great restaurant due to their friendly and inviting atmosphere, respectful staff, and delicious food. Walking into Blind Faith it had a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. It has a modern neutral decor, with beautiful, framed paintings on the wall. It is a very clean and sanitary restaurant. The silverware never has a smudge, the tables are always wiped down, the floor is spotless and there are never unnecessary dirty plates left around. You can really tell they keep up with the cleanliness. For example I dropped my fork on the ground, and in a matter of seconds the waiter was there with a new one. They really focus on keeping the restaurant running in tip top shape. As you enter the staff greets you, and seats you at the first available table. The waiters and waitress are extremely friendly and very respectful. They understand the different dietary needs of each individual customer and cater to it so well. On top of that, they know the restaurant and menu like the back of their hand! If you are ever having difficulty on deciding what to eat, they will definitely be a great deal of help. The front of the house service truly made a memorable experience. The best part of the restaurant and my personal experiences going there would be the food. It is absolutely delicious. Being a bigger group we ordered an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. As a starter we ordered the roasted vegetable hummus, served with carrots and celery. It was the perfect blend of spices and it was delicious. As my main course I has the black bean ginger tofu. It came plated very beautifully, on a bed of jasmine rice. The dish was full of flavor and had the perfect seasoning, and very hard to believe it was vegan! Finally as a dessert my family and I ordered the hot apple peach cobbler, with vanilla ice cream. Six spoons on the table, no cobbler left. It was the perfect contrast between hot and cold, gooey and crisp. A perfect way to end a fantastic meal. Carnivore, vegetarian, omnivore, meat lover or vegan Blind Faith Cafe is definitely the place to go. Their menu is offered vegan upon request. An all around quality restaurant offering a warm atmosphere, friendly staff and food to die for. If you have not been there, make sure it's next on your list, whether with a big group of friends or a nice small family get together, it definitely will not disappoint.
(5)
Erica J.

Disclaimer - I only purchased coffee and a pastry to go, so I didn't get to sample their menu. However, my experience here did not meet my expectations at all. I ordered a coffee and pastry from the counter, and CLEARLY ordered a hazelnut latte, but was handed a cappuccino (more foam than milk) with espresso that tasted like it was made with dried tree leaves. Seriously, I can tolerate bad coffee every once in a while but that drink was disgusting. The only redeeming factor was the brownie I ate, which was delicious. Maybe I just got a noob on the espresso machine or something, but I would definitely not come back here for coffee again.
(2)
Elisabeth C.

While I do like this place, I only really go here when I'm craving healthy vegan food. I'm not a huge fan of brown rice, but all of their entrees are rather good, although I feel they're a little under-spiced. Desserts here are very tasty and the staff are very pleasant and helpful.
(4)
Michael James S.

BLIND FAITH CAFE is a cozy and warm atmosphere, where the staff is exceptional. The menu selections are unique. A vegetarian menu, my Goat cheese and Spinach sandwich was scrumptious. Look for specials on-line. By registering on-line received a free dessert. I choose Peanut Butter and Chocolate cake. Highly recommend.
(5)
Karen M.

Ignore the slightly Old County Buffer-style decor and you've got one hell of a great vegetarian restaurant! Plus, they've got plenty of vegan options! I bought the Groupon months ago and finally used it on its expiration date (it's not easy always easy to make the trek to Evanston). My friend got the Kung Pao w/baby bok choy (yum!). I ordered the bbq seitan sandwich with fries (double yum!). And the desserts were to die for (the cappucino brownie is amazing!). Good portion sizes, fresh food. A tad on the pricey side, but the food was excellent and the staff quite attentive. I'll make the trek again sometime.
(4)
Liz S.

Oh Me of Little Faith. It was the morning after way too much indulgence, and I had to meet my parents and cousin for brunch at one of their favorite iconic haunts, the Blind Faith Cafe. I'm thinking, oh man, what I really need is a fry up from some greasy spoon, with multiple strips of bacon and about 50 gallons of water - what the hell am I going to eat at this healthy vegan/vegetarian restaurant? I tell you what, I should not have had one doubt. I had one of the best versions of traditional Huevos Rancheros to ever pass my lips. It was spicy, flavorful, rich, and delicious. The chipotle salsa was DRINKABLE, the eggs prepared perfectly, and the tortillas tender. My dad had the Poached Eggs Florentine, which a gorgeous, brilliant green dish with poached eggs atop fluffy biscuits - decadent. They have a variety of baked goods which all looked amazing, from vegan cupcakes to Snickerdoodles to more fancy pastries. We all shared an eclair, which was wonderful. The prices are more than those of your basic diner (about $9 for a brunch entree), but it's definitely worth it for the taste and presentation of the food. Plus, you know you are eating something of the best quality, served by people with a genuine passion for good health and good taste, and that's an excellent way to start any day.
(4)
Art V. B.

To be fair this place deserves: 3.5. The Mexican options are very good and creative, particularly the poblano sauce dishes. The rest of my food was just O.K. Asian dishes with fake meat were also good, but nothing that special. The place looks nice and it plays 80s music. Service is friendly.
(3)
R L.

What happened to this place? It still looks like a diner. It used to be SO good. I've gone back (my bad) many times thinking it was just that once. Service is ok, the food has gotten worse and the prices are too extreme for what they serve. Omit the fancy names and adjust your prices (to about half). - Sagamite: Very VERY oily and the rice is under cooked. Careful with the "smoked-flavor", (people die of smoke inhalation)--seriously, it's gross. - Enchiladas verdes: Tasty but I've had much better at other non-mexican restaurants - Portabella sandwhich: The description makes it sound amazing but it's Over-loaded with grilled onions and on a bun that's about the size of a big-mac. Way too oily and messy. Skip the side-salad on any meal, I don't think Blind faith is very thorough when washing any greens. I'd let it go if it only happened once. It's like eating directly from the garden--soil and all. - Fresh juice: What's with the tiny glasses? A pound of organic carrots and a bigger glass can't possibly cost as much for a small glass of carrot juice. - Miso soup: Hold the salt PLEASE, if you use wakame (sea weed) for more than just garnish. Extremely salty and hard to get past that fishy flavor. The coffee here is not very good yet it's very expensive. Starbucks is across the street (and beleive it or not, cheaper) so I'd hold off until after the meal.
(2)
Jessica W.

Hmm... the one time I go to a vegetarian restaurant, It's without any of my vegetarian friends (If you've read my previous reviews, you might have picked up on the fact that I have many of those). But anyway, my friends and I liked this place -- but maybe that's b/c they were doing a special promotion for their anniversary, where you just pay however much you want for your entree, which made it very affordable. And that made up for the fact that they messed up my reservation, and we had to wait 30 minutes for a table. I ordered the lemon grass rice bowl, which I thought was the best, and even though we were all sharing with each other, I wanted to keep this all to myself... I also got to try my friends' green curry, pastel azteca, black bean tostadas, and enchiladas verdes. I'd say that the two Asian-style dishes were better than the rest. The pastel azteca tasted really weird actually -- it was the one dish that we didn't care to finish. Overall, the food can be good, depending on what you order.
(3)
Jen S.

LOVE it, love it, despite the reports that John Cusack once noshed here with Britney... They have scores of vegan and veggie options, and even several choices for the gluten-free among us. They've kept up their quality for years at this point, and their food and service is fabulous! Their waitstaff is knowledgeable about food allergies and sensitivities, and that makes an enormous difference to people like me. Love, love. Want more.
(5)
Niki G.

Gone here a bunch and have had both fantastic service and really bad. However, the food has always been terrific!! Love the Kung-Pao Vegan Spicy Chicken and their desserts are to die for. Every time we go here, we end up waddling away, content, with our stomachs filled to the brims. Courses are of a decent portion -- though like I said, desserts are terrific, but also huge. A slice of their cakes could feed two or three people! So if you're a little shocked by any of the pricey prices, that's why! As a side note -- love the atmosphere of the place. Pretty, calming, and serene, even when there are crying infants at the next table over :P
(4)
Ruth F.

My companion and I ordered very different types of food; he had the barbecue seitan sandwich, and I had the provencal vegetables with balsamic reduction, polenta cakes and a big hunk of brie. We were both very happy. So they do some traditional food, some fancy food, and some macrobiotic food (which we didn't touch, but is there for the traditional vegetarian). Service was good (my only complaint: the waiter put the folio with my credit card in it in front of my dinner companion instead of me). Lots more people than the last time I was here; pretty full. Fairly pricey ($10 entrees; my dessert was $8.50) but not unreasonable, particularly for Evanston. Pretty cut flowers at every table. One warning: the chef's specials menu is apparently just what the chef thinks is good this week; it is NOT a prix fixe. This was a bit of a surprise when the bill came. (I had the tiramisu and the queso fundido with my vegetables. Probably would have had a different entree had I realized...)
(4)
Laura P.

I came back. I had to have another bowl of Mongolian Sitr Fry. It's just that good. The manager was rude when he sat us, like we disturbed him from conversation. We sat too close to the host stand and could hear some pretty raunchy conversation. Last time I could just see them all standing there, this time I was in the conversation. These guys are really rude to women! Our service from the waitress was amazing. And the food was spot on. I only think I'll return if those men are gone. I'm not a prude but it was too much and disgusting to hear while trying to eat. I asked to speak to the owner and was told he wasn't in. I tried calling and they said they took a message. That was last week. Oh well. I guess I won't be back.
(1)
reshma s.

Considering that I am a vegetarian I thought this would be the perfect restaurant to start my yelping with! Not only does the menu have exceptional items but the food is amazing. We ordered the Bibim Bop and the Shitake Walnut Loaf and both the meals were yummy! The friendly staff will give you a head start if you are unsure of what to order. And to think that the calories weren't enough... I just couldn't resist the take out order of muffins from the bakery! Simply Irresistible!
(5)
Stephen S.

This place is AWESOME! I had both the French Toast FlambÃ© and the focaccia bread pizza because I could not decide between them. They were both awesome and huge! I switched off between bites. I was one full and happy camper. Although I am not a vegetarian, I loved the food. And, the service was great. By the way, I am only seven years old! Alex S.
(5)
dan l.

UPDATE: It is with sadness that I don't think I'll be going back here any time soon. It's just gotten too expensive and the portions have absolutely decreased in size as well. That's a jab followed by an upper cut. I used to swear by this place and commute over an hour from the city to eat here. No more. Sorry, guys. While the food is still great I cannot justify it any longer. The prices are silly now and the consistency of the service has dropped too. Good luck. Lowering from four stars to three. The Blind Faith Cafe has been my safe spot for going out to dinner with my meat-eating grandparents who both get the BBQ Seitan Sandwich EVERY time we go. The corn bread is terrific as are all the salads, the quesadillas, and blind faith burger. The desserts (both vegan and dairy) are well balanced and always fresh. My experiences with the wait staff have proved them to be patient and kind in the face of 80 year old grumpy seniors. This place is a winner. Well worth the trip up to Evanston (and very easy to get to if traveling by the El). My only complaint is how they became more expensive in the past year or two since the remodel. Great restaurant however getting pricey. Will be eating here for years to come so long as I can afford it.
(3)
Catherine W.

Very cute restaurant. I am not naturally a vegetarian so truthfully I found the food just okay. It is a really pleasant atmosphere for dining though.
(3)
Michael S.

Where more fitting than Blind Faith Cafe could three 50 year-old boyhood friends and former business partners who have had their ups, downs and all arounds meet to celebrate reconciliation, their first reunion in 13 years, and the second half of three ever-orbiting lives? We all grew up in these parts, so Blind Faith made sense to us since ultimately that is what our individual and collective relationships have always been about. The food was as fresh and delicious as our time together. All three of us had Hueveos a la Mexicana, carrot juice and coffee. The outdoor seating on this gorgeous Sunday morning made the occassion an even finer treat. You can't do much better than this: static.px.yelp.com/photoâ€¦
(5)
Gwendolyn H.

Best vegan dining experience. I try to eat vegan for health reasons, but I end up eating meat about once a week because I go out to a meat-loving restaurant and can't resist a perfectly cooked steak, fresh sushi, or other favorite dishes... but this wouldn't happen if there were more places like Blind Faith in the city! This restaurant is amazing and the Seitan Marsala is better than most chicken marsalas I've had!! I totally recommend it, and it's worth the $14 they priced it at (its big enough that I took it home and had it for lunch the next day). I even went with a meat-and-grease-loving friend who loved her meal!!
(5)
Brad V.

My wife and I are vegetarians, so we're always on the lookout for good veggie restaurants. We went to Blind Faith Cafe with a friend. I was looking forward to it, as it's always nice to go out and not have to modify my order to make it vegetarian. 1. The restaurant itself is very nice. It's clean and has a light, airy atmosphere. Good karma, as they say. 2. The food was very good. I had no complaints and I don't think anyone I was with had any complaints either. 3. The service was horrible! Our waiter barely said 2 words to us, other than to take our order. I asked for a recommendation between 2 items I saw on the menu and it seemed like he just randomly pointed at one. He gave no insights about specialties, popular dishes, etc. This was our first time there so a little guidance would've gone a long way. It took a long time to get our food. After we finally began eating, we didn't see our waiter at all. In fact, after we finished eating our friend had to actually go find the waiter so we could get our check. We felt like he just didn't care. This was my first trip to Blind Faith Cafe. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the waiter was just having a bad day or something. I'd like to go back and see how the service is the second time around. I have no problems coming back and updating my review to add a more positive spin. Being a vegetarian and always on the lookout for good veggie restaurants, I really wanted to like this place. But the horrible service we received made that hard to do.
(2)
Tempe T.

My boyfriend and I dined here last night and I have to say, I was a little disappointed. Usually, as a vegetarian in a vegetarian restaurant, I'm overwhelmed by the menu, excited by the possibilities, need extra time to pick what I'm going to have... This place? Wah wah. To be fair, I loved what I ordered: I got the seitan marsala which I ordered after reading a rave review here and it was just what I was looking for. I was torn between that and the tajine, so my boyfriend got the latter and... well... it was missing something. It had spice, it had kick, but it was two dimensional, and I felt like I could have made it at home. EUREKA, I'VE GOT IT: I could make most of their menu at home, for way cheaper. Except, of course, for the desserts. We got the peanut butter chocolate cake, and it has a lot to do with that third star. Oh yeah- and people on here complain about the service? Go right before they close, and you'll have no problem. For the record, that's 9pm now, M-Th.
(3)
Paul M.

I remember coming to Blind Faith years ago for the Seitan, brown rice and veggie dishes. It has been some time since my last visit and I will say that things don't seem the same...sigh. The service was poor/fair -- the waitress did apologize, saying they were understaffed with only 2 servers for the whole room. The food was also not so good -- the guacamole was in fact quite good, but the peanut noodles were inexplicably bland. The Mongolian seitan was greasy, with a fried flavor that suggests that 'this can't be good for you.' The stuffed avocados were also bland, with very little quinoa. This is still a family-friendly place and I'd be willing to try again with some other dishes. Overall, though, it seems to have lost some of the quality I had associated with it.
(3)
Allison S.

I love vegetarian food and love having blind faith nearby in Evanston! Its a little overpriced for what it is, but I still love it. Their salads are all great and my favorite dish is probably the mongolian stir fry with brown rice. The seitan is perfectly cooked and there is not too much sauce. Just enough to give it enough flavor. I also love the macrobiotic plate, and the barbecue seitan sandwich on a whole wheat bun with sweet potato fries is amazing also! They used to have a moroccan tagine on the menu that was amazing also! Bring it back! They have such a diverse menu, and they switch it seasonally even though I do not think you can get sick of anything on the menu.
(4)
Kate W.

We can all agree that there are approximately 1000 places in Chicago to get a decent breakfast. And sometimes it feels like you have been to every one of those places. So on a beautiful Sunday morning we hopped in the car and drove up to Evanston to see what they had to offer us when we stumbled upon Blind Faith. We're not vegetarians, but if there is a meal to go no-meat it is breakfast. With our wonderful savory, sweet and tasty meals we didn't miss that bacon one bit. I got the Eggs Mornay- and they were money! So creamy and perfectly cooked. The boyfriend got French Toast Flambe which was delish. Next time you leave big city life, slow down in Evanston the Blind Faith way!
(5)
Terry S.

My husband and I stopped in for dinner before show at SPACE. We loved everything about our dining experience. Had a few minute wait but enjoyed the time drinking craft beer. Highly recommend this place. We actually stopped in for breakfast before heading back home.
(5)
Micah T.

I only am giving it 4 stars because I think it is a overpriced...but otherwise I LOVE this place. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, this is the place to go. Today I had their vegan chocolate peanut butter cake...Amazing!! I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Jo-Elle M.

It's been a few years since I had been to Blind Faith, and it is a bit different from what I remember. It seems a bit more upscale than I remember - or perhaps expected. (When I hear "vegetarian/vegan" restaurant" - I know I have a stereotype in mind...) Anyway, onto the most important part of a review: the food! I had the risotto cake appetizer. I wasn't wowed by the flavor of the the ragut - too vinegary for my taste. However, my dining companions and I loved our respective entrees. We had the stuffed avocado with quinoa, Moroccan tajine and the ratatouille. Generous portions with the right amount of flavah.. Seeing that I'm having leftover tajine for lunch, the price was justified. For dessert - we had the highly recommended vegan chocolate-peanut butter cake. It lives up to the hype. Service was very good and attentive. We did get there on the early side of dinner on Sunday - so that may have something to do with it. We definitely will be coming back!
(4)
Julie R.

When there is enough energy to bike or enough time to drive (when the weather is gross) for brunch, this is one of my favorite spots. A friend used to work here and got me hooked. It's always a nice atmosphere, although can get loud when sitting near a group and/or children. The service has always been good and there never seems to be too long of a wait when we've been here. I have tried quite a lot of breakfast items as well as lunch.. never a complaint and rarely food left on the plate. They also have good coffee drinks and teas. The last visit was with some friends and we all cleaned our brunch plates. I had the fresh fruit plate and it was perfect. I would also suggest trying a quiche dish. Huge but yum ...
(4)
Chris B.

Although I'm not a vegetarian, I love this restaurant! I've come back many times over the 30 years I've lived in Chicago and never been disappointed. I know I'll always have a wonderful variety of tasty options, prepared well and with the bonus of being healthy and responsible choices! Yesterday I had brunch and shared the Turkish Breakfast (poached eggs, feta, spinach and yoghurt sauce) and the Vegetable Rice Bowl (garden veggies, jasmine rice). The Turkish Breakfast was an exploration into something new and it was really good, very fresh-tasting and light. How do they do it? Make a Veggie Rice Bowl so delicious? I had it with the Jasmine Rice option (Brown also available) and I practically licked the bowl! And their bakery--Ooo la la!! Thank You, Blind Faith!
(5)
Melissa G.

Even though you may not be a vegan or vegetarian you should give this place a try. Busy, good service and tasty. Loved the chili.
(4)
Diana P.

I'd give this place 3.5 if I could. It's a great option for vegetarians, however, they spice up the food way too much and that makes me think the food isn't that good. Sauces are overpowering. Desserts are great though, esp the cupcakes!
(3)
Sandra M.

I've sort of dubbed the Blind Faith as my "special occasion" restaurant. With a veggie-supportive boyfriend, and veggie-phobic extended family, I've done Valentine's Day and Graduation dinners here with GREAT success! The wait staff is ALWAYS super friendly, and I've never met a dish I didn't like. My one recommendation is to stay away from the Rice Dream Latte (unless you get more espresso). It's common to get dairy substitute-based lattes that are a little on the watery side. More espresso definitely helps! I ordered a regular chai (dairy based) and it was divine! Likewise, the staff is always able (and competent) in discussing special diet needs (vegan, macro, etc.) One day, I even had a nice lighthearted conversation about how cheese is "the last to go" when considering being vegan- how cute! I love this place and would definitely recommend it :)
(5)
Minnie G.

My guy and I hadn't been her a few years and remember the food and service to be fantastic. We went for breakfast this morning and the food was just OK but pricey and the service sucked. Very disappointing.
(3)
Jerry W.

Mediocre at best - nice vibe but the food is over-priced and pretty tasteless. Hadn't been there for many years when I decided to give it another try and, with a lunch bill that exceeded my dinner bill of the night before at Dave's Italian Kitchen, I won't be hurrying back. The menu was very limited.
(3)
Alan D.

Great choice for vegan/vegetarians. Mongolian Broccoli was recommended to me and was a good choice. It was spicy, tasty, and healthy. Owner is a very nice guy. I will be back for sure.
(5)
Aaron B.

Blind Faith Cafe is very tasteful and upscale for a true veg restaurant. Their menu is full of great sapid choices and I have really never been disappointed by their dishes. My favorite meal here ever was sweet and sour seitan and it was phenom. Unfortunately it was one of their specials and I haven't had anything as good since. They have a great breakfast menu and serve Intelligensia, that alone is a reason to go here. I like to wash my comforters at the laundromat off Chicago and Dempster and go here for breakfast while it is washing. The Huevos Rancheros is made with slices of fresh avocado that I love! For dinner the Mongolian Stir fry is always a good choice. They have vegan options for all their entrees since they do serve dairy and eggs for those who are just veg. So if you are vegan don't be scared you will have to struggle for a good meal, they are very accommodating. They serve beer and wine, at least they did the last time I went there a few months ago. I have been going here now for over 8 years and used to base my Chicago weekend vacations, before I loved here, around going to this place. It is that good. They have updated the interior in the past few years and it is a nice decor, but I wish they would do something about their stained ceiling tiles. If they update these and also change up the menu once in a while I will re-review for a solid five stars.
(4)
SAN N.

I grew up in Evanston, so I've been coming to Blind Faith for a long time. Blind Faith used to be my favorite restaurant on the planet, and when I first moved out of the Chicago area, a meal at Blind Faith was a must for every visit home. Unfortunately, that has changed in the past few years for many of the reasons described in some of the 280+ other reviews of this place. Blind Faith still has tasty, good quality, fresh food, but I think they've tried to become too upscale and appeal to too broad an audience. One of the things I used to love about Blind Faith was that they had so many interesting vegetarian options that weren't available at other restaurants. Now about 70% of the menu consists of items you would find at a Thai/Japanese/Mexican restaurant, but at BF they are often more expensive and not as good. I think the way to get the best out of Blind Faith is to order some of their more unique stuff. Assuming they haven't changed the recipe, the Seitan Marsala is amazing, and I love the fajitas (also made with seitan). I haven't ordered it for a while, but the veggie burger was always good, and I'm glad to see that they changed the side dish that comes with it - it used to come with a giant heap of brown rice, which, paired with the bun, was starch overload. The chili, which I had recently, is also good. It used to come with their amazing corn bread, but now you have to pay for that separately (get the real version, not the vegan version). I also have always enjoyed the macrobiotic plate, which has been on the menu since the good ol' days. It's not for everyone - sort of like uber-healthy comfort food - but I really like all the things that come with it (except the miso soup - see my comment above about going to a Japanese restaurant for good Japanese food). So I would give Blind Faith 3.5 stars, but I wish it were the same restaurant that used to put a mini loaf of warm, freshly-baked dill bread on the table when you sat down!
(3)
Suzanne P.

I am neither vegetarian nor vegan but I love this place so much. The first time I came here, I was moving into the area for grad school. A friend had recommended this place for brunch, so my parents and I tried it out. WOW. I loved every bite of the meal that I had. The thing is, the food is complex and delicious and leaves you wanting for nothing. My favorite thing to order is the French Toast Flambe. It is covered with fruit and deliciousness. I crave the french toast flambe and wish that I only could get up to Evanston more often to dine there. The service is good, and the restaurant is set up very nicely. You don't feel cramped. Also, on your way out, grab a pastry...their cupcakes are fantastic!
(5)
Jennifer Q.

I wanted to surprise my mom, who is also a vegetarian, with a new place to eat. I actually found this place by searching ideas on Yelp. It had great reviews so I thought I would give it a try. I really liked it here! Great variety of entrees and really good coffee! My mom and I were both pleased with our selections and felt the service was fast and courteous. Very nice place -simple and classy decor and plenty of street parking. Overall, a great experience!
(4)
A S.

Holler at me CHILAQUILES! For yums. Minus one star for the vegan cupcake that was like a nausea gut-bomb. Whatevs BF, I forgive you. See you soon.
(4)
Sarah L.

Just to clarify, the only reason I am not giving Blind Faith five stars is because it's kind of expensive. I've been coming here for years, and it's an all-around excellent experience - great atmosphere, solid service, and an amazing menu. The enchiladas - made with corn & potatoes - are to die for. If you're here for breakfast or brunch, try an omelet - oh em gee, they're just about perfect. Some of the best I've ever had. I tend to order smoothies here, and they're great too, though I kind of feel like it's hard to mess up smoothies. Plus I get a little salty about paying $5+ for these concoctions when I could probably make them at home if I wasn't so lazy and if strawberries weren't so expensive. One more thing - don't forget to get a lil' something from the bakery before you go. Vegan cupcakes? Yes, please! There's something about vegan frosting that just makes me swoon. But seriously, these baked goods won't disappoint.
(4)
emily b.

Oh, Blind Faith, how I used to love you. Well. . . actually I used to hate you. . . let's start at the beginning. My parents used to drag me here almost 25 years ago when I was a whiny kid. I hated it. I didn't want healthy food! As I grew up I learned to love Blind Faith. Requesting it for my birthday dinners, going out with friends, and a few years ago, I even had dinner there the night I got engaged. What the hell happened to this place? It used to be honest to goodness food. . . no pretentious servers. . . and good sized portions. Enough for leftovers! Now it's dripping in pretense. The food is sometimes ok, sometimes not good at all. I've gotten one thing there I thought was gross, and twice I've gotten cold food. The blind faith salad used to rival the Seinfeld big salad, and now is a sad reminder of what it used to be. The other dishes are smaller portions, too. A LOT smaller. Oh. . .and the coffee bar makes the worse espresso drinks I've ever spent 5 bucks on. I miss the old Blind Faith.
(2)
Chelsa P.

This place makes me happy. I have eaten here twice and both times have been amazing. I am not a veggie, but this place does not make me miss meat at all. The BBQ sandwich first was amazing, then the Moroccan dish, yum. I only gave it 4 stars because I am poor and the prices are a tad high, not bad, but again, I am poor. The staff has been awesome both times. I plan on going back.
(4)
Don S.

Great meat alternative. Started with potstockers should have gotten them steamed instead of fried my bad. Wish they had a bit more flavor or some spice heat. Second course was a jicama salad- fresh lite and very crisp enough for 2 to share. Dinner was the artichoke barigoule stew- tasty but be warned you need to like olives, olive flavor is predominate. Good dinner with attentive service and warm calming environment.
(3)
Suzanne C.

My co-worker and I stopped by for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The first thing I thought was this is a cozy, homey brunch-type establishment (however, it is available for all mealtimes, and they even serve wine/cocktails). The waitstaff was very attentive and conscientious of our needs. I had the grilled brie and apple sandwich and side salad. My co-worker had the tofu scrambled eggs and requested additional feta on top, which they agreed to add. Both were delicious. I was hoping for my sandwich to be a little on the lighter side, but both slices of my wheat toast were slathered in butter like a traditional grilled cheese sandwich--yummy, but my waistline is not liking me anymore =( Good thing I had the salad instead of sweet potato fries. We looked around at the other tables, and everyone else's entrees looked super delicious as well. I'm excited to have found a new vegetarian restaurant to frequent, and I can't wait to try other dishes!
(4)
Ari C.

Similar to the previous reviewer, the only downside to Blind Faith is the price. As a devout meatitarian, I had my doubts when first eating at Blind Faith. But to my surprise, the food is most excellent. I have tried most of the appetizers and a fair number of the entrees, and have yet to be disappointed. Gardein (a meat substitute used in many dishes) holds flavor very well, and has a good, meaty consistency. The sauces and flavors that the restaurant blend together are excellent. The wine list is ample, though not extensive (not that I would expect a lengthy list at a somewhat causal place like Blind Faith), and the desserts are outstanding. Add a fantastic, attentive, and very friendly waitstaff, and you have a great experience! Personal suggestion on the entree: Kung Pao "Chicken". You'll like it, I promise.
(4)
Colleen R.

I feel a little bit guilty for thinking that my last meal at Blind Faith could have used a little more... bacon. Despite my lapsed vegetarianism (yeah... it didn't even last as long as my Vegetarian Times magazine subscription), I do enjoy the food and the atmosphere at Blind Faith. Their menu has a wide variety of cuisines represented -- a virtual United Nations of Food around the common theme of non-meat deliciousness. The servers tend to be super chatty initially and then a little bit slow when it comes to bringing the food to the table. But it's no big deal. The food, like the shiitake mushroom soup and stuffed avocado entrÃ©e, makes it worth it. Also, just a heads up that the baby changing table in the ladies' room could use a good scrub-down. I'm just sayin'.
(4)
Peter M.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake vegan
(5)
heidi s.

I used to dig this place, but I haven't been in awhile. I hope it is still tasty b/c it has yummy vegan baked goods and reeds ginger ale. I've been here for dinner a couple time and I remember having a decent meal. Blind Faith I will have to visit you again soon!
(4)
Carolin C.

I'm not a vegetarian but the food is GREAT!!! The menu has a lot to choose from and anything you order is flavorful. I've been here a number of times and love it every time. I've even brought my mom - quite the carnivore - and she loves it as well. The service is great and the ambience a plus, too.
(5)
Mr. T.

...Still no return of Seitan Marsala to the menu -- which is both odd and sad to me. For a while, they would make it on request, but now they've stopped doing that as well. Every time I go, I ask if there are any plans to bring it back -- and basically, the answer is no. On the annoying end, our last server tried to justify the choice to remove the dish from the menu by saying they wanted to try new things and be more progressive. She did not really know what to say, however, when I pointed out the fact that they'd kept a number of other dishes from the old menu -- and it was for that reason that I'm still on a crusade to get the dish back on the menu... or at least try to understand why they chose to remove it since it was undoubtedly one of their most popular dishes! Moreover, "Setian Marsala," in a wonderful white wine based sauce seems FAR more suitable to an upscale menu than many other items on their menu. For example, new items like Coconut Curry and Peanut Noodles are being done far better right around the corner (South) on Chicago Avenue at a long standing Thai restaurant. And yes, the Thai restaurant can use tofu in their dishes as well -- so there does not seem to be much of an advantage to paying a quarter to third more for a dish like this at Blind Faith. To me, it would be like ordering ordering enchiladas at an upscale Italian restaurant. Maybe they'll be okay, but more than likely, you'll get far better ones at the Mexican Restaurant up the street -- and for less. I suppose I need to just get off the soapbox about the loss of my beloved Seitan Marsala at Blind Faith. It was good while it lasted -- and at least their food is still as tasty as ever overall. They've even improved some of the dishes they kept on the menu (like the Lemon Seitan) -- although some of the portions seem to have gotten a little smaller. And guys, $6.50 for a side of seitan is WAAAAY too much. On the extra plus side, they've added a new soup to the menu that's fantastic! Asian dumplings in Shitake Mushroom broth! Yum! They've also added some new vegan dessert items. All in all, while their politics have often failed to make sense to me over the years, the fact is that Blind Faith still satisfies in terms of providing good food in a bright, energetic space close to home.
(4)
Susanna K.

Clean, spacious restaurant with great light and a homey, welcoming vibe. I've been a Blind Faith customer for several years --- hard not to be with a name like that --- and just went back after being away a while. I was pleasantly reminded of the consistency of quality and the freshness of the food. We were seated quickly and the service as always was excellent --- pleasant but discreet, letting us stay and talk without a problem, splitting the check without fuss. Water refilled itself. Comfortable booths that feel cozy and private --- great for a long conversation. After all these years, I've never had a bad experience here. Even when it's packed, food comes out quickly, service is excellent. I usually order one of the many salads, which are all excellent and reasonably priced (under $10). I recommend the roasted beets or the Blind Faith salad. The Santa Fe salad is not really Santa Fe (I'm from the southwest), but a Midwestern interpretation (still good, though). I recommend the potstickers. The entrees are worth trying as well --- this time my friend said she'd drive back up from Hyde Park for the shitake walnut loaf. The food is filling but not heavy, and you don't miss the meat (if you're a meat-eater) with the different protein options. Definitely worth trying at least once -- but be careful, you might become a regular! There is meter parking in front or free street parking just a bit further east on Dempster.
(5)
Andrea J.

I do love this place, perfect for vegetarians and meat lovers. The menu is fantastic, I just wish they would change it up more frequently....however the dumplings is one of my favs and they have a great bakery!
(4)
Katherine S.

While the prices are a tad high here, you will walk away full and happy! The peanut butter-chocolate cake is to DIE for--take it from my non-vegan parents who want to come back for seconds--and all the food tastes expertly made and high quality. I recommend the macrobiotic plate for the adventurous foodie/taste tester and the miso for the keep-it-simple folk. Oh, and the cappuccini (cappuccinos for the non-italians) are so perfect BF puts the starbucks across the street to shame. Just go. Eat. Enjoy. Stop being so hard on vegans and their amazing cuisine.
(5)
L. D.

The food here is consistently good, the service is fine. I love the macrobiotic plate (all vegan). I only wish they had some more low-sugar desserts. But a great restaurant.
(4)
Tiffany S.

One of the best vegetarian places I have been to! Great food, great service, will definitely be back.
(5)
Susanne D.

It's a great place to eat vegetarian. Everything is tasty, portions are large enough to take some home. Only drawback is that it's a bit pricey for our budget, but it's great for a very special occasion.
(4)
Wenqian W.

We really love the mongolia one! The brocoli and seitan were really nice! We will definitely go back!
(5)
Amanda O.

Went back in to give it a try for just desert and coffee. I had the carrot cake and my friend had the chocolate peanut butter cake/pie. Both were very tasty. The thing that actually impressed us about this trip was the coffee! We each had a cup of decaf coffee and they brought us cream but no sweetener. Instead of flagging someone down we both just tried the coffee without (just cream) and were very impressed. There was better service this time around even though we sat on the bakery side. We were tended to but not annoyed.
(3)
Julia C.

I was looking for a breakfast spot yesterday and came across this cafe thought the name was unique enough and decided to try it out. I had a great waitress by the name of Amy who tried everything to make sure we were satisfied with her service and the food we ordered. There isn't a wide variety of choices but what they do offer was delish! All three of us were completely satisfied and full! I would definitely go there again!
(5)
Amy R.

It is definitely a bit on the pricey side but the food is very good with lots of vegan options and alternatives. The vegan chocolate cake is officially in my top three best chocolate cakes ever!
(4)
Genefe D.

My co-worker friend and I random stumbled upon this place. We went to Evanston to do some scoping and snooping. We took the train in and walked around for a bit seeing what our options were. We finally decided on this place and blindly walked in. We didn't realize it was a vegan/vegetarian place until we saw the menu. It was totally cool because we both work at an all natural/organic food store. Both being meat eaters we though that this would be a nice break from our carnivorous ways. It was a random when we were there. It was that in between time, late lunch early dinner but yet awkward to be in a restaurant. There was only 2 other tables there when we were seated. Service was great. Our service was very attentive and we never went thirsty. Tea and water a plenty. No fear of dehydration at our table. I ordered the Bibim Bop Rice Bow which was Spicy grilled seitan and marinated vegetables served with brown and jasmine rice topped with an over easy egg. I've always wanted to try seitan but was afraid after seeing how clunky and unappetizing it was on an episode of Top Chef. To my surprise it was so tasty. I liked it because it was crunchy but still good. Everything was so flavorful. I can't remember what my friend ordered but he enjoyed his food. We were both full and satisfied. This was an unexpected visit but would definitely come back if I was in the area and in the mood for some vegan/vegetarian eats. Also on a very random off subject side note...there's A LOT of run stores in Evantson. We though it was just so strange and funny.
(4)
Tiffany R.

I enjoyed the food a lot. Make sure you have some chocolate peanut butter cake. It is a nice people watching experience. The customer service could use some work (which is THE only reason they got 3 stars). However, our server did bring my dog some water which earned them some points back. If you are a Vegan, it's definitely worth a try!!!!!
(3)
Kristen Q.

Doesn't deserve your faith. This food would make you question your choice of being vegan and vegetarian. It was that poor in quality. I had the macrobiotic plate, the black beans were good and it stopped there. It lacked salt and flavor. The items on the plate didn't make sense- pickles... With miso soup.. pickles? My husband had the bleak BBQ seitan sandwich. The seitan was fine but the bun was hard and not even toasted. The BBQ sauce tasted like it was from a can. There are way too many options on the menu- which in hindsight should have been a red flag. My husband called it "the vegetarian Denny's." The service and decor are also lack luster. We were sat in the cafe area for no really reason, it wasn't that crowed when we arrived. The table next to us was so close I keep bumping into the man next to me. Another red flag was when i asked our waiter what she would recommend, she said "I really wanted to like the gnocchi..." We also waited, what seem like an hour, while we steamed over how unhappy we were about our food, waiting for our bill.
(1)
Kunjal W.

I have periodic cravings for this place. I'm vegetarian, but my brother, who eats everything and anything, recommended it to me. I absolutely love their Kung Pao...mmmm I'm practically drooling writing this review! I brought my meat-loving fiancÃ© here too and he was pretty impressed! The last vegan/vegetarian place we tried was awful, like we were eating cardboard and foam. But blind faith has yet to let me down. I'm moving out of state in a month, but I will be back for more of you, Kung Pao!
(5)
Chris W.

It's a simple place with a simple review. Not to say that the menu is simple, I'd say it's got some gourmet choices and their desserts (which I did not try) LOOK amazing when you first walk in. Whelp, the food was good but boy oh gee willikers it was pretty expensive. I got some $15 dollar fajitas which were great. More food than I could handle and I just started a diet so I've been trying to consume a ton more veggies. My boyfriend got the stuffed avocado which was all soupy in the end, but he still liked the flavor a lot, a ton of food for him too. Overall the service was just sub par, but their drink menu is nice, their cider was fresh, and I'd eat there again, just not if I'm trying to budget my money. This is a great place for a date or to catch up with an old friend.
(4)
I S.

A friend of mine is vegetarian so we came here, I'm personally not into vegetarian food but enjoyed the experience nevertheless. The ambiance isn't horrible nor over the top amazing and my cucumber egg sandwich was delicious. Nothing to complain or rave about in terms of the service but I've always heard great things from other friends who are more avid vegetarians about here
(3)
C J.

This place has gone Downhill! The menu is really unimaginative. Vegetarian can mean more than lettuce leaves and soybean products. My salad was basically some spinach leaves and a few cashews. Really? Just because I didn't want the raisins, do you not know how to make a satisfying dinner sized salad? What about vegetables? I had to get something to eat at the grocery store after buying dinner! Service was lackluster. Had to ask for water 3 times! Overpriced and boring.
(1)
Josh A.

We had a fantastic time at Blind Faith Cafe. The potstickers we ordered for an appetizer were great. I'm not sure what the filling consisted of but we loved whatever it was. The shiitake walnut loaf and yellow curry were both delicious as were the two desserts that we ordered. We had the chocolate pudding and an incredible berry tart. The server was very friendly and all of the food came out surprisingly quick. I'm looking forward to going back for Valentine's Day!
(5)
Sarah S.

I went to Blind Faith Cafe after hearing about it on some show, can't remember if it was 190 North or Check Please and on a friend's recommendations. Parking is normal find a spot in Evanston parking and we got super lucky to snag a parallel spot right in front. Plus it was after 6pm so no need to feed the matter. I thought such a hipster place would be packed but there was tons of seating for a Friday night. My friend was very hesitant to eat here and took a lot of convincing so I was hoping the food would blow us away! Well. our food came out very quickly was fantastic. My friend ordered the Moroccan Vegetable Tajine - bad choice. It was a African stew piled high with big chunks of veggies. If that's your thing then you will love this, but my friend was not into it at all. I wouldn't have been into it either. I've never sent a dish back in my life and my friend sent this back. Our waitress did not seem pleased about this at all. My friend ended up ordering the Lemon Gnocchi which was a vast improvement but still not very tasty. I had a few bites of her dish and the flavor was just not there. I had the Cauliflower Ricotta Ravioli and quite honestly it was the best Ravioli of my life! I'm not a fan of tomato sauces at all so this was like a dream for me. It was absolutely delicious and I could have eaten like 4 orders of this. I mean that literally because there were 4 pieces of ravioli in the dish for $13. It was absolutely amazing though, so much so that the price was not even a factor. I would go back to Blind Faith Cafe for this amazzzzzing Ravioli but between my friend's dishes and the disinterested waitress I was a bit turned off. I will be back and wish to try some other dishes but they seem to be very hit or miss here. Go and order the Ravioli for a super safe bet!
(4)
Jeff K.

Food was okay, service was great, decor was bad. As a gluten free vegan I really wanted this place to be great but it just didn't wow me. I live in Chicago and it takes about 45 minutes to get there so it's not worth driving back there however if I happen to be close I would be willing to try it again. Here's what my wife & I thought: First when you walk in, the restaurant looks like a 1990's dinner, decor is outdated, with benches. It appeals to old people. Vegan places tend to appeal to a younger, hipper crowd, this place did not at all! For a drink my wife got the cool mint vodka, not good! It was way too sweet and didn't like that there was floating mint in it. We ordered guacamole as an appetizer, very tasty and would recommend d it. The chips were also not greasy and not salted, just how I like them. For dinner I had the black bean ginger tofu and my wife had the Kung pao, very good! The food had a great taste and not too salty which I love! It just was nothing special. If we lived in Evanston we would come back more but there are just so many better vegan / vegetarian restaurants in Chicago. Look at my other reviews for those places. Good service, decent food and bad decor. Hopefully they will update
(4)
Grace C.

Super friendly and delicious!
(5)
Leonard R.

Great place,, we had to eat here because my husband is a vegan. The menu is huge and there was a lot to chose from ..Service was impeccable.
(4)
Heather J.

I work across the street from Blind Faith, and I'm always thrilled when I can talk someone into meeting me for dinner at this place! I eat tons of Mexican food (and I definitely have my favorites), but the first time I ate here, I opted for the Soft Shell Tacos. Now, this is definitely not a Mexican restaurant, but I was super impressed by the deliciousness of these tacos. In fact, now that's all I order from there. It's so flavorful, you'll want to cry when it's gone. (Do order an Orange Mojito, as well!)
(4)
Doug B.

I love fruits and vegetables but I'm not a vegetarian by a long shot. We visited the Blind Faith Cafe to meet up with friends we've known for years. I ordered the cheeseburger which was pretty tasty, a bit of 'stiff' bun, chose the greens over fries and really appreciated a generous amount of tomato and pickles that came with it. Our group of 6 also enjoyed the soup of the day (some potato creamy looking thing), the Teriyaki Fried Rice Bowl, the Fajita Platter with Grilled barbeque seitan, a milk shake and a Chocolate Mousse for dessert. Everything was very good, the service was attentive yet discreet, we had a lovely time catching up. Bring a coat if it's AC season, a bit chilly in there for those without adequate personal insulation. Could have been a 4 star but I take one off for restaurants that flaunt their locked up wifi... makes no sense people, set your wifi free.
(3)
Sarah V.

Stumbling on this place with my anti-vegetarian parents was poetically ironic. I could feel my father's animal flesh tearing teeth grit together across the table. Coming from a manorexic I took offense. But it didn't stop me from having a little fun with him. "What's seitan?" It's that mean guy in hell, dad. So, potstickers and sweet potato fries for the table? Ok! The cafe is great, the drinks were very yummy and made well. I hope I didn't offend the baristo by asking for whole milk in my Americano. Somehow the table ended up ordering 3 of the same thing. 3 of us ordered the Burrito Ranchero, the other had the soup and salad combo. Everything was delicious, and the servers didn't skip a beat. The mushroom soup was, how would Rachel Zoe say, "I die"; which translates to 'on point'. The Curry Chopped salad was karate chop good! All in all my parents stuck their proverbial foot in their hoof and claw eating mouths. They have a counter of desserts that were just billowing around our sweet craving eyes. Never got a chance to make it happen, we were too full. Will be frequenting, but the family joked that between the 4 of us for lunch we spent $80 on vegetables.... Welcome to Evanston!
(4)
Jen C.

Recently got into eating salads and I must say, this place is awesome for veggie lovers! I had the Curried Chopped Salad and it was delicious =] Just wished I had room left for dessert. Prices are a little on the high side but might try to visit again when in the area.
(4)
Draenna J.

You don't have to be a vegetarian to love this place. The food was wonderful,and the beer list was unusual, which is a good thing. Several local breweries that you don't see many other places were featured, which was pretty neat. Everyone in our party loved their dinner, although when it came time for dessert, the kitchen was out of two of the ones we wanted. Which I found strange, since it was a not-very-busy Wednesday. But our waiter was so sweet and personable. He gave us a free dessert because of the trouble. I'll come back to Blind Faith, and I'll bring friends.
(4)
M J.

Food and service are good, but prices are high. We have a running joke that they keep updating the menu just so they can raise the printed prices. Still love the place and will keep coming back.
(4)
Stacey C.

I loved, loved, loved this place! So much so that I had to write a blog post about it. Instead of rambling on here, go here if you want to learn more: wp.me/p3IXtT-B
(4)
Reed H.

Blind Faith was good. I'm not a vegetarian nor of the vegan persuasion but I thought the food was good. I came with my wife and parents and we each ordered something different. I ordered the shitake almond loaf, a "meatless meatloaf". It was just ok. My mother ordered the fajitas, which were really good and my wife ordered the spinach lasagna which was also excellent. Our server was friendly and prompt and the food presentation was all well done, it seemed to be important to them to make the effort.
(4)
Ningal Y.

Amazing fajitas!!!! I love love love their food and desert! Coming back again!
(5)
Ahzea M.

The scrambled tofu and a side of potatoes was good. I had to order it special. It's not on the menu. They unfortunately gave me a special price too. Freaking expensive! No reason for pancakes to be $10 and dinner to be $15. It's unfortunate that many things are not vegan. It's easier to drive to Chicago to vegan restaurants and be sure everything is vegan.
(3)
Michelle P.

I ate here for the first time in 1988, when vegetarian restaurants were few and far between. Over the years it's still been nice to have a local restaurant where I know I can eat anything on the menu, but recently Blind Faith has changed a lot . What started out as a cozy diner environment has turned into an attempt at upscale dining, with mixed results. They seem to change the menu frequently, which is a mixed blessing - there's new food options, but things you might have liked and looked forward to ordering will have disappeared. Two solid choices that have been on the dinner menu for years are Seitan Marsala and Mongolian Stir Fry - both are flavorful and a good choice for people who aren't so sure what they think about the concept of vegetarian food. The macrobiotic plate is a colorful array of various beans, grains, & vegetables, except now that so many restaurants offer the once-exotic components like roasted squash, steamed kale, and miso soup, $15 is a steep price. I was was here most recently for lunch, and had a hard time choosing something that seemed to be worth the price. $12 omelettes, $10 veggie burgers - their food is good, but not good enough for those gourmet prices, when there are plenty of cheap lunch places in the area. I settled on a portabello sandwich ($11.50), yes it was good, but $11.50 for a mushroom and some cheese & onions on a bun? This is a good place to come for if you're looking for a diverse vegetarian menu, or you're dining with non-vegetarians who want less exotic choices than you'd find in a restaurant with a specific cultural cuisine (like Thai or Middle Eastern). Even a non-adventurous eater who's suspicious of a meal without meat could be comfortable with the pizza or lasagna. But be prepared for some sticker shock when you get the bill.
(3)
Priscilla E.

My boyfriend and I went to the Blind Faith Cafe on Sunday with trepidation, after a luke warm meal at the Chicago Diner. We moved here from Portland and are used to a standard in vegetarian food, after the run in at the Chicago Diner I was nervous. The food was great! I had no problem eating a vegan lunch (and a delicious peanut butter cake). The real surprise was the level of service, it was superb. The girl serving us was knowledgeable, super polite and made great suggestions (her hair was cool too, reminded me a little of Portland). All around great experience, we hope to get back to Evanston soon.
(5)
Elizabeth L.

3.5 stars: 3.8 star kitchen, 3 star service. Delicious vegan fare w/generous brunch options. (4) Eggs Mornay - pure indulgence - scrambled w/brie, served on puff pastry, topped w/bechamel. Friends loved this dish. (4) French Toast Flambe - beautiful presentation, fresh berries poured over, served w/kahlua, berry sauce, caramelized bananas. (3) Eggs Florentine (Benedict) - have had more flavorful benedicts elsewhere, didn't care for the spinach cream. Dish was served lukewarm. Friend loved the Spinach Feta omelette, v. fresh. Fantastic vegan desserts for the sweet tooth.
(3)
Melanie B.

I eat here more than I should admit. I love it! The Bi Bim Bop is great, the Shiitake Walnut loaf (served during cold months) is amazing, and they make a chocolate peanut butter cake to die for!
(5)
Sherrilyn B.

If I were rating only the dessert, I'd give 5 stars. The (vegan) chocolate and peanut butter cake with raspberry sorbet was divine. But on the whole, this was a disappointing dining experience. Service was...meh. Though it was my first time at BFC, I didn't ask for recommendations, and I didn't need or want the redundant run-down of the menu. The server did a hard sell on a few specials, but I was suprised by how many of them included "summer vegetables." It's not summer, and as a gardener, I'm pretty skeptical about any 'summer' vegetables you serve in Evanston in March. The stuffed avocado sounded interesting, but who wants a cold dinner on such a chilly day? The pot stickers were not well-cooked--soggy and cool in the middle. My pear and goat cheese salad was over-dressed, and clearly had been prepared many hours before. Many of the greens were limp and excessively bitter (and I like bitter greens). I ordered lemon gnocchi, spouse ordered Thai noodles with peanut sauce. I can't say I found any lemon flavor at all. The ratio of gnocchi to vegetables (predominantly fennel and celery) was about 1 to 10, and the sauce was excessively briny. I like capers, but they didn't fit in this dish. The gnocchi had been sautÃ©ed, and looked suspiciously like scallops. They were dry and chalky inside. Hands-down the worst gnocchi I've ever had, including what I can buy in the freezer section at the grocery. This "special" was ill-conceived and poorly prepared. The Thai noodles were better, but had scarcely little of the crispy tofu, which was certainly the best part of the dish. Why mushrooms? Was the chef trying to do some sort of Japanese-Thai fusion? It didn't work. And the peanut sauce was no better than what Noodles and Company serves. Overall, I cannot recommend this restaurant, despite how desperately I hunt for vegan/vegetarian establishments. Here's hoping I just caught them on a bad day.
(2)
Marissa G.

It takes a lot to get my parents to eat foodie food, but going to the Blind Faith Cafe was simple effortless. We were on our way back from a Northwestern Football game and wanted to stop in downtown Evanston for food. We parked the car and my parents - of their own free will - were like, "hey, why don't we just go here"? I didn't ask any questions and went in the door. When we sat down and opened the menu that's when we figured out it was a vegetarian place. Surprisingly, my parents became enthusiastic and excited to ordered. I think they were feeling young again after spending some time at a college game. Anyway, let's get to the point - the food was amazing. Everything was so fresh and I loved how creative the menu was. Well, maybe it is just because I don't eat at very many exclusively vegetarian places, but it seemed creative to me. I had the avocado stuffed with quinoa, corn and pinto beans. Seriously good. My mom had a really great salad and my dad went for it and tried the BBQ Seitan Burger. I was so proud! The portions were medium large and the prices were reasonable for the quality. The ambiance reminded me of a neighborhood cafe and I could tell that locals loved the place. There is also a bakery in the front that had a bunch of pastries and drinks for sale. We took back some treats for desert. If Blind Faith Cafe can get my non-adventurous parents to enjoy their meal, I have no reservations recommending it to everyone.
(4)
F.C. B.

My family came here fairly often about a decade ago, when I was in school here. I remembered liking it at the time, but when we came through town visiting recently, our group was not terribly impressed. It was nice, of course, to be eating in a restaurant that would readily cater to our 3 vegan / 1 vegetarian group of diners, and the menu is very well labeled, making it easy to order vegan food. Several of the dishes we had were not great. A miso soup was far too salty, the preparation of the "mongolian stir-fry" could have been better. The "macrobiotic plate" was fine but dull. Which, yes, there were many things we didn't try, but several of our dishes did not do much to inspire our confidence in the place. On the other hand, the "Stuffed Avocado with Quinoa" was very fancy and well made. So perhaps this restaurant would seem much better to someone more familiar with the current menu, who knew what to order. That dish is what I'd recommend someone try if they are planning to go there without a better informed guide than myself.
(3)
M R.

Good food with a nice amount of vegi options. Worth the drive
(4)
Andrew L.

Located in south Evanston, near Chicago Avenue, the decor and ambiance are quite good. It's a true vegitarian/vegan place so be prepared. While some of the entrees are a good analog for meat dishes, it's still not quite the same. I had the steamed potstickers and found them quite bland, even with the vinegar/soy dipping sauce. However, their desserts are truly excellent. It's a bit pricey, so be prepared to drop $30 to $40 for two if you have an appetizer, salad or soup, main course and dessert with drink.
(3)
Karl J.

A nice selection of vegan/veg. Good flavor and imagination. Just a tad pricey.
(4)
Rachel R.

I ate here for lunch with my family and every single one of us loved it. We got the Kamoosh (basically black bean nachos), the lentil spinach salad, the Brie apple sandwich with sweet potato fries, and the Mongolian stir fry...everything was delicious. We also got the orange mojito and the cucumber mint splash to drink (which was so good my mom went home and made her own version). Came back again for dinner another night and got the enchiladas and soft tacos, again fantastic. I would definitely recommend this place, but it is slightly on the expensive side.
(5)
Maija G.

This is one of my favorite cafes in Evanston. I am not a vegetarian but when I eat here I do not miss or crave any meat. I almost always get the chili. It is very filling and delicious. The sweet potato fries are amazing. I actually do not like sweet potato fries anywhere else. The blind faith salad is another favorite. They have a coffee bar where you can pick the type of milk you want. I usually get the rice dream latte. As far as the bakery goes I have only tried the mango cheesecake which is great.
(5)
J W.

We always like coming here early Sunday mornings, right when it opens. And although the food options are not exactly the greatest, in my opinion, coming here is still a great experience. The pancakes have always been a little dry, I often need to saturate them in syrup (and I rarely use syrup). I'm not an omelet person, but my sister LOVES their omelets. But the mocha is AMAZING!!!!!
(4)
Bill O R.

After all the great reviews I read about this restaurant I decided to give it a try. Food was ok the Bloody Mary was terrible. Price is high. Portions are good.
(2)
Matt R.

4/5, because it's way expensive for the portion sizes and the quality of the food. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, but almost 80 bucks for 2 people (no wine) is a bit much unless this is seriously premium food. However, it is good food without a doubt. Their desserts are pretty good (chocolate peanut butter cake), appetizers are way too small, but overall tasty meals. I don't expect gigantic portions, but this is a touch below "reasonable" towards "kinda small" size. A definitely location to suggest for vegetarians, though, or anyone who wants to try some unique foods.
(4)
Beth R.

I'm not a glutton for punishment; I'm just a regular glutton. So allow me to explain why I found myself eating at Blind Faith after now several years of punishing experiences.... Due to family travel plans, Sunday breakfast had to take place at 9, instead of the more leisurely 10. I plucked Prairie Moon out of the short list of Evanston breakfast spots based on some enticing online menu descriptions (i.e. I wanted their blueberry pancakes baaaad). Prairie Moon doesn't open until 10 on Sundays. FAIL. We changed course and chose the least of three evils, Blind Faith. I will leave the other evils to your imagination. Since I have already cried into my hummus about how this place is a shell of its former self, I will only identify the newest reasons for my major sad face: 1) The blueberry pancakes: Admittedly, I like surprises. That said, I didn't like discovering that the pancakes themselves were like cornbread and the blueberries had to be hunted (save the one little escapee that sat on the plate next to the stack). The menu had no description of the pancakes (including number), and if I had known they would be corny and dry, I would have chosen something else. 2) The service: Two members of our group ordered something that came with a biscuit...or rather, came with a biscuit according to the menu. When the biscuits did not present themselves, someone asked the waiter, who answered the question with a question. The question "Do I get a biscuit with this?" was answered with "Not sure, do you?" Hmmmm. 3) The tea: Not a major issue, except that the menu lists several options (a black, a green, etc.) and our two tea orders came out without a word about preference. This would be a non-issue but BF doesn't have that kind of wiggle-room with me. Also, I spied the long-lost Blind Faith Burger on the brunch menu. So, they still offer it, just not for dinner? Because there's something nonsensical about eating a burger for dinner? I don't get it. Blind Faith, I just don't know you anymore.
(1)
David R.

I could have updated this review the last time that I ate here, or the time before that, or the time before that. But I kept thinking, "Eh, maybe it was a fluke" or "I like that place too much to bash it." But the simple truth is that they have gone way downhill in all aspects. This past weekend I came in shortly after 9am in a party of six. While there were several people sitting outside, the inside of the restaurant was deserted. Yet, they shoved two extra chairs around a circular table for four. When one of our party said, "There are going to be six of us," the waiter replied "I know; trust me, I've done this before." Why couldn't we have had a real table for six? I was contorting my legs the entire meal to avoid touching my neighbors. And why did he have to be rude about it to boot? Strikes one and two. One can always overlook atmosphere and service problems when the food is delicious, but this just wasn't the case, as I expected based on the last few visits. I ordered huevos a la Mexicana: the black beans were bland and superfluous, and the tortillas were dry and barely edible. The egg portion (with serranos, scallions, tomatoes, cilantro, tomatoes, and avocado) was passable, but I've had far, far better. Of course, by comparison to the rest of the dish, it was a savory feast. Strike three. There were other food disappointments and service problems at our table, but based on my own experience alone, I am ready to write off Blind Faith completely. Such a shame.
(2)
August B.

Kind of torn. Many reviewers complain about the prices. That's a good place to start, especially the booze prices. Don't drink here would be my advice. One round could end up costing as much as your food. That's a problem for me. The food on the other hand was reasonably priced, although on the high end for what it was. The food was clean, healthy, and flavorful. They don't lie about being healthy. In summary, you end up paying for more than what you get... but it is worth trying to form your own opinion.
(3)
Grace D.

Disappointing... I used to go here weekly for a decade when owned by the previous owners. The physical space that the new owners have created is lovely, but the food is overpriced and tastes like it was heated in the microwave. I ordered the mole enchiladas. the "meat" inside was cool but the plate hot. The cheese was melted ontop - such a disappointed to have it on top and not inside. The food is overpriced for the quality. I think it would be great if they could offer a narrow menu that is made fresh to order. I gave one-star because the vegan peanut butter chocolate cake is still out of this world.
(1)
Nikhil A.

For a taste changer, this is a great place to be. Its little pricey for the quantity of food (so 4 star). The food is really good and the staff is chill. We went as a group and ordered 5 dishes and shared it all among us and they were all great. Completely vegetarian so its pretty cool place for Vegans too. P.S- The deserts are really Awesome. Dont miss to pass thru desert display and ask for the special :) Not sure? go for Tiramisu....cant go wrong with it ever
(4)
Harmon W.

Getting my yelp cherry finally popped! Usually just go to native foods cafe for my vegan food but Chicago seems to have so many options and this one is a gem. Gotta love these vegan adventures! Very easy to find from Sheridan road if you're driving. Outdoor and indoor seating in this quaint little area of Evanston. Inside has nice seating and a bakery that has desserts to go! Extensive wine and beer selection is clutch. Menu has a lot of options be it salads, sandwiches or entrees. Got the fajitas (sour cream not vegan) and it's brought out on a sizzling platter. Huge portions! I'm from Texas so I'm spoiled when it comes to Mexican food but the sauce was great. Seitan chicken tasted a bit more like tofu though for some reason but the salsa and guacamole were all great! Couldn't finish the entire thing since I have another dinner to go to in 2 hours haha. Check in on yelp and get a free dessert with your entree! Take advantage of the outdoor seating while the Chicago weather cooperates! update on the desserts, the peanut butter chocolate is so good that the person I was sharing it with made me call them to confirm it's indeed vegan and it was!
(4)
Nikki K.

This place is great. I'm lactose intolerant and even though I'm not strict about keeping dairy out of my diet, I really appreciate when I can eat out and not worry as much about it. My boyfriend keeps kosher, so he didn't have to worry about any meat getting in the food. We were able to sit outside which was great. The food is a little expensive, but the portions are large. I ordered the black Bean Ginger Tofu and was able to bring leftovers home for the next day. I really wanted to try the Lemon Gnocchi, but they were out. I'll have to go back!
(4)
Jackson B.

The Greek Salad is decent, as is the huevos rancheros (when subbed with tofu). On the other hand, the BBQ seitan sandwich, the Mongolian Stirfry, the fajitas + the vegan chocolate cake are all fantastic.
(4)
Danny R.

If you live in Evanston, I'm sure it's nice to have a vegetarian-friendly place like this around. If you live in Evanston, you can also probably afford to pay $10-15 for lunch. But there's no reason to travel here from Chicago. Blind Faith serves the same egg plates, garden salads with cheese, veggie burgers, and Pan-Asian and Mexican dishes you can find in just about any veg restaurant. They charge a lot for dishes you've had a million times, and they don't prepare them much better than you could at home. They have vegan options, but not many, and nothing interesting: veggie burger, BBQ seitan sandwich, those Asian noodle dishes and Mexican bean plates I mentioned. A surprising number of dishes rely on cheese and eggs. I was particularly disappointed to see that so many salads couldn't stand on their own without cheese. We ordered potstickers, two Blind Faith Burgers w/ sweet potato fries, Huevos a la Mexicana, Enchiladas Verdes, carrot juice, an Americano, and tea. The carrot juice and the potstickers were highlights.
(2)
Bonnie M.

My mom and I love the Blind Faith Cafe. In terms of restaurants we frequent, this one is certainly at the higher price range, but it is worth it. The service is very good and all of the waitstaff and other employees have been nothing but kind. I have a few favorites that I switch in between when we go here, but have a list of other things I am planning on trying sometime soon. The Blind Faith Burger is always a solid option - a delicious veggie burger on a whole wheat bun (ask for mushrooms and onions, and they'll load your burger up with sauteed mushrooms and onions!) served with either a salad or sweet potato fries. Always good, always filling and also one of the things on the menu that is not entree priced (I believe it's around $10 or $12). They will substitute or change just about anything on the menu according to your preferences, which is something I love to see in a restaurant. For example, one day I went in and said I wanted veggies, tofu, black beans, brown rice and teriyaki and voila! The waitress said okay and had it made for me, just the way I like it, even though it's not something on the menu. The ambiance is totally nice, and something I love is that even though they've got small water cups, the bus boy men are endlessly coming around re-filling them for you. I'm one thirsty girl. This would for sure be a legit place to go on a date (if any guy took me here I would be super veganly impressed). I love Blind Faith!
(5)
Rowena L.

I was absolutely starving when I got there and ordered the roasted vegetable hummus to start and then the fajita platter. The hummus was good, but nothing special. It lacked any distinct flavor and mostly I just ended up eating it because I was so hungry. But the fajita platter, OMG WOW. So incredibly delicious. The seitan was perfectly cooked and seasoned (sauced?). A few extra tortillas probably would have been handy since there was a lot of seitan and veggies - lasted me another meal :)
(4)
Miss L.

I bookmarked this to review just over two years ago. I'd delete the bookmark since it's so out of date, but honestly this is the best vegan or vegetarian restaurant I've ever eaten at. So Delicious. It makes me sad every time I eat at any other vegan restaurant. I just want to yell at them, "Don't know know?! It's okay if the food tastes good, and not just like soy with some random sauce!" Next time I'm in Chicagoland I'll have to go back and see if it's still so wonderful. Here's hoping.
(5)
Boon K.

How can I have never reviewed this place. It was my very first place I had a vegetarian meal. This is the type of place when you want a home cooked meal but without the meat. I love their seitan here and there dessert are alway solid. I like everything here so I can think of one thing that I have to have here since it is all really good.
(4)
Sherie P.

Yum Yum and YUM! Do I have to say it again? YUM! I was at Blind Faith for brunch on Sunday. It was wonderful. It wasn't too crowded and we were seated right away. I was a little hesitant when I saw the menu. I'm a meat girl. I generally want some bacon or maybe some BACON in my breakfast but here, I didn't miss it at all! If it were closer I would definitely be there more often. To eat I had the Aztec Hash. I had the eggs scrambled on it and that was perfect. The sauce was spicy and the veggies still had a bite to them. I hate it when they are mushy. The seitan was my least favorite part of the dish. It was a bit chewy (I've never really liked the texture) but still had good flavor. If I ordered this dish again, I'd as them to leave that out. Eggs and veggies and tortilla chips were perfect just as they were! I also had some of my friends food. The Huevos a la Mexicana. OMG!!! Three warm tortilla accompanied a plate of black beans and this avocado veggie scrabble. And Green tomatillo salsa on the side? LOVE IT. I actually made him switch breakfast with me so that I could eat that. It was heaven on a plate! Of course we were there for breakfast so I didn't feel right getting desert. So I got a slice of the peanut butter chocolate cake to go. I managed to make it home before ripping into it. The cake was light and moist. The peanut butter was light as well, not too overwhelming like most peanut butter deserts are. I spent about 5 minutes staring at the bakery case before deciding. I made a good choice but those cream puffs were calling my name. Next time, Cream Puff... It's You and Me!
(4)
Sasha L.

The only reason I go here is for the Blind Faith Salad. Romaine, monterey jack cheese, avocado, cashews, and raisins, mixed with a light but creamy miso dressing. It sounds like a random combination (and one I would personally never pick off of a menu) but it is one of the best salads I have ever had... anywhere. That being said, almost all of the other food I have had here has been a disappointment - and extremely overpriced for what it is. The fajita platter has barbecue sauce on it, which does not go very well with mexican flavors. The Mongolian stir fry comes drenched in an oily sauce. And the Macrobiotic plate is bland, while also combining odd flavors into one dish. The only items I would recommend are the Shitake Walnut Loaf (which is good, although a bit salty for my taste) and the Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake. The waiters and waitresses are friendly and accommodating, and I like the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant, but the food could be seriously improved. However because the Blind Faith Salad has kept me coming back repeatedly, it bumps the restaurant up from what would be 2 stars.
(3)
Lisa G.

First they had no pancakes - server said, "pancake machine was down" - hmmm sounds suspect. 2nd of all, over 30 bucks for breakfast is fine if it knocks my socks off but in this case food and vegan choices were mediocre if that. Non-vegan boyfriend was unimpressed and so was I. However, I do have to say that the vegan chocolate cake ROCKED!!! I won't be back for a meal but I will be back for dessert.
(2)
Kedar D.

I wasn't super-impressed with Blind Faith. We shared a Blind Faith burger ($10.50) which was pretty bland and boring. We also had a vanilla cupcake and a cappuccino brownie, both of which were dry and not terribly flavorful. There didn't seem to be a whole ton of unusual or interesting vegan options in general. While I like the vibe here (it's a coffee shop up front, and an upscale diner in the back), I found the service to be mixed; the people at the counter were really friendly and helpful whereas our waiter was surly, curt and difficult to track down (to place our order and to get our bill). I'd come back to Blind Faith if I were in Evanston, but it's otherwise not worth a special trip.
(2)
Renee E.

Wow. I haven't been here in, by my count, about 9 years! Thanks to the beauty of Groupon, I made my husband haul our asses to Evanston to get our veg on. I used to come here a LOT back in the day (the Evanston and the now-closed Lakeview/Roscoe Village location) and I'm glad to see that they still have a decent variety of dishes for the vegan and the ovo-lacto vegetarians. My husband didn't know it was vegetarian until he opened the menu..oops! Fortunately, he found tons of dishes that sounded appealing. He got the tofu chilaquiles with a side of potatoes (damn, they were delish!) I got the mongolian stir fry. The seitan was a nice change of pace from tofu. There was enough food for me to box half of mine up. The one thing I missed was the flourless chocolate cake. I always used to get that when I visited in the past. Didn't see any in the cafe side...sad.
(4)
Melissa B.

We went to Blind Faith for my friend's birthday who is a vegetarian. My dish was okay. It was an enchilada dish. We had a group of 5 and no one was overly impressed with what they ordered. It's a cute place and the staff was great. I'm not sure if I would go back unless I was with another friend who was vegetarian. It was just okay to me.
(3)
Sarah S.

Probably the worst $50 breakfast ever. We ate half of it just so it didn't hurt to pay that, but left half the food on the table. The soy chorizo omlette had the chorizo baked into the egg and it was over cooked so the consistency was super rubbery. We ordered a side of fruit for our kids and for $4.50 we got a plate of frozen melon. We asked for a little banana to go with it and they brought a giant plate if sliced banana which according to our bill was 2 whole bananas and we paid $1.90 for them. Seriously?! We have 3 year old and an 8 month old, not monkeys, the 3 year old are his whole pancake, so that must have been alright. My husbands hue is rancheros was ok, but he was still hungry when we left. Bummer of it all is this place used to be good.
(1)
Robyn B.

I was surprised that so many of the review of Blind Faith were really ho-hum. I love it here. It's a cozy spot with friendly servers. I can also credit them for proving to me that seitan can actually be quite tasty when prepared well. I'd recommend it as a great place to linger over a long lunch.
(4)
Lizzie L.

My favorite is the Thai Peanut Noodles - vegan, peanutty, delicious, and the crispy tofu is delicious! My dad is an omnivore and loved the Seitan Marsala. Also love the sweet potato fries, the Blind Faith Burger, and for non-vegans the apple and brie sandwich is great. My favorite order-in food for marathon studying.
(4)
Denise B.

Despite several years of living in the north suburbs, I'd never heard of the local Evanston establishment Blind Faith Cafe until an old friend suggested we meet up there for lunch. I'm curious as to why one would need blind faith to eat here... is the food really THAT bad!? no, thankfully it is not. perhaps a word of warning to the omnivores that this place is vegetarian and proud of it? I live in the bay area and will eat just about anything, I'm cool with that. Blind Faith offers a standard assortment of breakfast food, salads, and meatless sandwiches, along with various coffees. our food came out at reasonable pace, and my omelette tasted just fine. the atmosphere was cozy and a good place to casually linger. The price I felt was a little more expensive than it should be, but since I won't exactly be eating here regularly, I can deal. In the end, Blind Faith was not a stand-out to be, but it was certainly pleasant and a place the locals will undoubtedly continue to frequent for years to come.
(3)
Victoria W.

I am an ex-vegetarian, so I think that I can speak to this place fairly. First of all, I have no problem with the price of this restaurant. Most specialty restaurants that caters to special needs tend to be more pricy. I ordered a bowl of veggie chilli and the size of the bowl was fairly large, but it cost $7. I definitely have at better veggie chillis, and I've had a lot in my life. It was first of all served luke-warm. In my opinion, soup should always be served warm otherwise it loses the heartiness that it calls for. Secondly, the consistency if the soup was not well thought out, it tastes kind of gooey, makes everything bland. The other person in my party ordered an omelette with a side of diced potato. The omelette i think looked a lot better than my soup, and it also tastes better. The spinach was cooked just right, but the cheese dosage was off. There seems to also be some diced tomatoes in the omelette and those tastes fine. The potato squares were ok, nothing special. I think this place could try to use some creativity and a little more thought process for their food. We also ordered apple cider and they were also served kind of cold. However, our waitress was very nice and sweet. Nothing really stands out for the deco of the restaurant, it is very clean though. I think you can sit outside when the weather permits and they do have windows that lets in a lot of sun so it does make it nice for breakfast. I've only been here for breakfast so i cannot speak to other occasions, however, I do not see lunch and dinner being too different judging from their menu.
(3)
Colleen L.

Very average. The staff was friendly, the restaurant was clean and comfortable, but the overall experience was just so-so. The peach bellini and sweet potato fries we started with we okay. Not great or bad; just okay. I had the ginger black bean tofu which was more black bean than ginger or tofu. Again: not bad, just okay. I wouldn't order it again. My companion had the stuffed avocado with quinoa. The avocado looked fresh, but it was generous to call it "stuffed" with quinoa; "topped" would have been more accurate, and even then the topping was a little more corn than quinoa, beans, and pumpkin seeds. We weren't impressed enough to try the desserts. Portion sizes were decent, but it was, in my opinion, far too expensive for the amount of effort/quality/flavor that you got. I didn't leave upset, but I won't be going back.
(2)
Mike B.

After returning to vegetarianism from a brief stint as a pescetarian, I decided that I was overdue for a new vegetarian experience. Having been to all of the places that chicago has to offer, I decided that I was overdue for a trip to Evanston, and with the help of yelp, I stumbled upon Blind Faith Cafe. I rode my bike here from the south side of chicago (bridgeport to be specific). I didn't really read the reviews, i just typed in "vegan", and "evanston, IL" because I was looking for a reason to visit Evanston. Once I got here, I walked inside, still a bit sweaty, sat down, and waited for a waiter to give me a menu. The place was mostly empty. There were two people seated at a table near me, a few off in the side area, and waiters were mostly standing around behind the counter. One waiter walked over to the table where the two other people were seated, and offered them assistance. I sat and waited, but he never offered me any help. He returned 5 minutes later to bring them some water, but he still didn't respond to me. So, as he was walking away, I asked him for a menu. He told me that he would bring me a menu, then wandered off into the back. 10 minutes later, i saw him walk off to the side area, and then 5 minutes later I still didn't have a menu. I had been there for at least 20 minutes, and nobody had given me a menu. Frustrated, I grabbed my bag and walked out. I felt insulted, and cheated. Here I was, thirsty, hungry, and basically shunned. I wanted to give them a piece of my mind, so I walked back inside, prepared to yell at someone, but then I lost the will to do that, because i didn't want to be a dick. So, I walked up to the counter, and asked this guy for a menu. He told me that they didn't have menus for takeout orders, and I informed him that I wanted to eat in the restaurant. He then walked back around to the front, grabbed a menu, and walked me off to the other side. I mentioned to him what had happened with the other waiter, and he dismissed every issue I raised by simply saying "Oh, he probably didn't see you.". I told him that the waiter had told me that he would bring me a menu, and the guy didn't say a single word. I then told him "I'm sorry I'm upset over this, but it has just been a very frustrating ordeal. I traveled for a long time to be here, and am very hungry and thirsty", and he didn't say a word to me. Then I sat down, and he walked away, put a glass on my table, filled it with water, and walked away, still without saying anything, or even hinting at an apology. Five minutes later, a waitress came to my table, and took my order. She was much nicer than the other guy, and offered very speedy & friendly service. I ended up having the bbq seitan sandwich. The seitan was pretty tough, and there was too much seitan & coleslaw for the sandwich to be handled in the form of a sandwich. I ended up opening the sandwich, and eating it with a fork. They didn't give me a fork, I had to take it off of a vacant table. I ate the bbq-slathered bun as a sandwich, and it was pretty good, the seitan was just too tough. The fries I had with the sandwich were bland, and tasteless. The root beer was probably the best part of the meal, and for that, I thank them, for offering decent rootbeer. I don't think I'll come back here. Would probably go to soulveg, earwax cafe, or loving hut instead.
(2)
Ju L.

NOTE: THEY ARE CLOSED ON MONDAYS. I don't know why and our fault for not checking, but it was pretty disappointing to make plans the first time and end up at Dozika across the street instead. (Not that Dozika was awful.) We came to Blind Faith on a Groupon, so the meal was discounted by $10. Still, I was so afraid that portions were going to be teeny or that all the menu items would have the word "macrobiotic" (one item does). BUT! Our food was great! My friend got the BBQ seitan sandwich, which had an awesome meaty texture-- and that is the last time I use my college dining hall to make assumptions about what certain foods actually taste like. Even the fries that came with the sandwich were delicious: not too salty, still looked like potatoes and not yellow sticks. I (a devoted omnivore) got the quiche - a big slice with a light salad on the side. GET THE QUICHE. Salad vinaigrette was very sour in a good way. The quiche was soooo gooooood. Very very soft (silken tofu?), on the saltier side but very fresh crust and tasted so rich. This is why I could not be a vegan: no eggs, no cheese, no fun. Our server was super nice. Portion sizes were just right, really; no more or less than an average restaurant. The space is pretty large and has the feel of a nice, classier diner, with an attached cafe/bakery section to the right when you enter. And they serve Intelligentsia coffee. The whole experience (especially the food!) was so nice that I might even consider paying non-Groupon prices next time!
(4)
Katie F.

As a vegetarian, you cannot get better than this place. Everything was great! We had the potstickers, salad sampler, quinoa stuffed avocado, a few stir frys and the fajitas and shared between everyone. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Akta D.

This place is great! I love that I can eat everything on the menu and it's flavorful! It is a bit pricy so I don't think I'll be going too often, but what a great place!
(4)
Kelly K.

I've had many of the dishes at the blind faith cafe, but only liked the Mongolian seitan, and one of the salads. There are so many turn offs about the Blind Faith cafe that don't make these two items worth it. The food is overpriced, the pastries are dry and gross, there is frequently a long wait, and the owner/manager is a fake. Don't bother with this place.
(1)
Mateo G.

This restaurant yielded an experience nothing short of ordinary and expensive. I ordered the macro plate something something for $15.00 and got an assortment of overly sweet pickled cucumber with lightly steamed kale that consisted of two leaves cut once each. There was also a small serving of black beans and right next to it a scoop of cold mashed sweet potato. The only generous portion on the plate was the giant scoop of white rice. Non of this made any sense, why are there some items that were cooked and then refrigerated next to freshly cooked veggies? It should have come with a warning that you were about consume a three part sweet, steamed, and cold veggie platter. The silver lining was a free cup of miso soup with the meal, and the bowl of chili I ordered separately, they were both pretty decent. Might try it again if in the area and will revise next review if next experience is better or worse.
(3)
Neha N.

The food is good, but pretty standard. Nothing fabulous about it being vegetarian.... they just offer normal American food (okay and a burrito) without the meat. That being said, I have been a vegetarian for the last 17 years so I do expect something above and beyond from a place that totes being vegetarian. I could go to any restaurant and request food without meat or just hit up Whole Foods for vegan desserts. Nothing extraordinary about this place, but the food is good.
(3)
Tricia D.

Since I don't discriminate against bakeries, the vegan-ness of Blind Faith didn't deter me. The animal-(consumption)-loving, dairy-eating, cupcake-stalking being that I am purchased a vegan vanilla cupcake with choc frosting and peanut butter bar. The cupcake was moist, but bland and tasted like tea (?). Maybe if I were vegan, I would have enjoyed it more. Now the pb bar, on the other hand, was da bomb! It was so much better than the cupcake, but that little rectangle was overpriced. But if I'm ever in the area again and have a pb craving, I will not so blindly stop in for a peanut butter bar.
(3)
Christina M.

I highly recommend this place! And Chicagoans, it's really easy to get here via the train, so get out here soon [take the purple line to the Dempster stop and it's about a block away - really close!!!]! When I first walked in I had the choice of sit down dining or self serve, I was with a friend so we did the sit down area. Unfortunately I had to walk past the desert display case which had some really good looking Vegan cakes and brownies [this is all I could think about until I got my good ;)]. I ordered the BBQ Seitan sandwich...all I have to say is, that was the best BBQ Seitan sandwich I've ever had! The prices are a little higher, but I will tell you my sandwich was pretty big - and I was too full to order the Vegan deserts. Overall this is a cute area and nice restaurant with VERY GOOD food! ***UPDATE*** You must get their desserts! Especially the chocolate cake with vanilla frosting - when you put it in your mouth you'll be amazed!!! My non-veg bf even prefers their cakes too.
(5)
Kate F.

Vegan Aztec Hash=The best! Good service, nice atmosphere for Sunday brunch.
(5)
Heather H.

Service has been spotty, either it's really friendly and attentive or you're being completely ignored, but food is a definite hit. This is a casual vegan/veg diner, when you walk into the cafe area, it's bright and cheery, but somehow the dining room's tall booths give it a cheap Denny's/Perkins feel. Their is a wall of windows along Dempster, giving the place tons of natural light, and I noticed they do have some outside seating (not sure if it's waiter service or serve yourself from the attached bakery area though). On our last visit, we were making a pilgrimage up to Evanston to grab some bricks I found for cheap on Craigslist, and the place was really close to BFC. Yum! My stomach was rumbling, and I was already thinking of what I wanted to order. I started with some coffee (need to fuel up for landscape brick laying later in the day), and I had to ask the waitress what I was drinking, it was zingy, not bitter, truly awesome. Intelligentsia Black Cat - this is some great coffee! I ordered the Tofu Scrambled Eggs, which came with more tofu than I expected, not a bad thing but made me fuller than anticipated, and also comes with flour tortillas (why?) and potatoes. A solid and decent dish, I enjoyed it. Husband had the Eastern Omelette, with mushrooms, onion, peppers and cheese and potatoes. It's served with a biscuit, which was brought before the meal so I got to watch him eat this puffy, buttery biscuit while I starved. Previous dishes I've had are the Mongolian Stir Fry and the Thai Peanut Noodles. I'd recommend both. I've never seen this place packed, and never needed a reservation, but they are a part of Open Table. All in all, a good meal, which helped give me strength to carry 300 bricks (which are now sitting in my backyard, in a pile). Perhaps I'll need another meal here to motivate me to actually do something with them.
(4)
d u.

Actually, this restaurant is so consistent in its service, well-managed. Quite impressive.
(5)
Kendrah R.

You might have to have blind faith to walk in the door. But you only need your taste buds to realize you must soon exit. The food was terrible and expensive. You can easily find these same items at non-vegetarian restaurants and the quality will be light years better. And although I am a meat eater now, I was vegan for 14 years and know my veggie food. We tried quite a number of dishes: Gnocchi with summer veggies and lemon caper sauce - No capers in the dish, the only thing I can liken the gnocchi to might be little dog biscuits - slightly hard on the outside and porous and grainy on the inside. It was a strange ratio of veggie to gnocchi - a mountain of summer squash, celery, and greens with a few dog biscuits thrown in. Guacamole appetizer - It is hard to mess up Guac but this stuff had zero taste. They give you so little - less than a cup - yet it cost $8! Why? Even the chips were bad and half the plate was over flowing with sliced cucumbers. Just weird. French fries were nicely salted but soggy. Potstickers were glumpy, heavy, and lacked flavor. And also why $7 for a couple of potstickers? I pay $4.50 at my favorite Thai place and they are 100 times better. The only reason this place gets two stars instead of one is because the tortilla soup was very good. 4 apps, an entree, a beer and glass of wine came to $90. Never again will I eat here.
(2)
Marie B.

My first thought: What IS this place? Is it vegetarian? Is it healthy? Is it organic? The "theme" is not entirely clear. We were also thrown by the diverse...but not in a good way...menu. Not to mention, the prices seem a little steep. NOTE: I never, ever, ever complain about prices...but, I was surprised at the prices...based on the descriptions of some of the entrees. So, we tried a few appetizers: The Risotto Cakes were good...but, I am glad I am not vegetarian and can eat a 'real' crab cake when I desire! The french fries were quite good... The pizza was icky....some sort of fake cornmeal crust...bland, bland, bland tomato sauce....fake cheese?! Yikes. Overall, not a place I'll make a habit of frequenting I have found some fab vegetarian/organic restaurants. Case in point: Karen's in the city.
(2)
U.M. S.

My brother and his wife are vegetarians so I used to get dragged here all the time until I finally discovered two of their hidden gems: The Hawaiian Sunrise Smoothie and the Chilaquiles. Heavenly. Everything else isn't exactly up to my standards but everything is fresh and super vegan. Their pastries are pretty decent too. I don't particularly enjoy their vegan cake but their blondies are okay, their eclairs are great, and the chocolate chip cookies (non vegan) are delicious!
(3)
Katy B.

I love love love the food here. Extra bonus for being able to pick out desert and coffee to go. Slight deduction for the coffee never tasting so great (despite it being Intelligentsia, if I recall correctly). But the one star deduction is for this event: my first time here, upon ordering a coffee and asking if they had sugar-free syrup I was told 'we don't believe in "sugar free,"' complete with extra snooty attitude. What the f is that? I can respect the decision, but a simple 'no we don't carry sugar-free syrup' would have sufficed. Or even a simple explanation of why they choose not to carry it... I can't really get behind the rudeness and crap attitude. Otherwise, service here has been muy bien.
(4)
Carrie S.

This place has gone from 4 starts to MAYBE 2. I worked at the bakery in HS (when there was still a bakery next door/connected). The food was great, and so was the atmosphere. Unfortunately, it has become very uppity and a lot of the good food has been replaced with ho-hum food at high prices. Not worth it. You want good american vegan and veg cuisine? Go to the Chicago Diner over on Halsted. They still keep it real.
(2)
Mike T.

We had dinner here a few weeks ago and I did not realize it was a veggie only menu. We originally wanted to have pizza at the Union but they were packed and we did not want to wait 45 minutes. So, looking through the menu, most of the food looked pretty appetizing. I needed to google what seitan was. I guess since I'm not a vegetarian, I never heard of it. I decided to order bibim bop with seitan. It was pretty tasty even though the seitan seemed a little greasy. Otherwise, it was good. She had tofu and rice, which was a large portion and also tasted pretty good. They did not have tiramisu, so we ordered chocolate cake instead. It was good. I also ordered a good smoothie with blueberries. I probably could have drank 3 more of those. All in all, I felt so much healthier leaving on a full stomach.
(4)
Alex G.

Way overrated and overpriced. But if vegan and plain food is what you're looking for, go here. Great ambiance and phenomenal location on Dempster right off the Purple Line stop.
(2)
Aaron S.

I almost feel like bumping these guys up to four stars, but as others have said, the food is on the unseasoned side, and I like my spice. Last time I was there, the very capable waiter recommended the bi bim bap, which was big enough for two, if lacking anything remotely Korean (kimchee's cheap, guys). Others in our group seemed to like their dishes perfectly well, though after we polished off the awesome "crab cake", I didn't hear anyone gush or rave about their food. Good desserts and reasonable prices for both food and wine almost bring it up to a four (you can tell I'm really agonizing about this), but I just can't--maybe as an omnivore I just have it in for veg places. Anyway, it's not like they'll ever be hurting for business, what with the Lakefront Libs in their gorgeous hundred-year-old homes a half mile away.
(3)
Kristin S.

Biked up here from the city last weekend. Loved the look of the place, but wanted to turn and run after walking in due to my sweaty, casual clothes. Luckily the dessert counter is right by the door and swayed me. I'm going to hope it wasn't because of how we were dressed, but my friend and I were seated as far away from everything as possible in a back room in the corner table. We laughed about it and actually appreciated being out of the staring eyes of Evanston's late brunching elite. Service was friendly and attentive with enthusiastic menu recommendations. I took one of those recommendations for the huevos rancheros. It was delicious with a nice, simplicity about it. Two tortillas topped with over easy eggs, cheese and a smokey, spicy chipotle sauce with black beans and rice on the side. YUM! I would have appreciated a bigger piece of avocado than the slice that was on the side, but probably good for me that I had a smaller one. The meal was delicious and incredibly filling. My friend ordered the caramelized banana french toast thing and a hawaiian smoothie. The bananas on the french toast were out of this world, but the french toast itself was kind of bland. My friend was disappointed. The smoothie was fresh and tasty. A star knocked off for the high prices for breakfast fare, but I was torn between 3 and four stars. I'd go again, but since it's in Evanston with so many other places I haven't tried. I don't know when I'll get the chance. I hear the veggie tofu bowl is awesome, though. Maybe if I'd had room for one of those tasty desserts in the case, I'd be singing a different tune...
(3)
Stephanie D.

Great place to grab grub before a movie evanston style. I am not a vegetarian, but this is some pretty darn good vegetarian eats. I go here almost every time i venture to Evanston.
(4)
Janet E.

This vegetarian restaurant has a lot of food full of flavor! I had the Thai Peanut noodles and it was delicious. The presentation of the food and the taste makes you think this place serves meat but it doesnt!! The atmosphere was comfortable and the wait staff was great.
(4)
Shira G.

This place is fantastic! I am a vegan but my husband is a meat eater. Even he loves this place ... Definitely check out the deserts too -
(5)
Liz S.

I'm not a vegetarian by any means and lived here in Evanston for awhile before deciding to give Blind Faith a try. I was so pleasantly surprised that I would like vegetarian and vegan food! They have a great variety of cuisines and the food is surprisingly full of flavor! I was always under the impression that vegetarian food would be a little bland but I really did not miss having meat in my dishes here. If you're going for your first time - i would go for the "favorites" listed on the menu. They really are delicious. The service is great and the restaurant is always busy!!
(4)
Brandy M.

I used to LOVE this place. I would drive 45 minutes twice a week to eat here. Both the food and desserts were amazing. Well that was then and this is now... The prices have gone through the roof. The portions have been cut in half. And most of the food is fried now. Yes, DEEP FRIED!! Not what you would expect from a supposedly healthy vegetarian place. That being said, I still enjoy most of their food - as long as I know to order it not fried before it comes out. And their desserts are still amazing, just way smaller than they used to be. It's definitely a decent place, just expect high prices and small portions that caters to a yuppie crowd. Nothing like the hippie place that opened in the late 70s.
(3)
Chris S.

We call this place Bland Faith. The food is tasteless and overpriced.
(2)
M R.

Okay food, decent place, although maybe a bit overpriced for what it has. Service appears to be nice, until you check your bank summary and realize the waiter gave himself some extra tip.
(2)
Phyllis R.

Very high quality food and bakery. Healthy and Yummy. Doesn't even feel like you are missing meat. Wonderful atmosphere and music. Not too loud.
(5)
Tricia Mia P.

I've been to Blind Faith Cafe a few times now and I actually enjoy the food. Maybe it's because I always get the same dish? I find their Mongolian Stir- Fry simply delicious. I enjoy the casual yet fancy atmosphere and waiters tend to be pretty attentive yet not overly annoying. They have lots of delicious looking pastries and sadly my (ex)boyfriend picked the least tasty one! Never EVER get carrot cake unless you wish someone did Hemlock maneuver on you. It's dry and gross.
(4)
Track L.

Been eating here even before it was"here," when BF was a funky, small place with live funky piano on the corner of Dempster and Sherman. Today, I had the worst meal ever at BF, or maybe anywhere. Soft taco shells with unannounced seitan ( which I don't like and would not have ordered), thrown together corn & bean salad, too salty. Worst miso soup I 've had there or anywhere., tasted like dirty dish water, like instant soup. Tasteless, gooey cheese cake, way overpriced. All served by a clueless wait staff. What's happening to my favorite neighborhood restaurant?..
(1)
Charmed Life S.

This place is knocking it out of the ball park and aiming for the bleachers. Went here last night with a friend and both of our entres were terrific. I had one of their specials which was a Pesto Pasta dish and my friend had the Ravioli. Both were yum yum! And I think someone in managment must have listened to the complaints of poor customer service that several have cited because the wait staff was also good.
(5)
Jojo F.

My husband and I stopped here for an early dinner last night. A-OK is about right. We'll probably come back, but with a few changes. First, we will steer clear of the overpriced appetizers. Five dollars for 3 dolmas? I'll make some at home. Three fifty for 'meh' hot chocolate? Pass. (Although my husband did praise the cappuccino). I'll stick with the great meal and amazing dessert. Nice location near the lake, pleasant staff and parking is available.
(3)
Erin J.

Not to be a hypocrite, but Blind Faith is overpriced. I have chided other reviewers of healthy/vegetarian restaurants for pulling the overpriced card. I do think that it is necessary to pay a little bit more for healthy food, but Blind Faith really is too expensive. I like Blind Faith and have been coming here for years. My visits would be more frequent if it were a little cheaper. I like a number of the appetizers and the variety of cuisines is good. They have a good macrobiotic plate. The entree that I remember from one of my most recent visits is Quinoa Con Escabeche. It was wonderful and actually a pretty good sized portion. This is my definition of comfort food - quinoa, potatoes, shiitake, onions and savory herbs. On the same visit I was persuaded to partake in a chocolate vegan cupcake and it was really exceptional.
(3)
E P.

I never leave here fully satisfied with my meal, but that won't deter me from coming back. I've visited every summer faithfully before going to the pet store down the street and spending the day at the Evanston beach. The desert and the fact my boyfriend always orders something that tastes better than my dish is probably what keeps me coming back. :)
(4)
Mike K.

I gave Blind Faith two stars because "Meh. I've experienced better" actually perfectly describes this restaurant. I've been to Blind Faith many times, even to the original one when it was on the corner on the other side of the Metra tracks. Before my last visit, though, it had been a few years. So let me tell you what was okay about it on this last visit (which was this week): the food we were able to order off the menu was decent. There was an Indian dish, and though the menu described it as "delicately spiced," it was actually barely spiced at all. Still okay, just okay. The other dish was the nachos (they call it "kamoosh," perhaps in honor of a dish of the same name at the long-closed La Choza (R.I.P.)). Okay, they were very expensive nachos, but yeah, they were tasty. Kind of hard to screw up nachos, though. Also got a side of creamed spinach. It looked like someone boiled a fistful of spinach in three cups of whole milk. Not impressive! Here was the crappy thing about our visit: They were out of half the things on the menu! We originally planned to order a dish called gorganzola mushrooms on biscuits. The waiter told us they were changing the menu soon and no longer offered that dish. Well maybe warn us about that before we spend ten minutes reading over the menu, working up tastes for unavailable dishes! So we ordered the alternatives that they were ready and willing to serve. Then we asked for a side of quinoa. No quinoa, we were told. Now that is mind-blowing. For a restaurant - especially a veggie health food restaurant - to be out of a staple grain that appears on its menu, that's some extremely poor restaurantsmanship in my book, and I think in anyone else's. So, bottom line is that if you like to spice up your dining experience with a little bait-and-switch action, and you're into average to below-average health food at North Shore prices, then head up to Blind Faith, where the name really has become sadly appropriate.
(2)
Angelique R.

I'm a thrifty eater, so normally I would have been discouraged by the negative reviews about the price portion. Today, though, was the boyfriend's birthday, so price wasn't such a factor. I found the price to be fitting for the portion, and also was impressed by the creativity of the menu. I enjoyed some Biscuit and Eggs, which just weren't biscuits with eggs, but also a creamy tomato sauce with jalapeÃ±os, and a side of black beans and cheese. Delish!! The boyfriend ordered the Breakfast Wrap, which was filled with eggs, spinach, potatoes, and jack cheese. He found it to be quite delicious as well. The potatoes were great, and it had to be one of the best pancakes ever. We were bummed the cherry lemonade was out of season, but the smoothie and mango iced tea did not disappoint. We will be back. And just for further reference, our bill only came out to $33 bucks for brunch.
(4)
Blake W.

Starting off, I love meat and I don't trust vegetarians. Now that my bias is out there, i can admit I really like this place. I've eaten here for breakfast and dinner and everything has been REALLY good. I had some mushroom dumpling last night -- to be honest the presentation wasn't great but they were tasty. I had the Fajitas which just like the server said tasted just like pork. I pretty sure I could fool some of my meat eating friends with this dish. I think this place has earned a right to be my local restaurant rotation -- Finally a healthy option!
(4)
David K.

I don't know why I always remember this place as the "Blind Earth Cafe," but I do. It has no rhetorical significance whatsoever, as this vegetarian restaurant just outside of downtown Evanston provides a healthy, tasty alternative to many mainstream restaurants. Their spinach lasagna dinner entree is excellent, and for brunch I order either their huevos rancheros or the enchiladas verde, which are vegetable-stuffed enchiladas (cubed potatoes, corn, and chopped onions) served with a scoop of brown rice and a green salad. The portions are substantial, but sensible, and their coffee is very good. If I have one suggestion, it would be that they serve more than one variety of iced tea, as this is the type of restaurant where I would expect iced tea options that stray from the average. No matter. Their dining room is beautifully decorated, and their cakes and desserts, located in a glass case under the register in the front lobby, are distracting. Definitely delicious!
(4)
r.v. s.

Just ate here last night to get my veg on. For a half empty cafe on a Thursday night, service was painfully slow and aloof--I wished I had a huge cowbell to ring just to light a fire under people's butts. That's what merits only the 3 stars. I continue to eat there, though, because the seitan fajitas are out of this world. I've also had the BiBimBap--not bad.
(3)
Meg S.

My husband and I went to downtown Evanston to watch the bike races. We saw this cafe and it looked pleasant enough. It is clean, bright and the decor is pretty but not overdone. The menu has a lot of vegetarian and healthy options and tofu and vegan dishes are the emphasis. I ordered a white sangria and my husband had a strawberry smoothie. I strongly disliked my sangria. I am an avid wine drinker so I've had a few sangria's and this one just tasted off. It was bitter and had a strong and harsh aftertaste. My husband's smoothie was fresh and delicious though. We had the cheese platter, which was over-priced at $12.50. Mozzarella, goat cheese, grapes, and crispy bagel chips, and honey were what was on the platter. It was tasty but overpriced for what was offered. My dish, the chef's salad, was blah. I hated the greens they used, they were also bitter. The dressing was kinda like a Caesar but not nearly as good. My husband had the noodle dish which was their take on Pad-Thai. His was good, but could have been spicier. Our waiter was inattentive and when it came to get the check he was no where to the found. All-in-all not a great dining experience for the $60 we spent.
(2)
Luke A.

Good food. I'm a long time fan of this joint. However, it has really become over-priced. Too bad.
(2)
Judy H.

100% delicious, whatever entree ordered. When I bring carnivores, they always enjoy and suggest a return visit. Roomy tables and booths well-spaced out around the rooms. Weekends only - don't miss ordering the mini-scones, savory and sweet. A little piece of heaven. Excellent coffee.
(5)
Kelly C.

We finally made the trek up here from Chicago after years of people asking why we haven't been. I wouldn't make the trip again *just* for Blind Faith, but I'd come again if I were already up here. I had the Fried Rice which was delish, and the Thai Peanut Noodles. I learned that I really hate tempeh. Next time I'll see if I can get the noodles with tofu instead cuz that tempeh was incredibly gross. The noodles themselves were good though. My fiance scarfed down his fajitas before I could try them. Same for the crabcakes but his "ummm mmmm mmm" sounds made me think he loved the lime sauce. I want to mention the decor only because It was so bad I couldn't stop thinking about it. Holly Hobby walls meets 80s greasy spoon tables topped with chic modern dinnerware? Bizarre identity crisis. Someone needs a makeover.
(3)
Bethany W.

We've been enjoying taking our vegetarian friends and family here for years, but recently we ordered some dessert trays for a birthday party. Without much instruction, Blind Faith really delivered. People loved the vegan chocolate cake and the cashew butter bites especially, but everything was great. All the desserts were perfectly bite sized, so our guests enjoyed sampling several flavors rather than getting a big slice of boring birthday cake. Blind Faith also made sure there were vegan, non-vegan, gluten free, and sugar free options even though we didn't specify. Everyone was happy and well-fed! I would recommend the bakery as a great dessert catering choice for sure!
(5)
Melissa M.

I recently gave Blind Faith another try and it was much better than the first time. It was cleaner, the service was better, the food was much more flavorful, and they now have a nice coffee shop area. The menu has a more international flair now and most of the dishes I tried were pretty good except for the potstickers, which were mushy. I particularly loved the tempeh in the Thai peanut dish. However, I think one of the benefits of vegetarianism is that it's cheaper. Not here. I'm sure I could easily replicate my dish, a mushroom biscuit thingy, for $2 in my own kitchen. $8 might have been reasonable, but my food was $12, which is what I expect to pay if unreasonably difficult cooking techniques or fancy rare local ingredients are involved. Are the carrots humanely raised or something? I also found the desserts were mediocre and I wished I had skipped them and instead opted for just getting some of the fresh juice they serve.
(3)
Isabela M.

Absolutely LOVE this place! Their food is soooo good. The enchilladas are my favorite. I wish they would run some specials so I can come back here more often! Staff is really friendly as well.
(5)
Miaowei A.

I've gone here for dinner a few times (they have a great buy-one-get-one-free deal for Northwestern students during dinnertime) and my favorite dish so far is their Seitan Marsala. The meals are always good but never memorable. My only really memorable food experience there was their Manhattan, really good. On Sunday I went for brunch and got the Huevos a la Mexicana. Once again, it was good but nothing spectacular and at $9.50, you can certainly get better brunch. The black beans were the best part of the dish -- not as spicy as I'd hoped but with good flavor. The green salsa was fresh and not sour like green salsa can often be which was good, but I had to use the whole portion and there was salsa oozing everywhere because there wasn't too much flavor to each bite. The eggs were fluffy but not the most uniform to look at, a little gloppy. While I generally like lighter foods, I always find the food at Blind Faith to be under-salted. Not a huge deal but a little irksome and contributes to its slight blandness. In general, every experience I've had here has been good, not great, and expensive (unless you qualify for buy-one-get-one-free entrees) for what you get.
(2)
Frances S.

I love to eat here when I'm visiting my sister - it's one of my favorite places around (also, check out the Chicago Diner if you're looking for vegetarian food in Chicago). The smoothies at Blind Faith are delicious, and I always love ordering the Enchiladas Verde, which are filled with potatoes, corn, and sour cream and then covered with cheese, salsa, and guacamole. Yum!!
(5)
Gaurang B.

Pretty expensive for no reason. I had heard praises about their dinner menu and I was here for lunch. The thing is, these two are very different and one gets extremely less choice in the lunch menu. I ordered quiche and it was really bland. While it was written that it is with fresh vegetables, I just got bunch of salted green leaves, even without any dressing or sauce. Even quantity was not truly enough. Menu-card offers descriptions which do not necessarily help one to figure out what it's actually going to be.. Only good thing I would probably say is that the service and ambiance were fine.
(1)
K T.

It was my hangout back in the late 1990's. My friends and I were the coed fun gang who supported this place with our money several times each week. It was not uncommon for us to be there nearly every day, at least some of us. We had fun and enjoyed the food. Times have changed. The owner whose attitude is not very pleasant thought it wise to change the decor and ambiance of the place a few years back. Not only did he ruin what was so charming and cozy, but he thought to raise the prices even further, when many of us were complaining they were too high 13 years ago. We don't patronize this place anymore. Arrogance and extreme change, all the while, not listening to what the customer wants, is why we do not go back!!! I rather eat straw and grass! It is far cheaper!!!
(1)
Elliott D.

I've experienced the many incarnations of Blind Faith--from the earliest days until a few nights ago. It has always been a reliable source of imaginative and healthful creations. I must say that it used to be a bit price friendlier to those with limited resources, but now it seems geared toward a "spendier" crowd. The self-serve half of the restaurant is no longer; the funky booths have been replaced by tables. The overall dÃ©cor has been recently updated and the place certainly looks all grown up now. The service over the years has been spotty, but it's quite good now.
(4)
Gloria S.

After not going to Blind Faith for a long time, we decided to revisit it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in what I ordered. I ordered the Mongolian stir-fry, which I had ordered during a previous visit a couple of years ago and really liked. This time, it was strangely mostly sauteed green bell pepper. I mean, the stir-fry was hidden underneath a phenomenally high pile of sliced green pepper, more green pepper than anyone could possible consume - there had to be at least 4-5 green bell peppers on top of the dish. It was strange. I couldn't believe my eyes. The actual protein portion was a tiny portion of the dish. The dish should have been called "Green Pepper Saute with Seitan". Obviously I will never order this again. We also went for a couple of brunches, and discovered that the Vegan Mexican Breakfast and the Chilaquiles were oddly tasteless, but the Aztec Hash was so spicy it was almost inedible (and I like spicy). In conclusion, I find that this restaurant is a bit strange and uneven. We have also tried the Seitan Marsala and Thai Peanut Noodles, and these were both OK - may order the Seitan Marsala again. Their Barbeque Seitan Sandwich is pretty good. The problem is, Blind Faith is so expensive, but the quality of the dishes and amount of food you get is just not worth it. I've been reading other reviews, and there is a consensus that many of the dishes are quite bland. Unlike many reviewers, we thought the service and waiters were fantastic and very attentive. Also, they no longer charge extra for tofu substitutions, so maybe Blind Faith has been listening.
(2)
m. n.

Stopped in late, around closing time. Although we had already eaten, we were thinking about this place for dessert. The desserts looked delicious and we had coconut and cashew balls that were sugar free and yummy. The other desserts we had were equally good. My only disappointment - not choosing this place for dinner instead of another place in Evanston. We'll try this place for dinner soon.
(4)
Marion P.

I'm changing my review and taking off another star. I've always had issues with the Blind Faith for the high prices and their mediocre and often uncreative cooking, but lately the food has been getting even worse and they went up even more in price! Over 4 dollars for a side, 9 or 10 for a Caesar salad, 14 for a main dish? There are seriously hundreds of amazing, classy, well-designed, hip restaurants in fancy downtown Chicago neighborhoods where they serve better food for less. And then today, no water refills (even with three empty glasses standing at the edge of the table for half an hour) - we ended up getting our own! Disappointing. I'd rather eat twice at the Lucky Platter for the same money.
(2)
Kelly E.

A pretty decent place. We chose it at random, not knowing it was vegetarian/organic/vegan cuisine. I had the Enchiladas Verdes, my boyfriend the Sagamite. Both great dishes. Service was good, decor was kinda generic and the layout of the place seemed slightly awkward to me, but despite that, I enjoyed my time there. I didn't try any baked goods, but they looked appetizing! Decent place :)
(4)
Daphne D.

I have been coming to this place a lot in the past few years and aside from a burnt cobbler one time the food is always quite good. Though I feel like the menu has not changed in three years. The three stars reflects the poor service I seem to get every time. The waiters just blatantly ignore you and consistently have forgotten part of my order. I mean, the menu says it comes with a biscuit how difficult is it to remember that part? Clearly the kitchen staff has things down, now if the front of the house could do the same this place would be great.
(3)
Pontip M.

I've been to Blind Faith several times since I started coming the beginning of last summer. I never would have thought I'd be a regular at a vegetarian restaurant! I'm not all about meat but to just choose from just a variety of fake meats and veggies was not nearly as difficult as I thought! I've only had a couple dishes that were good but not great: the Potato Enchiladas were really cheesy and creamy..way too much for my taste. And the Peach Crepes with Saffron sauce. I realized that I prefer my crepes hot and that I am not a fan of saffron in a cold sauce with peaches. So really that could be a comment on my personal taste instead of a dish gone wrong.. Things I love! : BiBim Bop, the rice and veggies with the egg on top is soooooo good! I think about it all the time! I get it with seitan added for extra protein and that just makes it better! The Curry with Black rice was so good and the rice is kinda sticky and sweet but worked really well with the curry! The soups have never failed! Always flavorful and filling. Chilequiles(sp?) were really yummy, I had them with the red and green salsas. When I go for brunch I usually get a smoothie too and those are always really tasty too! It is on the pricey side but sometimes really great food is like that. And the service is always friendly, attentive and they are quick to offer recommendations that are usually thoughtful and not contrived! I tell all of my veggie friends and the meaty friends who I think could appreciate the food to come here!
(5)
Aziz G.

Absolutely loved this place, didnt even know it was veg until someone pointed it out to me. Great for Sunday Brunch!
(5)
Matt F.

my girlfriend took me here. I was somewhat reserved about going to a strictly vegetarian joint, but I was not disappointed. The food is very good and healthy. Not only was I stuffed to the gills after eating here, I felt good about what I ate. Plus the deserts are amazing! didn't expect that from a vegetarian place.
(4)
Amy W.

I tried out Blind Faith for lunch, and was really impressed! Although there were only a couple vegan dishes on the menu, the one I picked (the bbq tempeh sammy) was really delicious. I would be interested to see what their dinner menu entails...
(4)
Lindsey C.

I had the pesto veggie wrap, which is the most popular dish, the waitress informed me. It tasted pretty good while I was eating it, but I had a horrible stomach ache afterwards. I thought the food was incredibly overpriced. The waitress asked if I wanted a salad or fries with my wrap and I opted for fries, and then noticed I was charged a buck for them. It doesnt' say that on the menu. Had I known that they were a dollar, I still probably would have gotten them, but at least I wouldn't have been surprised when the check came. My friend really liked her meal, but it was 13 bucks and a small portion. I am not a vegetarian, nor am I cheap. I just appreciate good food and value. If I was a vegetarian, I'm sure I would appreciate this restaurant a bit more- but a lot of the stuff seemed like it'd be easy to make at home. So much of the food is Tex-Mex inspired and that is an incredibly easy genre of recipes to tackle. And it's also to find good vegetarian Mexican food elsewhere in the city for a much cheaper price. The service was good and the decor was nice, but I don't think I'll be going back.
(2)
Kim B.

Probably my favorite veggie restaurant in the Chicago area. Their macro plate is my favorite that I found while living in Chicago and they always had a good veggie of the day. One of the problems when I lived there was always trying to figure out if something was honey-free (Mongolian Stir-Fry, I'm looking at you). My friends and I would get different answers on different days, which was always annoying. Hopefully this isn't a problem anymore. I was also a big fan of the desserts and specifically, the chocolate peanut butter cake. They also had vegan cupcakes way before they became so trendy.
(4)
K C.

Went here for mother's day breakfast and it was a fantastic experience. I loved it. I ordered the Eggs Mornay, my husband the blueberry pancakes and my mom the lemon gnocchi. Yum. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. Will definitely return for different meals.
(4)
Roman W.

This is my very first review I'm your typical meat and potatoes type of guy, so when I was giving a opportunity to eat at a place that shuns the very idea of serving meat as a form of food, my natural reaction to this place was already jaded. In addition to the not serving meat thing, I also had a bad experience with tofu that wasn't (according my friend who eats tofu) prepare right and since then anything that had the word tofu in it I immediately turned it away. Upon entering The Blind Faith Cafe I got this very comfortable and low key feel from the place, which was a new environment to me so I didn't mind too much. It's a reasonable size establishment, great place to take a friend or two, but if you looking to take a gang of friends 10 or more you should look elsewhere. As far as the service, the time I was there it was a little slow but the wait staff was very friendly. I was told that Saitan is a good meat substitute and when cook and seasoned right the taste are very similar, so upon receiving that bit of information I order the AZTEC HASH and I have to say I was very shock. I kept telling my friend who was with me that "I can't believe there's no meat in this," it was just unbelievably good. I have been to the Blind Faith three times already and I will be back again. Now I still eat my meat and potatoes, I haven't giving that up completely, but it is refreshing to try something different that excites your taste buds once in awhile. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, meat-eater and non-meat eaters, the food here is fantastic. Side note: I recently found out that the cafe has stop serving my favorite dish the AZTEC HASH. I called to find out if it was completely off of the menu and was told that it may come back as a special. Updated side note: I called Blind Faith and found out that the Aztec Hash is off the menu. FOR SHAME!!!!!
(4)
Colleen B.

The service was quick and not pushy at all. I had some sort of biscuit with seitan and shitake mushrooms and my friend had a grilled/glazed tofu something-or-other. It was all very good. The tiramisu was not the best, but the vegan chocolate cake with sorbet and raspberry sauce was muy tasty. I am a meat-eater by my friend was not; we both enjoyed out meals, and my friend was so excited to find a place where she can eat everything on the menu. I will say that the wine was a bit pricey, but other than that, I really don't have any complaints. I'll be back, for sure.
(4)
jimmy l.

first time here and it was amazing! i usually don't get up to Evanston as much as i want to, but this trip was defiantly worth it. the restaurant is very spacious and relaxed, and a very nice staff too. i had the fajita platter, which was super good and i like that they make their own seitan too! it was a HUGE portion to the point where i even had enough to take home for a big lunch. it seems like most of their entrees are big portions from what i observed from other tables. they even had a side of soy cheese and doubled the guacamole and salsa to replace the sour cream that couldn't be made vegan but its all good, i was very satisfied. i tried the Thai peanut noodles that my girlfriend ordered and they were delicious and spicy to the perfect touch. I'll have to order that next time. the waitress was really nice and always checking up on us which i really appreciate. we took the vegan chocolate cake home for later since we were stuffed, but later on, i got to that chocolate cake and it was off the chain. vegan deserts can be a 50/50 situation and blind faith aced it. i will defiantly be coming back again!!
(5)
Jason M.

Very good food, fast, excellent service, reasonable prices. We went on an off night, a Tuesday, around 7:00 or 7:30. We were one of maybe three tables in the dining room, and there were maybe another five or six people in the cafe side. I'd like to go back when it's more crowded, to compare service, because ours was excellent: attentive, fast, and the waiter had a great personality. Beer, two entrees, dessert. 10 or 12 beers on the list, but mostly good stuff, with craft breweries well-represented. Waiter poured and repoured, using generic pint glasses, from bottles priced about what you'd find anywhere: $5-10, depending on your choice. Maybe because it was an off night our food was out about five minutes after we ordered. The Mongolian stir fry, served with brown rice on the side, it primarily a seitan and broccoli dish, with some strips of red pepper added for variety. The lemon seitan, served over jasmine rice, was very lemony, a nice counterpoint to the heavier, vaguely spicy stir fry. Both dishes seemed straightforward enough to prepare at home. Dessert, a slice of chai cheesecake with a raspberry sauce garnish on the side, was a nice savory-sweet way to end the meal. Other reviewers have noted the higher prices, and I agree. Knock a couple of bucks off the entrees and two or three off dessert, and I'd think about going back more often. But Evanston and Chicago are full of great restaurants, and Blind Faith, while A-OK, isn't competitive enough to make it my go-to place. We'll go back eventually, I'm sure, but it isn't a destination.
(3)
Liz W.

An experience I don't have too often as a vegan is being able to go into a restaurant and actually have some choices. Normally I look through the menu like, 'hmm, i guess this will work if I get it with no cheese, but I have to ask what the base is and what's in the sauce and..." Not here! Ohh! I can eat THIS! Oh, and THAT! Oh my god, and they have vegan desserts, like chocolate peanut butter cake. Heaven.
(4)
Ian O.

Love the chilequiles. Didn't miss the meat.
(5)
Virginia T.

I've been to Blind Faith a few times. The first couple times were alright. I fell in love with the Blind Faith Chef Salad (Mixed greens topped with grated carrots, red onion, cashews, raisins, jack cheese and avocado with a poppy seed dressing). But that was easy enough to replicate at home! Everything else I've had there was only "meh". A lot of things I tried at Blind Faith I've had much better at other places, and it seems like they were only mildly original or under seasoned. But even all that wouldn't be enough to get a measly 1 star review....no. On my last visit to Blind Faith....I actually walked out! Upon walking in, no servers greeted me, and it took nearly 5 minutes (no joke) to even get seated....then almost 10 minutes later (!!) still no server and not even any water. I can pay A LOT less to be ignored somewhere else, thanks! Edit: I hear they have a new chef, ok -that might fix the originality and seasoning problems, but the problems with the wait staff, prices, parking, etc. means I'll choose another veggie friendly restaurant vs. Blind Faith.
(1)
Colleen B.

It's really adorable inside. I love the plants that line the windows. It's like sitting in a field, or underwater, or something. They have a regular restaurant section and a counter you can order at and then sit to eat. I really enjoy the food when I want to feel l like I am doing something good for myself. Like charity. I think the flavors are pretty fresh tasting. I have had a few different options so far. The pesto and veggie sandwich was good, maybe a little oily, but the sieten (sp?) was great. The breakfasts are yum too. They serve fair trade coffee which is tasty and once again makes me feel good about myself. I have only tried a ginger cookie from there, it was excellent. The rest of the baked goods look awesome.
(4)
Dan C.

This place has really lost its soul. I used to be a regular, but their renovation into a faux-upscale restaurant makes me ill. I ate there tonight, and was disappointed to see that the self-serve section is no more. Table service or take out only! I had a completely bland Thai Yellow Curry that arrived lukewarm. And then the owner drove up looking like a hippie but driving a BMW and it all started to make sense. . .he's pulling one over on us! Think about it--is the food organic? Is a seitan stirfry really worth $14?? It's not organic, people--just a different kind of processed food. I'm really disappointed, and won't be coming here very often anymore. Good luck faux-hippie owner. . .but I think you're on the wrong path.
(2)
Stan S.

Blind Faith is a great vegetarian restaurant. I am not even a vegetarian myself, and I love it. I have never had a bad meal there. The food is healthy, refined, tasty and nutritious. It is very reasonably priced, too. I probably eat too much meat so I love to go here and find something delicious and healthy. The atmosphere here is refined and sophisticated. They always have interesting art on the walls too. The help is usually attentive and caring. Be prepared to learn something about good food and expand your horizons. Instead of coffee or black tea, order twig tea. Try the seitan dishes if you want something meaty. Of course their salads are great too, and they use a lot of organic ingredients. They have an adjoing bakery so you can pick up something to go when you leave. The baked goods are yummy too.
(5)
Lauren W.

Oh Blind Faith Cafe, how I wanted to love you. I read about your earthy vibe, your relaxed atmosphere, your affinity for brown rice and seitan. I trekked all the way up to Evanston just to experience you in all your veggie glory. Alas, alack, you disappoint me! Indeed, the ambiance is nice and the vibe is mellow, but upon walking in, no servers greeted me, and I wasn't sure whether I should stand in the bakery area or the restaurant to be seated. The host and waitress seemed inordinately tired, and I felt freakish for trying to smile and be friendly. I ordered the Chipotle Quesadillas with seitan, and substituted soy cheese for the monterey jack. The waitress seemed to deem me a troublemaker for asking if the soy cheese was vegan, because after she brought out my food, she never came back again. (I swear I'm not a leper!) I guess I've gotten spoiled by the Chicago Diner, where you can ask a million questions and the wait staff will still love you, usually because they're vegans, too. The portion size was good, and the whole wheat tortilla was light and crispy, but the seitan's flavor was weird--sort of artificially smoky-tasting, and greasy. The diced lettuce and tomato and paltry spoonful of slimy guacamole did their best to help the seitan out, but it was a losing battle. Overall verdict? Unremarkable. For $9, I say boo. So why did I give Blind Faith 3 stars? Oh, for their glorious vegan chocolate cake! Hands down, the best vegan cake I've ever had. Ever. It was outrageously moist and dense, with no soymilky flavor whatsoever. The white frosting tasted JUST LIKE vanilla buttercream. I have no idea how they did it--had I been able to flag down the evasive waitress I actually would have double checked that they didn't give me non-vegan cake by mistake. It was that good. And only $4.95 for a huge slab of it. Yeeessssss... I think I'll have to give Blind Faith another chance, but sans quesadillas next time. At the very least, I know the dessert will blow my socks off.
(3)
Natalie S.

Yay! they changed their menu again and it's awesome! Still my favorite vegan bakery and now I can even eat something good for dinner first!
(4)
Brett G.

3 1/2 stars. If I go there again, it will probably make it up to an even four stars. Fortunately the meals that two people from our group had were the dishes described by fellow Yelpers as the most spicy/tasteful: the fajitas. I enjoyed my main course. Another of my friends had the red pepper quiche, which she said was very good as well. A pasta dish and soup/salad combo rounded out our meals - everyone liked their food. The guacamole was ex-cell-ent! At $7.95, it had better be. We had to ask for salsa, and I'm not sure the waiter knew that the menu had it listed as coming with the chips and guac. Hmm. The hummus was pretty standard - a lot of hummus with not enough pita pieces, so they brought us more about twenty minutes or so later. I don't really have any complaints about the food (portions were pretty big), the service was a little odd (e.g. the server asked if he should put through the order even after we'd all talked about how hungry we were and the quiche would take an extra fifteen minutes to cook), but the server was friendly and helpful. I was a little surprised at how expensive everything came out to be, but I suppose it's better than eating at a big, cheaper chain. Definitely on the high side of "moderate", as in $30 per person. We were too full for dessert.
(4)
Emily Q.

Food is fine but overpriced. Nothing special except it is vegetarian. There are better veggie restaurants out there for sure. Definitely overpriced.
(2)
April L.

I'm not vegetarian, but I have to say that the food here at Blind Faith is excellent and so delicious. Seitan rocks =) And the desserts in their bakery are tasty too! Get here early - it seems to always be packed.
(4)
K M.

3 stars for the food - it was A-ok; 0 stars for the service. Would love to go back and try it again but I'm stil irked about the service we rec'd. So bear w/ my review as the negative reviews will be more about the service. My husband and I were going to catch a performance at S.P.A.C.E. so we decided to try this cafe for a standard one hourish meal. Neither one of us is vegetarian but we do occassionally enjoy a meatless meal. For a vegetarian meal, I thought the prices were kinda high so I expected a a gourmet flair but everything on the menu seemed just ok - nothing too fancy. My husband wanted coffee - didn't get that until we asked 20 minutes from when we placed our order. Our waitress never came by after she took our order. APP-We started off 30 minutes later from the time we placed the order w/ the grilled vegetables and fresh mozzarella. They were 3 short stacks of veggies: a medley of a slick of red and green peppers, a slice of zucchini, and thin slices of eggplant and mozzarella doused in a balsamic vinagrette. It was good but nothing spectacular - I've had better and right off the grill. ENTREE- I ordered the enchiladas verdes with NO sour cream and my husband ordered the teriyaki rice bowl. It would have been nice to try the enchiladas but they decided to tell me before they were going to serve it that there was no sour cream on the top of the entree but that it was inside. Our waitress asked me if that was ok. I was floored (not only cuz I was prego hungry) since I told her from the start NO sour cream! We were on a time crunch so me and my husband ended up sharing his rice bowl. She offered to get me another dish but I didn't want to wait another 45 min. (maybe they would have gotten it sooner to me cuz I was prego but that didn't seem to matter in the first place, but I digress). To me, the rice bowl was a small portion (not just because two ppl shared it) but it was tasty. I mean, you can't really go wrong with teriyaki flavor so to me again, the dish didn't catch my interest. Also, the chef must really like ginger cuz the ginger taste was overpowering. The waitress did try to offer me a complimentary dessert but I didn't accept it (long story and no time for this review). So to my disappointment, I didn't rate this place high. I know this place has potential cuz the dishes that passed by me looked good but unfortunately, luck didn't come my way. Oh well, it's not like there other places to try. hehehe.
(1)
Jennifer F.

It was delicious, I absolutely loved it. The vegan peanut butter chocolate cake was amazing and not just as a vegan substitute. Absolutely delicious in its own right. I went with a friend on a Friday night. We sat and gabbed and didn't feel rushed in the least. The restaurant is cozy, the service was good and the food was delicious. I can't wait to go back. Maybe tonight...
(5)
YerMah L.

Considering there aren't too many vegetarian Blind Faith is pretty decent. I'd give it an 8. I wouldn't rank it the best in Chicago, but considering the price, it's worth a try. I've been there a handful of times and haven't been terrible disappointed, nor have I been blown away. They have quite a diverse menu, and it is wonderful for people that have certain diet restrictions or food allergies. I must say their interpretation of Korean food blew donkey balls, but whatev, I guess I could go to a korean restaurant, or home if I really wanted authentic korean food. They do have a really nice bakery that features a lot of vegan/egg/ flour free goods as well. If you're in the Evanston area, it's definitely worth a stop. And, it's just a block away from the Mexican Shop which is amazing.
(3)
Ash B.

Wow, I heard this place was really good but I was a little disappointed to tell you the truth. The few times I've been I felt like it was way too overpriced. It tries just way too hard to be "vegetarian". I am vegetarian, and Blind faith seemed like one of those places that has a conglomeration of the "token vegetarian dishes" that other restaurants might have. Nothing really spectacular or notable other than the smoothies. But still overpriced for what you get.
(3)
Carly O.

I want to give Blind Faith 4 stars, but the service was so bad, I can't. The food was good. I had the tofu scramble with egg whites and my friends had the potato pancakes and the chilaquiles. The atmosphere is very nice, quiet and spacious. Our waiter did seem a bit overwhelmed, but never came to take our order. Another server did and gave it to him. He then came by to apologize and said he had a table that asked for 9 different checks, but then walked away without asking if we needed refills on coffee or tea. After we ate, it took forever to flag him down for our check, even though he seemed to have plenty of time to chat up the table next to us. Then we went into the cafe part to get a shake to go (figuring if we went through our waiter, it would take half a century). Again, we waited for a long time, while what seemed like regulars were given their orders right away. While no one was downright rude, the overall feeling was that of being ignored. At one point I said I felt like a leper. I'm willing to give it another chance having just moved to Evanston and enjoying the food. I really hope we get better service the next time around.
(3)
Cat W.

Always a fan of the Blind Faith Cafe. Whatever your dietary quirk is, they have a sub-menu to suit. I'm not even particularly interested in macrobiotic meals but I have to say they're tasty. It's a wonderful place, nice ambiance, funny people. Their gluten free menu isn't expansive but it's existent. A word of caution: Be prepared for real food. Smoothies are dense - real whole fruit mixed with ice. Everything is what it claims to be. There isn't any filler or attempts to mask flavor, color or texture. I never realize how little real food I eat on a regular basis until I go to Blind Faith.
(5)
Mark R.

Okay menu. Nothing extraordinary but everything had good flavor.
(3)
Mork M.

Peanut butter chocolate cake.. and those cupcakes? Heaven. You probably realize this place is expensive but the food is top notch. The only entree I've really ordered and came back for was the jerk tofu sandwich which kinda comes and go's, don't see it on the menu? Vegan treats for sure.
(3)
Sandi H.

They've remodeled and the place def. fits the Evanston's crowd alot more now. I paid $13 for two half desserts topped with some pooped out sorbet on top and on top of that had to tip a waiter in the former self-service area. Granted it was a Friday evening but still this whole cutting out the self-service area is not cool. I have no complaint about the food except that it is expensive. The Santa Fe salad w/ seitan is my fav, then it's the seitan fajitas, and bimbim bop is delicious, also.
(4)
doug t.

What just happened? Did every waiter wake up last Sunday and take a frown pill. I've never been served by a group who were as pensive as a substitute teacher on a spring Friday. These poor servers are either eating too much of their own product or they got a moody, judgemental, passive-aggressive boss. We felt like we were inconveniencing them as well by bringing our 2-year-old son. Look, I know kids are difficult, you know kids are difficult, but when you are the one in the apron, white shirt and a tie - you shouldn't make it so obvious that kids get on your nerves. It tends to ruffle the feathers of your customers who pay your tips. Lighten up a little bit, y'all...eat some ice cream, get out of the house more, take a stool softener or get medicated. Just did not have much fun eating in your spot, Blind Faith.
(2)
Sarah B.

When I'm down and out this is the first place I stop for a little pick me up. The vegan baked goods here are amazing. AMAZING. The Vegan carrot cake is my personal favorite. I wish I could eat it everyday. I can't though, because it's pretty expensive. Maybe I should thank them for that? Otherwise my waistline would be an issue.
(4)
Melody S.

Oh, how I love Blind Faith. This was the other place (besides the Chicago Diner) that you'd find me at once a week or so when I lived in ChiTown. The food is great, and the desserts are even better. Holy cupcakes, Batman! 4 stars for being a bit pricey, and for forcing me to eat so many cupcakes.
(4)
Mehul S.

We went for a price fixe v-day dinner and were extremely impressed with the service. As a chocolate nut I was disappointed that there was no chocolate option for dessert on the set menu. Our waiter not only got us truffles and a chocolate dipped strawberry, but came back to ask us if we wanted more. The meal was steep at $90 for a couple, but the regular menu was more reasonable. Lots of options of different ethnic cuisines for both veggie and vegan, we will be back to try some of the other options, got my eye on the black bean tostada.
(4)
Dave D.

Let me preface this by saying I am not a vegetarian. I took a vegetarian date here a week ago an wasn't really impressed. The food was on the bland side. I don't understand why it is so difficult to make a hearty tasting vegetarian/vegan dish. The booze selection was great, which was necessary to suffer through the meal. Our waiter seemed like he had absolutely no interest in being there. Maybe that was part of his sarcastic charm but it was difficult to tell either way. I hear the bakery is really good but have never tried it. In conclusion, the whole experience was super mediocre. The whole experience was edible but didn't hold up to places like The Chicago Diner or The Handlebar...
(3)
Michelle G.

I have been coming here for 20 years on and off. Over the years it was getting better and better. Until the last year or two the quality has dropped and prices increased. I ordered the lemon Rosemary seitan and it was so dry. There was no sauce or juice. I asked the waiter for some sauce and he was anything but helpful. He said look on the bottom. There was no Rosemary and lots of peas. I hate peas. The menu did not say anything about peas. Maybe it should be called lemon seitan with peas. No sauce. Cost with carrot juice and one glass of wine. $32.00 what happened here? I have to cross them off for quality/cost/service.
(1)
Jef B.

Went there Sunday around noon, got seated quickly. We were served very courteously, and got a nice window-side table. I had the Bim Bim Bop, delicious!! She had the barbecue seitan. Both dishes were out of this world. Love love love this place, wish there was quality vegetarian food closer to my home; that trek up to Evanston is to challenging to take regularly.
(5)
- chicagobiker -.

Our breakfast dishes were pretty bland overall, but even worse was the service. First we waited about 10 minutes before giving our drink order. Then, when the food arrived, that was the last we saw of the waitress. She didn't bring the hot sauce I requested, we had no salt and pepper, no water refills, nothing. We were sitting there with bland food and no way to season it or wash it down. It was the pits. Chicago Diner or Handlebar are infinitely better.
(1)
Janna K.

This is the first dining experience that has inspired me to write a review...and that's not a good thing. I have been going to Blind Faith for probably over 25 years...remember the days when it was a hole in the wall on the other side of Dempster and there were no other vegetarian restaurants around. My friend April took me and I was in heaven. At 16, I had found my people!! I ate there for years when I lived in Evanston and now return there on every trip home. I'm no longer keen to return. I went with old friends last night. They have a weird new menu - I long ago lost my favorite lemon seitan, but I know things have to change. It was very loud and really crowded. Though I'm thrilled a vegetarian restaurant gets that much business, for those prices, I'd rather not feel like I'm sitting on the laps of my fellow diners. I ordered the seitan marsala. It was a huge portion, but so greasy! The seitan also looked almost too much like meat. If I come to a vegetarian restaurant, I'm ok with food that is not meat, in fact, I prefer it. The taste was mediocre at best. My friends ordered a "trio" dip which was a plate of humus, not enough bread, and two dollops of other barely visible dips. Pretty, but didn't meet the description. I was also frustrated that the waiter didn't wait for other parties at the table to finish their salad before bringing out the entree. There was little to this dining experience that any of us enjoyed. Sadly, I won't be rushing back. Did they change management? Lose their souls? What's up??
(2)
M N.

If you're in Evanston or headed north at all you should check this place out. It's vegetarian with plenty of vegan options. I would recommend sitting in the cafe/take out section on the right as you head in the door. It's self serve but you'll be getting your food a lot quicker. Their deserts are excellent. I sometimes stop in here if I'm in the area just to get some cake to take home. Can't be beat. Pricey, but worth it to treat yourself now and then.
(4)
Lindley E.

Clumsy vegetarian cooking reminiscent of the Moosewood Cookbook. I'm okay with the picey part, but the food lacks finesse, big flavor, and the ability to satisfy. I used to brunch there fairly frequently, and everytime I left with the feeling that it just wasn't good enough considering the prices they charge. It isn't that they are too expensive, it is that the value just isn't there. Given that there are very few vegetarian restaurants in the city of broad shoulders and the environs, Blind Faith deserves your patronage. It would be more deserving, however, if they upped the ante and did justice to the menu. Last time I ate there was a few weeks ago -- I had be bim bop with tofu and brown rice. Should have been a no-brainer. Instead it was difficult to eat -- the zucchini was cut into half moons and not quite cooked through. None of the vegetables were cut into easy-to-eat pieces, which is something I have come to expect from be bim bap when ordered at a Korean restaurant. The flavor just wasn't there. It made me remember why I don't eat there anymore.
(3)
Jade T.

4.5 Stars The first time I ate here, I was not terribly impressed. I found the food to be bland. But as one of the only 100% vegetarian restaurants in the Chicago area, I have eaten here rather frequently over the past few months. I have seen great growth in the menu and the quality of the food: Blind Faith Cafe has evolved over the past year from a neighborhood cafe into an upscale vegetarian restaurant. In comparison to Green Zebra, it is more casual and the food is more classic than edgy. For being a vegetarian restaurant, Blind Faith Cafe actually attracts a diverse clientele consisting of families, older professionals, out-of-towners, bohemian hipsters, and more. The menu has been changed somewhat, but there is something for everyone, even for vegetable phobics. The Huevos Rancheros and Tofu Scramble are popular breakfast dishes. The French Toast Flambe is sure to impress. It is beautifully presented and delicious. For the Tunisian Couscous, an array of fresh vegetables in a spicy tomato stew sit on top of fluffy couscous. It is a vegan dish, except for the yogurt dressing. A must-try is the Mongolian Stir-Fry, a seemingly simple Americanized Chinese dish. The seitan has an almost a meat-like texture. The sauce may be spicy to those with sensitive palates, but flavors are well worth the heat. After a meal, check out the bakery for freshly made vegan and vegetarian sweets ranging from scones to tarts and chocolate cakes. Several items sell out before the day is through, so come in early. It is a common misperception that vegetarian cuisine is similar to "rabbit food" - dull, bland, and boring. Indeed most restaurants serve uninspiring vegetarian dishes, but at Blind Faith Cafe, the food can be interesting, tasty and healthy at the same time.
(5)
Slu S.

A little Saturday afternoon tradition. Century theater for a flick and Blind Faith or Lucky Platter for a night out. Call it old fashioned, but it is just darned good. I get the BeeBimBop nearly every time we go and have never been disappointed. I am about the opposite of Veg and I like the Blind Faith version better than Korean Restaurant version. Also, do not fail to get the Vegan chocolate cupcakes. They are tremendous.
(4)
Amanda M.

DELICIOUS! I wish it were closer to my neighborhood!
(5)
gnat c.

Oh Blind Faith, I think you're fabulous! 5 stars all the way. Every dish has flavor, and I think this is an accomplishment. Sure, it's a restaurant and food should have amazing taste, but often vegetarian cuisine needs a little tlc, clearly Blind Faith does this so well. I'm a huge fan of the pesto veggie sandwich and oh..the microbiotic plate is fab as well. I think it's rad that a lactard (non-milk consuming person) can get soy milk with coffee...and it's scrumpty soy milk at that! Often lactards are left with one selection on the menu sans milk, and hot damn, the Blind Faith is a great place to be milk free. yum.
(5)
Christina M.

A must go! They have a large variety of food and yummy treats. Their customer service is outstanding!!!! Many of my meat eatter friends ask .....can we go to that restaurant in Evanston again :)
(5)
Atl L.

I was surprisingly satisfied with our recent Friday evening meal here. I'm not a vegetarian and haven't dined at many vegetarian places so I wasn't sure what to expect. We were seated right away and our waiter was nice and attentive. I was happy to see all of the options on the menu and had trouble deciding. I finally landed on the enchilada verde which was stuffed with potatoes, corn and cheese. These were pretty good and the sauce was nice as was the dollop of guacamole. My husband had the black bean burrito and enjoyed that as well. Both of our plates were empty so that's a pretty good indication of how we liked the food. I felt that the pricing was inline with other restaurants in the area and seemed to average between $12-$15 per entree. I'm looking forward to going back and trying some of their other options. I also heard from a friend that they serve a decent brunch.
(4)
Kiyana B.

Excellent Flourless Chocolate cake ---- It's not often I get to go to a place for dinner & realize I want EVERY item on the menu....I ended up with the Mongolian Veggies & Seitan...VERY good. this place is hard to get to or i'd go every single day!!!!
(4)
Sandy S.

Just discovered Lake Side Cafe. Quite the pick-me-up after a few disappointing visits to Blind Faith (changed menu etc). If you're hankering for vegetarian yumminess (or whole-hog vegan), head down to 1418 Howard Street to Lake Side and skip Blind Faith. You'll be glad you did. Huge, fun menu and vegan baked goods that rival Blind Faith.
(2)
David S.

Not a big fan of Blind Faith. Sure they have some good seitan and decent vegan desserts but overall the food is mediocre. Service is average, price reasonable. *snore*
(3)
Drennen M.

I came here with my parents (always must have the parents around for the more expensive restaurants, which this place very much is), and despite none of us being very hungry, we all cleaned our enourmous plates (at least you get what you pay for). The food was fresh and fragrant and the staff friendly when we went there. As has been said before, try the seitan. They'll even tell you how to pronounce it. Haven't tried the bakery side yet, but I'll be back. For those of you wary of going anywhere with students, this place is far enough from campus that it won't be overrun Clarke's-on-Clarke-St. style. Do try it.
(5)
Sophia T.

let me add to the montage of reviews by saying yuck. nice ambiance and all but not a whole lot of vegan choices. people it's 2011, cater to people who give a shit about the earth! i had a veggies. that's it. boo
(3)
Patrice R.

I really do like this place. There are several vegan options and the food is consistently good and creative. The service is not great, with mostly teenaged wait staff that doesn't care, is forgetful, slow, and would rather stand around and chat with one another than take care of customers. But I keep hoping I might get lucky and go back for the food.
(2)
Rusty S.

"yeah for sure" the food was good. The herbe-de-province omelet was tiny and the portion of potatos on the side was pathetic! The seasonal vegetable sandwich was delicious, the gorgonzola mousse was really great and with the pickled pear, OH MY! to DIE for. When dining on a budget, I wouldn't go there again.
(3)
Faith H.

Love love love. A couple of my vegetarian friends wanted to go here, and I was skeptical. I was in the mood for something greasy and I thought there would be nothing there for me. But I ended up loving it. The brie and apple sandwich is awesome and the sweet potato fries were perfect. Will definitely be back here again. :)
(5)
Leigh K.

My roommate Dan's friend from out of town was visiting this weekend and on Friday night we headed to Evanston for a wonderful meal at Blind Faith Cafe. I can't believe I'd never even heard of it since all-vegetarian restaurants are more sparse in Chicago than one might think. The only *strictly* vegetarian restaurants that I can think of that I have been to are Chicago Diner, Heartland Cafe, Udupi Palace, and Soul Veg. Still on my list to try out are Dharma Garden Thai, Alice and Friends, Amitabul, and Karyn's, so it was awesome to find a new place to take veg/vegan friends! We started with seitan fingers which were served with a marinara meets barbeque sauce. They were tasty with or without said sauce with a nice crunch you often don't get out of mock meat. For entrees, three people out of our party of four, ordered the special sweet and sour seitan, based on our waiter gushing about it. He was right. It was just wonderful. At the time, I almost wished that I'd gone with that, but in the end, I am glad I got something different so that I could yelp about a staple menu item. I went with seitan marsala, which doesn't taste a whole lot like chicken marsala, but the flavors were really good. Out of all mock meats, seitan is the most meat-like to me, so I'm glad I stuck with that. The steamed broccoli that it was served with was a nice pairing. After stuffing ourselves to the brim, I went with a non-vegan dessert to go; a piece of lemon cheesecake. It was the weakest menu item I had tried. The lemon was subtle, but it was too mushy. I only have one real complaint about Blind Faith Cafe though. When Z and I ordered a smoothie together, they brought it out in two little juice glasses as opposed to the pint glass it was served in and just bringing two straws. Anyone could see that we were getting ripped off of extra smoothie. Either way, I guess I don't mind paying a bit more or getting ripped off a bit as long as places like this stay open.
(4)
Mara S.

Went here the other day and thought it was excellent. I'm not a vegetarian, but it doesn't matter - my tofu, rice and veggies (I think it was called fried rice, but it really wasn't) was delicious. I'd recommend that you enjoy mushrooms if you go here. There's lots of them on the menu. Everything that I had really was delicious and the decor is pretty cool too... just homey and comfortable. The service was excellent and there's a cool bakery/ coffee shop attached to the restaurant that looked really yummy.
(5)
A. B.

Last year when I went to Blind Faith it wasn't very vegan-friendly. But I went this week and there were at least 5 vegan entrees. The food was good, the choices were good, the service was good! I will go back soon. Oh, and the vegan desserts are great, too. I had the capuccino brownie this week, which was great, but I also like the chocolate peanut butter cake, the carrot cake, and the cupcakes.
(5)
Jesster A.

Another Three and a half-er. I was never really enamoured of this place - even when I was a vegetarian. Like Lindsey H. notes, It reminds me too much of the Moosewood Cookbook (which IS a classic - but I find too many dishes to be too dry and too bland.) Still, Blind Faith Cafe is also a classic and an Evanston tradition and I'm glad so many people continue to love it. ASIDE to J.B.: What do you think of the PESTO SAUCE (on pasta) here?
(3)
Angela L.

We wandered into this restaurant without knowing it was vegetarian. I'm not a vegetarian, but I love vegetarian food and everything on the menu looked good. We tried the Veggie Burger and the Apple/Brie sandwich, which were both tasty, although the bread on the Apple/Brie sandwich seemed a bit on the buttery side (it was grilled). What I liked most about this restaurant is the relatively wide selection of vegetarian dishes. The smoothies looked great; definitely a good reason to come back. I took a star off because the server was sloooooow. It took him quite a while to get to our table to take our order and he walked at a "slow as molasses" pace. We were missing silverware and napkins when we received our food and it took him so long to walk across the room. I really could have been up, retrieved the napkins, and returned to my table before he was halfway there. Then...the drink refill (sigh...). Everyone else seemed to be set on normal server speed:)
(4)
Emily C.

9/22/08 I was in the mood for something different and mainly a cupcake - previously the food here was subpar but the baked goods immensly satisfying. I was shocked by the remodel, the place looks upscale and the menu went through an upgrade as well, prices range $12-14 per entree but the presentation and taste were divine. We had the Lemon Seitan and the (I won't get this right) Sweet Potato Cake Dish. The hummus was a bit bitter with that fizzy on the tongue effect and could have used some veggies for dipping. The miso soup was a hit with my 7 year old, though the corn bread was too dry for him. The only dissappointment is that the waiter charged us but left out two of our dessert items, one I caught because it was the cupcake my son wanted on the way home, the other was a piece of cake. I am currently eating the Chocolate Moussem and it is fantastic, well worth the $5, decadent and rich, but not overly sweet. All in all two entrees, an appetizer, soup,cherry lemonade, cornbread, 3 spice cakes, a cupcake, a blueberry bar, a mousse - and a piece of cake we didn't get cost roughly $67.00 after taxes and before tip. Not bad considering you can spend more at Karyn's and the food/service is not consistent. This is the first Vegan/Veg restaurant where I felt like a real person eating real food - not substitutes.
(4)
Amanda P.

Forgive me, but I'm nostalgic for their old former location in Roscoe Village. The cafe now has a smaller menu and higher prices, and they've changed the ambience to make it look like a fancier restaurant. Maybe I could live with this if they weren't serving some of the exact same casual fare that they used to. The food is still tasty, but the newfound pretentiousness of the place ticks me off.
(3)
Deborah B.

I don't frequent Blind Faith as much as I did several years ago, but that's partly because I live in the city now and am excited by a lot of new places around me. Also, my fiance sometimes really wants something meaty for dinner. I still love this place, though, and highly recommend eating in both the cafe area and the dining room. Two different experiences, but equally good. I also wouldn't be caught dead leaving the place with out a piece of the vegan chocolate cake. If you are too full, take it to go. Trust me, I once bought my friend a plane ticket to visit me out east in exchange for a piece of this cake. The deal worked out all around!
(5)
Laviyah I.

Must say that my husband and I were pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and so did he. We were expecting the food to be alright, but it was actually quite delicious. This review would get four stars if it didn't take half an hour for my dessert to get to the table. It is a little pricey, but I guess your paying for the decor or the rent in Evanston.
(3)
Shawn J.

Great Food - and very veggie friendly. Wait staff? Maybe we went on a bad day... Great Drinks and the food was superb. Was bit pricey, but could be worth it!
(3)
JnK B.

When compared with a place like the Chicago Diner, the Blind Faith just doesn't hold up. It's way too expensive for what you get, the last 4 times we have gone there the service was slow and they messed up the orders (and it wasn't crowded), and they're not nearly as creative or as tasty as they think they are. Why have I gone back? I literally live around the corner. I would rather drive to the Chicago Diner any day of the week... And I will. In short: don't bother.
(2)
Benet H.

like its separated-at-birth sister facility the Heartland Cafe this is a truly tasteless exercise in non-meat eating. yes, the waiters and patrons are ernest but it never ceases to amaze me how much people are willing to sacrifice (ie flavor) for some ideology. Meatless food can taste great...the asian sub continent has know this for -what?- four thousand years.....why can't it be done here?????
(2)
Ross W.

Been a couple times the vegetarian fare is overpriced and the servers were snotty and patronizing. Avoid this place.
(1)
Food S.

This place is has the best vegan menu that I know of. Breakfast is really good- the food is imaginative, fresh and never too greasy.
(4)
kelly c.

I go out of my way to go here every once in awhile. It's good, fresh food with many vegan options. They have good breakfast and dinner. I've always had friendly servers, but they do seem to be out of things a lot. I think the price and portion are very fair, opposed to some other criticisms on here. The rice dream latte is really really good. So are the blueberry bars, but they seem to mysteriously be getting smaller and smaller.
(3)
rachel p.

i'm not particularly a fan of fake meat products and i never really understood why vegetarians so often try to approximate real meat with oddly textured soy protien, which is why i picked this place (as opposed to many other veggie places around the city) to take my best friend for his bday. that said, i LOVE veggies, and i thought a few of the dishes were legitimately very good: the baked artichoke hearts and the moroccan veggie tajine. pretty much everything else left me feeling "meh." it seems like there is so much room to be creative with veggie cuisine and the food here felt fairly uninspired. as for the service, my boyfriend described it as 'glacial' which i feel is pretty apt. it took us forever to get our order in, there were long gaps in between courses and i felt like we must have waited for our check for 20 minutes.
(3)
Trinidad F.

So the atmosphere for this place is nice but I dont recommend to go alone. The waiter was friendly AND cute. lol. I started with the Green salad which was basically just field greens and romaine. It was kinda tiny...I expected more. My main dish was the Teriyaki Grilled Tofu...it was AMAZING. The tofu was perfectly grilled. It wasnt too soft or dried out. The veggies were fresh and had a amazing flavor. YUM!!!!! It was a little expensive for just tofu and veggies but I enjoyed it a lot.
(4)
Cassandra J.

i am giving this place 4 stars just because they consistently have tasty vegan baked goods. which is more than i can say for most veg restaurants in chicago... basically, over priced food you could make at home. i used to LOVE the seitan fajitas but last time i ordered them they were super bland and when i asked for the salsa that usually comes with them i was brought something slightly resembling salsa but having a bit of an opaqueness to it that worried me... i went up here for lunch the other day and was reminded that this place is best served, well, without service. the food prices are so high, that when you add tip on for the mediocre service, its really a rip off. but if you sit in the 'self serve' front area, you get very friendly counter service and a far cheaper bill. i am a huge fan of the vegan maple spice cake and the chocolate cake, while basic, is always tasty. last time i was in i had the vegan mango cheesecake and it was delicious. i was surprised, it looked pretty questionable but tasted awesome. so yeah, don't get table service. make sure to save room for dessert, and be prepared to season your food once it gets to you because they certainly aren't doing said seasoning in the kitchen and you'll be A OK at blind faith.
(4)
Skazoo M.

I'm about as carnivorous as they come but dine often with vegetarian friends so I've made my way to Blind Faith a few times. Sure, I sulked a little on my first time but after eating the food I had no problem coming back! They do the best job with seitan of any vegetarian restaurant I've ever been to. Parking has been super easy everytime I've been there - there has always been an open parking meter nearby. The setting is clean and casual with enough space between tables that you have privacy even on a busy night. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable about the dishes they're serving and are easygoing - helping to create a relaxing atmosphere. And I'd give it 5 stars - but they discontinued the Thai Peanut Noodles! My favorite dish... Why? Why?
(4)
Matt G.

Picking a restaurant blindly in Evanston did not end well today. Blind Faith Cafe had potential to be a nice alternative choice to other diners and restaurants in the area. Serving vegetarian food is a positive for those who need that. Other than that, the food was over priced (4 people at lunch @ $46) and under flavored. Our table of four sampled everything from omelets to stew to yogurt and granola. It is safe to say that none of us were impressed and a few of us were disappointed. The only thing that made me give it 2 stars instead of 1 was the Vanilla Milkshake which was not bad at all.
(2)
Liz B.

Disappointing. I thought it was going to be a cozy cafe, not a stuffy sit-down place with snotty waiters in black pants and crisp white shirts. It's one of those places with whole number prices (i.e, no $12.95 entree on the menu, that will be $13 in fancy curlicue typography). Sure the Lemon Seitan was good, but I feel no need to return. They took away my lemonade when I was half finished drinking it and for a $3 lemonade, I would like to get my money's worth. A little girl in my neighborhood sells the same thing, but fresher, with a slice of lemon and a little cocktail umbrella for $1.00 at her stand.
(2)
Bella D.

3.5+ I've come here several times and it was fun to eat here. It was cool to try the vegetarian foods. Nice service and interesting experience with the different types of veggie foods.
(3)
Mary A.

Although I've had a couple meals I didn't love, in general Blind Faith is great. Sure bets include the Mongolian Stir Fry, Seitan Marsala, or Seitan Fajitas for dinner and pretty much anything Mexican for breakfast. I really like the low-key atmosphere, and I've always had good, friendly service, as well.
(4)
Dave L.

I looked at the menu for awhile before even noticing it was a Vegetarian place (as most of the people I was dining with were vegetarians). The menu was really impressive, and the breakfasts +pastries looked quite good. The Barbeque Seitan Sandwich I had was spot on, and the thin kind of mushy fries actually worked really well. Wait staff seemed kind of disinterested, but got everything to us quickly, and made sure we were all set throughout the meal. If I'm in the area again, I'll come back.
(4)
Kate R.

ohhhhh blind faith. how i despise having a love-hate relationship with you but you leave me no choice. in middle school when i decided to go vegetarian, who was there for me and my crazy antics? you were. you became my number 1 restaurant and even my meat-obsessed brother would succumb to my wishes a few times a year and eat your food. that was when you had seitan fajitas, seitan marsala, black bean tostadas (or chili tostadas if you wanted), enchiladas verdes, tofu "crab" cakes and bibim bop. these were staples in my diet and i frequented you at least twice a week until i left for college. and when i came home, even if only for a night, you were my number one spot to go for some food. then, you decided to go and change. why? why? why??????? i understand remodeling, who doesn't like a nice face-lift once and awhile? i should have guessed what was going to come next though...once they got all chic-like and put up partitions throughout the restaurant and really took away the awesome order-at-the-counter-sit-down-and-relax area in the front of the restaurant, i knew we had problems. anywho... first, the chili option for the tostadas and the tofu "crab" cakes were nixed from the menu. then, my beloved seitan marsala. next victim? my seitan fajitas. i don't even know if i can go on from here......it is so sad to see some very delicious and simple yet complex tasting dishes gone from their menu, especially when i would look around the restaurant and these dishes were popular! if it ain't broke, why fix it?!?!!? (sigh)...i still stop by blind faith for their tostadas, enchiladas verdes and their breakfast and baked goods (good to see not much has changed in those departments), but i do not come here nearly as often as i used to. i miss the good old days, blind faith. come back please.
(3)
Deborah E.

Let me state upfront I am NOT a vegetarian or a vegan. I have no food issues, and I generally avoid vegetarian restaurants because they smell like freakin' gerbil cages, i.e., Chicago Diner. However, as I write this I am eating one of the BEST damn chocolate cupcakes I have ever had! And it is a VEGAN cupcake from Blind Faith! OMG - delicious! See, about a year ago, my partner devised a ruse to get me to eat healthier. Knowing my weakness for cupcakes, she would occasionally stop at Blind Faith on her way home from work and bring me one of these fab choco ones. Of course she NEVER told me they were vegan, fearing that I would gag and become despondent. Well, we went to dinner there one evening and lo and behold WHAT do I see in the dessert case but my beloved cupcake? :0 I forgave her - and she continues to bring them home to me. There is a HUGE dollop of some kind of yellow frosting on it which is obviously NOT a cream cheese frosting, so I have NO damn clue what the ingredients are but it is GOOOOOODDDDD....................
(4)
Jason P.

Nice vegetarian place that has decent food. I like the veggie burger as they make their own patties. The fries are fresh cut, which means they have to be soggy unfortunately.
(3)
amy c.

It was a little better than ok. I will like and support any place that has a healthy, veggie focus. I just wasn't wowed by the prices and the food (though the potato dill soup was AWESOME). They were really quick, had goods portions and a nice very nice staff. I just wish I would have gotten the peanut noodles. (Sigh)
(4)
Molly T.

I love this place! Sure it's ginormous and sure it's trying to do a little too much (be a full service coffee bar/cafe and restaurant) but the food was sooo good! My dad -- a former veg -- wanted to check it out so we had dinner there and each got one of the specials. I got tempeh thai peanut noodles and he got the shiitake/walnut loaf. I loved my noodles but I must say the walnut loaf was amazing. It's something I never would have ordered, but it looked so good that it caught the eye of people at neighboring tables. It looked like meatloaf and had a really hearty consistency and a great flavor..plus it came with crispy greens (kale?) which gave a great texture contrast to the walnut loaf. Oh and I nearly forgot about the avocado salad! The avocado was absolute perfection (I've been in avocado withdrawal since leaving California, so this gave me my fix) and I want the recipe to that dressing--lime and cilantro and something else? I had a kukicha tea to drink (which I had for the first time at Angelica Kitchen in NYC). Our meals were $14 each b/c they were specials but the menu has a wide variety of vegetarian dishes for less and the portions are quite generous. Finally, we spotted a Chicago celeb while we were there! Author Sara Paretsky, holding two of her own books....
(4)
Chloe M.

This was a pretty good place. I am not vegetarian, but love trying anything new and interested. A friend of mine suggested it and it had good food, the prices are a little steep for the portions, but decent. The desserts are phenomenal!
(3)
M P.

Maybe this was an off night - but the service wasn't great. Food wasn't as good as the price tag.
(2)
Mel W.

First of all, I am not a vegetarian but I must say, I don't mind coming here once in a while. Have dined here a couple of times and definitely pleased with the food and service. The one dish I LOVE is the portobello mushroom burger...perfectly seasoned onions, on a buttery crisp bun. yum yum! the salads are another favorite...the portions are a bit small but the ingredients were very fresh! A nice change from your typical heavy american meal :)
(4)
Rhea B.

I decided to go here after a somewhat random day trip to Evanston. From word of mouth and brief internet searching it seemed to be the only Vegan friendly/Vegetarian place in Evanston, so we decided to go. After being sat at a table that was basically on top of all the 4 person tables, we asked to sit outside. I'm not sure if this bothered them because we didn't get very good service after that. I wanted to ask a few questions about the menu, mostly if the "Blind Faith Burger" was vegan. I was met with a laugh, as though I'm just supposed to know, when, frankly, it doesn't even say that they are a Vegetarian restaurant and I take my dietary restrictions seriously. I also asked if it came with mayo and was laughed at again and through his thick accent, told me, "there's mayo that you can have that's non dairy-not here just that you can buy it you know". Oh, thanks, I had no idea. I was curious about what's available at some grocery stores and not what I'm ordering to eat RIGHT NOW, thank you. We didn't have condiments when our food was served and our food was almost taken away from us before we were done-twice. Somewhat over priced and just kinda boring. Meh.
(2)
Yumm y.

The Yelp vegetarian brunch was a great excuse to surround myself with good people and good food. I enjoyed my visit to the blind faith cafe however I wish that I would have ordered something different. I had trouble choosing among the variety of Mexican 'egg' dishes. They all sounded so delicious but I went with the Chilaquiles. Don't get me wrong, it was tasty but essentially, it was like eating a plate of fried goodness. Because I care about my arteries, I wish I had gone with the Aztec Hash. It looked phenomenal. In fact, everything that we ordered looked delicious. The service was fine for our large group and it was overall a good experience. I would return but I wouldn't go out of my way. (Evanston is out of my way.) Minus one star because I like it when vegetarian restaurants adorn their food with fresh colorful fruits and veggies. All of our meals were largely beige.
(4)
C A.

There is nothing to not like about this place. The atmosphere is beautiful and the food is great. The staff are really nice and there's a huge selection of vegan desserts.
(5)
Venessa H.

The veggie dishes are DA BOMB! Since I'm a pretty big eater, it's not unlikely for me to order 5 meals just to try them all out! LOVE IT!
(4)
Ellen M.

I love this restaurant for any meal - fine vegetarian food that carnivores will love too. The food is so fresh. My favorite entree is the tofu pad thai, but I've never had anything there that wasn't awesome. For breakfast, go huevos rancheros. Servers are excellent! Either they or someone very close has wi-fi, I can do wireless there.
(4)
Eric P.

I have routinely been disappointed with the food and service at this so called vegetarian restaurant. I have vowed never to return several times since I moved to Chicago in 1994. Any decent dish on the menu inevitably gets taken off (e.g., tamales, tofu crab cakes, black bean burrito, etc). However, the desserts are delicious and worth checking in for once a year. I like the self service section. Just beaware of annoying patrons, inconsistent service, and expensive mediorce food.
(2)
Ann G.

I was not expecting this to be a vegetarian place when I walked in. Turns out it is, and the food is decent. It's not at all what I was looking for that day and didn't have alternatives. I'd bring a vegetarian friend there, but am not otherwise planning to return.
(2)
Mike H.

I ate here for the first time today and I loved it! The food was great, the service was good. Portions are huge and pretty reasonably priced. It's nestled in the pretty downtown of Evanston too, which is another big plus. GO HERE!
(4)
Heckle H.

A wee bit pricey, I have to admit - - but great service, nice set-up and I can't tell you how much I love the ability to pick whatever I want from a menu. The apple and brie sandwich comes highly recommended as does their new pistachio cake (soooo rich . . . if you can eat an entire cupcake in one sitting then you have a golden gullet).
(3)
bettina c.

I've been going to Blind Faith for a LONG time! The food is always good - very reliable. Their dishes have a Tex Mex flair but they also also have a large variety of other types of food too. I love their breakfast/ brunch & their salads are always full of really fresh veggies! Their vegan chocolate cake is so good too. The wait staff is always friendly. And they recently updated their decor to give it more seating. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5th star is that its a bit on the pricey side. However, I think that the quality and the tastiness of the food is well worth it.
(4)
L B.

I've eaten there a couple times now and really enjoyed it. I'm not a vegetarian but do enjoy meatless meals, so this hits the spot. If you're going with meat-eaters, this place would be perfect because it's not all tofu and seitan (though you can get those too if that's what floats your boat). Seems like they always have a pasta dish, and some tex-mex favorites like bean tostadas. Nice cocktail and wine list too--this isn't a health food restaurant! Just good, fresh, homemade food that happens to be meatless. The only thing stopping me from giving the place 5 stars is I feel like the food is usually just slightly undersalted for my tastes. Not so bland that I don't enjoy it, but just enough for me to take note. But I probably use too much salt, anyway. :)
(4)
Jeffrey S.

My favorite place for food in Chicago! I love this all vegeterian restaurant in Evanston becuase it is solid, dependable, clean good food. The menu is not as innovative as The Chicago Diner, however the food is so much better and consistent. The ambience has recently been improved and is pretty nice. The desserts are phenomenal. Don't miss a corn muffin. I love the Mongolian Stir Fry. House Kukicha Tea rocks. I love the Maple Spice muffins. Breakfast is also superb. My favorite cheap date night is a dinner at Blind Faith and then a great film at the movies down the street (with free parking for us city folk).
(5)
Daisy C.

Consistently good, innovative food. Service is good, too. And the baked goods, especially the cookies, are fabulous. I was on a strict diet during my pregnancy and my first treat after giving birth was a molases cookie from Blind Faith. It's a bit overpriced for what it is, but otherwise pretty close to perfect for a vegetarian-only place.
(4)
Kaaren D.

One of my all time favorite places to eat. The portions are very large, and I can always eat a meal, and take home the extra to eat another meal. I love that when that happens. Good vegan food, what a rare find. I usually sit in the section where you order and claim a seat, rather than in the more upscale "restaurant." The food is the same, and I think service is a little faster that way. I don't mind bussing my table. It's kind of an Evanston kind of thing to do.
(5)
Sarah F.

The setting is nice and the service is fine, but I can't rave about the food. I find it bland and disappointing every time I dine here. I find the baked goods to be dry as well.
(2)
Greg C.

This place is great! While the menu is not extensive, there is enough of a selection to attend to a variety of tastes and there is usually a special to try out as well. As of late, my favorite is the teriyaki tofu, which I ordered on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. I would also agree that the bakery items are great and I sometimes opt to carry some dinner home to be sure to split a dessert with a friend. Something that I haven't seen mentioned here is their great selection of beverages. From teas to a small selection of beers to their wine list, you need not worry about finding something that will compliment your meal. While I have not had a bad service experience there, I have had a few instances of exceptional service from different staff. All in all, this is a favorite of my girlfriend (who is a vegetarian) and it quickly became a favorite of mine (who is the pretty far from that). It's very easy to get to via the Purple line and there is ample parking for cars (either right in front with meters, or two blocks east without).
(4)
Chris D.

I finally made it here in 2006 and can't wait to return. I ordered the seitan marsala, and it was incredible. It did get very crowded on a Sunday night, and we were lucky to get seated right away.
(4)
Henry J.

My favorite restaurant, and that's it, that should be enough. But what's more, if you are vegetarian or vegan, then this place is a life saver. Delicious food, friendly service and innovative menu. I never thought I could enjoy food this much as a vegetarian. Their concoctions are more scrumptious than meat, and some of the sauces are to die for.
(5)
Jennifer H.

My reviews seem unfair. When I review a restaurant after one meal, I write these lengthy and specific reviews because I'm referencing this one night that just happened. Whereas, writing about Blind Faith, which I hit up at least twice a month, I lack that same attention to detail. It's probably because all of my Blind Faith experiences have melded into one huge memory of delicious vegetarian cuisine, ridiculously good deserts, lovely service and a nice completely unpretentious atmosphere. I really love this place. While I've had the occasional off meal (this may be the only vegetarian restaurant where I don't enjoy their salads), the experience is always great. My favorites on the menu are the bibim bop and the black bean burrito, but if you're in the mood for something smaller, their vegetarian chilli is a great lighter option. You really can't go wrong with anything in their desert counter either, but again, I am partial to the fruit crumbles and the carrot cake. I also love their oatmeal bars, either blueberry or cranberry, but I can somehow justify to myself that because of the word "oatmeal," that's not a desert. Oh man, now I'm hungry. Guess I know where I'll be heading...
(5)
B. L.

The have a nice selection of baked goods and really good, strong coffee. There is also a wide selection of teas and other beverages. Some of their deserts are non-dairy for those with a lactose intolerance. They also have a nice lunch or dinner menu that focuses on Thai food. I also love visiting Evanston as often as I can.
(4)
christine r.

yummy! yummy!! yummy!!! best vegetarian food i've had in (okay, near) the city. the bi bim bop, while not completely authentic, is delicious. the brown rice is cooked just right and the veggies taste delicately sesame. i also really love the macrobiotic plate. it feels so fresh and healthy! i think blind faith cafe is the first place that cooked tempeh to my liking. although a bit pricey for my liking, it's worth a trip out to evanston. make it a day of shopping and delicious lunching!
(5)
Nick B.

Very good food and reasonable prices. They do things with seitan and tempe that i didnt know or think would be possible. I would also suggest their bakery which is very good
(5)
Jamie F.

Whoaaaaaaaaaaaa. Awesome awesome breakfast and super affordable. I ordered a red pepper potato frittata and my friend got the flambe french toast. Both were amazing and creative dishes prepared with obvious care and quality ingredients.
(5)
Scott J.

The food is under seasoned, over priced and overrated in my opinion. Not much else to say about. I go here all the time too because my wife, for some reason, likes this place. If it was up to me, I just wouldn't go.
(2)
Meredith B.

As a vegetarian, this place sounded like a great idea. My meal was delicious but I wound up getting sick all over my boyfriend later on that day from the food. Ick!
(1)
Heidi J.

I was excited when I moved to the neighborhood at the prospect of a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, but truth be told it leaves a lot to be desired. Most things on the menu are things I could prepare at home. The flavors are not interesting or imaginative. And the atmosphere,...it doesn't seem to fit at all with they type of food they think they're serving. It would serve the restaurant and the customers so much better if it felt a little more casual. I am constantly surprised by how many people still go there. I wish I could support this neighborhood business, but if I'm going to pay for a dining experience, I'm afraid I have to jump on the purple line.
(1)
Laura O.

My friends introduced me to this place several years ago and I am still going to this place. I am not a vegetarian but i do consider this non-vegetarian friendly place. The food is fresh to me (and that's important!) The place is cozy. My only drawback for this place is parking- i am not a big fan of street parking
(4)
Whitney S.

Pretty expensive but worth it. Really good Mexican dishes. Bibimbop is amazing: They replace the beef with seitan and top witth an egg. The portions are enormous...you can definitely split. Lots of baked goods, vegan and otherwise. The Peanut Butter shake is really good. You can choose be seated and waited on or you can just order at the counter and grab your food when it's ready. Yesterday I ate there twice.
(5)
olivia s.

I had the "crab" cakes and the macrobiotic plate. I really enjoyed the food and I am glad I discovered this restaurant. I had no idea it existed and found it listed in a directory at my hotel, the hilton garden inn in downtown Evanston. Downtown Evanston has a lot of shops and is fun to walk around. It is a very cool college town and I consider the location of Blind Faith as more of a destination location, at least when it is compared to Neo V in Columbus (near Ohio State) and Mothers in Austin (near Univ of Texas). While I enjoyed my order from Blind Faith, I think the food at Mothers was better.
(4)
Hannah M.

I joined Yelp specifically to review Blind Faith. Let me preface this by saying that I grew up near Evanston and am a vegetarian and have been enthusiastically eating at blind faith for over 15 years. I went tonight with a friend for the first time in almost a year and we were both super disappointed. I completely second what Rachel F. said. It totally does suck now. We had vegetarian potstickers as an appetizer which were like $8 and tiny and really not good. Sad. I had seitan marsala which they've had on the menu for years and is always delicious. Well, I don't know what this was tonight but it was not what i was expecting and not good at all. Totally bizarre! It was seitan with capers, fennel and parmesan cheese on noodles with nary a taste of marsala to be had anywhere. Huh? And seriously, what is up with this restaurant taking old standbys that everyone liked and changing them for the worse? First they get rid of lemon seitan (which everyone loved) altogether, and now they mess up the seitan marsala.... i don't even want to know what's in store for the fajitas. I'm over this place. Too expensive, and just not good anymore at all. Very sad.
(1)
Rachel Y.

Excellent flavor, big portions. Little pricey
(4)
Michael M.

I have to confess I haven't been to Blind Faith cafe more than a few times. The food ranges from pretty good to very bland and unsatisfying. The service is fine. They have speakers and events which are held upstairs.
(3)
Adam P.

Looking for a healthy alternative to heavy Italian food, and a break from Asian cuisine, my friends and I decided to head to the Blind Faith Cafe for some alternative fare. The decor is about what you would expect from a nice little hippie place, complete with the requisite person with dread locks behind the counter. What it lacked though was food that tasted good. I ordered a vanilla milkshake, which was admittedly good, and easily the highlight of my meal, and a bowl of tasteless granola. Seriously, how does granola with yogurt not taste good at a hippie cafe? Aren't hippies known for their granola intake? I thought if anything it would be the safe choice, but I was wrong. I also was able to try one of my friend's weird stew which was supposed to be spicy but just tasted like a weird veggie soup. Throw in the fact that we each paid over $10 and you have a pretty dissapointed diner here.
(2)
Tiffany T.

I can't beleive this place is still around after all these years. It wasn't that great back in 1992. But, at least in 1992 you got a special "cool" feeling by eating in a vegetarian restaurant if you weren't a vegetarian. In 2006 - not so much.
(2)
Bonnie L.

I went to Blind Faith last night. I have been coming here for years. A few years back I frequented Blind Faith 2 and sometimes 3 times per week. I absolutely love their Santa Fe Salad. Since I am a vegetarian I just love going there and having so many choices. Oddly enough, I still always get the Santa Fe Salad. Last night I decided to head over there for the first time in a long time. The first thing that I noticed was that they repainted and added some partitions to section off some of the dining areas. Very nice. Then I ordered. When the salad came I noticed how much smaller the portion was compared to how it used to be. I mean significantly smaller. I thought maybe this is how they are planning to pay for their upgrades! Anyway, the salad was still really yummy but I was not stuffed like I usually am. I also ordered this really awesome Berry Cobbler. It is really delicious but not a traditional sweet cobbler, which is what I think makes it very unique and better than others. Like the salad, much smaller portion than it used to be. One more thing that I order very frequently when I go to Blind Faith is the Broccoli. I know that this seems kind of like a stupid thing to comment on but I bring it up because by far, Blind Faith steams their Broccoli better than any other place. It is never over cooked or under cooked. I just love how fresh it is and prepared perfectly. Blind Faith also seems to take care in hiring good servers. Very attentive staff. Blind Faith is one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)
A D.

The macrobiotic plate was soooo good and I felt good eating it! Went for the first time last weekend, and this is now one of my favs for wholesome vegan restaurant options. Plus, Blind Faith was participating in Unicef's Tap Project where diners give $1 or more for the tap water they'd normally get for free to fund clean drinkable water projects in Africa.
(4)
Marge J.

The food and service are inconsistent. The spiciness and flavor of dishes vary a great deal. Some times the food comes out steaming hot, other times it's lukewarm. It's hard to know if it's a service problem or a kitchen problem but we go regularly and this downgrade isn't based on one disappointing experience. For takeout, the person taking the order says special requests are OK (like our recent one to make the Thai noodles without heat) but the kitchen doesn't get the message. This has gone from a favorite to a last resort for us, a vegan and a vegetarian. It's too expensive to be so lame so I think my husband and I will be taking a break from Blind Faith for a while.
(1)
The Undertow W.

Great vegetarian food, including nice desserts, vegan and non, in a clean well-lighted place. Good service too. Prices can be a little steep (uh, @ $8 for two pancakes, no matter how good and organic, seems excessive to me), but I always come away feeling like a ate real food with real nutrition. Certainly worth a look if you're in the area.
(4)
Theresa K.

Overall a delight! Great dishes to satisfy vegetarian and meat eaters alike. The food is healthy and delicious! I have never been disappointed with any of the daily specials or the regular menu. The chocolate vegan cake is a definate MUST! The staff is friendly and helpful and the environment is great. You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Jenny I.

My boss took me here once to discuss my sad attitude after I was injred on the job. Once the food came, I didn't even care that I wanted to die. Don't get the paella though. Stick with the seitan options.
(4)
Eric W.

I couldn't be luckier to live 5 seconds from this restaurant. It is by far the best vegetarian / vegan restaurant I have been to so far. I can honestly say that I have completely loved everything I have ever eaten here... never a bad meal. Portions are generous for the price and there are plenty of options. You can get a really great mongolian seitan dish, as well as seitan barbeque (which is a gigantic!) Tofu dishes, simply vegetable dishes est. (And make sure you stop in for a wrap at lunch... they are delicious!!!) I adore their fries... and you simply can't go wrong. They also have a small cafe area for coffee, and always have plenty of extremely tempting desserts, many of which are vegan. The only negative thing I would say is that the staff is not very friendly at all... I have only dined in a couple times... I mostly get takeout... but a majority of the time the staff is just very short, and not at all friendly... it's like they hand you the food and that's it. They rarely thank me or anything... I am always very friendly, but maybe they are just overworked... Luckily the food is so fantastic and outweighs the unfriendly-ness.
(5)
A M C.

Let me start by saying I used to love Blind Faith. I always got the Macrobiotic Plate, and I thought it was great. There was always enough for lunch the next day, too. Well, it started to get smaller. A lot smaller. Then they changed the dressing for the steamed kale, though I had two different waitrpeople insist that wasn't the case. Then, around the same time they did a huge menu change, they changed the steamed kale to a kale salad that I don't like at all. So, I've stopped getting the MacPlate and have tried other items, none of which completely thrills me. (When they did the menu change, they eliminated most of my husband's favorite items, too.) Circumstances took me there twice this weekend. Friday I had the Mongolian Stir Fry which was fine--no complaints. Saturday I had the most boring Bloody Mary ever. There was no flavor, and no vodka kick. It was a total waste of calories and money. I had the Jicama Salad starter, and it was just okay. It needed something else, a touch of cilantro maybe, or perhaps a few pepper flakes. It was just missing something. My Artichoke Barigoule was fine, but again, it needed to go farther. Perhaps a few fresh thyme leaves would have made a difference. We will go back, but not with the frequency we once did. It used to be an every-other week place, and now we go every few months--except for this weekend.
(3)
Elyse G.

If you're a meat eater you will be blown away at how good meatless options taste. If you're vegetarian or vegan you'll be loving life. I am a new vegetarian/vegan and this was the best meal I've had in a long time! SInce I was with my family we all ordered something different and all loved everything to the point our plates were clean! We had the bibim bop like a nice stirfry with fresh veggies, another fajitas, one had chipotle quesadillas, one had tostadas, and the last person had a special (tofu, eggplant, tomato with lima bean puree). I could have easily traded plates with anyone but we all loved our own meals too much that we just had to share. We of course ended with fantastic dessert...tiramusi, vegan chocolate peanut butter cake and the blueberry crumble bar. They were really good. I'm personally not a huge fan of chocolate and peanut butter but it was good if that's your thing. The prices are very reasonable for both the amount of food you get and for the healthy, fresh veggies, seitan/tofu, brown rice, bean purees we all tasted. If you consider what it would cost to make a meal with all the fresh veggies the prices were great! The service was good especially for a busy Satur. night. The waiter/waitresses all helped each other out without any awakardness. I will definitely go back very soon!!!! I wish they had one downtown too but at least Evanston isn't too far.
(5)
Mark L.

Very pleasant. Not the kind of pleasantness that jumps out at you. You are warmly embraced without being squeezed to death. Unaufdringlich. My cousin found the music to be fantastic. His wife, who also happens to be my friend, agreed. The coffee was good. My counterparts remarked that their meals were "fabulous" and "delicious". I would tend to agree more with delicious. How does this place only have 3.5 stars? We couldn't figure it out ourselves and spent a good portion of our time at the Blind Faith Cafe debating the potential flaws in the 5-star rating system.
(5)
Jim R.

Since we live close by, my wife and I go to Blind Faith about 4 times a year, typically have a great meal. This past Saturday night we were greeted by a friendly server and ordered a few new items along with their Thai Peanut Noodles, one of my favorites. However, for once this dish was not as good as usual -- my best description was too much sauce, making the it too "gloppy." When the server came by to ask if we wanted to take the leftovers home we told her our review. She immediately apologized, said she would tell the cook and asked if we would like to substitute something else from the menu. We were full, so we declined. When she returned with our bill she had comped it. While we were sitting outside finishing our drinks and enjoying the weather, the manager ("Eddie") came by with a couple of vegan truffles, thanked us for the feedback and told us to let him know if there was anything ever wrong again with the food. This was great customer service -- they take pride in their food and care about their patrons. Needless to say, we will be back again and again.
(5)
Sara K.

It does have vegetarian options, but Chicago Diner-caliber this place is not. The food is just...meh. There's nothing special about it other than its vegetarian-ness, and some of it can be pretty greasy. The service is never something to write home about either--all of the servers are pretty unenthusiastic and one of them gave my friend the stink eye when she found food floating in her water and wanted a clean glass. I just don't get the hype. It's unhealthy, unexciting food that just happens to not have meat in it.
(3)
Susan B.

Not good. I've been here a few times over the last few years because they have vegan options and it's easily accessible from the purple line. Sadly, the food is so bland- So. Very. Bland. It's also overpriced, especially considering nothing has flavor. I'm happy to pay for quality food but quality this is not. And it's not just the vegan menu items- my dad took two bites of the pancakes and couldn't eat any more-- and he loves to eat. How can you screw up PANCAKES, I ask you? And it's not just the food. Service has been poor each time. Last time I was there for Mother's Day and my Grandma's food came completely different than it was described in the menu. It was supposed to be a quiche filled with "seasonal veggies" ... It had onions and feta. She asked the server if she got the wrong plate and the server said "no- it changes all the time, today it's onions". She didn't offer my Grandma a different item, or to bring some veggies out, or to take the item off the bill. Happy friggin Mother's Day. I've given this place enough chances... I've been disappointed every time. Won't be back. There's a reason locals call it "Bland Thief Cafe".
(1)
Natalie M.

Ate here last night for my husband's birthday. I highly recommend the seitan marsala. It was fantastic. The vegan chocolate cake with raspberry sorbet was also excellent. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Amanda B.

Vegetarian? Okay. I will try it. To be honest, I came to go to the sushi place across the street but it ended up being a japanese market with a sushi counter and I was looking for a sit down place. Oddly enough, Blind Faith was suggested to me by a fellow yelper the day before, so fate brought me here. I wandered in and was greeted by a dessert case. Dessert doesn't have meat in it and you get it FREE here when you check in on yelp! THe service was polite. I ordered the Saten plate which came with green beans and squash and rice. It was covered in gravy and tasted like meat to me! The manager told me it was a wheat trigliceride meat substitute and was his favorite. THe other patrons there were pretty annoying, talking about how vegetarian they were. It wasn't the best food I ever had but it was good!! THere is metered street parking and some free street parking if you are willing to walk a couple blocks. I ate cheesecake with black cherries as my free dessert and it was fantastic.
(4)
Deborah H.

Good poached eggs w spinach and biscuit; service good too. The menu is a bit limited but has a good brunch selection.
(3)
Yuri H.

I've come here twice-once for dinner with friends and once to study outside. I've been happy with both experiences. Service here is great!!! The food is decent. They have super big portions; my friend and I shared the pad Thai. I recommend the dessert selections. I enjoyed the chocolate pudding and white orchard tea my last visit.
(4)
Mathieu B.

I discovered this wonderful gem last year (2014) on my way to the Ravinia Music festival in Skokie. The excellent service, wonderfully welcoming faces of the staff and remarkable vegan cuisine (that does not try to be anything but vegan) beckoned for my return to this establishment time and time again. I have now frequented this restaurant a total of five times and will continue to do so for as long as they remain open. My compliments to the cooking staff for the deliciously mouth-watering food that is always hot, quick and tasty. To the manager as well, for always being pleasant and welcoming, thank you! And a special thank you to Courtney for incredibly good service and wonderful rhetoric. You made my evening.
(5)
Andrea C.

I've been to Blind Faith Cafe many a time for lunch with colleagues. There are tons of delicious options and it motivates me to eat meatless more often. Any of the omlettes are solid choices and delicious, but some of my other faves are the black bean tostadas and The Dempster Street. Yum!
(4)
Will F.

Overall an awesome dining experience. We really enjoyed the location (near some beautiful homes and cool shops). Also appreciated the outdoor seating! We were seated and served promptly. I ordered a caipirinha and my date had the white sangria - and both were mixed excellently. I ordered the lentil salad, which came on a bed of spinach lightly drizzled w balsamic vinaigrette. My date ordered the Thai peanut noodles. Both were full of flavor and didn't sit heavy on us at all! The most pleasant surprise was the speed with which we got our food after ordering. Lastly we took advantage of the yelp coupon and ordered dessert. Our mixed berry cobbler was decent but dry, and needed some local vanilla ice cream to complete it. Friendly, fast service, good drinks and great food. We WILL be back.
(4)
Rinkoo P.

Giving 5 star because of the lovely atmosphere and great customer service! The food Is really good and have lots of good choice! I would definitely come here again . Cute romantic place
(5)
Anish K.

The service here is good; the server was kind and friendly and patient. The food is decent, although the quality has diminished somewhat in the last few years while the prices have gone up. Their dessert selection, while all tasty, could be a little more creative and varied. Overall, it's a nice place, and I come here fairly regularly. There's room for improvement, but my general impression is a positive one. One more thing - I'm not a fan of this really pretentious practice that higher-end restaurants have of dropping the decimal place and dollar sign in the price. Don't mark an item as "15," mark it as "$15.00."
(3)
KG G.

Maybe we just lucked out, but I cannot figure out why this place only has 3.5 stars! Had a lunch date with my cousin, was looking for a cute cafÃ© within the area so we thought we'd try Blind Faith. Amazing! I clearly didn't do enough research because going in I was unaware this was a vegan/vegetarian place but gosh was I glad it was! I eat meat but find that most times I lean toward meatless options. I had the Thai Noodle Salad along with the Dumplings in Shiitake ConsommÃ© and she had the Grilled Brie & Apple Sandwich with sweet potato fries - all of which were so entirely delicious! The noodle salad was the right amount of spicy and the shiitake consommÃ© was unbelievably good. I would say hers was more on the average side but still very tasty. We ended our meal with the flourless chocolate cake - it was so rich and moist! It's a small piece but since I'm not a huge sweets person it was good that we shared. Far too rich for me to finish an entire piece. Although her being a sweets person, she said we should have ordered 2 - it was so good she would have finished hers and mine as well! Cannot wait to return & would highly recommend to others!
(5)
Ted M.

Have been here twice. First time was okay. The second time - my wife all of a sudden gasped - I looked down and saw a medium-sized green bug crawling near the edge of her plate. Staff and the manager did apologize - then said they were going "take care of the meal - we wouldn't have to pay". My wife had more or less lost her appetite by now - they then asked if she wanted another item from the menu. I was surprised later when they had the gall to bring a check - charging me for everything except for the item with the bug in it. I went ahead and paid the bill because i've heard of restaurants calling the police on patrons refusing to pay in cases like this - but I will NEVER come back to this place. Ever. Not even for free. Prices are too high anyway and the portion sizes are smallish. The food generally tastes okay, but there is another vegan restaurant not too far away I would rather spend my money at. For future reference - if a customer finds a live insect in their meal, as management, i wouldn't be greedy and try to charge them for the meal. Fortunately, yelp gives customers a chance to report stinkers so other yelp users can decide whether they wish to go somewhere like this. I left here hungry & disgusted - $30 later.
(1)
Liz P.

This committed omnivore had her doubts about a vegan dinner, but found lots to enjoy at Blind Faith. The chocolate cake was especially good.
(4)
Kelly S.

Huge variety at this place - I don't know of another restaurant where you can get grape leaves (our starter), eggplant lasagna (boyfriend's entree), AND Thai peanut noodles (my entree). This is definitely a good option if you and your dinner companions are craving massively different cuisines. The grape leaves were awesome, and my taste of the eggplant lasagna good enough to make me rethink my aversion to eggplant (!). But the noodles were so-so - not much flavor and lots of large scallion chunks (2 inches). However, I had plenty left over for lunch the next day, which made up for the oversized scallions. I'd come back and try something different!
(3)
Molly L.

I'm not vegetarian or vegan myself but I do love this restaurant. The food always has great flavors and I always leave feeling full and satisfied. I particularly love the Asian menu options on the menu, however all their food I've tried I've really enjoyed.
(5)
Ilbra I.

This place has a lot of vegan/vegetarian options that are tasty. I enjoy having their Mongolian Seitan or Kung Pao Seitan with brown rice. Their vegan desserts are delicious... you would never think they were vegan! :)
(4)
Tim Y.

Big fan! I hadn't been here for ages, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it was still around. The interior has been completely revamped, and it's better than ever. Staff still charismatic and nice, with solid recommendations that don't *feel* like they're the "just-order-something-it's-all-fine" type. As I've mentioned in previous reviews for vegetarian/vegan places...I'm a committed meat-eater, so this is definitely a place you can bring somebody who would ordinarily turn their nose up at meatless entrees.
(4)
Jamsaheb ..

Food is good but just ok.. nothing extra ordinary.. Appetizer - sweet potato crostini - that was probably the best part of the dinning experience Yellow curry we had was below average Desserts - very ordinary, nothing special.... I know many vegan places who would have just as good food for probably way less prices..
(2)
Lewis B.

I absolutely love Blind Faith - the food is always good, the waitstaff is great, and the ambiance is just right. The only reason that I can't give five stars is that this place gives me an upset stomach and intestinal distress every single time. You can also just drop in and pick up a coffee or some dessert - both of which are fantastic. And, unlike the regular meals, don't cause stomach upset. Long story short, if you happen to have IBS, proceed with caution. You'll certainly enjoy your experience there but you'll pay for it later.
(3)
Jillian M.

The food is tasty and I love the variety of vegetarian/vegan dishes. I would definitely visit more if it weren't so expensive; I bought a drink and an entree and with tip, it was nearly $40.00. I understand that the quality is high, but the prices don't justify the size/taste. The three stars is for this, but the food is definitely four stars.
(3)
Auden R.

I visited this place a few times over the past twelve or so years, and knew it to be a nice vegan-friendly spot - - - so when we decided to celebrate my birthday, we chose Blind Faith Cafe and traveled down for a nice vegan dining experience (from near the Milwaukee Wisconsin area)... When you walk into the establishment, the place has what I'd call somewhat of a "cafe area" (to the right) and a much nicer "formal dining area" (to the left) - - - I had always dined in the more formal dining area in all previous visits When we arrived, all 20+ of us were placed in that "cafe area"; I requested that we be moved to the more formal dining area, but the manager denied my request (no reason was provided) - - - the dining experience was somewhat cramped - - - it was disappointing in a way because we did not travel from Wisconsin to dine in a deli/cafe-style area... now, regarding the servers, it was a mixed bag; on one of our tables the server was attentive and on mark; on the other table, the server seemed rather aloof/disengaged - - - minor things like: simply forgetting a request to bring salt/pepper to the table (there were none on any of our tables and after several minutes of waiting we just got up to get them ourselves from bakery counter); at desert time she was asked to bring out the cafe mocha and the cake together (that just did not happen); she rarely checked back to see how we were doing; etc. etc. etc. really no big deal at all just little annoyances that altogether made the overall dining experience quite less than anticipated in fairness the food was generally decent; perhaps not as great as I remember from before, but still decent - no complaints/issues - - - and as for desert, truly delicious - - - the cafe mocha and vegan peanut-butter-chocolate cake, truly superb - - - yes pricey, but well worth it. All-in-all it was a "mixed bag" experience, but I have no plans on visiting there ever again, as there are several other vegan dining options in the area
(2)
Andrea R.

I've been intrigued by a Blind Faith Cafe for a long time now, but things like seitan scare me. I don't even like tofu so what would blind faith cafe have for me? As it turns out they have lots of choices! I dined here just last night with a very excited vegetarian friend. At first glance of the menu i wondered what I would eat, but once I realized I could remove tofu and seitan from any entree I had plenty of options. After some delish grape leaves I ordered the bibim bop rice bowl (sans seitan). The vegetarian ordered the thai peanut noodles. And our other dining companion went with the teriyaki fried rice bowl. My bibim bop was great- very flavorful and totally hit the spot. I pretty much scarfed it down. And my dining companions seemed happy with their meals as well. Their cocktail menu is also impressive, but I stuck with just a lovely glass of sauvignon blanc. I really liked the ambiance of Blind Faith Cafe as well. It was much more upscale than I had anticipated & quite cozy. Our waitress was on top of her game as well. When we asked her what the smoked eggplant caviar (a special) was she responded that it wasn't very good. Gotta love her honesty in saving us from a bad meal. I'd definitely go back and perhaps even without a vegetarian in tow.
(4)
L. R.

Went here with a couple friends for dinner. The food - I really like the food. The menu is nice and eclectic. There are vegetarian and vegan options as well as gluten free options. Each is denoted by a symbol on the menu. Blind Faith also serves drinks, wine and mixed drinks and those are very good. Everyone loved their food. There was the brie and apple sandwich one person raved about. Another had the potstickers and grape leaves. Still another had the Mongolian dish. These were all tasty and met with everyone's approval. I had the kung pao. Not a lot of spice but the way it was prepared was very nice, though a bit sweet for me. The service - Thus the four stars. It was horrible to say the least. The waitress took our order. We had to remind her to get our drinks. Once we got those, we didn't see her again until our food came out. This took a while. After that, that was it! No more waitress. No checking to see if we needed refills of drinks. No checking to see if the food was okay or if we needed anything else. We had to track her down for our bill. The bills were wrong. After waiting for them to be corrected, we had to wait for her to charge us out. I believe it was the first time any of us had ever left anything less than a 20% tip. It would have been so simple on one of her several passes by our table just to lean over and ask if we needed anything extra or if our food was alright. It would have been very easy for her to just see if we were happy with our food. Nothing, no contact whatsoever. Would love to go back and probably will, just hope not to sit in her section again.
(4)
Allison W.

Blind Faith is a good place whether or not you're vegan or veggie. Service was great and the quality of the food was better than most places I've tried that claim to be vegan or veggie. Desserts were pretty good, but not great. Main course, however, was great. I had the Pad Thai and it beat my expectations.
(4)
Eugene C.

It's in a great location in beautiful downtown Evanston. It's roomy, has a pleasant rustic, folksy charm to it yet elegant and modern furnishings too. The menu has a lot of Asian, Mexican, Mediterranean, American and Italian selections, perfect for the finicky vegetarian / vegan diner at a reasonable price. It's very filling, the waitstaff are very attentive and the cocktails are pretty good too. It's a good place to stop by if you're in the area and are craving a solid vegan / vegetarian dining experience without the hype or high price point like Karyn's.
(4)
Daniel S.

One of the best vegetarian restaurants I've ever been to, many options to choose from.
(5)
Andrea R.

Ate brunch here today at one of their tables outside with our dog. There was a wide variety of food to choose from on the menu- I tried the ranchero burrito & my husband had the aztec hash. Both were tasty & a good portion, and since they had healthier ingredients than most burritos I didn't have to feel guilty about eating it. Someone at the table next to us got what looked to be the greek salad and it looked amazing! Prices on the brunch menu ranged $10-$15, so pretty standard prices for the area. Service was great once we finally got service, but it did take them about 15 minutes before someone took our order & brought water, so docking a star for that. I'd definitely go back again if we weren't moving out of Evanston in a few days.
(3)
A.J. Q.

Quite an assortment of dishes for anyone's palate. I had the Macrobiotic entree, vegan & gluten free, which I thought was quite filling and tasty. My wife had the Breakfast burrito for lunch which she said was very good as well. We hadn't been in to eat there in years and we're quite happy to see that they still have a good menu.
(4)
Heather F.

Wow. What a bad experience today after a great one two weeks ago. The service was the worst I've had in years. She forgot both butter and syrup for my daughters pancake and then never returned to the table again. Thank god for the busboy who finally acknowledged me and filled up my water and got me sour cream for my way too spicy breakfast. Sad too, as I was a server for many years. She got 10% for a reason. I just wish I could have directed it solely to the busboy!
(2)
Crystal P.

I have lots of vegan and vegetarian friends so Ive been here a good number of times. Breakfast Lunch and dinner - I know their menu and its many changes over the years. They cleaned up the restaurant and the remodel is nice. Years ago my service was always rude ( except for the coffee guy) but the food was good and not extremely pricey. I also would go to Heartland cafe and Karens. Most recently I was there my server was nice, but knew nothing about the food, didnt even offer us a drink, didnt bring silverware - the caliber of service didn't match the fact that the food was expensive. The food quality was good the prep wasnt perfect for the cost veggie over cooked, taste bland and the quantity was small. My complaint about the failure to even bring my drink resulted in the manager offering a desert and that was nice, but I still ate my whole meal without even water. Evanston has some new options that really are stronger now in this category head downtown, not sure even after 20 years, if I would go back.
(3)
Ali C.

Love this place. Their service is great and food is simply marvelous. They still make their own fresh pressed carrot juice - most places do not anymore. Too labor intensive. We had the vegetarian coconut curry and mongolian stir fry, both of which were delicious. Servers are also very well versed in the ingredients used in case anyone has food sensitivities.
(5)
Ashouraita K.

The concept seems to be better than the outcome of this restaurant, but I am going to try again on Valentine's Day because the menu looks great. They forgot about us for at least 20 minutes, but when we finally ordered our food, it did arrive in a timely manner. I wasn't into the food, but like I said, I will try again in two weeks.
(3)
Tree H.

Really delicious place. I was able to watch for staff morale over the course of the time between this review and the last review. The staff member who was kind of off/shy eventually warmed up and the awkwardness went away. Not sure what that was about; it was real, but then it was gone & fine. Seems like everyone's OK. That matters. Might be nice to get a little more variation on the menu, but what they do- they do well.
(5)
Andrew Z.

This place has been around for years. In the 80s, my dad used to go here when at a different location. At this point, it is really going down hill. The food is generally pretty good, and the service fine, it used to be a real cut above the standard fare. Not so much anymore. A few annoyances added, they don't give a large chunk of cornbread anymore with soup or chili. The deserts are really hit and miss when they used to be almost all hits. I still eat here when in the area, but I find my expectations constantly lowered each time I do. I am hoping for a revival here, but if not, I will probably find somewhere else to go in the future.
(3)
Dana Z.

GLUTEN-FREE? NOT REALLY! This is the worst place to go if you have an actual gluten allergy or have Celiac like myself! If I could give this place "0 stars" that's how I'd rate it. They have poor customer service and they FALSE ADVERTISE - they are not really "gluten-free" when the manager admits that he has a bakery next store and there would be cross contamination. Okay, how can you list items as "GF" when there's a chance that they could contain gluten? That doesn't make any sense. Here was my experience - I ordered a hot green tea, the "GF" hummus appetizer and the "GF" beet salad. I mentioned to the waitress that I have a GLUTEN ALLERGY. She immediately said... "Oh well, we cannot guarantee that all the dishes are GF, there may be cross-contamination and if you're Celiac..." Then the manager interrupted and piped in - "Yeah, if you're Celiac, you probably don't want to eat here because I have a bakery next store!" Umm...REALLY? You advertise yourself as a "GF" restaurant with "GF" menu items and you've got a bakery as well? Bizarre. This place was just all around bad, bad, bad. Not to mention terrible customer service from the waitress.
(1)
Stephen S.

Blind Faith has such a diverse menu of offerings that it's hard to decide where to start. Usually at a vegetarian place I start by examining the use of the big three proteins (tofu, tempeh, and seitan). Blind Faith has tofu and seitan covered but instead of tempeh opts to use gardein instead. Of all the protein choices though, their seitan is made in house and so that was the obvious pick for me. I ended up settling on the seitan marsala. The seitan was a great texture, not overly chewy or overly tough, and soaked up that white wine sauce amazingly. I also really loved the sweet potato mash that accompanied it. They had a Yelp check in offer for a free dessert with an entree and we were celebrating a birthday so we went with the peanut butter chocolate cake and the eskimo pie. I'd a huge peanut butter and chocolate fan and this cake was just great. I'd definitely come back to explore the menu some more (as lots of things sounded delicious that I didn't have a chance to try) but would have a hard time not ordering seitan.
(4)
Kali S.

My boyfriend and I are new to this vegan thing so we decided we try out Blind Faith Cafe. What a great decision! We started with the spicy seitan satay. It was delicious and it's worth going there just for that. I got the peanut noodles and they were just alright. I would have liked more sauce and a thicker sauce, but it was still good. My boyfriend got the yellow curry and it was fantastic. The service was good; everyone was very friendly. I only wish they would open a location closer to me.
(5)
Marc R.

I started going to Blind Faith way back in the 1990s and loved it then. I did not like the Lincoln (Chicago) location when it opened, and understood why it closed - it was nothing like the Evanston location. There were very few vegetarian places like Blind Faith back then, and now there are many more, and the BF restaurant and bakery has perhaps entered the realm of a classic. We had the bibim bop which was solid, but not mind-blowing. It did not come with a side of hot sauce or any of the things one might expect although they brought us some Louisiana style hot sauce rather than Thai or Korean hot sauce or paste. Meh. The sietan was awesome! That stuff just rocked. Bakery items are amazing. Top flight. Vegan and Vegetarian options. Many of the classic meals are still on the menu which is always nice to see. Solid, friendly service, and delivering high quality food.
(3)
Sabina M.

My family and I love the warm atmosphere and the food. We're vegan and we find that there's a really decent selection, and love the macrobiotic plate. The desserts are the best I have had in any other vegan restaurant I have been to here in Chicago. I'm not sure why the rating is low because this place deserves 5 stars if not only for how long they have been around serving plant based goodness. We love comming here so much we decided to spend our thanksgiving dinner here tomorrow, if they will be open. ( came on here to check but left a review prior to said checking. ) XD
(5)
John S.

Excellent food. Started with the quesadilla. Loved the gouda cheese shallot combo. We also have the steamed potstickers that everyone enjoyed. For my main course i had the fajita platter. Really enjoyed the seitan. Huge order was not able to finish. For dessert I had the peanut butter chocolate cake. Which is by far the best thing i had here. I would not recommend skipping this dessert, because it is to die for. Service was very helpful and friendly. Only reason i didnt give it 5 stars is the mixed drinks were only so-so. My wife had cucumber mint breeze. It tasted like it barely had any Vodka, our friend white sangria which was rather disappointing taste wise. Other then the drinks i would highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)
Helen S.

3.5 stars rounding down. My diet is generally carnivorous, but I had a curious craving for veggies and met a friend for dinner. Because I ran 7 miles the night before, and ravenously ate all the things at brunch the next morning, I wasn't too hungry even by dinner time. We ordered the hummus as a starter. I only tried a little bit of it and thought that it was strange, since it didn't taste like any other hummus I've ever tried. For my main, I got the blind faith salad, which was okay. Flavors meshed well, but it had too many raisins and not enough avocado. My friend's fajitas though were amazing. I've never liked seitan in the past, but I took a bite of hers and wow. Too bad this wasn't my main, or else I would've bumped up my review. Decor was cute and a little fancier than I expected actually. Overall, okay meal, I might return when I feel the urge for more veggies.
(3)
Susan J.

Consistently delicious vegetarian food with the bonus of a bar and excellent baked goods. They make a mean caipirinha!
(5)
Leah C.

best GF desserts... it's been some time since i've eaten a meal here (pre-yelp days) but have stopped in for some treats at the bakery whenever i'm in the area. i'm always greeted with a smile and friendly fun convo and always walk away with some delicious treats. i'm not exclusively GF or vegan (i'm vegetarian) but when given the option, will take both -- especially here. the lemon torte (GF, vegan) is crumbly like your typical GF dessert but the "icing" makes up for it and makes this a delectable dessert. the carrot cake (vegan) is delicious and not overly sweet. my favorite is the thumbprint cookies (GF, vegan) - they are nuttily scrumptious.
(4)
Michele H.

I went back because a friend of mine insisted. Glad I did, the Kung Pao and lovely server won me back. Lots more attention to service than previous visits.
(4)
Paul S.

My wife's idea. I was more than skeptical, being the king of carnivores. BBQ seitan sammich was better than many BBQ beef sammiches I've had. Sweet tater fries. My wife had enchiladas verde. Potstickers. I'm tellin ya it was wonderful. Really good. I didn't miss the meat. And the desserts were awesome. Very nice atmosphere. Real green business model. Tree hugger place but the food was great. We'll definitely go back.
(5)
candy c.

I love the french toast flambe! But really---bring back the vegetarian biscuits and gravy! You have the biscuits (which are very tasty, even plain) so why not do the gravy? This is a great place to run in for a coffee and snack to go or to grab lunch. The staff is generally pretty friendly. When I recently grabbed a coffee, the girl working the counter was super nice and actually improved my mood. You can't say that very often! :)
(4)
Rahul S.

OMG. Amazing vegan food. Last time I came here.......I ate the Enchiladas Verde. It was crap. However, my cousin told me to try something else. One thing you have to eat here is the Black Bean Tostadas.........it's under the sandwich category. That was strange. I couldn't find this under the entree menu..........so I texted my cousin what on earth are you talking about a black bean tostada.....she then told me it was there. I asked the waitress........and pointed me to the sandwich section. Their deserts are amazing as well. Would I come here again? Hell yeah. A nice place for a date or a large group.
(4)
James B.

Let me start with my normal dinner eats salads. I am a meat eater and this place was great. Aside from the slow service, I was blown away. I don't know what kind of sorcery they use back in that kitchen, but the food was delicious.
(4)
Marina M.

Wow! I took my family to Blind Faith when they were in town. It was our first time so we went a little overboard. I've never seen rice milk on a menu so I just had to try the Rice Dream latte (since I'm not a soy or dairy fan). We shared the French toast flambe (kahula, orange berry sauce, carmalized bananas...it was only to die for) and huevos rancheros (very tasty). We also had cherry sider and a copa cabana smoothie. I can't wait to go back and try something from the bakery.
(5)
Helen L.

I went there for brunch with my boyfriend the other day. It totally hit the spot. We started off with their warm onion gruyere tart, which was absolutely superb; the dressed greens that came with it was extremely light and surprisingly flavorful. When we brought up that my boyfriend's mocha tasted exactly like hot chocolate, which was delicious but not really what he wanted- our waitress was super nice about adding coffee to the drink. I ordered the blueberry pancakes which is made with cornmeal -- loved the texture! And to top it off it came with real maple syrup (apparently most advertised maple syrup is really corn syrup and maple flavoring). My boyfriend got the spinach feta omelette, which he really seemed to enjoy. The only downside was that the butter was not very warm so it was hard to put on the pancakes, but other than that everything was great! It's nice to see sustainable restaurants in Evanston; although it's a little pricey, it's definitely worth it!
(5)
Jerry M.

Fantastic mellow atmosphere. Staff is wonderfully attentive. Prices are moderate. Selection of food is great. Traditional and ethnic faves prepared with vegetarian flair. Make reservations to save waiting time during the evenings.
(5)
Keiko S.

Finally, I succeeded in dragging my carnivore hubby to Blind Faith Cafe, and it seems like we'll actually be going back here regularly because we both enjoyed the food. Yay, no more begging for a hearty vegetarian meal! I believe in brown rice, and this place has plenty of it. Upon request, we got the jasmine rice in Teriyaki Grilled Tofu and Jambalaya replaced with brown, and they both came out delicious. Maybe a little too salty, but nonetheless, they tasted really fresh. We were impressed by their seitan; it's healthy (high in protein, low in fat) and as satisfying as any meat. They add no preservatives or additives in their food, and their produce are freshly delivered every day. According to our waiter, who was friendly and pleasantly casual, their two most popular dishes are the Mongolian Stir-Fry and the Seitan Fajitas - both served with brown rice. I'm definitely going to order those next time. The prices are agreeable. The space is comfortably big, and it's split into a cafe and a dining room. Most importantly, there's a whole array of side dishes and vegan pastries (yes, CUPCAKES!!) in the middle. They also serve fruit smoothies and shakes, in which you can add soy protein. Mmmm...can't wait to go back for those rare delicacies.
(4)
Vaidehi T.

Went here for brunch with friends on a Saturday. I loved the place. Good company, good food - yes please!! All the food that we ordered was delicious. They have fresh squeezed orange juice - it was fantabulous!! Would definitely come back here if I was in the neighborhood.
(4)
Allen B.

Years ago, this place used to be dedicated to the health and well-being of those who wanted the eat good delicious food at a reasonable price. Now, in a rather simple but welcoming quiet environment, you can eat pre-prepared food offered as if it was made fresh. The macro-plate came with cooked squash that was still frozen inside, and [presumably] microwaved about half the necessary time to thaw. The soup was cold, and the rest of the food was tepid. Worse, my friend and I, who both had the same thing, got very trippy headaches at the same time about 20 minutes after eating....as if we had overdosed on MSG. (I doubt it was MSG, but it was definitely something in the food). I sent the owner a message about this but got no response. The owner is a good marketer that has the presentation down pretty good, but bottom line....well, seems like he's really just interested in the bottom line: make it look good, sound good, perhaps taste good (at times), but in the body, it just doesn't feel good. Overpriced for what you get. ....but at least it's quiet enough to have a conversation, though after my last 2 visits there, with similar experiences, I've never been back, and doubt I will.
(2)
Nick M.

I can see how they got their name. You truly have to believe what they are serving you is something that you won't make you sick later or that the server will actually bring you what you ordered. The place had so much potential for me. I mean it's a little bit of a Denny's atmosphere but with higher prices, though I do love a diverse menu. Where else can you get a torta, sweet potato fries, Mongolian stir fry, Thai peanut noodles, quiche, and a Sicilian pizza?! Then again maybe there is a reason restaurants don't do it. I started of with some Miso soup and I should have stopped there. The broth was awful, as in I couldn't force myself to swallow it. Then the torta -avocado, feta, tomato, lettuce, and sour cream on a homemade bolillo roll. Sounds good right... (shakes his head) nooo, it was terrible and again I couldn't finish it. Even at $9.50, I couldn't bring myself to finish this small torta and fries (fries were under cooked). My date's garden salad had so much water on the plate we didn't need out water glasses refilled. Service was about as good as the food. I don't think I'll be back, what a shame!!
(2)
Nicole M.

Ummmm this place is too pricey for me. I understand they are upscale I guess. The tea was good (How can anyone mess up tea?). Their potstickers was not good. I requested a refund and my request was granted. The latin manager on duty appeared annoyed though. He gave me a passive aggressive attitude that I didn't like.
(2)
LuckyCharms N.

A little disappointed. We came here hungry and had heard good things about the cafe. We ordered the pot sticker appetizers and the lemon gnocchi and spinach lasagna. The waitress forgot to place our lasagna order but after mentioning this when our food was brought out, quickly brought it after. To me, the taste was very bland of the dishes, adding salt brought out more flavor. In the end, we spent $40 and left hungry. Portion sizes were decent, but it was, in my opinion, far too expensive for the amount of effort/quality/flavor that you got. I didn't leave upset, but I won't be going back.
(2)
Matt W.

So I'm a chubby dude who loves meat. Mmm-mmm-meat. The veggie lifestyle, while not inherently offensive to me, just something I've never considered or wanted. But funny enough I found myself at Blind Faith the other day. And funny enough I found myself having a meat free dinner. And even more funny I found myself liking it. This, of course, has me doubting my entire life. Am I really Matt? Am I really a carnivore? More on this later. I went to Blind Faith a lot as a kid. I remember it being a bit dingy and far crunchier on the hippie scale than I would have otherwise preferred. Had my first seitan there, had my first tofu too. I never did adopt those as part of my regular diet but I could at least say I'd had 'em and lived to tell the tale. So oddly enough I was out on a date and oddly enough she happened to be vegetarian and oddly enough we were not more than a block from Blind Faith when the idea of going there to eat was brought up. Very well, it was decided and off we went. It's different now. More upscale, more refined. Not at all dingy and lower on the crunchy scale. The menus ripped right out of some she-she-la-la bistro in the East Village. Still, I was intrigued and scanned the menu for something delicious sounding. My date was going with the Mongolian Stir-Fry which I had to try, I was torn between the Thai Peanut Noodles and the Crepes Poblano. The waitress recommended the noodles so I went with her suggestion. Some time passed, some conversation had and then the food arrived. Hers was on a regular ol' plate, mine was in this spaceman bowl with angles and ovals and all sorts of other features likely meant to confuse my carnivorous mind into forgetting there was no meat in the dish. Joke's on them, it doesn't take much to confuse me so they totally wasted a lot of energy. A quick review on the one bite of the Mongolian Stir-Fry that I had. The seitan and peppers were cooked really, really well and if I hadn't ever had beef I would have no idea it wasn't authentic. Definitely a good dish. My noodles too were amazingly good. In my head I knew chicken was missing from the typical formula but I didn't really care. Taking the place was a mix of veggies including nice woody bamboo shoots and some tofu as well. The spice was definitely knocked up a peg on the dish which I appreciated and there were full sprigs of cilantro for me to tear up and distribute as I saw fit. In this case I saw fit to eat everything in sight. Now the peanut sauce was a little soupy, I would've appreciated it to be a bit more binding but overall I have no complaints. It was a very, very worthy dish. All in all Blind Faith has cleaned up nicely from the 90s when I was last there. Sure it's a little bit pricy but good food is always worth it. So to revisit the existential crisis I found myself in, it was thankfully resolved by meal's end. Yes I'm Matt. Yes I'm a carnivore but I just so happen to be veg-friendly.
(4)
Cindy F.

I used to eat at Bilnd Faith at least once a week - I hadn't been in there for a few years and it has changed quite a bit. It looks very nice inside - but I did not like the menu. I got what was closest to my old favorite, Tofu Vegetable Fried Rice, which isn't on the menu anymore. It was expensive!! It wasn't good!!! I was very disappointed, I am willing to pay for good food, but honestly this was not very good. What a waste of money and my time. I'm sad to write this - but I won't go back. It's not close to home and was always a destination - sadly, not anymore. Hey - Blind Faith - are you listening to your public? There seem to be a lot of reviews that are similar to mine!!
(2)
Mrs. K.

Driving around Evanston, my boyfriend and I decided to eat wherever we could find street parking. This is a typical method we utilize to choose dining establishments. Luckily, we stumbled on this delightful vegetarian cafÃ©. I'm pretty sure that most of the menu items are vegan-approved (not all). (Side bar: I don't eat red or white meat, only fish. I have also been toying with the idea of becoming a vegan sometime in the future, so this place was very apropos for me. I just finished watching Fork Over Knives, a documentary about the health benefits of a plant-based diet. I highly recommend: forksoverknives.com .) We weren't greeted at the door, so we went over to the bakery side (desserts looked amazing) and asked someone to seat us. The dining room was nice enough (candles, booths, etc) and they offer a nice drink list. However, the prices seemed a little high for what you get. I wasn't thinking about paying $15-$25 for an entrÃ©e when walking into a "cafÃ©," but overall, the dishes were pretty tasty. I wasn't impressed with the service. I had no idea we walked into a vegetarian, all-natural place and would have liked a little description or "spiel" from our server. She didn't seem very attentive, but we managed to get out before our meter expired, so I was happy. Many of the menu item descriptions sounded satisfying, but I settled on the Sicilian Pizza. My boyfriend ordered the Kamoosh (a plate of black bean nachos) and Lentil soup. The soup was fantastic; my pizza was just okay. I would have liked it a little crispier; it tasted too much like regular hunk of bread. I definitely plan to go back for the niche experience and to try some dessert.
(3)
T W.

I have been going to Blind Faith Cafe on an infrequent basis (five to ten times a year) for many years. Recently the restaurant has gone all "upscale" on me: the prices went up, the portions went down, and they took out the self service tables and counter. To be honest it had been going downhill for sometime, but now I won't be going back. They changed their menu and took out my favorite dish - Bi Bim Bop - and replaced it with some faceless "tofu vegetable rice bowl". They also no longer have hummos on the appetizer menu - how does a vegetarian restaurant not have hummos? I was so annoyed at the boring selections that were left on the menu that I ended up ordering a bowl of soup, and they didn't even do that well. It was Asian Dumplings in Shiitake Consomme which was a tiny portion served up by the waiter pouring a cup of consomme over the dumplings and all down the sides of the bowl therefore cooling off my soup off in the process. I just didn't get it, and if I wanted anything it was a decent bowl of soup, not a soup show. If they had at least brought me a hot bowl of soup I wouldn't be writing this review. They have annoyed me for the last time!
(1)
Abby D.

i go here for their hazelnut and white chocolate lattes. i go here for their kick-arse macrobiotic platter. i go here to gawk at their dessert shelves. but i don't go here for the price. unless i'm trying to impress my veggie buddies. actually, i don't even go here for that.
(3)
bloopie s.

i might change this rating once i actually have a sit down meal here, or i might not. i hope not. i only straggled in this morning before i was off to walk 14 blocks for a quick homemade muffin or something to keep my spirits and energy in check! but holy crap. the scones. have you tried them? i generally don't like scones because they are usually too hard and taste like stale, hard, ugly cookie. but these mini scones are unbelieveable. i ordered two blueberry ones to go before i realized that they have chocolate chip ones. say what? i would marry blind faith cafe if they made me scones like that everyday. they are soft and luscious. i realize luscious is my favorite word, but oh so appropriate. amazing.
(5)
Jen M.

I've lived in Evanston for awhile now and have eaten at Blind Faith many times. We ordered carry-out last night and I was so excited to hear that my old favorite, lemon seitan, was back on the menu. Unfortunately, this dish was far from the flavorful dish I remembered. Instead, it was incredibly bland. I suspect this is because of the restaurant's transformation in look and and with its menu. I can't judge the rest of the dishes since I only had that and the crab cake appetizer, which was decent, but what I'm so appalled by are the PRICES! I realize this type of food costs more, but this was incredibly overpriced... so much so that I won't be returning. I'd rather go to a fine restaurant and spend $10 to $20 more than what it cost us last night. We ordered two lemon seitan dishes, one crab cake appetizer (remember, fake crab cake) that consisted of just ONE crab cake, and a Santa Fe seitan salad for my lunch today, and the total was $58!!! I had to check the receipt just to make sure they didn't make an error. And, sadly, they didn't. I still can hardly believe that the small amount of food that was so lacking in flavor cost that much. I feel robbed!
(2)
Robert R.

My wife suggested we go to Blind faith Cafe for it's healthy eating menu. Since it was mid morning, we had breakfast. I tried the Chilaquiles and man, were they heavenly! Very light, but very delicious along with the black beans. My wife tried and omlette which was also very good. Coffee was also on point. The waiter gave us a free Tiramisu dessert for it being our first time there and it was also great! Love this place, will be back again and try the dinner menu.
(4)
Yuly M.

LOVE this place. Had the enchiladas and they were amazing. I HIGHLY recommend this pace if you are in the evanston area
(5)
Nafeesah A.

I ate at the Blind Faith Cafe over 20 years ago and back then the staff would be sporting t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers and looking like a bunch of 60s hippies.The staff today since they moved are now looking more like a catering staff. The prices used to be pretty cheap and they've done away with their cheap eats menu which was my mom's favorite 25 years ago when she started eating at this place daily while she waited on me and my sister to get out of school. For many who have remembered the cheap eats menu will want to email the Blind Faith to ask them to bring that menu option back. Some of the prices have gotten pretty steep in recent years. The Blind Faith moved to a pretty good location to where it is on Dempster Street whereas they were on the corner of Sherman and Dempster except the space was a lot smaller in size and looked like a diner instead of a moderate upscale restaurant. The staff is very friendly and professional and they greet you when you walk in and direct you to the dining area or to the counter if you're wishing to order take out. Other than that you can get a pretty good meal for about a moderate price of up to $15. They would see a big following for their vegetarian and vegan meals by lowering the price on some of their menu items.
(4)
Neil G.

Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Value: 3 As much as I like Evanston I just don't get up there too often (yes even less frequently than the South Loop). However, it's the half-way point between my in-laws and my place, so when my mother-in-law suggested meeting for dinner at this vegetarian spot after her dentist appointment in Skokie, I couldn't say no. The clincher was when she said, "It'll be great! You can review it!" Now I'm pretty sure I know the identity of one of my four fans... We arrived at 6:45 on a Thursday night and had no problem getting one of the prized booths. I was a little worried ordering with my mother-in-law because she doesn't dig my whole "no substitutions" mantra, and our food styles tend to clash. I'm pretty sure she can count the number of restaurants she's been to with "pub, grill, tavern, or bar" in the name on one hand. I ended up ordering my own BBQ Seitan Sandwich and we split the Grilled Butternut Squash as an appetizer. The Squash reminded me of my cabin in Machon because it was, well, sweet. I've been wanting to share that for a long time now. However, I would have liked a little more smoky, spicy, or grilled flavor in it. I think the sauce was just a little too overpowering. It was generally tasty, but a little too one dimensional for my taste. The peppery arugula it was paired with added some much needed contrast. Now, onto the star of the evening: The BBQ Seitan Sandwich. I was a little hesitant to order a $12 vegetarian sandwich at a casual restaurant, but it took my breath (and my appetite) away. It was a cross between a BBQ Beef and Pulled Pork (I think) sandwich. The the seitan was perfectly prepared, the BBQ sauce had a great, flavorful kick, and the peppers added an additional richness to the already embarrassingly wealthy sandwich. The slaw was a little lacking in flavor, but brought that great crunch and cooling effect to the sandwich, which honestly, was all it needed. Oh, and did I mention that this heavenly sandwich came with a heaping pile of crispy, homemade, sweet potato fries? Props to the chef who was able to pull off a meaty, yet still crispy sweet potato fry. I'm still trying to figure out how to do that myself. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone who's willing to try something different. Much like Mana Food Bar (see my review), the restaurant mainly stays true to its vegetarian form, and doesn't use smoke and mirrors to trick its customers into thinking they're eating real meat. I'd like to say it's the "perfect Evanston mother-in-law weeknight dinner spot," but that sounds about as exciting as the dentist appointment she came from to meet me there. [Thanks for reading my review and be sure to check out my other reviews on Yelp. My mission is to find restaurants that have great vegetarian, kosher, and vegan fare. On every review, I rate food, service, atmosphere, and value on a 1-5 scale to give you quick and easy overview of the restaurant. I love cooking, eating, and doing both with my friends and family. I always welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions so contact me on Yelp or Facebook if you want to share ideas.]
(4)
Rachel K.

Hilariously awful service. Allow me to illustrate. My mom (perfect specimen): What kind of iced tea do you have? Server (snarly redhead): Our drinks are on the back page. Server makes a quick exit. Mom: Which of your teas are unsweetened? Server: What? Mom: Which of your teas are unsweetened? Server: Like black...? Mom: Yes. Is your black iced tea unsweetened? Server: Yes. Mom: .... Can I have that? Server: You want one of those? Mom: Yes. Yes I would. Awkward moment as Server stares at me, then rolls her eyes and exits. Mom: Can I please have ketchup and soy sauce? Male server (the scowling redhead has given up on us): What sauce? Mom: SOY sauce? MS: You want...? Mom: Soy sauce. MS: Ok. A moment later he brings her ketchup and a brown liquid in a glass container. She pours the brown liquid all over her tofu scramble. She tastes it. "This is balsamic vinaigrette" We had to ask for refills on water, when we did, the Male Server slogged water into my mom's dish and pranced away. I'm not quite sure why these servers bother to work at Blind Faith- they seem better suited for a rally, or participants of Grumpy Hipsters Anonymous. I'm guessing they weren't worried about secret shoppers, or corporate goons coming to check on them, like I was when I worked in a restaurant. The end. The service was terrible, the food was meh, at least the decor is nice? Go at your own risk.
(1)
Katie L.

My first experience with Blind Faith was before I even lived in IL (more than 8 years ago). Since then, I every time my vegan bestow comes into town, we try to go. The food is great, even though some items are a little overpriced or have the "I could probably make this" factor. Their desserts are AMAZING! The vegan chocolate peanut butter cake will shut up all those vegan haters! Haha It's worth the trek up to Evanston for interesting food, a cute ambiance and a great piece of cake!
(4)
Jerry K.

This is my 3rd visit to Blind Faith Cafe. It's a bit of a drive from my house (20 miles) but worth it. The food is exceptionally tasty for a non-meat restaurant. But it stands on it's own as a good quality restaurant where you can be assured of a healthy and tasty meal. Easy street parking that's free after 6 pm otherwise metered.
(4)
Kristen T.

Prices are rising, but portions are getting smaller? The once amazing $9 Blind Faith Chef salad contained a generous portion of greens, red onions, cashews, raisins, avocado, & Jack cheese is now reduced to a small dinner salad at $8 a plate. Their menu is half the size it used to be, eliminating some of their best dishes. Blind Faith just isn't what it used to be.
(2)
Sir Gull R.

Glory be. This establishment is back to full throttle! The Tacos are obscenely delicious and the cashew balls and chocolate cake balls are the perfect treat for anyone who wants a little decadence with out all that guilt. Finally the staff, they are just good people always willing to help always accommodating.
(5)
Moab E.

Mediocre at BEST - used to go here all the time and food was freshly made. I ordered the enchiladas mole then were flavorless and assembled then warmed - tasted a day old! The description sounded great but the cheese was a melted glob on top. Still worth the trip for the peanut butter chocolate cake - oh, it's pricey - )15 average plate
(1)
Julie G.

What a great restaurant- Everything is vegetarian with vegan options! Our night was made special by the server, Stan! This guy was so efficient, professional and fun! He made our meal! We even got the treat of meeting his identical twin during the meal. We were there for a special double birthday night out. A group of 5. We all had different things and everyone was happy with their meal but my Dad, who ordered spicy Thai peanut with noodles, and shouldn't eat spicy anymore. My husband ordered the same thing and loved it so he ate it all. Then we had the chocolate vegan cake-wow! That is the best cake I've had since my Grandma's chocolate birthday cakes she was famous for! Love the food, people and atmosphere is nice too. Save room for desserts!
(5)
Chris D.

I finally made it here in 2006 and can't wait to return. I ordered the seitan marsala, and it was incredible. It did get very crowded on a Sunday night, and we were lucky to get seated right away.
(4)
Henry J.

My favorite restaurant, and that's it, that should be enough. But what's more, if you are vegetarian or vegan, then this place is a life saver. Delicious food, friendly service and innovative menu. I never thought I could enjoy food this much as a vegetarian. Their concoctions are more scrumptious than meat, and some of the sauces are to die for.
(5)
Jennifer H.

My reviews seem unfair. When I review a restaurant after one meal, I write these lengthy and specific reviews because I'm referencing this one night that just happened. Whereas, writing about Blind Faith, which I hit up at least twice a month, I lack that same attention to detail. It's probably because all of my Blind Faith experiences have melded into one huge memory of delicious vegetarian cuisine, ridiculously good deserts, lovely service and a nice completely unpretentious atmosphere. I really love this place. While I've had the occasional off meal (this may be the only vegetarian restaurant where I don't enjoy their salads), the experience is always great. My favorites on the menu are the bibim bop and the black bean burrito, but if you're in the mood for something smaller, their vegetarian chilli is a great lighter option. You really can't go wrong with anything in their desert counter either, but again, I am partial to the fruit crumbles and the carrot cake. I also love their oatmeal bars, either blueberry or cranberry, but I can somehow justify to myself that because of the word "oatmeal," that's not a desert. Oh man, now I'm hungry. Guess I know where I'll be heading...
(5)
B. L.

The have a nice selection of baked goods and really good, strong coffee. There is also a wide selection of teas and other beverages. Some of their deserts are non-dairy for those with a lactose intolerance. They also have a nice lunch or dinner menu that focuses on Thai food. I also love visiting Evanston as often as I can.
(4)
Jamie F.

Whoaaaaaaaaaaaa. Awesome awesome breakfast and super affordable. I ordered a red pepper potato frittata and my friend got the flambe french toast. Both were amazing and creative dishes prepared with obvious care and quality ingredients.
(5)
Scott J.

The food is under seasoned, over priced and overrated in my opinion. Not much else to say about. I go here all the time too because my wife, for some reason, likes this place. If it was up to me, I just wouldn't go.
(2)
Meredith B.

As a vegetarian, this place sounded like a great idea. My meal was delicious but I wound up getting sick all over my boyfriend later on that day from the food. Ick!
(1)
Heidi J.

I was excited when I moved to the neighborhood at the prospect of a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, but truth be told it leaves a lot to be desired. Most things on the menu are things I could prepare at home. The flavors are not interesting or imaginative. And the atmosphere,...it doesn't seem to fit at all with they type of food they think they're serving. It would serve the restaurant and the customers so much better if it felt a little more casual. I am constantly surprised by how many people still go there. I wish I could support this neighborhood business, but if I'm going to pay for a dining experience, I'm afraid I have to jump on the purple line.
(1)
Laura O.

My friends introduced me to this place several years ago and I am still going to this place. I am not a vegetarian but i do consider this non-vegetarian friendly place. The food is fresh to me (and that's important!) The place is cozy. My only drawback for this place is parking- i am not a big fan of street parking
(4)
Whitney S.

Pretty expensive but worth it. Really good Mexican dishes. Bibimbop is amazing: They replace the beef with seitan and top witth an egg. The portions are enormous...you can definitely split. Lots of baked goods, vegan and otherwise. The Peanut Butter shake is really good. You can choose be seated and waited on or you can just order at the counter and grab your food when it's ready. Yesterday I ate there twice.
(5)
olivia s.

I had the "crab" cakes and the macrobiotic plate. I really enjoyed the food and I am glad I discovered this restaurant. I had no idea it existed and found it listed in a directory at my hotel, the hilton garden inn in downtown Evanston. Downtown Evanston has a lot of shops and is fun to walk around. It is a very cool college town and I consider the location of Blind Faith as more of a destination location, at least when it is compared to Neo V in Columbus (near Ohio State) and Mothers in Austin (near Univ of Texas). While I enjoyed my order from Blind Faith, I think the food at Mothers was better.
(4)
Hannah M.

I joined Yelp specifically to review Blind Faith. Let me preface this by saying that I grew up near Evanston and am a vegetarian and have been enthusiastically eating at blind faith for over 15 years. I went tonight with a friend for the first time in almost a year and we were both super disappointed. I completely second what Rachel F. said. It totally does suck now. We had vegetarian potstickers as an appetizer which were like $8 and tiny and really not good. Sad. I had seitan marsala which they've had on the menu for years and is always delicious. Well, I don't know what this was tonight but it was not what i was expecting and not good at all. Totally bizarre! It was seitan with capers, fennel and parmesan cheese on noodles with nary a taste of marsala to be had anywhere. Huh? And seriously, what is up with this restaurant taking old standbys that everyone liked and changing them for the worse? First they get rid of lemon seitan (which everyone loved) altogether, and now they mess up the seitan marsala.... i don't even want to know what's in store for the fajitas. I'm over this place. Too expensive, and just not good anymore at all. Very sad.
(1)
Rachel Y.

Excellent flavor, big portions. Little pricey
(4)
Michael M.

I have to confess I haven't been to Blind Faith cafe more than a few times. The food ranges from pretty good to very bland and unsatisfying. The service is fine. They have speakers and events which are held upstairs.
(3)
Adam P.

Looking for a healthy alternative to heavy Italian food, and a break from Asian cuisine, my friends and I decided to head to the Blind Faith Cafe for some alternative fare. The decor is about what you would expect from a nice little hippie place, complete with the requisite person with dread locks behind the counter. What it lacked though was food that tasted good. I ordered a vanilla milkshake, which was admittedly good, and easily the highlight of my meal, and a bowl of tasteless granola. Seriously, how does granola with yogurt not taste good at a hippie cafe? Aren't hippies known for their granola intake? I thought if anything it would be the safe choice, but I was wrong. I also was able to try one of my friend's weird stew which was supposed to be spicy but just tasted like a weird veggie soup. Throw in the fact that we each paid over $10 and you have a pretty dissapointed diner here.
(2)
Tiffany T.

I can't beleive this place is still around after all these years. It wasn't that great back in 1992. But, at least in 1992 you got a special "cool" feeling by eating in a vegetarian restaurant if you weren't a vegetarian. In 2006 - not so much.
(2)
Jenny I.

My boss took me here once to discuss my sad attitude after I was injred on the job. Once the food came, I didn't even care that I wanted to die. Don't get the paella though. Stick with the seitan options.
(4)
Marie B.

My first thought: What IS this place? Is it vegetarian? Is it healthy? Is it organic? The "theme" is not entirely clear. We were also thrown by the diverse...but not in a good way...menu. Not to mention, the prices seem a little steep. NOTE: I never, ever, ever complain about prices...but, I was surprised at the prices...based on the descriptions of some of the entrees. So, we tried a few appetizers: The Risotto Cakes were good...but, I am glad I am not vegetarian and can eat a 'real' crab cake when I desire! The french fries were quite good... The pizza was icky....some sort of fake cornmeal crust...bland, bland, bland tomato sauce....fake cheese?! Yikes. Overall, not a place I'll make a habit of frequenting I have found some fab vegetarian/organic restaurants. Case in point: Karen's in the city.
(2)
Michele H.

I went back because a friend of mine insisted. Glad I did, the Kung Pao and lovely server won me back. Lots more attention to service than previous visits.
(4)
Paul S.

My wife's idea. I was more than skeptical, being the king of carnivores. BBQ seitan sammich was better than many BBQ beef sammiches I've had. Sweet tater fries. My wife had enchiladas verde. Potstickers. I'm tellin ya it was wonderful. Really good. I didn't miss the meat. And the desserts were awesome. Very nice atmosphere. Real green business model. Tree hugger place but the food was great. We'll definitely go back.
(5)
candy c.

I love the french toast flambe! But really---bring back the vegetarian biscuits and gravy! You have the biscuits (which are very tasty, even plain) so why not do the gravy? This is a great place to run in for a coffee and snack to go or to grab lunch. The staff is generally pretty friendly. When I recently grabbed a coffee, the girl working the counter was super nice and actually improved my mood. You can't say that very often! :)
(4)
Rahul S.

OMG. Amazing vegan food. Last time I came here.......I ate the Enchiladas Verde. It was crap. However, my cousin told me to try something else. One thing you have to eat here is the Black Bean Tostadas.........it's under the sandwich category. That was strange. I couldn't find this under the entree menu..........so I texted my cousin what on earth are you talking about a black bean tostada.....she then told me it was there. I asked the waitress........and pointed me to the sandwich section. Their deserts are amazing as well. Would I come here again? Hell yeah. A nice place for a date or a large group.
(4)
James B.

Let me start with my normal dinner eats salads. I am a meat eater and this place was great. Aside from the slow service, I was blown away. I don't know what kind of sorcery they use back in that kitchen, but the food was delicious.
(4)
Marina M.

Wow! I took my family to Blind Faith when they were in town. It was our first time so we went a little overboard. I've never seen rice milk on a menu so I just had to try the Rice Dream latte (since I'm not a soy or dairy fan). We shared the French toast flambe (kahula, orange berry sauce, carmalized bananas...it was only to die for) and huevos rancheros (very tasty). We also had cherry sider and a copa cabana smoothie. I can't wait to go back and try something from the bakery.
(5)
Bonnie L.

I went to Blind Faith last night. I have been coming here for years. A few years back I frequented Blind Faith 2 and sometimes 3 times per week. I absolutely love their Santa Fe Salad. Since I am a vegetarian I just love going there and having so many choices. Oddly enough, I still always get the Santa Fe Salad. Last night I decided to head over there for the first time in a long time. The first thing that I noticed was that they repainted and added some partitions to section off some of the dining areas. Very nice. Then I ordered. When the salad came I noticed how much smaller the portion was compared to how it used to be. I mean significantly smaller. I thought maybe this is how they are planning to pay for their upgrades! Anyway, the salad was still really yummy but I was not stuffed like I usually am. I also ordered this really awesome Berry Cobbler. It is really delicious but not a traditional sweet cobbler, which is what I think makes it very unique and better than others. Like the salad, much smaller portion than it used to be. One more thing that I order very frequently when I go to Blind Faith is the Broccoli. I know that this seems kind of like a stupid thing to comment on but I bring it up because by far, Blind Faith steams their Broccoli better than any other place. It is never over cooked or under cooked. I just love how fresh it is and prepared perfectly. Blind Faith also seems to take care in hiring good servers. Very attentive staff. Blind Faith is one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)
A D.

The macrobiotic plate was soooo good and I felt good eating it! Went for the first time last weekend, and this is now one of my favs for wholesome vegan restaurant options. Plus, Blind Faith was participating in Unicef's Tap Project where diners give $1 or more for the tap water they'd normally get for free to fund clean drinkable water projects in Africa.
(4)
Marge J.

The food and service are inconsistent. The spiciness and flavor of dishes vary a great deal. Some times the food comes out steaming hot, other times it's lukewarm. It's hard to know if it's a service problem or a kitchen problem but we go regularly and this downgrade isn't based on one disappointing experience. For takeout, the person taking the order says special requests are OK (like our recent one to make the Thai noodles without heat) but the kitchen doesn't get the message. This has gone from a favorite to a last resort for us, a vegan and a vegetarian. It's too expensive to be so lame so I think my husband and I will be taking a break from Blind Faith for a while.
(1)
The Undertow W.

Great vegetarian food, including nice desserts, vegan and non, in a clean well-lighted place. Good service too. Prices can be a little steep (uh, @ $8 for two pancakes, no matter how good and organic, seems excessive to me), but I always come away feeling like a ate real food with real nutrition. Certainly worth a look if you're in the area.
(4)
Theresa K.

Overall a delight! Great dishes to satisfy vegetarian and meat eaters alike. The food is healthy and delicious! I have never been disappointed with any of the daily specials or the regular menu. The chocolate vegan cake is a definate MUST! The staff is friendly and helpful and the environment is great. You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Eric W.

I couldn't be luckier to live 5 seconds from this restaurant. It is by far the best vegetarian / vegan restaurant I have been to so far. I can honestly say that I have completely loved everything I have ever eaten here... never a bad meal. Portions are generous for the price and there are plenty of options. You can get a really great mongolian seitan dish, as well as seitan barbeque (which is a gigantic!) Tofu dishes, simply vegetable dishes est. (And make sure you stop in for a wrap at lunch... they are delicious!!!) I adore their fries... and you simply can't go wrong. They also have a small cafe area for coffee, and always have plenty of extremely tempting desserts, many of which are vegan. The only negative thing I would say is that the staff is not very friendly at all... I have only dined in a couple times... I mostly get takeout... but a majority of the time the staff is just very short, and not at all friendly... it's like they hand you the food and that's it. They rarely thank me or anything... I am always very friendly, but maybe they are just overworked... Luckily the food is so fantastic and outweighs the unfriendly-ness.
(5)
A M C.

Let me start by saying I used to love Blind Faith. I always got the Macrobiotic Plate, and I thought it was great. There was always enough for lunch the next day, too. Well, it started to get smaller. A lot smaller. Then they changed the dressing for the steamed kale, though I had two different waitrpeople insist that wasn't the case. Then, around the same time they did a huge menu change, they changed the steamed kale to a kale salad that I don't like at all. So, I've stopped getting the MacPlate and have tried other items, none of which completely thrills me. (When they did the menu change, they eliminated most of my husband's favorite items, too.) Circumstances took me there twice this weekend. Friday I had the Mongolian Stir Fry which was fine--no complaints. Saturday I had the most boring Bloody Mary ever. There was no flavor, and no vodka kick. It was a total waste of calories and money. I had the Jicama Salad starter, and it was just okay. It needed something else, a touch of cilantro maybe, or perhaps a few pepper flakes. It was just missing something. My Artichoke Barigoule was fine, but again, it needed to go farther. Perhaps a few fresh thyme leaves would have made a difference. We will go back, but not with the frequency we once did. It used to be an every-other week place, and now we go every few months--except for this weekend.
(3)
Elyse G.

If you're a meat eater you will be blown away at how good meatless options taste. If you're vegetarian or vegan you'll be loving life. I am a new vegetarian/vegan and this was the best meal I've had in a long time! SInce I was with my family we all ordered something different and all loved everything to the point our plates were clean! We had the bibim bop like a nice stirfry with fresh veggies, another fajitas, one had chipotle quesadillas, one had tostadas, and the last person had a special (tofu, eggplant, tomato with lima bean puree). I could have easily traded plates with anyone but we all loved our own meals too much that we just had to share. We of course ended with fantastic dessert...tiramusi, vegan chocolate peanut butter cake and the blueberry crumble bar. They were really good. I'm personally not a huge fan of chocolate and peanut butter but it was good if that's your thing. The prices are very reasonable for both the amount of food you get and for the healthy, fresh veggies, seitan/tofu, brown rice, bean purees we all tasted. If you consider what it would cost to make a meal with all the fresh veggies the prices were great! The service was good especially for a busy Satur. night. The waiter/waitresses all helped each other out without any awakardness. I will definitely go back very soon!!!! I wish they had one downtown too but at least Evanston isn't too far.
(5)
T W.

I have been going to Blind Faith Cafe on an infrequent basis (five to ten times a year) for many years. Recently the restaurant has gone all "upscale" on me: the prices went up, the portions went down, and they took out the self service tables and counter. To be honest it had been going downhill for sometime, but now I won't be going back. They changed their menu and took out my favorite dish - Bi Bim Bop - and replaced it with some faceless "tofu vegetable rice bowl". They also no longer have hummos on the appetizer menu - how does a vegetarian restaurant not have hummos? I was so annoyed at the boring selections that were left on the menu that I ended up ordering a bowl of soup, and they didn't even do that well. It was Asian Dumplings in Shiitake Consomme which was a tiny portion served up by the waiter pouring a cup of consomme over the dumplings and all down the sides of the bowl therefore cooling off my soup off in the process. I just didn't get it, and if I wanted anything it was a decent bowl of soup, not a soup show. If they had at least brought me a hot bowl of soup I wouldn't be writing this review. They have annoyed me for the last time!
(1)
Abby D.

i go here for their hazelnut and white chocolate lattes. i go here for their kick-arse macrobiotic platter. i go here to gawk at their dessert shelves. but i don't go here for the price. unless i'm trying to impress my veggie buddies. actually, i don't even go here for that.
(3)
bloopie s.

i might change this rating once i actually have a sit down meal here, or i might not. i hope not. i only straggled in this morning before i was off to walk 14 blocks for a quick homemade muffin or something to keep my spirits and energy in check! but holy crap. the scones. have you tried them? i generally don't like scones because they are usually too hard and taste like stale, hard, ugly cookie. but these mini scones are unbelieveable. i ordered two blueberry ones to go before i realized that they have chocolate chip ones. say what? i would marry blind faith cafe if they made me scones like that everyday. they are soft and luscious. i realize luscious is my favorite word, but oh so appropriate. amazing.
(5)
Jen M.

I've lived in Evanston for awhile now and have eaten at Blind Faith many times. We ordered carry-out last night and I was so excited to hear that my old favorite, lemon seitan, was back on the menu. Unfortunately, this dish was far from the flavorful dish I remembered. Instead, it was incredibly bland. I suspect this is because of the restaurant's transformation in look and and with its menu. I can't judge the rest of the dishes since I only had that and the crab cake appetizer, which was decent, but what I'm so appalled by are the PRICES! I realize this type of food costs more, but this was incredibly overpriced... so much so that I won't be returning. I'd rather go to a fine restaurant and spend $10 to $20 more than what it cost us last night. We ordered two lemon seitan dishes, one crab cake appetizer (remember, fake crab cake) that consisted of just ONE crab cake, and a Santa Fe seitan salad for my lunch today, and the total was $58!!! I had to check the receipt just to make sure they didn't make an error. And, sadly, they didn't. I still can hardly believe that the small amount of food that was so lacking in flavor cost that much. I feel robbed!
(2)
Rhea B.

I decided to go here after a somewhat random day trip to Evanston. From word of mouth and brief internet searching it seemed to be the only Vegan friendly/Vegetarian place in Evanston, so we decided to go. After being sat at a table that was basically on top of all the 4 person tables, we asked to sit outside. I'm not sure if this bothered them because we didn't get very good service after that. I wanted to ask a few questions about the menu, mostly if the "Blind Faith Burger" was vegan. I was met with a laugh, as though I'm just supposed to know, when, frankly, it doesn't even say that they are a Vegetarian restaurant and I take my dietary restrictions seriously. I also asked if it came with mayo and was laughed at again and through his thick accent, told me, "there's mayo that you can have that's non dairy-not here just that you can buy it you know". Oh, thanks, I had no idea. I was curious about what's available at some grocery stores and not what I'm ordering to eat RIGHT NOW, thank you. We didn't have condiments when our food was served and our food was almost taken away from us before we were done-twice. Somewhat over priced and just kinda boring. Meh.
(2)
Dave L.

I looked at the menu for awhile before even noticing it was a Vegetarian place (as most of the people I was dining with were vegetarians). The menu was really impressive, and the breakfasts +pastries looked quite good. The Barbeque Seitan Sandwich I had was spot on, and the thin kind of mushy fries actually worked really well. Wait staff seemed kind of disinterested, but got everything to us quickly, and made sure we were all set throughout the meal. If I'm in the area again, I'll come back.
(4)
Yuri H.

I've come here twice-once for dinner with friends and once to study outside. I've been happy with both experiences. Service here is great!!! The food is decent. They have super big portions; my friend and I shared the pad Thai. I recommend the dessert selections. I enjoyed the chocolate pudding and white orchard tea my last visit.
(4)
Yumm y.

The Yelp vegetarian brunch was a great excuse to surround myself with good people and good food. I enjoyed my visit to the blind faith cafe however I wish that I would have ordered something different. I had trouble choosing among the variety of Mexican 'egg' dishes. They all sounded so delicious but I went with the Chilaquiles. Don't get me wrong, it was tasty but essentially, it was like eating a plate of fried goodness. Because I care about my arteries, I wish I had gone with the Aztec Hash. It looked phenomenal. In fact, everything that we ordered looked delicious. The service was fine for our large group and it was overall a good experience. I would return but I wouldn't go out of my way. (Evanston is out of my way.) Minus one star because I like it when vegetarian restaurants adorn their food with fresh colorful fruits and veggies. All of our meals were largely beige.
(4)
C A.

There is nothing to not like about this place. The atmosphere is beautiful and the food is great. The staff are really nice and there's a huge selection of vegan desserts.
(5)
Venessa H.

The veggie dishes are DA BOMB! Since I'm a pretty big eater, it's not unlikely for me to order 5 meals just to try them all out! LOVE IT!
(4)
Ellen M.

I love this restaurant for any meal - fine vegetarian food that carnivores will love too. The food is so fresh. My favorite entree is the tofu pad thai, but I've never had anything there that wasn't awesome. For breakfast, go huevos rancheros. Servers are excellent! Either they or someone very close has wi-fi, I can do wireless there.
(4)
Eric P.

I have routinely been disappointed with the food and service at this so called vegetarian restaurant. I have vowed never to return several times since I moved to Chicago in 1994. Any decent dish on the menu inevitably gets taken off (e.g., tamales, tofu crab cakes, black bean burrito, etc). However, the desserts are delicious and worth checking in for once a year. I like the self service section. Just beaware of annoying patrons, inconsistent service, and expensive mediorce food.
(2)
Ann G.

I was not expecting this to be a vegetarian place when I walked in. Turns out it is, and the food is decent. It's not at all what I was looking for that day and didn't have alternatives. I'd bring a vegetarian friend there, but am not otherwise planning to return.
(2)
Mike H.

I ate here for the first time today and I loved it! The food was great, the service was good. Portions are huge and pretty reasonably priced. It's nestled in the pretty downtown of Evanston too, which is another big plus. GO HERE!
(4)
Heckle H.

A wee bit pricey, I have to admit - - but great service, nice set-up and I can't tell you how much I love the ability to pick whatever I want from a menu. The apple and brie sandwich comes highly recommended as does their new pistachio cake (soooo rich . . . if you can eat an entire cupcake in one sitting then you have a golden gullet).
(3)
Mathieu B.

I discovered this wonderful gem last year (2014) on my way to the Ravinia Music festival in Skokie. The excellent service, wonderfully welcoming faces of the staff and remarkable vegan cuisine (that does not try to be anything but vegan) beckoned for my return to this establishment time and time again. I have now frequented this restaurant a total of five times and will continue to do so for as long as they remain open. My compliments to the cooking staff for the deliciously mouth-watering food that is always hot, quick and tasty. To the manager as well, for always being pleasant and welcoming, thank you! And a special thank you to Courtney for incredibly good service and wonderful rhetoric. You made my evening.
(5)
Andrea C.

I've been to Blind Faith Cafe many a time for lunch with colleagues. There are tons of delicious options and it motivates me to eat meatless more often. Any of the omlettes are solid choices and delicious, but some of my other faves are the black bean tostadas and The Dempster Street. Yum!
(4)
Will F.

Overall an awesome dining experience. We really enjoyed the location (near some beautiful homes and cool shops). Also appreciated the outdoor seating! We were seated and served promptly. I ordered a caipirinha and my date had the white sangria - and both were mixed excellently. I ordered the lentil salad, which came on a bed of spinach lightly drizzled w balsamic vinaigrette. My date ordered the Thai peanut noodles. Both were full of flavor and didn't sit heavy on us at all! The most pleasant surprise was the speed with which we got our food after ordering. Lastly we took advantage of the yelp coupon and ordered dessert. Our mixed berry cobbler was decent but dry, and needed some local vanilla ice cream to complete it. Friendly, fast service, good drinks and great food. We WILL be back.
(4)
Mark L.

Very pleasant. Not the kind of pleasantness that jumps out at you. You are warmly embraced without being squeezed to death. Unaufdringlich. My cousin found the music to be fantastic. His wife, who also happens to be my friend, agreed. The coffee was good. My counterparts remarked that their meals were "fabulous" and "delicious". I would tend to agree more with delicious. How does this place only have 3.5 stars? We couldn't figure it out ourselves and spent a good portion of our time at the Blind Faith Cafe debating the potential flaws in the 5-star rating system.
(5)
Rinkoo P.

Giving 5 star because of the lovely atmosphere and great customer service! The food Is really good and have lots of good choice! I would definitely come here again . Cute romantic place
(5)
Anish K.

The service here is good; the server was kind and friendly and patient. The food is decent, although the quality has diminished somewhat in the last few years while the prices have gone up. Their dessert selection, while all tasty, could be a little more creative and varied. Overall, it's a nice place, and I come here fairly regularly. There's room for improvement, but my general impression is a positive one. One more thing - I'm not a fan of this really pretentious practice that higher-end restaurants have of dropping the decimal place and dollar sign in the price. Don't mark an item as "15," mark it as "$15.00."
(3)
KG G.

Maybe we just lucked out, but I cannot figure out why this place only has 3.5 stars! Had a lunch date with my cousin, was looking for a cute cafÃ© within the area so we thought we'd try Blind Faith. Amazing! I clearly didn't do enough research because going in I was unaware this was a vegan/vegetarian place but gosh was I glad it was! I eat meat but find that most times I lean toward meatless options. I had the Thai Noodle Salad along with the Dumplings in Shiitake ConsommÃ© and she had the Grilled Brie & Apple Sandwich with sweet potato fries - all of which were so entirely delicious! The noodle salad was the right amount of spicy and the shiitake consommÃ© was unbelievably good. I would say hers was more on the average side but still very tasty. We ended our meal with the flourless chocolate cake - it was so rich and moist! It's a small piece but since I'm not a huge sweets person it was good that we shared. Far too rich for me to finish an entire piece. Although her being a sweets person, she said we should have ordered 2 - it was so good she would have finished hers and mine as well! Cannot wait to return & would highly recommend to others!
(5)
Ted M.

Have been here twice. First time was okay. The second time - my wife all of a sudden gasped - I looked down and saw a medium-sized green bug crawling near the edge of her plate. Staff and the manager did apologize - then said they were going "take care of the meal - we wouldn't have to pay". My wife had more or less lost her appetite by now - they then asked if she wanted another item from the menu. I was surprised later when they had the gall to bring a check - charging me for everything except for the item with the bug in it. I went ahead and paid the bill because i've heard of restaurants calling the police on patrons refusing to pay in cases like this - but I will NEVER come back to this place. Ever. Not even for free. Prices are too high anyway and the portion sizes are smallish. The food generally tastes okay, but there is another vegan restaurant not too far away I would rather spend my money at. For future reference - if a customer finds a live insect in their meal, as management, i wouldn't be greedy and try to charge them for the meal. Fortunately, yelp gives customers a chance to report stinkers so other yelp users can decide whether they wish to go somewhere like this. I left here hungry & disgusted - $30 later.
(1)
Liz P.

This committed omnivore had her doubts about a vegan dinner, but found lots to enjoy at Blind Faith. The chocolate cake was especially good.
(4)
Reed H.

Blind Faith was good. I'm not a vegetarian nor of the vegan persuasion but I thought the food was good. I came with my wife and parents and we each ordered something different. I ordered the shitake almond loaf, a "meatless meatloaf". It was just ok. My mother ordered the fajitas, which were really good and my wife ordered the spinach lasagna which was also excellent. Our server was friendly and prompt and the food presentation was all well done, it seemed to be important to them to make the effort.
(4)
Nicole M.

Ummmm this place is too pricey for me. I understand they are upscale I guess. The tea was good (How can anyone mess up tea?). Their potstickers was not good. I requested a refund and my request was granted. The latin manager on duty appeared annoyed though. He gave me a passive aggressive attitude that I didn't like.
(2)
LuckyCharms N.

A little disappointed. We came here hungry and had heard good things about the cafe. We ordered the pot sticker appetizers and the lemon gnocchi and spinach lasagna. The waitress forgot to place our lasagna order but after mentioning this when our food was brought out, quickly brought it after. To me, the taste was very bland of the dishes, adding salt brought out more flavor. In the end, we spent $40 and left hungry. Portion sizes were decent, but it was, in my opinion, far too expensive for the amount of effort/quality/flavor that you got. I didn't leave upset, but I won't be going back.
(2)
Katie F.

As a vegetarian, you cannot get better than this place. Everything was great! We had the potstickers, salad sampler, quinoa stuffed avocado, a few stir frys and the fajitas and shared between everyone. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Akta D.

This place is great! I love that I can eat everything on the menu and it's flavorful! It is a bit pricy so I don't think I'll be going too often, but what a great place!
(4)
Kelly K.

I've had many of the dishes at the blind faith cafe, but only liked the Mongolian seitan, and one of the salads. There are so many turn offs about the Blind Faith cafe that don't make these two items worth it. The food is overpriced, the pastries are dry and gross, there is frequently a long wait, and the owner/manager is a fake. Don't bother with this place.
(1)
Mateo G.

This restaurant yielded an experience nothing short of ordinary and expensive. I ordered the macro plate something something for $15.00 and got an assortment of overly sweet pickled cucumber with lightly steamed kale that consisted of two leaves cut once each. There was also a small serving of black beans and right next to it a scoop of cold mashed sweet potato. The only generous portion on the plate was the giant scoop of white rice. Non of this made any sense, why are there some items that were cooked and then refrigerated next to freshly cooked veggies? It should have come with a warning that you were about consume a three part sweet, steamed, and cold veggie platter. The silver lining was a free cup of miso soup with the meal, and the bowl of chili I ordered separately, they were both pretty decent. Might try it again if in the area and will revise next review if next experience is better or worse.
(3)
Neha N.

The food is good, but pretty standard. Nothing fabulous about it being vegetarian.... they just offer normal American food (okay and a burrito) without the meat. That being said, I have been a vegetarian for the last 17 years so I do expect something above and beyond from a place that totes being vegetarian. I could go to any restaurant and request food without meat or just hit up Whole Foods for vegan desserts. Nothing extraordinary about this place, but the food is good.
(3)
Tricia D.

Since I don't discriminate against bakeries, the vegan-ness of Blind Faith didn't deter me. The animal-(consumption)-loving, dairy-eating, cupcake-stalking being that I am purchased a vegan vanilla cupcake with choc frosting and peanut butter bar. The cupcake was moist, but bland and tasted like tea (?). Maybe if I were vegan, I would have enjoyed it more. Now the pb bar, on the other hand, was da bomb! It was so much better than the cupcake, but that little rectangle was overpriced. But if I'm ever in the area again and have a pb craving, I will not so blindly stop in for a peanut butter bar.
(3)
Christina M.

I highly recommend this place! And Chicagoans, it's really easy to get here via the train, so get out here soon [take the purple line to the Dempster stop and it's about a block away - really close!!!]! When I first walked in I had the choice of sit down dining or self serve, I was with a friend so we did the sit down area. Unfortunately I had to walk past the desert display case which had some really good looking Vegan cakes and brownies [this is all I could think about until I got my good ;)]. I ordered the BBQ Seitan sandwich...all I have to say is, that was the best BBQ Seitan sandwich I've ever had! The prices are a little higher, but I will tell you my sandwich was pretty big - and I was too full to order the Vegan deserts. Overall this is a cute area and nice restaurant with VERY GOOD food! ***UPDATE*** You must get their desserts! Especially the chocolate cake with vanilla frosting - when you put it in your mouth you'll be amazed!!! My non-veg bf even prefers their cakes too.
(5)
Kate F.

Vegan Aztec Hash=The best! Good service, nice atmosphere for Sunday brunch.
(5)
Heather H.

Service has been spotty, either it's really friendly and attentive or you're being completely ignored, but food is a definite hit. This is a casual vegan/veg diner, when you walk into the cafe area, it's bright and cheery, but somehow the dining room's tall booths give it a cheap Denny's/Perkins feel. Their is a wall of windows along Dempster, giving the place tons of natural light, and I noticed they do have some outside seating (not sure if it's waiter service or serve yourself from the attached bakery area though). On our last visit, we were making a pilgrimage up to Evanston to grab some bricks I found for cheap on Craigslist, and the place was really close to BFC. Yum! My stomach was rumbling, and I was already thinking of what I wanted to order. I started with some coffee (need to fuel up for landscape brick laying later in the day), and I had to ask the waitress what I was drinking, it was zingy, not bitter, truly awesome. Intelligentsia Black Cat - this is some great coffee! I ordered the Tofu Scrambled Eggs, which came with more tofu than I expected, not a bad thing but made me fuller than anticipated, and also comes with flour tortillas (why?) and potatoes. A solid and decent dish, I enjoyed it. Husband had the Eastern Omelette, with mushrooms, onion, peppers and cheese and potatoes. It's served with a biscuit, which was brought before the meal so I got to watch him eat this puffy, buttery biscuit while I starved. Previous dishes I've had are the Mongolian Stir Fry and the Thai Peanut Noodles. I'd recommend both. I've never seen this place packed, and never needed a reservation, but they are a part of Open Table. All in all, a good meal, which helped give me strength to carry 300 bricks (which are now sitting in my backyard, in a pile). Perhaps I'll need another meal here to motivate me to actually do something with them.
(4)
d u.

Actually, this restaurant is so consistent in its service, well-managed. Quite impressive.
(5)
Kendrah R.

You might have to have blind faith to walk in the door. But you only need your taste buds to realize you must soon exit. The food was terrible and expensive. You can easily find these same items at non-vegetarian restaurants and the quality will be light years better. And although I am a meat eater now, I was vegan for 14 years and know my veggie food. We tried quite a number of dishes: Gnocchi with summer veggies and lemon caper sauce - No capers in the dish, the only thing I can liken the gnocchi to might be little dog biscuits - slightly hard on the outside and porous and grainy on the inside. It was a strange ratio of veggie to gnocchi - a mountain of summer squash, celery, and greens with a few dog biscuits thrown in. Guacamole appetizer - It is hard to mess up Guac but this stuff had zero taste. They give you so little - less than a cup - yet it cost $8! Why? Even the chips were bad and half the plate was over flowing with sliced cucumbers. Just weird. French fries were nicely salted but soggy. Potstickers were glumpy, heavy, and lacked flavor. And also why $7 for a couple of potstickers? I pay $4.50 at my favorite Thai place and they are 100 times better. The only reason this place gets two stars instead of one is because the tortilla soup was very good. 4 apps, an entree, a beer and glass of wine came to $90. Never again will I eat here.
(2)
Helen L.

I went there for brunch with my boyfriend the other day. It totally hit the spot. We started off with their warm onion gruyere tart, which was absolutely superb; the dressed greens that came with it was extremely light and surprisingly flavorful. When we brought up that my boyfriend's mocha tasted exactly like hot chocolate, which was delicious but not really what he wanted- our waitress was super nice about adding coffee to the drink. I ordered the blueberry pancakes which is made with cornmeal -- loved the texture! And to top it off it came with real maple syrup (apparently most advertised maple syrup is really corn syrup and maple flavoring). My boyfriend got the spinach feta omelette, which he really seemed to enjoy. The only downside was that the butter was not very warm so it was hard to put on the pancakes, but other than that everything was great! It's nice to see sustainable restaurants in Evanston; although it's a little pricey, it's definitely worth it!
(5)
Jerry M.

Fantastic mellow atmosphere. Staff is wonderfully attentive. Prices are moderate. Selection of food is great. Traditional and ethnic faves prepared with vegetarian flair. Make reservations to save waiting time during the evenings.
(5)
Keiko S.

Finally, I succeeded in dragging my carnivore hubby to Blind Faith Cafe, and it seems like we'll actually be going back here regularly because we both enjoyed the food. Yay, no more begging for a hearty vegetarian meal! I believe in brown rice, and this place has plenty of it. Upon request, we got the jasmine rice in Teriyaki Grilled Tofu and Jambalaya replaced with brown, and they both came out delicious. Maybe a little too salty, but nonetheless, they tasted really fresh. We were impressed by their seitan; it's healthy (high in protein, low in fat) and as satisfying as any meat. They add no preservatives or additives in their food, and their produce are freshly delivered every day. According to our waiter, who was friendly and pleasantly casual, their two most popular dishes are the Mongolian Stir-Fry and the Seitan Fajitas - both served with brown rice. I'm definitely going to order those next time. The prices are agreeable. The space is comfortably big, and it's split into a cafe and a dining room. Most importantly, there's a whole array of side dishes and vegan pastries (yes, CUPCAKES!!) in the middle. They also serve fruit smoothies and shakes, in which you can add soy protein. Mmmm...can't wait to go back for those rare delicacies.
(4)
Vaidehi T.

Went here for brunch with friends on a Saturday. I loved the place. Good company, good food - yes please!! All the food that we ordered was delicious. They have fresh squeezed orange juice - it was fantabulous!! Would definitely come back here if I was in the neighborhood.
(4)
Allen B.

Years ago, this place used to be dedicated to the health and well-being of those who wanted the eat good delicious food at a reasonable price. Now, in a rather simple but welcoming quiet environment, you can eat pre-prepared food offered as if it was made fresh. The macro-plate came with cooked squash that was still frozen inside, and [presumably] microwaved about half the necessary time to thaw. The soup was cold, and the rest of the food was tepid. Worse, my friend and I, who both had the same thing, got very trippy headaches at the same time about 20 minutes after eating....as if we had overdosed on MSG. (I doubt it was MSG, but it was definitely something in the food). I sent the owner a message about this but got no response. The owner is a good marketer that has the presentation down pretty good, but bottom line....well, seems like he's really just interested in the bottom line: make it look good, sound good, perhaps taste good (at times), but in the body, it just doesn't feel good. Overpriced for what you get. ....but at least it's quiet enough to have a conversation, though after my last 2 visits there, with similar experiences, I've never been back, and doubt I will.
(2)
Nick M.

I can see how they got their name. You truly have to believe what they are serving you is something that you won't make you sick later or that the server will actually bring you what you ordered. The place had so much potential for me. I mean it's a little bit of a Denny's atmosphere but with higher prices, though I do love a diverse menu. Where else can you get a torta, sweet potato fries, Mongolian stir fry, Thai peanut noodles, quiche, and a Sicilian pizza?! Then again maybe there is a reason restaurants don't do it. I started of with some Miso soup and I should have stopped there. The broth was awful, as in I couldn't force myself to swallow it. Then the torta -avocado, feta, tomato, lettuce, and sour cream on a homemade bolillo roll. Sounds good right... (shakes his head) nooo, it was terrible and again I couldn't finish it. Even at $9.50, I couldn't bring myself to finish this small torta and fries (fries were under cooked). My date's garden salad had so much water on the plate we didn't need out water glasses refilled. Service was about as good as the food. I don't think I'll be back, what a shame!!
(2)
Moab E.

Mediocre at BEST - used to go here all the time and food was freshly made. I ordered the enchiladas mole then were flavorless and assembled then warmed - tasted a day old! The description sounded great but the cheese was a melted glob on top. Still worth the trip for the peanut butter chocolate cake - oh, it's pricey - )15 average plate
(1)
Julie G.

What a great restaurant- Everything is vegetarian with vegan options! Our night was made special by the server, Stan! This guy was so efficient, professional and fun! He made our meal! We even got the treat of meeting his identical twin during the meal. We were there for a special double birthday night out. A group of 5. We all had different things and everyone was happy with their meal but my Dad, who ordered spicy Thai peanut with noodles, and shouldn't eat spicy anymore. My husband ordered the same thing and loved it so he ate it all. Then we had the chocolate vegan cake-wow! That is the best cake I've had since my Grandma's chocolate birthday cakes she was famous for! Love the food, people and atmosphere is nice too. Save room for desserts!
(5)
Matt W.

So I'm a chubby dude who loves meat. Mmm-mmm-meat. The veggie lifestyle, while not inherently offensive to me, just something I've never considered or wanted. But funny enough I found myself at Blind Faith the other day. And funny enough I found myself having a meat free dinner. And even more funny I found myself liking it. This, of course, has me doubting my entire life. Am I really Matt? Am I really a carnivore? More on this later. I went to Blind Faith a lot as a kid. I remember it being a bit dingy and far crunchier on the hippie scale than I would have otherwise preferred. Had my first seitan there, had my first tofu too. I never did adopt those as part of my regular diet but I could at least say I'd had 'em and lived to tell the tale. So oddly enough I was out on a date and oddly enough she happened to be vegetarian and oddly enough we were not more than a block from Blind Faith when the idea of going there to eat was brought up. Very well, it was decided and off we went. It's different now. More upscale, more refined. Not at all dingy and lower on the crunchy scale. The menus ripped right out of some she-she-la-la bistro in the East Village. Still, I was intrigued and scanned the menu for something delicious sounding. My date was going with the Mongolian Stir-Fry which I had to try, I was torn between the Thai Peanut Noodles and the Crepes Poblano. The waitress recommended the noodles so I went with her suggestion. Some time passed, some conversation had and then the food arrived. Hers was on a regular ol' plate, mine was in this spaceman bowl with angles and ovals and all sorts of other features likely meant to confuse my carnivorous mind into forgetting there was no meat in the dish. Joke's on them, it doesn't take much to confuse me so they totally wasted a lot of energy. A quick review on the one bite of the Mongolian Stir-Fry that I had. The seitan and peppers were cooked really, really well and if I hadn't ever had beef I would have no idea it wasn't authentic. Definitely a good dish. My noodles too were amazingly good. In my head I knew chicken was missing from the typical formula but I didn't really care. Taking the place was a mix of veggies including nice woody bamboo shoots and some tofu as well. The spice was definitely knocked up a peg on the dish which I appreciated and there were full sprigs of cilantro for me to tear up and distribute as I saw fit. In this case I saw fit to eat everything in sight. Now the peanut sauce was a little soupy, I would've appreciated it to be a bit more binding but overall I have no complaints. It was a very, very worthy dish. All in all Blind Faith has cleaned up nicely from the 90s when I was last there. Sure it's a little bit pricy but good food is always worth it. So to revisit the existential crisis I found myself in, it was thankfully resolved by meal's end. Yes I'm Matt. Yes I'm a carnivore but I just so happen to be veg-friendly.
(4)
Cindy F.

I used to eat at Bilnd Faith at least once a week - I hadn't been in there for a few years and it has changed quite a bit. It looks very nice inside - but I did not like the menu. I got what was closest to my old favorite, Tofu Vegetable Fried Rice, which isn't on the menu anymore. It was expensive!! It wasn't good!!! I was very disappointed, I am willing to pay for good food, but honestly this was not very good. What a waste of money and my time. I'm sad to write this - but I won't go back. It's not close to home and was always a destination - sadly, not anymore. Hey - Blind Faith - are you listening to your public? There seem to be a lot of reviews that are similar to mine!!
(2)
Mrs. K.

Driving around Evanston, my boyfriend and I decided to eat wherever we could find street parking. This is a typical method we utilize to choose dining establishments. Luckily, we stumbled on this delightful vegetarian cafÃ©. I'm pretty sure that most of the menu items are vegan-approved (not all). (Side bar: I don't eat red or white meat, only fish. I have also been toying with the idea of becoming a vegan sometime in the future, so this place was very apropos for me. I just finished watching Fork Over Knives, a documentary about the health benefits of a plant-based diet. I highly recommend: forksoverknives.com .) We weren't greeted at the door, so we went over to the bakery side (desserts looked amazing) and asked someone to seat us. The dining room was nice enough (candles, booths, etc) and they offer a nice drink list. However, the prices seemed a little high for what you get. I wasn't thinking about paying $15-$25 for an entrÃ©e when walking into a "cafÃ©," but overall, the dishes were pretty tasty. I wasn't impressed with the service. I had no idea we walked into a vegetarian, all-natural place and would have liked a little description or "spiel" from our server. She didn't seem very attentive, but we managed to get out before our meter expired, so I was happy. Many of the menu item descriptions sounded satisfying, but I settled on the Sicilian Pizza. My boyfriend ordered the Kamoosh (a plate of black bean nachos) and Lentil soup. The soup was fantastic; my pizza was just okay. I would have liked it a little crispier; it tasted too much like regular hunk of bread. I definitely plan to go back for the niche experience and to try some dessert.
(3)
Robert R.

My wife suggested we go to Blind faith Cafe for it's healthy eating menu. Since it was mid morning, we had breakfast. I tried the Chilaquiles and man, were they heavenly! Very light, but very delicious along with the black beans. My wife tried and omlette which was also very good. Coffee was also on point. The waiter gave us a free Tiramisu dessert for it being our first time there and it was also great! Love this place, will be back again and try the dinner menu.
(4)
Yuly M.

LOVE this place. Had the enchiladas and they were amazing. I HIGHLY recommend this pace if you are in the evanston area
(5)
Nafeesah A.

I ate at the Blind Faith Cafe over 20 years ago and back then the staff would be sporting t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers and looking like a bunch of 60s hippies.The staff today since they moved are now looking more like a catering staff. The prices used to be pretty cheap and they've done away with their cheap eats menu which was my mom's favorite 25 years ago when she started eating at this place daily while she waited on me and my sister to get out of school. For many who have remembered the cheap eats menu will want to email the Blind Faith to ask them to bring that menu option back. Some of the prices have gotten pretty steep in recent years. The Blind Faith moved to a pretty good location to where it is on Dempster Street whereas they were on the corner of Sherman and Dempster except the space was a lot smaller in size and looked like a diner instead of a moderate upscale restaurant. The staff is very friendly and professional and they greet you when you walk in and direct you to the dining area or to the counter if you're wishing to order take out. Other than that you can get a pretty good meal for about a moderate price of up to $15. They would see a big following for their vegetarian and vegan meals by lowering the price on some of their menu items.
(4)
Neil G.

Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Value: 3 As much as I like Evanston I just don't get up there too often (yes even less frequently than the South Loop). However, it's the half-way point between my in-laws and my place, so when my mother-in-law suggested meeting for dinner at this vegetarian spot after her dentist appointment in Skokie, I couldn't say no. The clincher was when she said, "It'll be great! You can review it!" Now I'm pretty sure I know the identity of one of my four fans... We arrived at 6:45 on a Thursday night and had no problem getting one of the prized booths. I was a little worried ordering with my mother-in-law because she doesn't dig my whole "no substitutions" mantra, and our food styles tend to clash. I'm pretty sure she can count the number of restaurants she's been to with "pub, grill, tavern, or bar" in the name on one hand. I ended up ordering my own BBQ Seitan Sandwich and we split the Grilled Butternut Squash as an appetizer. The Squash reminded me of my cabin in Machon because it was, well, sweet. I've been wanting to share that for a long time now. However, I would have liked a little more smoky, spicy, or grilled flavor in it. I think the sauce was just a little too overpowering. It was generally tasty, but a little too one dimensional for my taste. The peppery arugula it was paired with added some much needed contrast. Now, onto the star of the evening: The BBQ Seitan Sandwich. I was a little hesitant to order a $12 vegetarian sandwich at a casual restaurant, but it took my breath (and my appetite) away. It was a cross between a BBQ Beef and Pulled Pork (I think) sandwich. The the seitan was perfectly prepared, the BBQ sauce had a great, flavorful kick, and the peppers added an additional richness to the already embarrassingly wealthy sandwich. The slaw was a little lacking in flavor, but brought that great crunch and cooling effect to the sandwich, which honestly, was all it needed. Oh, and did I mention that this heavenly sandwich came with a heaping pile of crispy, homemade, sweet potato fries? Props to the chef who was able to pull off a meaty, yet still crispy sweet potato fry. I'm still trying to figure out how to do that myself. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone who's willing to try something different. Much like Mana Food Bar (see my review), the restaurant mainly stays true to its vegetarian form, and doesn't use smoke and mirrors to trick its customers into thinking they're eating real meat. I'd like to say it's the "perfect Evanston mother-in-law weeknight dinner spot," but that sounds about as exciting as the dentist appointment she came from to meet me there. [Thanks for reading my review and be sure to check out my other reviews on Yelp. My mission is to find restaurants that have great vegetarian, kosher, and vegan fare. On every review, I rate food, service, atmosphere, and value on a 1-5 scale to give you quick and easy overview of the restaurant. I love cooking, eating, and doing both with my friends and family. I always welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions so contact me on Yelp or Facebook if you want to share ideas.]
(4)
Rachel K.

Hilariously awful service. Allow me to illustrate. My mom (perfect specimen): What kind of iced tea do you have? Server (snarly redhead): Our drinks are on the back page. Server makes a quick exit. Mom: Which of your teas are unsweetened? Server: What? Mom: Which of your teas are unsweetened? Server: Like black...? Mom: Yes. Is your black iced tea unsweetened? Server: Yes. Mom: .... Can I have that? Server: You want one of those? Mom: Yes. Yes I would. Awkward moment as Server stares at me, then rolls her eyes and exits. Mom: Can I please have ketchup and soy sauce? Male server (the scowling redhead has given up on us): What sauce? Mom: SOY sauce? MS: You want...? Mom: Soy sauce. MS: Ok. A moment later he brings her ketchup and a brown liquid in a glass container. She pours the brown liquid all over her tofu scramble. She tastes it. "This is balsamic vinaigrette" We had to ask for refills on water, when we did, the Male Server slogged water into my mom's dish and pranced away. I'm not quite sure why these servers bother to work at Blind Faith- they seem better suited for a rally, or participants of Grumpy Hipsters Anonymous. I'm guessing they weren't worried about secret shoppers, or corporate goons coming to check on them, like I was when I worked in a restaurant. The end. The service was terrible, the food was meh, at least the decor is nice? Go at your own risk.
(1)
Katie L.

My first experience with Blind Faith was before I even lived in IL (more than 8 years ago). Since then, I every time my vegan bestow comes into town, we try to go. The food is great, even though some items are a little overpriced or have the "I could probably make this" factor. Their desserts are AMAZING! The vegan chocolate peanut butter cake will shut up all those vegan haters! Haha It's worth the trek up to Evanston for interesting food, a cute ambiance and a great piece of cake!
(4)
Jerry K.

This is my 3rd visit to Blind Faith Cafe. It's a bit of a drive from my house (20 miles) but worth it. The food is exceptionally tasty for a non-meat restaurant. But it stands on it's own as a good quality restaurant where you can be assured of a healthy and tasty meal. Easy street parking that's free after 6 pm otherwise metered.
(4)
Kristen T.

Prices are rising, but portions are getting smaller? The once amazing $9 Blind Faith Chef salad contained a generous portion of greens, red onions, cashews, raisins, avocado, & Jack cheese is now reduced to a small dinner salad at $8 a plate. Their menu is half the size it used to be, eliminating some of their best dishes. Blind Faith just isn't what it used to be.
(2)
Sir Gull R.

Glory be. This establishment is back to full throttle! The Tacos are obscenely delicious and the cashew balls and chocolate cake balls are the perfect treat for anyone who wants a little decadence with out all that guilt. Finally the staff, they are just good people always willing to help always accommodating.
(5)
Banjogirl A.

I really wanted to like this restaurant. I had been meaning to try it for years, though had been warned that the quality has fluctuated over the years. I can say that this is the first vegetarian restaurant I have eaten at that I wouldn't return to (and I have eaten at many). I ordered a seitan mushroom dish. While that part was okay, the sides were uninspired and unseasoned (white rice, sweet potato/squash mash, and very undercooked green beans). My husband got the peanut noodle and tofu dish. The tofu was cold in the center, and the dish tasted very bland (like unsalted peanut butter on noodles). Even when they provided a side of hot sauce, it was not very tasty. The menu descriptions looked good, but I think they need a new chef to execute the dishes. With so many other great veg places in Chicago, I would skip this one. : (
(1)
Christine S.

I had heard great things about this place so decided to give it a try. Admittedly, I might have built it up in my head so I was bound to be disappointed but I was neither blown away nor disappointed. It was just middle of the road okay. The decor is just so-so. Nothing to write home about. The roasted veggie hummus was amazing and by far the best part of the meal. I ordered the spicy thai peanut noodles with crispy tofu and while I thought it was okay, it wasn't really the best ever. Our waitress was adequate but not particularly friendly or knowledgeable about the recipes (she had to call someone else over to assist in questions about potential vegan dishes) so that was a little disappointing. For vegetarian and vegan cuisine I prefer Karyn's on Green but Blind Faith Cafe is okay in a pinch. I'm just not sure I would go out of my way to eat there again.
(2)
Karen R.

I would give Blind Faith Cafe more stars if they would go back to the way things were about five years ago. The menu was better and the ambiance was better. I remember when BFC wasn't a fine dining establishment - just a fab place to go and eat. I know that we all need to move forward - I guess I'm just stuck in the good ol' days!
(2)
Simone T.

Delicious vegan (but you'd only know if I told you so) chocolate peanut butter cake in particular, though anything from their bakery is delicious. Their Sunday brunch is great. Delicious & potent cocktails, fluffy cheesy broccoli quiche....yum.
(4)
Nessie V.

This place is more geared to vegetarians than vegans. I got the portabella sandwich sans cheese, and it tasted like a French onion sandwich. That was just OK for me. Service was spotty and slow, but they apologized and comped my sandwich without asking, which I think more than evens it out. Desserts were the big redemption for me, and probably the only reason I'd return.
(3)
Shawn C.

So this restaurant offers a prime example of why simplistic, one track rating systems pretty much make no sense at all. To somehow "average out" my highly mixed feelings of Blind Faith Cafe, I am giving it "2 Stars," although to be honest some dynamics deserve 5 and some 1. I would give it 3, but I'm giving it 2 to express my dissatisfaction with the directions its owners have taken it. Let's start with the positive: Cupcakes. Those vegan chocolate cupcakes have been bringing me back to Blind Faith for nearly a decade now, because they are delicious. If you are vegan, vegetarian, or a fervent meat-worshipper, you need to try them. That said, somehow, mysteriously, they've shrunk to one-third the size they used to be, and somehow, mysteriously, they're now more expensive. Ah, Evanston. So let's move to the bad: One-half of the restaurant used to be full service, the other self-service, with tables, and an island filled with silverware, a water spout, and other necessities. This was, in a word, awesome. If I went in for a coffee and cupcake, because, like, this place is a CAFE, then I could. But not anymore. The other, creepy, hideous, elitist yuppy half of the restaurant invaded the place, executed the hippy DIY in a brutal coup, and imposed a totalistic regime of blandly colored walls, gross wall hangings (that are vaguely ethnic and "poor") and other atrocious North-Shore-What-White-People-Like nonsense. So now, not only do you have to pay for the over-priced food (and yes, it is overpriced. A LOT) but you also have to pay for the less than stellar and kind of arrogant service, replete with tacky white aprons to signify class and professionalism. Speaking of the food, let me be honest here: It's good but not great. Sure, if you're a wealthy North Shore mom looking for "her place" where the carnivorous, cretinous hubby won't follow, then yeah, this place rocks the house. Otherwise, it's a pretty so-so place for anyone else, and certainly NOT a place that anyone should commute more than 20 minutes to reach. It's not that the food is bad, to the contrary some of it (SOME) is great. I recommend the BBQ seitan sandwich in particular. The problem is that you're paying $15 for a bowl of rice and 4 pieces of tofu (about 4 ozs). Yes, it tastes good, however, IT'S 4 OUNCES OF TOFU AND RICE FOR $15. Ok, if you have a three-story victorian in the Ridge Historic District, this shouldn't bother you. Just focus on the native wall art to remind yourself that you are still "of the people." For everyone else, just stick to Chicago diner.
(2)
Michelle M.

The portions!! Where have they gone?? I know this place has been trending more upscale, but where the hell is the food? I went with my family there for my sister's birthday, and we wound up spending way more than we used to for smaller portions! 1st round was the guac and chips. Probably good for two people, but 5? not so much. We had to ask for more chips. They were pretty cool about it. For the entree, I had the gardein mole. I'm not gonna knock the food. The mole packed a little heat, and the gardein is the best vegan meat substitute around, so it as a delish dish, but I scarfed it down in less than 5 minutes flat. I wound up eating some of my sister's bbq seitan and the rest of my mom's mole dish. I'm not 500lbs I swear! For dessert, I was hoping for the huge slices of cakes we would get in the past, but now the slices are a quarter of what they used to be. Still awesome, but super wimpy. I guess this place just loves catering to the yuppie crowd or something. whatevers. doubt i'll go back there for awhile.
(3)
rebecca g.

Oh Blind Faith, how the mighty have fallen. BF used to be one of my favorites-if not my #1- veggie place in Chicagoland. A beacon of quality amidst bland, mediocre Chicago Diner fare. But I've now visited on 2 separate occasions and been sadly unimpressed. Their prices have stayed the same, perhaps even increased, yet quality has gone way down. (That, or the competition has gotten so sophisticated that I can't justify spending $13-15 on uninspired vegetarian Thai, Mexican, or Chinese food.) I was disappointed in the Spicy Peanut Noodles--not because the flavor was bad, but because I can get the SAME thing (and with more authentic "crispy" tofu, which was pale and doughy) at any Thai restaurant for HALF the price. BF used to excel in meat substitutes- the now-extinct Seitan in Marsala Wine Sauce with butternut squash was out-of-this-world!- but it's hardly unusual to find tofu or even seitan on a menu these days. Likewise, the dish that replaced the Marsala Seitan- Lemon Rosemary Seitan- is not nearly as yummy...for one, the seitan is sliced thinly as opposed to medallions, and the sauce is not nearly as rich & satisfying. As a whole, I've just found their new selections- while still priced on a gourmet tier- to be mediocre and derivative. To be fair, the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cake with Raspberry Sorbet was divine, but I would expect nothing less from a $7 slice of cake. And the Vodka Hard Lemonade was fantastic, owing to a tangy and unusual rosemary simple syrup that I adored. I guess their desserts and drinks are still solid, at least? And service is always impeccable...definitely cannot complain. I just wish their entrees were as innovative and exciting as they used to be :(
(2)
Jean C.

Our go to restaurant. Love it. All good. Any time of day.
(5)
Erin W.

Delicious!!! So friendly! MUST TRY: The grilled apple and brie cheese sandwich. Waiter asked if we wanted dessert, and after we politely declined, he brought us a complimentary chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting. I'm not one for exaggerating but this was THE BEST cupcake I've ever had in my LIFE! And it was vegan! :)
(5)
Jamie B.

I went here earlier this week for lunch with my boss and co-workers. I was pretty excited to go to a restaurant where everything on the menu would be meatless. It definitely made the decision making process a lot harder when figuring out what to order....more choices than I am used to since I don't ever order meat dishes. I was highly disappointed with what I got. I had the thai peanut noodles, which were just swimming in an unfavorable "peanut sauce." All the veggies except for the broccoli just got lost in the sauce and was overall quite spicy. I felt like I had ordered a dish from a place like Noodles & Company. I'm not trying to rip on Noodles and Company, but the dish had a "sub-par chain restaurant aura" to it. We shared a piece of chocolate peanut butter cake which wasn't bad, but it was a little dry. All in all, I wouldn't come back here. It's a shame. Giving vegetarian cooking a bad reputation....sigh
(2)
Beth M.

We came to Blind Faith for the Valentine's Day dinner. They easily made the special set menu vegan (which was noted on the menu at the restaurant, but not online... Go figure...) We opted for the wine pairing to try a few different ones that would complement the dishes. The dishes were lively and well-made. The garden of salads, which incorporated minced beet, flower petals and sprouts, was delightful. The server explained it was not intended to be eaten with forks; it was meant to represent the crumbled earth and greens one would find in a garden (and we were to "graze", I suppose, haha). What a fun idea! With each dish he served, he gave a brief run-down of ingredients or concept in a hushed voice. I was caught off guard when the server - without a word - took away the plate from which I was still eating. He then impatiently asked "May I have your glass?" when it was still to my lips! Thankfully he did not do such things with the other courses. I am quite territorial when it comes to food. Do not interfere! At least have the courtesy to ask if I am done before you snatch it away. The second dish consisted of roasted beets with frisÃ©e and nuts. The dry white wine paired with it was a wonderful palate cleanser. I don't typically like white wine, but this one was excellent. The third course was a lentil and truffle soup. I was quite amused by the server's explanation of how these were no ordinary lentils; they were "lentilles du Puy" originating from a certain region of France. I personally couldn't tell the difference; all I knew is that it was a delicious soup, and the nori pouch of spicy minced truffle was a delight. The entree was Gardein (the brand of faux meat) with kamut (a grain) and earthy mushrooms in a rose-petal chocolate sauce. Its rich flavour reminded me of mole sauces I've had. The heavier red wine nicely paired well with the deep flavours of the dish. For dessert, we had a champagne granita with rose petals and a tiny cappuccino brownie with raspberry drizzle. Unfortunately the delicate ice melted very quickly and we vainly tried to scoop it with our forks! The dessert wine was a bit bubbly and sweet, not as heavy as a port. We were the last guests to leave - we had an 8pm seating - and I wonder if that was why the server rushed me earlier. The incident still took away from my overall experience though. While generally polite, service seemed less warm than other more upscale places. (Although I must mention that the busser who filled our water glasses made a subtle joke: After the server finished a descriptive bit about our wine - "And this is such-and-such variety of wine from such-and-such region" - and left the table, the busser followed with "And this is water" with a wave of his hand.) I felt the pricing was comparable to Green Zebra's, perhaps even a little less expensive. The creative taste combinations and artistic platings are worth it for a once-in-a-while special treat. Note: Blind Faith has gluten-free offerings as well.
(4)
Cherie T.

Big woop. Big bark, small bite. Presentation pleasing to the eye. A sore disappointment to the taste buds. Go to Amitabul for the real stuff.
(2)
Shradha A.

wow ive lived here 3 years an never tried this place until yesterday!!! i loved their entrees! the one star taken off is because i thought their appetizers and desserts were excessively expensive and really tiny portions. we ended up going to coldstone for more dessert cuz the tiny slice for $9 left no one satisfied! their mexican, thai, italian -- all were so good and even my two meat-eating friends loved the food and want to go back for more!! We ordered the tostada, fussili and massaman curry!
(4)
Colleen C.

Service: Stellar. Food: Vegan. very, very vegan/vegetarian. :) When they asked me if I needed anything with my coffee, I almost responded..."chicken?" Back to food: Despite it not ever having a face, all of the food was very tastey. I had the soup and the poached asparagus salad, very yummy. Topped it off with a flourless chocolate cake slice...mmmmmm. Very nice ambience, comfy, cozy...yet stylish in a homey sort of way. Now, if only I could get on board with the vegan/vegetarian stuff, but alas, I like meat.
(4)
Jordan G.

Awesome food. The barbeque satan tastes just like chicken.
(5)
Karen Anne B.

Yum! I've been here twice now, once for brunch and once for dinner. I intend to go back, even though it is out of the way and wildly inconvenient. All veg-friendly menu, great food, inventive, and different. Good beer list, I think they had a decent wine list. Pretty good service. Hopefully next time I'll save room for dessert!
(5)
Alex R.

Alas, I finally decided to try this vegetarian place that's close to home. Upon entering, I noticed that they have a bakery to the right, and the restaurant is to the left. It reminded me of a slightly more upscale Panera. My friend and I were promptly seated and proceeded to order some $5.50 smoothies that were not that good (banana, berries, apple cider). Alas, we opened up the menu. ::Blink:: is this...the whole selection? A whole 2 small, measly pages...and $10.50 for pancakes....PANCAKES. Not to mention the rude waitress. I'm glad I was here with a girlfriend, as this is NOT the place to take a guy to eat. I don't mind paying oodles of $$ for yummy food, but if I'm paying for the privilege of being surrounded by stuck up vegetarians in a place with crappy food and equally crappy service, forget about it! Perhaps this was an off night? According to the waitress, they change their menu daily, and weekends menu items are mostly a brunch selection. I don't know, but I was very dissapointed with my initial impression and will likely never return.
(1)
Pamela R.

I heard a lot hype before going to Blind Faith and maybe that's why I was left unsatisfied and expecting more. It reminds me of Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh, NC, somewhat reknown in the vegan community, but it was lacking character. The dishes were mediocre, but maybe I ordered wrong. The decor reminds me of family style restaurant and not someplace to hang out and not too imaginative. The service has always been good and that is why I'll probably go if I'm in the hood. It's a good place because of the location and the only place I could think of when I'm in Evanston. I just can't get excited about it.
(2)
M. C.

I've never had a bad experience at Blind Faith. The staff is always lovely and the food is a.maz.ing . I've never had a dish there that wasn't so good I didn't emit waaaaaay to many ooh's and ahh's and moans and groans about its tastiness. The last time we went in was the first time I'd been for their dinner menu. I ordered the stuffed avocado with quinoa and it was, perhaps, the most delicious meal I've had at a restaurant in quite some time. If it wasn't for the prices, which feel a little on the heavy side, I'd be back at least once a week just so that I could eat my way through their menu..
(5)
Christine H.

I came here in high school years ago. It was a treat from my T'ai Chi teacher. I remember liking it, but I also remember it being more similar to the Chicago Diner than it is now. Perhaps my memory is deceiving me, but I don't remember it being chic. We're talking at least 8 years since I went! I didn't even realize it was vegetarian when I went though, and I still ate meat back then. I'm pretty sure my unsophisticated teenage self just got the veggie burger and fries at the time. I brought my mother here for her birthday today. She eats meat and is not always eager to go to all-vegetarian restaurants, but I told her if I'm paying for it, we're going to a place that has food I can eat! I didn't want to sit idly by as she munched on a non-vegan piece of cake for her birthday. Plus, the menu has enough diversity where there must be something she'd be willing to try. Cafe doesn't seem to fit the restaurant we visited today. The food is too upscale (and pricey) to fit the menu of a "cafe," I think. Chicago Diner this ain't, so don't come expecting that. I wanted to try the sagamite (as I've never had anything like it before), but opted for the Kung Pao instead as I needed some protein. It was good (and spicy, as the waiter warned me, but I don't mind spicy). Honestly, though, you can get more for half the price in Chinatown. Mom had the BBQ seitan sandwich and actually liked it! She said the bread was a little hard, however. We split the fries. For dessert, we shared a piece of the peanut butter chocolate cake with raspberry sorbet per our waiter's recommendation. We inhaled it (if only the piece were bigger)! We grabbed some sweets on the way out. So far, desserts seem to be their strongest point. I do want to try this place again, to try something new and to sample more desserts of course. Because of the price and distance from my home, however, it'll have to remain a place for special occasions. That lemon grass rice bowl sounds divine! This chic little place is for birthdays or a special date, not for grabbing a quick bite or a meal with friends.
(3)
Lourdes R.

We had the rudest waiter, Cesar! A friend, sitting at another table stopped by to say hello so when he came to take our order we asked for 5 minutes~well, he completely ignored us for the next 2 hours, which is how long it too to get an amazing lentil spinach salad and dessert! The food was great~but I wondered if he spit in it?
(1)
Alison B.

We maintain a vegan and gluten free diet which often makes dining out a real challenge; especially with carnivores! The food here is very delicious the service is outstanding and there is wide variety of menu items whether you are a vegetarian, vegan or gluten free. What is more important is that we were able to have a wonderful Sunday brunch with my 80 year old aunt and uncle... They had eggs, we had tofu and everyone was well-fed and very happy!
(5)
Nick B.

Kicking off the summer with vegan dining in Evanston! It's probably the first beautiful day in Chicago and I ended up spending it just outside of the city, in nearby Evanston. Evanston is an absolutely amazing community with unique features, shops and restaurants. Doing research on vegan restaurants in Chicago, Blind Faith Cafe turned up a number of times with solid reviews. I went with a friend earlier this afternoon for dinner. Fortunately, we were able to sit outside and enjoy the weather and food. We started with the hummus appetizer. The hummus was fresh, but I was a little surprised by the small portion of bread served. Wasn't really a problem, we just asked for more and finished up the spread. For dinner I went with the Kung Pao. This entree is described as a Szechwan glazed gardein (sweet!) sauteed ginger, garlic, and roasted peanuts with a side of bok choy. Spectacular! The gardein was wonderful, firm, and spicy. Similar to the hummus, I was a little distracted by such a health orientated cafe serving white rice instead of brown rice. Not a big deal though because I was busy wiping away tears from the peppers. My friend went ahead with the killer Barbecue Seitan Sandwich. Again, awesome! Overall, I had a great experience and I will totally come back to try other options on the menu. I have to give it four stars from the few oddities, but I definitely recommend all herbivores to put this on their list to check out this summer.
(4)
Lexy B.

I really wanted to like this place, but my food was just straight up BLAND. I ordered some type of expensive veggie torta and it had absolutely no kick. To make matters worse it was sitting on a massive amount of lettuce- with no other salad ingredients. At least throw some tomatoes on it! From a vegan/veg friendly joint, I expected more- more flavor, more bang for my buck. Make me want to eat ethically and healthy people!!
(2)
Dee W.

Stopping by here to pick up some gluten free baked goods, I was a bit disappointed to see that the chocolate cupcakes and the cream puffs were not gluten free. Otherwise, the cookies and coffee cake were fantastic choices. I was sad to see that they didn't have the vegan carrot cake available - maybe next time?
(4)
Nikki C.

MEAT GOOD! And to my surprise after my first visit here during a recent unofficial yelpers gathering, I left with a smile and happy feeling of satisfaction as my body was well fed with such a great serving of Aztec hash, which included nachos, peppers, onions, something else tasty and 2 eggs my way. Toast was an extra side, but really not necessary as I was unable to finish my very tasty and filling meal. Never once missed the side of bacon or sausages or steak or any other kind of flesh I normally require, who knew? Prices were higher than what I normally like to pay, but leaving satisfied, not a big deal.
(4)
Jodi W.

Once, this was my favorite restaurant. So much so, that it was my birthday choice to drag my family there from the Western Suburbs. Boy, has it gone downhill. Even the miso dressing, which I always loved and thus ordered two containers to go (before the meal), is overly salty and not nearly as flavorful as it once was. What a disappointment!
(1)
Tala K.

"Organic tofu and julienned vegetables in cilantro, lime-coconut sauce with black beans, fresh ginger and garlic. Served with jasmine rice" Mouthwatering, isn't it? One of the first options on The Blind Faith Cafe menu I encountered. Hi, my name is Tala and I have been a vegetarian for four years and I absolutely adore Blind Faith Cafe. I came in with my family after my graduation on a Sunday afternoon. We were seated right away, with no wait at all, and they catered to all we needed. Blind Faith Cafe is a truly great restaurant due to their friendly and inviting atmosphere, respectful staff, and delicious food. Walking into Blind Faith it had a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. It has a modern neutral decor, with beautiful, framed paintings on the wall. It is a very clean and sanitary restaurant. The silverware never has a smudge, the tables are always wiped down, the floor is spotless and there are never unnecessary dirty plates left around. You can really tell they keep up with the cleanliness. For example I dropped my fork on the ground, and in a matter of seconds the waiter was there with a new one. They really focus on keeping the restaurant running in tip top shape. As you enter the staff greets you, and seats you at the first available table. The waiters and waitress are extremely friendly and very respectful. They understand the different dietary needs of each individual customer and cater to it so well. On top of that, they know the restaurant and menu like the back of their hand! If you are ever having difficulty on deciding what to eat, they will definitely be a great deal of help. The front of the house service truly made a memorable experience. The best part of the restaurant and my personal experiences going there would be the food. It is absolutely delicious. Being a bigger group we ordered an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. As a starter we ordered the roasted vegetable hummus, served with carrots and celery. It was the perfect blend of spices and it was delicious. As my main course I has the black bean ginger tofu. It came plated very beautifully, on a bed of jasmine rice. The dish was full of flavor and had the perfect seasoning, and very hard to believe it was vegan! Finally as a dessert my family and I ordered the hot apple peach cobbler, with vanilla ice cream. Six spoons on the table, no cobbler left. It was the perfect contrast between hot and cold, gooey and crisp. A perfect way to end a fantastic meal. Carnivore, vegetarian, omnivore, meat lover or vegan Blind Faith Cafe is definitely the place to go. Their menu is offered vegan upon request. An all around quality restaurant offering a warm atmosphere, friendly staff and food to die for. If you have not been there, make sure it's next on your list, whether with a big group of friends or a nice small family get together, it definitely will not disappoint.
(5)
Erica J.

Disclaimer - I only purchased coffee and a pastry to go, so I didn't get to sample their menu. However, my experience here did not meet my expectations at all. I ordered a coffee and pastry from the counter, and CLEARLY ordered a hazelnut latte, but was handed a cappuccino (more foam than milk) with espresso that tasted like it was made with dried tree leaves. Seriously, I can tolerate bad coffee every once in a while but that drink was disgusting. The only redeeming factor was the brownie I ate, which was delicious. Maybe I just got a noob on the espresso machine or something, but I would definitely not come back here for coffee again.
(2)
Joanne L.

Yummy vegetarian-friendly food, though not so reasonably priced. My husband and I will usually split and entree and an appetizer here, without drinks and our bill usually comes to about $30. It's quite expensive for what you get. I think the menu is hit or miss. Sometimes we get something that blows our mind while another menu item is just questionable. Because of the price and inconsistency, I can't see myself eating here regularly. I don't mind coming here once in a while though.
(3)
Elisabeth C.

While I do like this place, I only really go here when I'm craving healthy vegan food. I'm not a huge fan of brown rice, but all of their entrees are rather good, although I feel they're a little under-spiced. Desserts here are very tasty and the staff are very pleasant and helpful.
(4)
Michael James S.

BLIND FAITH CAFE is a cozy and warm atmosphere, where the staff is exceptional. The menu selections are unique. A vegetarian menu, my Goat cheese and Spinach sandwich was scrumptious. Look for specials on-line. By registering on-line received a free dessert. I choose Peanut Butter and Chocolate cake. Highly recommend.
(5)
Karen M.

Ignore the slightly Old County Buffer-style decor and you've got one hell of a great vegetarian restaurant! Plus, they've got plenty of vegan options! I bought the Groupon months ago and finally used it on its expiration date (it's not easy always easy to make the trek to Evanston). My friend got the Kung Pao w/baby bok choy (yum!). I ordered the bbq seitan sandwich with fries (double yum!). And the desserts were to die for (the cappucino brownie is amazing!). Good portion sizes, fresh food. A tad on the pricey side, but the food was excellent and the staff quite attentive. I'll make the trek again sometime.
(4)
Liz S.

Oh Me of Little Faith. It was the morning after way too much indulgence, and I had to meet my parents and cousin for brunch at one of their favorite iconic haunts, the Blind Faith Cafe. I'm thinking, oh man, what I really need is a fry up from some greasy spoon, with multiple strips of bacon and about 50 gallons of water - what the hell am I going to eat at this healthy vegan/vegetarian restaurant? I tell you what, I should not have had one doubt. I had one of the best versions of traditional Huevos Rancheros to ever pass my lips. It was spicy, flavorful, rich, and delicious. The chipotle salsa was DRINKABLE, the eggs prepared perfectly, and the tortillas tender. My dad had the Poached Eggs Florentine, which a gorgeous, brilliant green dish with poached eggs atop fluffy biscuits - decadent. They have a variety of baked goods which all looked amazing, from vegan cupcakes to Snickerdoodles to more fancy pastries. We all shared an eclair, which was wonderful. The prices are more than those of your basic diner (about $9 for a brunch entree), but it's definitely worth it for the taste and presentation of the food. Plus, you know you are eating something of the best quality, served by people with a genuine passion for good health and good taste, and that's an excellent way to start any day.
(4)
Art V. B.

To be fair this place deserves: 3.5. The Mexican options are very good and creative, particularly the poblano sauce dishes. The rest of my food was just O.K. Asian dishes with fake meat were also good, but nothing that special. The place looks nice and it plays 80s music. Service is friendly.
(3)
R L.

What happened to this place? It still looks like a diner. It used to be SO good. I've gone back (my bad) many times thinking it was just that once. Service is ok, the food has gotten worse and the prices are too extreme for what they serve. Omit the fancy names and adjust your prices (to about half). - Sagamite: Very VERY oily and the rice is under cooked. Careful with the "smoked-flavor", (people die of smoke inhalation)--seriously, it's gross. - Enchiladas verdes: Tasty but I've had much better at other non-mexican restaurants - Portabella sandwhich: The description makes it sound amazing but it's Over-loaded with grilled onions and on a bun that's about the size of a big-mac. Way too oily and messy. Skip the side-salad on any meal, I don't think Blind faith is very thorough when washing any greens. I'd let it go if it only happened once. It's like eating directly from the garden--soil and all. - Fresh juice: What's with the tiny glasses? A pound of organic carrots and a bigger glass can't possibly cost as much for a small glass of carrot juice. - Miso soup: Hold the salt PLEASE, if you use wakame (sea weed) for more than just garnish. Extremely salty and hard to get past that fishy flavor. The coffee here is not very good yet it's very expensive. Starbucks is across the street (and beleive it or not, cheaper) so I'd hold off until after the meal.
(2)
Jessica W.

Hmm... the one time I go to a vegetarian restaurant, It's without any of my vegetarian friends (If you've read my previous reviews, you might have picked up on the fact that I have many of those). But anyway, my friends and I liked this place -- but maybe that's b/c they were doing a special promotion for their anniversary, where you just pay however much you want for your entree, which made it very affordable. And that made up for the fact that they messed up my reservation, and we had to wait 30 minutes for a table. I ordered the lemon grass rice bowl, which I thought was the best, and even though we were all sharing with each other, I wanted to keep this all to myself... I also got to try my friends' green curry, pastel azteca, black bean tostadas, and enchiladas verdes. I'd say that the two Asian-style dishes were better than the rest. The pastel azteca tasted really weird actually -- it was the one dish that we didn't care to finish. Overall, the food can be good, depending on what you order.
(3)
Jen S.

LOVE it, love it, despite the reports that John Cusack once noshed here with Britney... They have scores of vegan and veggie options, and even several choices for the gluten-free among us. They've kept up their quality for years at this point, and their food and service is fabulous! Their waitstaff is knowledgeable about food allergies and sensitivities, and that makes an enormous difference to people like me. Love, love. Want more.
(5)
Niki G.

Gone here a bunch and have had both fantastic service and really bad. However, the food has always been terrific!! Love the Kung-Pao Vegan Spicy Chicken and their desserts are to die for. Every time we go here, we end up waddling away, content, with our stomachs filled to the brims. Courses are of a decent portion -- though like I said, desserts are terrific, but also huge. A slice of their cakes could feed two or three people! So if you're a little shocked by any of the pricey prices, that's why! As a side note -- love the atmosphere of the place. Pretty, calming, and serene, even when there are crying infants at the next table over :P
(4)
Sarah S.

I went to Blind Faith Cafe after hearing about it on some show, can't remember if it was 190 North or Check Please and on a friend's recommendations. Parking is normal find a spot in Evanston parking and we got super lucky to snag a parallel spot right in front. Plus it was after 6pm so no need to feed the matter. I thought such a hipster place would be packed but there was tons of seating for a Friday night. My friend was very hesitant to eat here and took a lot of convincing so I was hoping the food would blow us away! Well. our food came out very quickly was fantastic. My friend ordered the Moroccan Vegetable Tajine - bad choice. It was a African stew piled high with big chunks of veggies. If that's your thing then you will love this, but my friend was not into it at all. I wouldn't have been into it either. I've never sent a dish back in my life and my friend sent this back. Our waitress did not seem pleased about this at all. My friend ended up ordering the Lemon Gnocchi which was a vast improvement but still not very tasty. I had a few bites of her dish and the flavor was just not there. I had the Cauliflower Ricotta Ravioli and quite honestly it was the best Ravioli of my life! I'm not a fan of tomato sauces at all so this was like a dream for me. It was absolutely delicious and I could have eaten like 4 orders of this. I mean that literally because there were 4 pieces of ravioli in the dish for $13. It was absolutely amazing though, so much so that the price was not even a factor. I would go back to Blind Faith Cafe for this amazzzzzing Ravioli but between my friend's dishes and the disinterested waitress I was a bit turned off. I will be back and wish to try some other dishes but they seem to be very hit or miss here. Go and order the Ravioli for a super safe bet!
(4)
Jeff K.

Food was okay, service was great, decor was bad. As a gluten free vegan I really wanted this place to be great but it just didn't wow me. I live in Chicago and it takes about 45 minutes to get there so it's not worth driving back there however if I happen to be close I would be willing to try it again. Here's what my wife & I thought: First when you walk in, the restaurant looks like a 1990's dinner, decor is outdated, with benches. It appeals to old people. Vegan places tend to appeal to a younger, hipper crowd, this place did not at all! For a drink my wife got the cool mint vodka, not good! It was way too sweet and didn't like that there was floating mint in it. We ordered guacamole as an appetizer, very tasty and would recommend d it. The chips were also not greasy and not salted, just how I like them. For dinner I had the black bean ginger tofu and my wife had the Kung pao, very good! The food had a great taste and not too salty which I love! It just was nothing special. If we lived in Evanston we would come back more but there are just so many better vegan / vegetarian restaurants in Chicago. Look at my other reviews for those places. Good service, decent food and bad decor. Hopefully they will update
(4)
Ningal Y.

Amazing fajitas!!!! I love love love their food and desert! Coming back again!
(5)
Ahzea M.

The scrambled tofu and a side of potatoes was good. I had to order it special. It's not on the menu. They unfortunately gave me a special price too. Freaking expensive! No reason for pancakes to be $10 and dinner to be $15. It's unfortunate that many things are not vegan. It's easier to drive to Chicago to vegan restaurants and be sure everything is vegan.
(3)
Michelle P.

I ate here for the first time in 1988, when vegetarian restaurants were few and far between. Over the years it's still been nice to have a local restaurant where I know I can eat anything on the menu, but recently Blind Faith has changed a lot . What started out as a cozy diner environment has turned into an attempt at upscale dining, with mixed results. They seem to change the menu frequently, which is a mixed blessing - there's new food options, but things you might have liked and looked forward to ordering will have disappeared. Two solid choices that have been on the dinner menu for years are Seitan Marsala and Mongolian Stir Fry - both are flavorful and a good choice for people who aren't so sure what they think about the concept of vegetarian food. The macrobiotic plate is a colorful array of various beans, grains, & vegetables, except now that so many restaurants offer the once-exotic components like roasted squash, steamed kale, and miso soup, $15 is a steep price. I was was here most recently for lunch, and had a hard time choosing something that seemed to be worth the price. $12 omelettes, $10 veggie burgers - their food is good, but not good enough for those gourmet prices, when there are plenty of cheap lunch places in the area. I settled on a portabello sandwich ($11.50), yes it was good, but $11.50 for a mushroom and some cheese & onions on a bun? This is a good place to come for if you're looking for a diverse vegetarian menu, or you're dining with non-vegetarians who want less exotic choices than you'd find in a restaurant with a specific cultural cuisine (like Thai or Middle Eastern). Even a non-adventurous eater who's suspicious of a meal without meat could be comfortable with the pizza or lasagna. But be prepared for some sticker shock when you get the bill.
(3)
Priscilla E.

My boyfriend and I went to the Blind Faith Cafe on Sunday with trepidation, after a luke warm meal at the Chicago Diner. We moved here from Portland and are used to a standard in vegetarian food, after the run in at the Chicago Diner I was nervous. The food was great! I had no problem eating a vegan lunch (and a delicious peanut butter cake). The real surprise was the level of service, it was superb. The girl serving us was knowledgeable, super polite and made great suggestions (her hair was cool too, reminded me a little of Portland). All around great experience, we hope to get back to Evanston soon.
(5)
Elizabeth L.

3.5 stars: 3.8 star kitchen, 3 star service. Delicious vegan fare w/generous brunch options. (4) Eggs Mornay - pure indulgence - scrambled w/brie, served on puff pastry, topped w/bechamel. Friends loved this dish. (4) French Toast Flambe - beautiful presentation, fresh berries poured over, served w/kahlua, berry sauce, caramelized bananas. (3) Eggs Florentine (Benedict) - have had more flavorful benedicts elsewhere, didn't care for the spinach cream. Dish was served lukewarm. Friend loved the Spinach Feta omelette, v. fresh. Fantastic vegan desserts for the sweet tooth.
(3)
Sherrilyn B.

If I were rating only the dessert, I'd give 5 stars. The (vegan) chocolate and peanut butter cake with raspberry sorbet was divine. But on the whole, this was a disappointing dining experience. Service was...meh. Though it was my first time at BFC, I didn't ask for recommendations, and I didn't need or want the redundant run-down of the menu. The server did a hard sell on a few specials, but I was suprised by how many of them included "summer vegetables." It's not summer, and as a gardener, I'm pretty skeptical about any 'summer' vegetables you serve in Evanston in March. The stuffed avocado sounded interesting, but who wants a cold dinner on such a chilly day? The pot stickers were not well-cooked--soggy and cool in the middle. My pear and goat cheese salad was over-dressed, and clearly had been prepared many hours before. Many of the greens were limp and excessively bitter (and I like bitter greens). I ordered lemon gnocchi, spouse ordered Thai noodles with peanut sauce. I can't say I found any lemon flavor at all. The ratio of gnocchi to vegetables (predominantly fennel and celery) was about 1 to 10, and the sauce was excessively briny. I like capers, but they didn't fit in this dish. The gnocchi had been sautÃ©ed, and looked suspiciously like scallops. They were dry and chalky inside. Hands-down the worst gnocchi I've ever had, including what I can buy in the freezer section at the grocery. This "special" was ill-conceived and poorly prepared. The Thai noodles were better, but had scarcely little of the crispy tofu, which was certainly the best part of the dish. Why mushrooms? Was the chef trying to do some sort of Japanese-Thai fusion? It didn't work. And the peanut sauce was no better than what Noodles and Company serves. Overall, I cannot recommend this restaurant, despite how desperately I hunt for vegan/vegetarian establishments. Here's hoping I just caught them on a bad day.
(2)
Marissa G.

It takes a lot to get my parents to eat foodie food, but going to the Blind Faith Cafe was simple effortless. We were on our way back from a Northwestern Football game and wanted to stop in downtown Evanston for food. We parked the car and my parents - of their own free will - were like, "hey, why don't we just go here"? I didn't ask any questions and went in the door. When we sat down and opened the menu that's when we figured out it was a vegetarian place. Surprisingly, my parents became enthusiastic and excited to ordered. I think they were feeling young again after spending some time at a college game. Anyway, let's get to the point - the food was amazing. Everything was so fresh and I loved how creative the menu was. Well, maybe it is just because I don't eat at very many exclusively vegetarian places, but it seemed creative to me. I had the avocado stuffed with quinoa, corn and pinto beans. Seriously good. My mom had a really great salad and my dad went for it and tried the BBQ Seitan Burger. I was so proud! The portions were medium large and the prices were reasonable for the quality. The ambiance reminded me of a neighborhood cafe and I could tell that locals loved the place. There is also a bakery in the front that had a bunch of pastries and drinks for sale. We took back some treats for desert. If Blind Faith Cafe can get my non-adventurous parents to enjoy their meal, I have no reservations recommending it to everyone.
(4)
F.C. B.

My family came here fairly often about a decade ago, when I was in school here. I remembered liking it at the time, but when we came through town visiting recently, our group was not terribly impressed. It was nice, of course, to be eating in a restaurant that would readily cater to our 3 vegan / 1 vegetarian group of diners, and the menu is very well labeled, making it easy to order vegan food. Several of the dishes we had were not great. A miso soup was far too salty, the preparation of the "mongolian stir-fry" could have been better. The "macrobiotic plate" was fine but dull. Which, yes, there were many things we didn't try, but several of our dishes did not do much to inspire our confidence in the place. On the other hand, the "Stuffed Avocado with Quinoa" was very fancy and well made. So perhaps this restaurant would seem much better to someone more familiar with the current menu, who knew what to order. That dish is what I'd recommend someone try if they are planning to go there without a better informed guide than myself.
(3)
M R.

Good food with a nice amount of vegi options. Worth the drive
(4)
Andrew L.

Located in south Evanston, near Chicago Avenue, the decor and ambiance are quite good. It's a true vegitarian/vegan place so be prepared. While some of the entrees are a good analog for meat dishes, it's still not quite the same. I had the steamed potstickers and found them quite bland, even with the vinegar/soy dipping sauce. However, their desserts are truly excellent. It's a bit pricey, so be prepared to drop $30 to $40 for two if you have an appetizer, salad or soup, main course and dessert with drink.
(3)
Karl J.

A nice selection of vegan/veg. Good flavor and imagination. Just a tad pricey.
(4)
Rachel R.

I ate here for lunch with my family and every single one of us loved it. We got the Kamoosh (basically black bean nachos), the lentil spinach salad, the Brie apple sandwich with sweet potato fries, and the Mongolian stir fry...everything was delicious. We also got the orange mojito and the cucumber mint splash to drink (which was so good my mom went home and made her own version). Came back again for dinner another night and got the enchiladas and soft tacos, again fantastic. I would definitely recommend this place, but it is slightly on the expensive side.
(5)
Maija G.

This is one of my favorite cafes in Evanston. I am not a vegetarian but when I eat here I do not miss or crave any meat. I almost always get the chili. It is very filling and delicious. The sweet potato fries are amazing. I actually do not like sweet potato fries anywhere else. The blind faith salad is another favorite. They have a coffee bar where you can pick the type of milk you want. I usually get the rice dream latte. As far as the bakery goes I have only tried the mango cheesecake which is great.
(5)
Melanie B.

I eat here more than I should admit. I love it! The Bi Bim Bop is great, the Shiitake Walnut loaf (served during cold months) is amazing, and they make a chocolate peanut butter cake to die for!
(5)
J W.

We always like coming here early Sunday mornings, right when it opens. And although the food options are not exactly the greatest, in my opinion, coming here is still a great experience. The pancakes have always been a little dry, I often need to saturate them in syrup (and I rarely use syrup). I'm not an omelet person, but my sister LOVES their omelets. But the mocha is AMAZING!!!!!
(4)
Bill O R.

After all the great reviews I read about this restaurant I decided to give it a try. Food was ok the Bloody Mary was terrible. Price is high. Portions are good.
(2)
Matt R.

4/5, because it's way expensive for the portion sizes and the quality of the food. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, but almost 80 bucks for 2 people (no wine) is a bit much unless this is seriously premium food. However, it is good food without a doubt. Their desserts are pretty good (chocolate peanut butter cake), appetizers are way too small, but overall tasty meals. I don't expect gigantic portions, but this is a touch below "reasonable" towards "kinda small" size. A definitely location to suggest for vegetarians, though, or anyone who wants to try some unique foods.
(4)
Beth R.

I'm not a glutton for punishment; I'm just a regular glutton. So allow me to explain why I found myself eating at Blind Faith after now several years of punishing experiences.... Due to family travel plans, Sunday breakfast had to take place at 9, instead of the more leisurely 10. I plucked Prairie Moon out of the short list of Evanston breakfast spots based on some enticing online menu descriptions (i.e. I wanted their blueberry pancakes baaaad). Prairie Moon doesn't open until 10 on Sundays. FAIL. We changed course and chose the least of three evils, Blind Faith. I will leave the other evils to your imagination. Since I have already cried into my hummus about how this place is a shell of its former self, I will only identify the newest reasons for my major sad face: 1) The blueberry pancakes: Admittedly, I like surprises. That said, I didn't like discovering that the pancakes themselves were like cornbread and the blueberries had to be hunted (save the one little escapee that sat on the plate next to the stack). The menu had no description of the pancakes (including number), and if I had known they would be corny and dry, I would have chosen something else. 2) The service: Two members of our group ordered something that came with a biscuit...or rather, came with a biscuit according to the menu. When the biscuits did not present themselves, someone asked the waiter, who answered the question with a question. The question "Do I get a biscuit with this?" was answered with "Not sure, do you?" Hmmmm. 3) The tea: Not a major issue, except that the menu lists several options (a black, a green, etc.) and our two tea orders came out without a word about preference. This would be a non-issue but BF doesn't have that kind of wiggle-room with me. Also, I spied the long-lost Blind Faith Burger on the brunch menu. So, they still offer it, just not for dinner? Because there's something nonsensical about eating a burger for dinner? I don't get it. Blind Faith, I just don't know you anymore.
(1)
David R.

I could have updated this review the last time that I ate here, or the time before that, or the time before that. But I kept thinking, "Eh, maybe it was a fluke" or "I like that place too much to bash it." But the simple truth is that they have gone way downhill in all aspects. This past weekend I came in shortly after 9am in a party of six. While there were several people sitting outside, the inside of the restaurant was deserted. Yet, they shoved two extra chairs around a circular table for four. When one of our party said, "There are going to be six of us," the waiter replied "I know; trust me, I've done this before." Why couldn't we have had a real table for six? I was contorting my legs the entire meal to avoid touching my neighbors. And why did he have to be rude about it to boot? Strikes one and two. One can always overlook atmosphere and service problems when the food is delicious, but this just wasn't the case, as I expected based on the last few visits. I ordered huevos a la Mexicana: the black beans were bland and superfluous, and the tortillas were dry and barely edible. The egg portion (with serranos, scallions, tomatoes, cilantro, tomatoes, and avocado) was passable, but I've had far, far better. Of course, by comparison to the rest of the dish, it was a savory feast. Strike three. There were other food disappointments and service problems at our table, but based on my own experience alone, I am ready to write off Blind Faith completely. Such a shame.
(2)
August B.

Kind of torn. Many reviewers complain about the prices. That's a good place to start, especially the booze prices. Don't drink here would be my advice. One round could end up costing as much as your food. That's a problem for me. The food on the other hand was reasonably priced, although on the high end for what it was. The food was clean, healthy, and flavorful. They don't lie about being healthy. In summary, you end up paying for more than what you get... but it is worth trying to form your own opinion.
(3)
Grace D.

Disappointing... I used to go here weekly for a decade when owned by the previous owners. The physical space that the new owners have created is lovely, but the food is overpriced and tastes like it was heated in the microwave. I ordered the mole enchiladas. the "meat" inside was cool but the plate hot. The cheese was melted ontop - such a disappointed to have it on top and not inside. The food is overpriced for the quality. I think it would be great if they could offer a narrow menu that is made fresh to order. I gave one-star because the vegan peanut butter chocolate cake is still out of this world.
(1)
Nikhil A.

For a taste changer, this is a great place to be. Its little pricey for the quantity of food (so 4 star). The food is really good and the staff is chill. We went as a group and ordered 5 dishes and shared it all among us and they were all great. Completely vegetarian so its pretty cool place for Vegans too. P.S- The deserts are really Awesome. Dont miss to pass thru desert display and ask for the special :) Not sure? go for Tiramisu....cant go wrong with it ever
(4)
Harmon W.

Getting my yelp cherry finally popped! Usually just go to native foods cafe for my vegan food but Chicago seems to have so many options and this one is a gem. Gotta love these vegan adventures! Very easy to find from Sheridan road if you're driving. Outdoor and indoor seating in this quaint little area of Evanston. Inside has nice seating and a bakery that has desserts to go! Extensive wine and beer selection is clutch. Menu has a lot of options be it salads, sandwiches or entrees. Got the fajitas (sour cream not vegan) and it's brought out on a sizzling platter. Huge portions! I'm from Texas so I'm spoiled when it comes to Mexican food but the sauce was great. Seitan chicken tasted a bit more like tofu though for some reason but the salsa and guacamole were all great! Couldn't finish the entire thing since I have another dinner to go to in 2 hours haha. Check in on yelp and get a free dessert with your entree! Take advantage of the outdoor seating while the Chicago weather cooperates! update on the desserts, the peanut butter chocolate is so good that the person I was sharing it with made me call them to confirm it's indeed vegan and it was!
(4)
Nikki K.

This place is great. I'm lactose intolerant and even though I'm not strict about keeping dairy out of my diet, I really appreciate when I can eat out and not worry as much about it. My boyfriend keeps kosher, so he didn't have to worry about any meat getting in the food. We were able to sit outside which was great. The food is a little expensive, but the portions are large. I ordered the black Bean Ginger Tofu and was able to bring leftovers home for the next day. I really wanted to try the Lemon Gnocchi, but they were out. I'll have to go back!
(4)
Jackson B.

The Greek Salad is decent, as is the huevos rancheros (when subbed with tofu). On the other hand, the BBQ seitan sandwich, the Mongolian Stirfry, the fajitas + the vegan chocolate cake are all fantastic.
(4)
Danny R.

If you live in Evanston, I'm sure it's nice to have a vegetarian-friendly place like this around. If you live in Evanston, you can also probably afford to pay $10-15 for lunch. But there's no reason to travel here from Chicago. Blind Faith serves the same egg plates, garden salads with cheese, veggie burgers, and Pan-Asian and Mexican dishes you can find in just about any veg restaurant. They charge a lot for dishes you've had a million times, and they don't prepare them much better than you could at home. They have vegan options, but not many, and nothing interesting: veggie burger, BBQ seitan sandwich, those Asian noodle dishes and Mexican bean plates I mentioned. A surprising number of dishes rely on cheese and eggs. I was particularly disappointed to see that so many salads couldn't stand on their own without cheese. We ordered potstickers, two Blind Faith Burgers w/ sweet potato fries, Huevos a la Mexicana, Enchiladas Verdes, carrot juice, an Americano, and tea. The carrot juice and the potstickers were highlights.
(2)
Bonnie M.

My mom and I love the Blind Faith Cafe. In terms of restaurants we frequent, this one is certainly at the higher price range, but it is worth it. The service is very good and all of the waitstaff and other employees have been nothing but kind. I have a few favorites that I switch in between when we go here, but have a list of other things I am planning on trying sometime soon. The Blind Faith Burger is always a solid option - a delicious veggie burger on a whole wheat bun (ask for mushrooms and onions, and they'll load your burger up with sauteed mushrooms and onions!) served with either a salad or sweet potato fries. Always good, always filling and also one of the things on the menu that is not entree priced (I believe it's around $10 or $12). They will substitute or change just about anything on the menu according to your preferences, which is something I love to see in a restaurant. For example, one day I went in and said I wanted veggies, tofu, black beans, brown rice and teriyaki and voila! The waitress said okay and had it made for me, just the way I like it, even though it's not something on the menu. The ambiance is totally nice, and something I love is that even though they've got small water cups, the bus boy men are endlessly coming around re-filling them for you. I'm one thirsty girl. This would for sure be a legit place to go on a date (if any guy took me here I would be super veganly impressed). I love Blind Faith!
(5)
Rowena L.

I was absolutely starving when I got there and ordered the roasted vegetable hummus to start and then the fajita platter. The hummus was good, but nothing special. It lacked any distinct flavor and mostly I just ended up eating it because I was so hungry. But the fajita platter, OMG WOW. So incredibly delicious. The seitan was perfectly cooked and seasoned (sauced?). A few extra tortillas probably would have been handy since there was a lot of seitan and veggies - lasted me another meal :)
(4)
Miss L.

I bookmarked this to review just over two years ago. I'd delete the bookmark since it's so out of date, but honestly this is the best vegan or vegetarian restaurant I've ever eaten at. So Delicious. It makes me sad every time I eat at any other vegan restaurant. I just want to yell at them, "Don't know know?! It's okay if the food tastes good, and not just like soy with some random sauce!" Next time I'm in Chicagoland I'll have to go back and see if it's still so wonderful. Here's hoping.
(5)
Boon K.

How can I have never reviewed this place. It was my very first place I had a vegetarian meal. This is the type of place when you want a home cooked meal but without the meat. I love their seitan here and there dessert are alway solid. I like everything here so I can think of one thing that I have to have here since it is all really good.
(4)
Sherie P.

Yum Yum and YUM! Do I have to say it again? YUM! I was at Blind Faith for brunch on Sunday. It was wonderful. It wasn't too crowded and we were seated right away. I was a little hesitant when I saw the menu. I'm a meat girl. I generally want some bacon or maybe some BACON in my breakfast but here, I didn't miss it at all! If it were closer I would definitely be there more often. To eat I had the Aztec Hash. I had the eggs scrambled on it and that was perfect. The sauce was spicy and the veggies still had a bite to them. I hate it when they are mushy. The seitan was my least favorite part of the dish. It was a bit chewy (I've never really liked the texture) but still had good flavor. If I ordered this dish again, I'd as them to leave that out. Eggs and veggies and tortilla chips were perfect just as they were! I also had some of my friends food. The Huevos a la Mexicana. OMG!!! Three warm tortilla accompanied a plate of black beans and this avocado veggie scrabble. And Green tomatillo salsa on the side? LOVE IT. I actually made him switch breakfast with me so that I could eat that. It was heaven on a plate! Of course we were there for breakfast so I didn't feel right getting desert. So I got a slice of the peanut butter chocolate cake to go. I managed to make it home before ripping into it. The cake was light and moist. The peanut butter was light as well, not too overwhelming like most peanut butter deserts are. I spent about 5 minutes staring at the bakery case before deciding. I made a good choice but those cream puffs were calling my name. Next time, Cream Puff... It's You and Me!
(4)
Sasha L.

The only reason I go here is for the Blind Faith Salad. Romaine, monterey jack cheese, avocado, cashews, and raisins, mixed with a light but creamy miso dressing. It sounds like a random combination (and one I would personally never pick off of a menu) but it is one of the best salads I have ever had... anywhere. That being said, almost all of the other food I have had here has been a disappointment - and extremely overpriced for what it is. The fajita platter has barbecue sauce on it, which does not go very well with mexican flavors. The Mongolian stir fry comes drenched in an oily sauce. And the Macrobiotic plate is bland, while also combining odd flavors into one dish. The only items I would recommend are the Shitake Walnut Loaf (which is good, although a bit salty for my taste) and the Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake. The waiters and waitresses are friendly and accommodating, and I like the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant, but the food could be seriously improved. However because the Blind Faith Salad has kept me coming back repeatedly, it bumps the restaurant up from what would be 2 stars.
(3)
Lisa G.

First they had no pancakes - server said, "pancake machine was down" - hmmm sounds suspect. 2nd of all, over 30 bucks for breakfast is fine if it knocks my socks off but in this case food and vegan choices were mediocre if that. Non-vegan boyfriend was unimpressed and so was I. However, I do have to say that the vegan chocolate cake ROCKED!!! I won't be back for a meal but I will be back for dessert.
(2)
Kedar D.

I wasn't super-impressed with Blind Faith. We shared a Blind Faith burger ($10.50) which was pretty bland and boring. We also had a vanilla cupcake and a cappuccino brownie, both of which were dry and not terribly flavorful. There didn't seem to be a whole ton of unusual or interesting vegan options in general. While I like the vibe here (it's a coffee shop up front, and an upscale diner in the back), I found the service to be mixed; the people at the counter were really friendly and helpful whereas our waiter was surly, curt and difficult to track down (to place our order and to get our bill). I'd come back to Blind Faith if I were in Evanston, but it's otherwise not worth a special trip.
(2)
Renee E.

Wow. I haven't been here in, by my count, about 9 years! Thanks to the beauty of Groupon, I made my husband haul our asses to Evanston to get our veg on. I used to come here a LOT back in the day (the Evanston and the now-closed Lakeview/Roscoe Village location) and I'm glad to see that they still have a decent variety of dishes for the vegan and the ovo-lacto vegetarians. My husband didn't know it was vegetarian until he opened the menu..oops! Fortunately, he found tons of dishes that sounded appealing. He got the tofu chilaquiles with a side of potatoes (damn, they were delish!) I got the mongolian stir fry. The seitan was a nice change of pace from tofu. There was enough food for me to box half of mine up. The one thing I missed was the flourless chocolate cake. I always used to get that when I visited in the past. Didn't see any in the cafe side...sad.
(4)
Melissa B.

We went to Blind Faith for my friend's birthday who is a vegetarian. My dish was okay. It was an enchilada dish. We had a group of 5 and no one was overly impressed with what they ordered. It's a cute place and the staff was great. I'm not sure if I would go back unless I was with another friend who was vegetarian. It was just okay to me.
(3)
Sarah S.

Probably the worst $50 breakfast ever. We ate half of it just so it didn't hurt to pay that, but left half the food on the table. The soy chorizo omlette had the chorizo baked into the egg and it was over cooked so the consistency was super rubbery. We ordered a side of fruit for our kids and for $4.50 we got a plate of frozen melon. We asked for a little banana to go with it and they brought a giant plate if sliced banana which according to our bill was 2 whole bananas and we paid $1.90 for them. Seriously?! We have 3 year old and an 8 month old, not monkeys, the 3 year old are his whole pancake, so that must have been alright. My husbands hue is rancheros was ok, but he was still hungry when we left. Bummer of it all is this place used to be good.
(1)
Robyn B.

I was surprised that so many of the review of Blind Faith were really ho-hum. I love it here. It's a cozy spot with friendly servers. I can also credit them for proving to me that seitan can actually be quite tasty when prepared well. I'd recommend it as a great place to linger over a long lunch.
(4)
Lizzie L.

My favorite is the Thai Peanut Noodles - vegan, peanutty, delicious, and the crispy tofu is delicious! My dad is an omnivore and loved the Seitan Marsala. Also love the sweet potato fries, the Blind Faith Burger, and for non-vegans the apple and brie sandwich is great. My favorite order-in food for marathon studying.
(4)
Denise B.

Despite several years of living in the north suburbs, I'd never heard of the local Evanston establishment Blind Faith Cafe until an old friend suggested we meet up there for lunch. I'm curious as to why one would need blind faith to eat here... is the food really THAT bad!? no, thankfully it is not. perhaps a word of warning to the omnivores that this place is vegetarian and proud of it? I live in the bay area and will eat just about anything, I'm cool with that. Blind Faith offers a standard assortment of breakfast food, salads, and meatless sandwiches, along with various coffees. our food came out at reasonable pace, and my omelette tasted just fine. the atmosphere was cozy and a good place to casually linger. The price I felt was a little more expensive than it should be, but since I won't exactly be eating here regularly, I can deal. In the end, Blind Faith was not a stand-out to be, but it was certainly pleasant and a place the locals will undoubtedly continue to frequent for years to come.
(3)
Victoria W.

I am an ex-vegetarian, so I think that I can speak to this place fairly. First of all, I have no problem with the price of this restaurant. Most specialty restaurants that caters to special needs tend to be more pricy. I ordered a bowl of veggie chilli and the size of the bowl was fairly large, but it cost $7. I definitely have at better veggie chillis, and I've had a lot in my life. It was first of all served luke-warm. In my opinion, soup should always be served warm otherwise it loses the heartiness that it calls for. Secondly, the consistency if the soup was not well thought out, it tastes kind of gooey, makes everything bland. The other person in my party ordered an omelette with a side of diced potato. The omelette i think looked a lot better than my soup, and it also tastes better. The spinach was cooked just right, but the cheese dosage was off. There seems to also be some diced tomatoes in the omelette and those tastes fine. The potato squares were ok, nothing special. I think this place could try to use some creativity and a little more thought process for their food. We also ordered apple cider and they were also served kind of cold. However, our waitress was very nice and sweet. Nothing really stands out for the deco of the restaurant, it is very clean though. I think you can sit outside when the weather permits and they do have windows that lets in a lot of sun so it does make it nice for breakfast. I've only been here for breakfast so i cannot speak to other occasions, however, I do not see lunch and dinner being too different judging from their menu.
(3)
Colleen L.

Very average. The staff was friendly, the restaurant was clean and comfortable, but the overall experience was just so-so. The peach bellini and sweet potato fries we started with we okay. Not great or bad; just okay. I had the ginger black bean tofu which was more black bean than ginger or tofu. Again: not bad, just okay. I wouldn't order it again. My companion had the stuffed avocado with quinoa. The avocado looked fresh, but it was generous to call it "stuffed" with quinoa; "topped" would have been more accurate, and even then the topping was a little more corn than quinoa, beans, and pumpkin seeds. We weren't impressed enough to try the desserts. Portion sizes were decent, but it was, in my opinion, far too expensive for the amount of effort/quality/flavor that you got. I didn't leave upset, but I won't be going back.
(2)
Mike B.

After returning to vegetarianism from a brief stint as a pescetarian, I decided that I was overdue for a new vegetarian experience. Having been to all of the places that chicago has to offer, I decided that I was overdue for a trip to Evanston, and with the help of yelp, I stumbled upon Blind Faith Cafe. I rode my bike here from the south side of chicago (bridgeport to be specific). I didn't really read the reviews, i just typed in "vegan", and "evanston, IL" because I was looking for a reason to visit Evanston. Once I got here, I walked inside, still a bit sweaty, sat down, and waited for a waiter to give me a menu. The place was mostly empty. There were two people seated at a table near me, a few off in the side area, and waiters were mostly standing around behind the counter. One waiter walked over to the table where the two other people were seated, and offered them assistance. I sat and waited, but he never offered me any help. He returned 5 minutes later to bring them some water, but he still didn't respond to me. So, as he was walking away, I asked him for a menu. He told me that he would bring me a menu, then wandered off into the back. 10 minutes later, i saw him walk off to the side area, and then 5 minutes later I still didn't have a menu. I had been there for at least 20 minutes, and nobody had given me a menu. Frustrated, I grabbed my bag and walked out. I felt insulted, and cheated. Here I was, thirsty, hungry, and basically shunned. I wanted to give them a piece of my mind, so I walked back inside, prepared to yell at someone, but then I lost the will to do that, because i didn't want to be a dick. So, I walked up to the counter, and asked this guy for a menu. He told me that they didn't have menus for takeout orders, and I informed him that I wanted to eat in the restaurant. He then walked back around to the front, grabbed a menu, and walked me off to the other side. I mentioned to him what had happened with the other waiter, and he dismissed every issue I raised by simply saying "Oh, he probably didn't see you.". I told him that the waiter had told me that he would bring me a menu, and the guy didn't say a single word. I then told him "I'm sorry I'm upset over this, but it has just been a very frustrating ordeal. I traveled for a long time to be here, and am very hungry and thirsty", and he didn't say a word to me. Then I sat down, and he walked away, put a glass on my table, filled it with water, and walked away, still without saying anything, or even hinting at an apology. Five minutes later, a waitress came to my table, and took my order. She was much nicer than the other guy, and offered very speedy & friendly service. I ended up having the bbq seitan sandwich. The seitan was pretty tough, and there was too much seitan & coleslaw for the sandwich to be handled in the form of a sandwich. I ended up opening the sandwich, and eating it with a fork. They didn't give me a fork, I had to take it off of a vacant table. I ate the bbq-slathered bun as a sandwich, and it was pretty good, the seitan was just too tough. The fries I had with the sandwich were bland, and tasteless. The root beer was probably the best part of the meal, and for that, I thank them, for offering decent rootbeer. I don't think I'll come back here. Would probably go to soulveg, earwax cafe, or loving hut instead.
(2)
Ju L.

NOTE: THEY ARE CLOSED ON MONDAYS. I don't know why and our fault for not checking, but it was pretty disappointing to make plans the first time and end up at Dozika across the street instead. (Not that Dozika was awful.) We came to Blind Faith on a Groupon, so the meal was discounted by $10. Still, I was so afraid that portions were going to be teeny or that all the menu items would have the word "macrobiotic" (one item does). BUT! Our food was great! My friend got the BBQ seitan sandwich, which had an awesome meaty texture-- and that is the last time I use my college dining hall to make assumptions about what certain foods actually taste like. Even the fries that came with the sandwich were delicious: not too salty, still looked like potatoes and not yellow sticks. I (a devoted omnivore) got the quiche - a big slice with a light salad on the side. GET THE QUICHE. Salad vinaigrette was very sour in a good way. The quiche was soooo gooooood. Very very soft (silken tofu?), on the saltier side but very fresh crust and tasted so rich. This is why I could not be a vegan: no eggs, no cheese, no fun. Our server was super nice. Portion sizes were just right, really; no more or less than an average restaurant. The space is pretty large and has the feel of a nice, classier diner, with an attached cafe/bakery section to the right when you enter. And they serve Intelligentsia coffee. The whole experience (especially the food!) was so nice that I might even consider paying non-Groupon prices next time!
(4)
Grace C.

Super friendly and delicious!
(5)
Leonard R.

Great place,, we had to eat here because my husband is a vegan. The menu is huge and there was a lot to chose from ..Service was impeccable.
(4)
Heather J.

I work across the street from Blind Faith, and I'm always thrilled when I can talk someone into meeting me for dinner at this place! I eat tons of Mexican food (and I definitely have my favorites), but the first time I ate here, I opted for the Soft Shell Tacos. Now, this is definitely not a Mexican restaurant, but I was super impressed by the deliciousness of these tacos. In fact, now that's all I order from there. It's so flavorful, you'll want to cry when it's gone. (Do order an Orange Mojito, as well!)
(4)
Doug B.

I love fruits and vegetables but I'm not a vegetarian by a long shot. We visited the Blind Faith Cafe to meet up with friends we've known for years. I ordered the cheeseburger which was pretty tasty, a bit of 'stiff' bun, chose the greens over fries and really appreciated a generous amount of tomato and pickles that came with it. Our group of 6 also enjoyed the soup of the day (some potato creamy looking thing), the Teriyaki Fried Rice Bowl, the Fajita Platter with Grilled barbeque seitan, a milk shake and a Chocolate Mousse for dessert. Everything was very good, the service was attentive yet discreet, we had a lovely time catching up. Bring a coat if it's AC season, a bit chilly in there for those without adequate personal insulation. Could have been a 4 star but I take one off for restaurants that flaunt their locked up wifi... makes no sense people, set your wifi free.
(3)
Sarah V.

Stumbling on this place with my anti-vegetarian parents was poetically ironic. I could feel my father's animal flesh tearing teeth grit together across the table. Coming from a manorexic I took offense. But it didn't stop me from having a little fun with him. "What's seitan?" It's that mean guy in hell, dad. So, potstickers and sweet potato fries for the table? Ok! The cafe is great, the drinks were very yummy and made well. I hope I didn't offend the baristo by asking for whole milk in my Americano. Somehow the table ended up ordering 3 of the same thing. 3 of us ordered the Burrito Ranchero, the other had the soup and salad combo. Everything was delicious, and the servers didn't skip a beat. The mushroom soup was, how would Rachel Zoe say, "I die"; which translates to 'on point'. The Curry Chopped salad was karate chop good! All in all my parents stuck their proverbial foot in their hoof and claw eating mouths. They have a counter of desserts that were just billowing around our sweet craving eyes. Never got a chance to make it happen, we were too full. Will be frequenting, but the family joked that between the 4 of us for lunch we spent $80 on vegetables.... Welcome to Evanston!
(4)
Jen C.

Recently got into eating salads and I must say, this place is awesome for veggie lovers! I had the Curried Chopped Salad and it was delicious =] Just wished I had room left for dessert. Prices are a little on the high side but might try to visit again when in the area.
(4)
Draenna J.

You don't have to be a vegetarian to love this place. The food was wonderful,and the beer list was unusual, which is a good thing. Several local breweries that you don't see many other places were featured, which was pretty neat. Everyone in our party loved their dinner, although when it came time for dessert, the kitchen was out of two of the ones we wanted. Which I found strange, since it was a not-very-busy Wednesday. But our waiter was so sweet and personable. He gave us a free dessert because of the trouble. I'll come back to Blind Faith, and I'll bring friends.
(4)
M J.

Food and service are good, but prices are high. We have a running joke that they keep updating the menu just so they can raise the printed prices. Still love the place and will keep coming back.
(4)
Stacey C.

I loved, loved, loved this place! So much so that I had to write a blog post about it. Instead of rambling on here, go here if you want to learn more: wp.me/p3IXtT-B
(4)
Peter M.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake vegan
(5)
heidi s.

I used to dig this place, but I haven't been in awhile. I hope it is still tasty b/c it has yummy vegan baked goods and reeds ginger ale. I've been here for dinner a couple time and I remember having a decent meal. Blind Faith I will have to visit you again soon!
(4)
Ruth F.

My companion and I ordered very different types of food; he had the barbecue seitan sandwich, and I had the provencal vegetables with balsamic reduction, polenta cakes and a big hunk of brie. We were both very happy. So they do some traditional food, some fancy food, and some macrobiotic food (which we didn't touch, but is there for the traditional vegetarian). Service was good (my only complaint: the waiter put the folio with my credit card in it in front of my dinner companion instead of me). Lots more people than the last time I was here; pretty full. Fairly pricey ($10 entrees; my dessert was $8.50) but not unreasonable, particularly for Evanston. Pretty cut flowers at every table. One warning: the chef's specials menu is apparently just what the chef thinks is good this week; it is NOT a prix fixe. This was a bit of a surprise when the bill came. (I had the tiramisu and the queso fundido with my vegetables. Probably would have had a different entree had I realized...)
(4)
Laura P.

I came back. I had to have another bowl of Mongolian Sitr Fry. It's just that good. The manager was rude when he sat us, like we disturbed him from conversation. We sat too close to the host stand and could hear some pretty raunchy conversation. Last time I could just see them all standing there, this time I was in the conversation. These guys are really rude to women! Our service from the waitress was amazing. And the food was spot on. I only think I'll return if those men are gone. I'm not a prude but it was too much and disgusting to hear while trying to eat. I asked to speak to the owner and was told he wasn't in. I tried calling and they said they took a message. That was last week. Oh well. I guess I won't be back.
(1)
reshma s.

Considering that I am a vegetarian I thought this would be the perfect restaurant to start my yelping with! Not only does the menu have exceptional items but the food is amazing. We ordered the Bibim Bop and the Shitake Walnut Loaf and both the meals were yummy! The friendly staff will give you a head start if you are unsure of what to order. And to think that the calories weren't enough... I just couldn't resist the take out order of muffins from the bakery! Simply Irresistible!
(5)
Stephen S.

This place is AWESOME! I had both the French Toast FlambÃ© and the focaccia bread pizza because I could not decide between them. They were both awesome and huge! I switched off between bites. I was one full and happy camper. Although I am not a vegetarian, I loved the food. And, the service was great. By the way, I am only seven years old! Alex S.
(5)
dan l.

UPDATE: It is with sadness that I don't think I'll be going back here any time soon. It's just gotten too expensive and the portions have absolutely decreased in size as well. That's a jab followed by an upper cut. I used to swear by this place and commute over an hour from the city to eat here. No more. Sorry, guys. While the food is still great I cannot justify it any longer. The prices are silly now and the consistency of the service has dropped too. Good luck. Lowering from four stars to three. The Blind Faith Cafe has been my safe spot for going out to dinner with my meat-eating grandparents who both get the BBQ Seitan Sandwich EVERY time we go. The corn bread is terrific as are all the salads, the quesadillas, and blind faith burger. The desserts (both vegan and dairy) are well balanced and always fresh. My experiences with the wait staff have proved them to be patient and kind in the face of 80 year old grumpy seniors. This place is a winner. Well worth the trip up to Evanston (and very easy to get to if traveling by the El). My only complaint is how they became more expensive in the past year or two since the remodel. Great restaurant however getting pricey. Will be eating here for years to come so long as I can afford it.
(3)
Catherine W.

Very cute restaurant. I am not naturally a vegetarian so truthfully I found the food just okay. It is a really pleasant atmosphere for dining though.
(3)
Jerry W.

Mediocre at best - nice vibe but the food is over-priced and pretty tasteless. Hadn't been there for many years when I decided to give it another try and, with a lunch bill that exceeded my dinner bill of the night before at Dave's Italian Kitchen, I won't be hurrying back. The menu was very limited.
(3)
Alan D.

Great choice for vegan/vegetarians. Mongolian Broccoli was recommended to me and was a good choice. It was spicy, tasty, and healthy. Owner is a very nice guy. I will be back for sure.
(5)
Julie R.

When there is enough energy to bike or enough time to drive (when the weather is gross) for brunch, this is one of my favorite spots. A friend used to work here and got me hooked. It's always a nice atmosphere, although can get loud when sitting near a group and/or children. The service has always been good and there never seems to be too long of a wait when we've been here. I have tried quite a lot of breakfast items as well as lunch.. never a complaint and rarely food left on the plate. They also have good coffee drinks and teas. The last visit was with some friends and we all cleaned our brunch plates. I had the fresh fruit plate and it was perfect. I would also suggest trying a quiche dish. Huge but yum ...
(4)
Chris B.

Although I'm not a vegetarian, I love this restaurant! I've come back many times over the 30 years I've lived in Chicago and never been disappointed. I know I'll always have a wonderful variety of tasty options, prepared well and with the bonus of being healthy and responsible choices! Yesterday I had brunch and shared the Turkish Breakfast (poached eggs, feta, spinach and yoghurt sauce) and the Vegetable Rice Bowl (garden veggies, jasmine rice). The Turkish Breakfast was an exploration into something new and it was really good, very fresh-tasting and light. How do they do it? Make a Veggie Rice Bowl so delicious? I had it with the Jasmine Rice option (Brown also available) and I practically licked the bowl! And their bakery--Ooo la la!! Thank You, Blind Faith!
(5)
Melissa G.

Even though you may not be a vegan or vegetarian you should give this place a try. Busy, good service and tasty. Loved the chili.
(4)
Diana P.

I'd give this place 3.5 if I could. It's a great option for vegetarians, however, they spice up the food way too much and that makes me think the food isn't that good. Sauces are overpowering. Desserts are great though, esp the cupcakes!
(3)
Sandra M.

I've sort of dubbed the Blind Faith as my "special occasion" restaurant. With a veggie-supportive boyfriend, and veggie-phobic extended family, I've done Valentine's Day and Graduation dinners here with GREAT success! The wait staff is ALWAYS super friendly, and I've never met a dish I didn't like. My one recommendation is to stay away from the Rice Dream Latte (unless you get more espresso). It's common to get dairy substitute-based lattes that are a little on the watery side. More espresso definitely helps! I ordered a regular chai (dairy based) and it was divine! Likewise, the staff is always able (and competent) in discussing special diet needs (vegan, macro, etc.) One day, I even had a nice lighthearted conversation about how cheese is "the last to go" when considering being vegan- how cute! I love this place and would definitely recommend it :)
(5)
Minnie G.

My guy and I hadn't been her a few years and remember the food and service to be fantastic. We went for breakfast this morning and the food was just OK but pricey and the service sucked. Very disappointing.
(3)
Aaron B.

Blind Faith Cafe is very tasteful and upscale for a true veg restaurant. Their menu is full of great sapid choices and I have really never been disappointed by their dishes. My favorite meal here ever was sweet and sour seitan and it was phenom. Unfortunately it was one of their specials and I haven't had anything as good since. They have a great breakfast menu and serve Intelligensia, that alone is a reason to go here. I like to wash my comforters at the laundromat off Chicago and Dempster and go here for breakfast while it is washing. The Huevos Rancheros is made with slices of fresh avocado that I love! For dinner the Mongolian Stir fry is always a good choice. They have vegan options for all their entrees since they do serve dairy and eggs for those who are just veg. So if you are vegan don't be scared you will have to struggle for a good meal, they are very accommodating. They serve beer and wine, at least they did the last time I went there a few months ago. I have been going here now for over 8 years and used to base my Chicago weekend vacations, before I loved here, around going to this place. It is that good. They have updated the interior in the past few years and it is a nice decor, but I wish they would do something about their stained ceiling tiles. If they update these and also change up the menu once in a while I will re-review for a solid five stars.
(4)
SAN N.

I grew up in Evanston, so I've been coming to Blind Faith for a long time. Blind Faith used to be my favorite restaurant on the planet, and when I first moved out of the Chicago area, a meal at Blind Faith was a must for every visit home. Unfortunately, that has changed in the past few years for many of the reasons described in some of the 280+ other reviews of this place. Blind Faith still has tasty, good quality, fresh food, but I think they've tried to become too upscale and appeal to too broad an audience. One of the things I used to love about Blind Faith was that they had so many interesting vegetarian options that weren't available at other restaurants. Now about 70% of the menu consists of items you would find at a Thai/Japanese/Mexican restaurant, but at BF they are often more expensive and not as good. I think the way to get the best out of Blind Faith is to order some of their more unique stuff. Assuming they haven't changed the recipe, the Seitan Marsala is amazing, and I love the fajitas (also made with seitan). I haven't ordered it for a while, but the veggie burger was always good, and I'm glad to see that they changed the side dish that comes with it - it used to come with a giant heap of brown rice, which, paired with the bun, was starch overload. The chili, which I had recently, is also good. It used to come with their amazing corn bread, but now you have to pay for that separately (get the real version, not the vegan version). I also have always enjoyed the macrobiotic plate, which has been on the menu since the good ol' days. It's not for everyone - sort of like uber-healthy comfort food - but I really like all the things that come with it (except the miso soup - see my comment above about going to a Japanese restaurant for good Japanese food). So I would give Blind Faith 3.5 stars, but I wish it were the same restaurant that used to put a mini loaf of warm, freshly-baked dill bread on the table when you sat down!
(3)
Suzanne P.

I am neither vegetarian nor vegan but I love this place so much. The first time I came here, I was moving into the area for grad school. A friend had recommended this place for brunch, so my parents and I tried it out. WOW. I loved every bite of the meal that I had. The thing is, the food is complex and delicious and leaves you wanting for nothing. My favorite thing to order is the French Toast Flambe. It is covered with fruit and deliciousness. I crave the french toast flambe and wish that I only could get up to Evanston more often to dine there. The service is good, and the restaurant is set up very nicely. You don't feel cramped. Also, on your way out, grab a pastry...their cupcakes are fantastic!
(5)
Jennifer Q.

I wanted to surprise my mom, who is also a vegetarian, with a new place to eat. I actually found this place by searching ideas on Yelp. It had great reviews so I thought I would give it a try. I really liked it here! Great variety of entrees and really good coffee! My mom and I were both pleased with our selections and felt the service was fast and courteous. Very nice place -simple and classy decor and plenty of street parking. Overall, a great experience!
(4)
A S.

Holler at me CHILAQUILES! For yums. Minus one star for the vegan cupcake that was like a nausea gut-bomb. Whatevs BF, I forgive you. See you soon.
(4)
Sarah L.

Just to clarify, the only reason I am not giving Blind Faith five stars is because it's kind of expensive. I've been coming here for years, and it's an all-around excellent experience - great atmosphere, solid service, and an amazing menu. The enchiladas - made with corn & potatoes - are to die for. If you're here for breakfast or brunch, try an omelet - oh em gee, they're just about perfect. Some of the best I've ever had. I tend to order smoothies here, and they're great too, though I kind of feel like it's hard to mess up smoothies. Plus I get a little salty about paying $5+ for these concoctions when I could probably make them at home if I wasn't so lazy and if strawberries weren't so expensive. One more thing - don't forget to get a lil' something from the bakery before you go. Vegan cupcakes? Yes, please! There's something about vegan frosting that just makes me swoon. But seriously, these baked goods won't disappoint.
(4)
emily b.

Oh, Blind Faith, how I used to love you. Well. . . actually I used to hate you. . . let's start at the beginning. My parents used to drag me here almost 25 years ago when I was a whiny kid. I hated it. I didn't want healthy food! As I grew up I learned to love Blind Faith. Requesting it for my birthday dinners, going out with friends, and a few years ago, I even had dinner there the night I got engaged. What the hell happened to this place? It used to be honest to goodness food. . . no pretentious servers. . . and good sized portions. Enough for leftovers! Now it's dripping in pretense. The food is sometimes ok, sometimes not good at all. I've gotten one thing there I thought was gross, and twice I've gotten cold food. The blind faith salad used to rival the Seinfeld big salad, and now is a sad reminder of what it used to be. The other dishes are smaller portions, too. A LOT smaller. Oh. . .and the coffee bar makes the worse espresso drinks I've ever spent 5 bucks on. I miss the old Blind Faith.
(2)
Chelsa P.

This place makes me happy. I have eaten here twice and both times have been amazing. I am not a veggie, but this place does not make me miss meat at all. The BBQ sandwich first was amazing, then the Moroccan dish, yum. I only gave it 4 stars because I am poor and the prices are a tad high, not bad, but again, I am poor. The staff has been awesome both times. I plan on going back.
(4)
Don S.

Great meat alternative. Started with potstockers should have gotten them steamed instead of fried my bad. Wish they had a bit more flavor or some spice heat. Second course was a jicama salad- fresh lite and very crisp enough for 2 to share. Dinner was the artichoke barigoule stew- tasty but be warned you need to like olives, olive flavor is predominate. Good dinner with attentive service and warm calming environment.
(3)
Suzanne C.

My co-worker and I stopped by for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The first thing I thought was this is a cozy, homey brunch-type establishment (however, it is available for all mealtimes, and they even serve wine/cocktails). The waitstaff was very attentive and conscientious of our needs. I had the grilled brie and apple sandwich and side salad. My co-worker had the tofu scrambled eggs and requested additional feta on top, which they agreed to add. Both were delicious. I was hoping for my sandwich to be a little on the lighter side, but both slices of my wheat toast were slathered in butter like a traditional grilled cheese sandwich--yummy, but my waistline is not liking me anymore =( Good thing I had the salad instead of sweet potato fries. We looked around at the other tables, and everyone else's entrees looked super delicious as well. I'm excited to have found a new vegetarian restaurant to frequent, and I can't wait to try other dishes!
(4)
Ari C.

Similar to the previous reviewer, the only downside to Blind Faith is the price. As a devout meatitarian, I had my doubts when first eating at Blind Faith. But to my surprise, the food is most excellent. I have tried most of the appetizers and a fair number of the entrees, and have yet to be disappointed. Gardein (a meat substitute used in many dishes) holds flavor very well, and has a good, meaty consistency. The sauces and flavors that the restaurant blend together are excellent. The wine list is ample, though not extensive (not that I would expect a lengthy list at a somewhat causal place like Blind Faith), and the desserts are outstanding. Add a fantastic, attentive, and very friendly waitstaff, and you have a great experience! Personal suggestion on the entree: Kung Pao "Chicken". You'll like it, I promise.
(4)
Colleen R.

I feel a little bit guilty for thinking that my last meal at Blind Faith could have used a little more... bacon. Despite my lapsed vegetarianism (yeah... it didn't even last as long as my Vegetarian Times magazine subscription), I do enjoy the food and the atmosphere at Blind Faith. Their menu has a wide variety of cuisines represented -- a virtual United Nations of Food around the common theme of non-meat deliciousness. The servers tend to be super chatty initially and then a little bit slow when it comes to bringing the food to the table. But it's no big deal. The food, like the shiitake mushroom soup and stuffed avocado entrÃ©e, makes it worth it. Also, just a heads up that the baby changing table in the ladies' room could use a good scrub-down. I'm just sayin'.
(4)
Carolin C.

I'm not a vegetarian but the food is GREAT!!! The menu has a lot to choose from and anything you order is flavorful. I've been here a number of times and love it every time. I've even brought my mom - quite the carnivore - and she loves it as well. The service is great and the ambience a plus, too.
(5)
Mr. T.

...Still no return of Seitan Marsala to the menu -- which is both odd and sad to me. For a while, they would make it on request, but now they've stopped doing that as well. Every time I go, I ask if there are any plans to bring it back -- and basically, the answer is no. On the annoying end, our last server tried to justify the choice to remove the dish from the menu by saying they wanted to try new things and be more progressive. She did not really know what to say, however, when I pointed out the fact that they'd kept a number of other dishes from the old menu -- and it was for that reason that I'm still on a crusade to get the dish back on the menu... or at least try to understand why they chose to remove it since it was undoubtedly one of their most popular dishes! Moreover, "Setian Marsala," in a wonderful white wine based sauce seems FAR more suitable to an upscale menu than many other items on their menu. For example, new items like Coconut Curry and Peanut Noodles are being done far better right around the corner (South) on Chicago Avenue at a long standing Thai restaurant. And yes, the Thai restaurant can use tofu in their dishes as well -- so there does not seem to be much of an advantage to paying a quarter to third more for a dish like this at Blind Faith. To me, it would be like ordering ordering enchiladas at an upscale Italian restaurant. Maybe they'll be okay, but more than likely, you'll get far better ones at the Mexican Restaurant up the street -- and for less. I suppose I need to just get off the soapbox about the loss of my beloved Seitan Marsala at Blind Faith. It was good while it lasted -- and at least their food is still as tasty as ever overall. They've even improved some of the dishes they kept on the menu (like the Lemon Seitan) -- although some of the portions seem to have gotten a little smaller. And guys, $6.50 for a side of seitan is WAAAAY too much. On the extra plus side, they've added a new soup to the menu that's fantastic! Asian dumplings in Shitake Mushroom broth! Yum! They've also added some new vegan dessert items. All in all, while their politics have often failed to make sense to me over the years, the fact is that Blind Faith still satisfies in terms of providing good food in a bright, energetic space close to home.
(4)
Katy B.

I love love love the food here. Extra bonus for being able to pick out desert and coffee to go. Slight deduction for the coffee never tasting so great (despite it being Intelligentsia, if I recall correctly). But the one star deduction is for this event: my first time here, upon ordering a coffee and asking if they had sugar-free syrup I was told 'we don't believe in "sugar free,"' complete with extra snooty attitude. What the f is that? I can respect the decision, but a simple 'no we don't carry sugar-free syrup' would have sufficed. Or even a simple explanation of why they choose not to carry it... I can't really get behind the rudeness and crap attitude. Otherwise, service here has been muy bien.
(4)
Carrie S.

This place has gone from 4 starts to MAYBE 2. I worked at the bakery in HS (when there was still a bakery next door/connected). The food was great, and so was the atmosphere. Unfortunately, it has become very uppity and a lot of the good food has been replaced with ho-hum food at high prices. Not worth it. You want good american vegan and veg cuisine? Go to the Chicago Diner over on Halsted. They still keep it real.
(2)
Mike T.

We had dinner here a few weeks ago and I did not realize it was a veggie only menu. We originally wanted to have pizza at the Union but they were packed and we did not want to wait 45 minutes. So, looking through the menu, most of the food looked pretty appetizing. I needed to google what seitan was. I guess since I'm not a vegetarian, I never heard of it. I decided to order bibim bop with seitan. It was pretty tasty even though the seitan seemed a little greasy. Otherwise, it was good. She had tofu and rice, which was a large portion and also tasted pretty good. They did not have tiramisu, so we ordered chocolate cake instead. It was good. I also ordered a good smoothie with blueberries. I probably could have drank 3 more of those. All in all, I felt so much healthier leaving on a full stomach.
(4)
Kristin S.

Biked up here from the city last weekend. Loved the look of the place, but wanted to turn and run after walking in due to my sweaty, casual clothes. Luckily the dessert counter is right by the door and swayed me. I'm going to hope it wasn't because of how we were dressed, but my friend and I were seated as far away from everything as possible in a back room in the corner table. We laughed about it and actually appreciated being out of the staring eyes of Evanston's late brunching elite. Service was friendly and attentive with enthusiastic menu recommendations. I took one of those recommendations for the huevos rancheros. It was delicious with a nice, simplicity about it. Two tortillas topped with over easy eggs, cheese and a smokey, spicy chipotle sauce with black beans and rice on the side. YUM! I would have appreciated a bigger piece of avocado than the slice that was on the side, but probably good for me that I had a smaller one. The meal was delicious and incredibly filling. My friend ordered the caramelized banana french toast thing and a hawaiian smoothie. The bananas on the french toast were out of this world, but the french toast itself was kind of bland. My friend was disappointed. The smoothie was fresh and tasty. A star knocked off for the high prices for breakfast fare, but I was torn between 3 and four stars. I'd go again, but since it's in Evanston with so many other places I haven't tried. I don't know when I'll get the chance. I hear the veggie tofu bowl is awesome, though. Maybe if I'd had room for one of those tasty desserts in the case, I'd be singing a different tune...
(3)
Stephanie D.

Great place to grab grub before a movie evanston style. I am not a vegetarian, but this is some pretty darn good vegetarian eats. I go here almost every time i venture to Evanston.
(4)
Janet E.

This vegetarian restaurant has a lot of food full of flavor! I had the Thai Peanut noodles and it was delicious. The presentation of the food and the taste makes you think this place serves meat but it doesnt!! The atmosphere was comfortable and the wait staff was great.
(4)
Shira G.

This place is fantastic! I am a vegan but my husband is a meat eater. Even he loves this place ... Definitely check out the deserts too -
(5)
Liz S.

I'm not a vegetarian by any means and lived here in Evanston for awhile before deciding to give Blind Faith a try. I was so pleasantly surprised that I would like vegetarian and vegan food! They have a great variety of cuisines and the food is surprisingly full of flavor! I was always under the impression that vegetarian food would be a little bland but I really did not miss having meat in my dishes here. If you're going for your first time - i would go for the "favorites" listed on the menu. They really are delicious. The service is great and the restaurant is always busy!!
(4)
Brandy M.

I used to LOVE this place. I would drive 45 minutes twice a week to eat here. Both the food and desserts were amazing. Well that was then and this is now... The prices have gone through the roof. The portions have been cut in half. And most of the food is fried now. Yes, DEEP FRIED!! Not what you would expect from a supposedly healthy vegetarian place. That being said, I still enjoy most of their food - as long as I know to order it not fried before it comes out. And their desserts are still amazing, just way smaller than they used to be. It's definitely a decent place, just expect high prices and small portions that caters to a yuppie crowd. Nothing like the hippie place that opened in the late 70s.
(3)
Chris S.

We call this place Bland Faith. The food is tasteless and overpriced.
(2)
M R.

Okay food, decent place, although maybe a bit overpriced for what it has. Service appears to be nice, until you check your bank summary and realize the waiter gave himself some extra tip.
(2)
Phyllis R.

Very high quality food and bakery. Healthy and Yummy. Doesn't even feel like you are missing meat. Wonderful atmosphere and music. Not too loud.
(5)
Tricia Mia P.

I've been to Blind Faith Cafe a few times now and I actually enjoy the food. Maybe it's because I always get the same dish? I find their Mongolian Stir- Fry simply delicious. I enjoy the casual yet fancy atmosphere and waiters tend to be pretty attentive yet not overly annoying. They have lots of delicious looking pastries and sadly my (ex)boyfriend picked the least tasty one! Never EVER get carrot cake unless you wish someone did Hemlock maneuver on you. It's dry and gross.
(4)
Track L.

Been eating here even before it was"here," when BF was a funky, small place with live funky piano on the corner of Dempster and Sherman. Today, I had the worst meal ever at BF, or maybe anywhere. Soft taco shells with unannounced seitan ( which I don't like and would not have ordered), thrown together corn & bean salad, too salty. Worst miso soup I 've had there or anywhere., tasted like dirty dish water, like instant soup. Tasteless, gooey cheese cake, way overpriced. All served by a clueless wait staff. What's happening to my favorite neighborhood restaurant?..
(1)
Charmed Life S.

This place is knocking it out of the ball park and aiming for the bleachers. Went here last night with a friend and both of our entres were terrific. I had one of their specials which was a Pesto Pasta dish and my friend had the Ravioli. Both were yum yum! And I think someone in managment must have listened to the complaints of poor customer service that several have cited because the wait staff was also good.
(5)
Jojo F.

My husband and I stopped here for an early dinner last night. A-OK is about right. We'll probably come back, but with a few changes. First, we will steer clear of the overpriced appetizers. Five dollars for 3 dolmas? I'll make some at home. Three fifty for 'meh' hot chocolate? Pass. (Although my husband did praise the cappuccino). I'll stick with the great meal and amazing dessert. Nice location near the lake, pleasant staff and parking is available.
(3)
Erin J.

Not to be a hypocrite, but Blind Faith is overpriced. I have chided other reviewers of healthy/vegetarian restaurants for pulling the overpriced card. I do think that it is necessary to pay a little bit more for healthy food, but Blind Faith really is too expensive. I like Blind Faith and have been coming here for years. My visits would be more frequent if it were a little cheaper. I like a number of the appetizers and the variety of cuisines is good. They have a good macrobiotic plate. The entree that I remember from one of my most recent visits is Quinoa Con Escabeche. It was wonderful and actually a pretty good sized portion. This is my definition of comfort food - quinoa, potatoes, shiitake, onions and savory herbs. On the same visit I was persuaded to partake in a chocolate vegan cupcake and it was really exceptional.
(3)
E P.

I never leave here fully satisfied with my meal, but that won't deter me from coming back. I've visited every summer faithfully before going to the pet store down the street and spending the day at the Evanston beach. The desert and the fact my boyfriend always orders something that tastes better than my dish is probably what keeps me coming back. :)
(4)
Micah T.

I only am giving it 4 stars because I think it is a overpriced...but otherwise I LOVE this place. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, this is the place to go. Today I had their vegan chocolate peanut butter cake...Amazing!! I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Jo-Elle M.

It's been a few years since I had been to Blind Faith, and it is a bit different from what I remember. It seems a bit more upscale than I remember - or perhaps expected. (When I hear "vegetarian/vegan" restaurant" - I know I have a stereotype in mind...) Anyway, onto the most important part of a review: the food! I had the risotto cake appetizer. I wasn't wowed by the flavor of the the ragut - too vinegary for my taste. However, my dining companions and I loved our respective entrees. We had the stuffed avocado with quinoa, Moroccan tajine and the ratatouille. Generous portions with the right amount of flavah.. Seeing that I'm having leftover tajine for lunch, the price was justified. For dessert - we had the highly recommended vegan chocolate-peanut butter cake. It lives up to the hype. Service was very good and attentive. We did get there on the early side of dinner on Sunday - so that may have something to do with it. We definitely will be coming back!
(4)
Mike K.

I gave Blind Faith two stars because "Meh. I've experienced better" actually perfectly describes this restaurant. I've been to Blind Faith many times, even to the original one when it was on the corner on the other side of the Metra tracks. Before my last visit, though, it had been a few years. So let me tell you what was okay about it on this last visit (which was this week): the food we were able to order off the menu was decent. There was an Indian dish, and though the menu described it as "delicately spiced," it was actually barely spiced at all. Still okay, just okay. The other dish was the nachos (they call it "kamoosh," perhaps in honor of a dish of the same name at the long-closed La Choza (R.I.P.)). Okay, they were very expensive nachos, but yeah, they were tasty. Kind of hard to screw up nachos, though. Also got a side of creamed spinach. It looked like someone boiled a fistful of spinach in three cups of whole milk. Not impressive! Here was the crappy thing about our visit: They were out of half the things on the menu! We originally planned to order a dish called gorganzola mushrooms on biscuits. The waiter told us they were changing the menu soon and no longer offered that dish. Well maybe warn us about that before we spend ten minutes reading over the menu, working up tastes for unavailable dishes! So we ordered the alternatives that they were ready and willing to serve. Then we asked for a side of quinoa. No quinoa, we were told. Now that is mind-blowing. For a restaurant - especially a veggie health food restaurant - to be out of a staple grain that appears on its menu, that's some extremely poor restaurantsmanship in my book, and I think in anyone else's. So, bottom line is that if you like to spice up your dining experience with a little bait-and-switch action, and you're into average to below-average health food at North Shore prices, then head up to Blind Faith, where the name really has become sadly appropriate.
(2)
Angelique R.

I'm a thrifty eater, so normally I would have been discouraged by the negative reviews about the price portion. Today, though, was the boyfriend's birthday, so price wasn't such a factor. I found the price to be fitting for the portion, and also was impressed by the creativity of the menu. I enjoyed some Biscuit and Eggs, which just weren't biscuits with eggs, but also a creamy tomato sauce with jalapeÃ±os, and a side of black beans and cheese. Delish!! The boyfriend ordered the Breakfast Wrap, which was filled with eggs, spinach, potatoes, and jack cheese. He found it to be quite delicious as well. The potatoes were great, and it had to be one of the best pancakes ever. We were bummed the cherry lemonade was out of season, but the smoothie and mango iced tea did not disappoint. We will be back. And just for further reference, our bill only came out to $33 bucks for brunch.
(4)
Blake W.

Starting off, I love meat and I don't trust vegetarians. Now that my bias is out there, i can admit I really like this place. I've eaten here for breakfast and dinner and everything has been REALLY good. I had some mushroom dumpling last night -- to be honest the presentation wasn't great but they were tasty. I had the Fajitas which just like the server said tasted just like pork. I pretty sure I could fool some of my meat eating friends with this dish. I think this place has earned a right to be my local restaurant rotation -- Finally a healthy option!
(4)
David K.

I don't know why I always remember this place as the "Blind Earth Cafe," but I do. It has no rhetorical significance whatsoever, as this vegetarian restaurant just outside of downtown Evanston provides a healthy, tasty alternative to many mainstream restaurants. Their spinach lasagna dinner entree is excellent, and for brunch I order either their huevos rancheros or the enchiladas verde, which are vegetable-stuffed enchiladas (cubed potatoes, corn, and chopped onions) served with a scoop of brown rice and a green salad. The portions are substantial, but sensible, and their coffee is very good. If I have one suggestion, it would be that they serve more than one variety of iced tea, as this is the type of restaurant where I would expect iced tea options that stray from the average. No matter. Their dining room is beautifully decorated, and their cakes and desserts, located in a glass case under the register in the front lobby, are distracting. Definitely delicious!
(4)
Meg S.

My husband and I went to downtown Evanston to watch the bike races. We saw this cafe and it looked pleasant enough. It is clean, bright and the decor is pretty but not overdone. The menu has a lot of vegetarian and healthy options and tofu and vegan dishes are the emphasis. I ordered a white sangria and my husband had a strawberry smoothie. I strongly disliked my sangria. I am an avid wine drinker so I've had a few sangria's and this one just tasted off. It was bitter and had a strong and harsh aftertaste. My husband's smoothie was fresh and delicious though. We had the cheese platter, which was over-priced at $12.50. Mozzarella, goat cheese, grapes, and crispy bagel chips, and honey were what was on the platter. It was tasty but overpriced for what was offered. My dish, the chef's salad, was blah. I hated the greens they used, they were also bitter. The dressing was kinda like a Caesar but not nearly as good. My husband had the noodle dish which was their take on Pad-Thai. His was good, but could have been spicier. Our waiter was inattentive and when it came to get the check he was no where to the found. All-in-all not a great dining experience for the $60 we spent.
(2)
Luke A.

Good food. I'm a long time fan of this joint. However, it has really become over-priced. Too bad.
(2)
Judy H.

100% delicious, whatever entree ordered. When I bring carnivores, they always enjoy and suggest a return visit. Roomy tables and booths well-spaced out around the rooms. Weekends only - don't miss ordering the mini-scones, savory and sweet. A little piece of heaven. Excellent coffee.
(5)
Kelly C.

We finally made the trek up here from Chicago after years of people asking why we haven't been. I wouldn't make the trip again *just* for Blind Faith, but I'd come again if I were already up here. I had the Fried Rice which was delish, and the Thai Peanut Noodles. I learned that I really hate tempeh. Next time I'll see if I can get the noodles with tofu instead cuz that tempeh was incredibly gross. The noodles themselves were good though. My fiance scarfed down his fajitas before I could try them. Same for the crabcakes but his "ummm mmmm mmm" sounds made me think he loved the lime sauce. I want to mention the decor only because It was so bad I couldn't stop thinking about it. Holly Hobby walls meets 80s greasy spoon tables topped with chic modern dinnerware? Bizarre identity crisis. Someone needs a makeover.
(3)
Michael S.

Where more fitting than Blind Faith Cafe could three 50 year-old boyhood friends and former business partners who have had their ups, downs and all arounds meet to celebrate reconciliation, their first reunion in 13 years, and the second half of three ever-orbiting lives? We all grew up in these parts, so Blind Faith made sense to us since ultimately that is what our individual and collective relationships have always been about. The food was as fresh and delicious as our time together. All three of us had Hueveos a la Mexicana, carrot juice and coffee. The outdoor seating on this gorgeous Sunday morning made the occassion an even finer treat. You can't do much better than this: static.px.yelp.com/photoâ€¦
(5)
Gwendolyn H.

Best vegan dining experience. I try to eat vegan for health reasons, but I end up eating meat about once a week because I go out to a meat-loving restaurant and can't resist a perfectly cooked steak, fresh sushi, or other favorite dishes... but this wouldn't happen if there were more places like Blind Faith in the city! This restaurant is amazing and the Seitan Marsala is better than most chicken marsalas I've had!! I totally recommend it, and it's worth the $14 they priced it at (its big enough that I took it home and had it for lunch the next day). I even went with a meat-and-grease-loving friend who loved her meal!!
(5)
Brad V.

My wife and I are vegetarians, so we're always on the lookout for good veggie restaurants. We went to Blind Faith Cafe with a friend. I was looking forward to it, as it's always nice to go out and not have to modify my order to make it vegetarian. 1. The restaurant itself is very nice. It's clean and has a light, airy atmosphere. Good karma, as they say. 2. The food was very good. I had no complaints and I don't think anyone I was with had any complaints either. 3. The service was horrible! Our waiter barely said 2 words to us, other than to take our order. I asked for a recommendation between 2 items I saw on the menu and it seemed like he just randomly pointed at one. He gave no insights about specialties, popular dishes, etc. This was our first time there so a little guidance would've gone a long way. It took a long time to get our food. After we finally began eating, we didn't see our waiter at all. In fact, after we finished eating our friend had to actually go find the waiter so we could get our check. We felt like he just didn't care. This was my first trip to Blind Faith Cafe. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the waiter was just having a bad day or something. I'd like to go back and see how the service is the second time around. I have no problems coming back and updating my review to add a more positive spin. Being a vegetarian and always on the lookout for good veggie restaurants, I really wanted to like this place. But the horrible service we received made that hard to do.
(2)
Tempe T.

My boyfriend and I dined here last night and I have to say, I was a little disappointed. Usually, as a vegetarian in a vegetarian restaurant, I'm overwhelmed by the menu, excited by the possibilities, need extra time to pick what I'm going to have... This place? Wah wah. To be fair, I loved what I ordered: I got the seitan marsala which I ordered after reading a rave review here and it was just what I was looking for. I was torn between that and the tajine, so my boyfriend got the latter and... well... it was missing something. It had spice, it had kick, but it was two dimensional, and I felt like I could have made it at home. EUREKA, I'VE GOT IT: I could make most of their menu at home, for way cheaper. Except, of course, for the desserts. We got the peanut butter chocolate cake, and it has a lot to do with that third star. Oh yeah- and people on here complain about the service? Go right before they close, and you'll have no problem. For the record, that's 9pm now, M-Th.
(3)
Paul M.

I remember coming to Blind Faith years ago for the Seitan, brown rice and veggie dishes. It has been some time since my last visit and I will say that things don't seem the same...sigh. The service was poor/fair -- the waitress did apologize, saying they were understaffed with only 2 servers for the whole room. The food was also not so good -- the guacamole was in fact quite good, but the peanut noodles were inexplicably bland. The Mongolian seitan was greasy, with a fried flavor that suggests that 'this can't be good for you.' The stuffed avocados were also bland, with very little quinoa. This is still a family-friendly place and I'd be willing to try again with some other dishes. Overall, though, it seems to have lost some of the quality I had associated with it.
(3)
Allison S.

I love vegetarian food and love having blind faith nearby in Evanston! Its a little overpriced for what it is, but I still love it. Their salads are all great and my favorite dish is probably the mongolian stir fry with brown rice. The seitan is perfectly cooked and there is not too much sauce. Just enough to give it enough flavor. I also love the macrobiotic plate, and the barbecue seitan sandwich on a whole wheat bun with sweet potato fries is amazing also! They used to have a moroccan tagine on the menu that was amazing also! Bring it back! They have such a diverse menu, and they switch it seasonally even though I do not think you can get sick of anything on the menu.
(4)
Kate W.

We can all agree that there are approximately 1000 places in Chicago to get a decent breakfast. And sometimes it feels like you have been to every one of those places. So on a beautiful Sunday morning we hopped in the car and drove up to Evanston to see what they had to offer us when we stumbled upon Blind Faith. We're not vegetarians, but if there is a meal to go no-meat it is breakfast. With our wonderful savory, sweet and tasty meals we didn't miss that bacon one bit. I got the Eggs Mornay- and they were money! So creamy and perfectly cooked. The boyfriend got French Toast Flambe which was delish. Next time you leave big city life, slow down in Evanston the Blind Faith way!
(5)
Terry S.

My husband and I stopped in for dinner before show at SPACE. We loved everything about our dining experience. Had a few minute wait but enjoyed the time drinking craft beer. Highly recommend this place. We actually stopped in for breakfast before heading back home.
(5)
m. n.

Stopped in late, around closing time. Although we had already eaten, we were thinking about this place for dessert. The desserts looked delicious and we had coconut and cashew balls that were sugar free and yummy. The other desserts we had were equally good. My only disappointment - not choosing this place for dinner instead of another place in Evanston. We'll try this place for dinner soon.
(4)
Alex G.

Way overrated and overpriced. But if vegan and plain food is what you're looking for, go here. Great ambiance and phenomenal location on Dempster right off the Purple Line stop.
(2)
Aaron S.

I almost feel like bumping these guys up to four stars, but as others have said, the food is on the unseasoned side, and I like my spice. Last time I was there, the very capable waiter recommended the bi bim bap, which was big enough for two, if lacking anything remotely Korean (kimchee's cheap, guys). Others in our group seemed to like their dishes perfectly well, though after we polished off the awesome "crab cake", I didn't hear anyone gush or rave about their food. Good desserts and reasonable prices for both food and wine almost bring it up to a four (you can tell I'm really agonizing about this), but I just can't--maybe as an omnivore I just have it in for veg places. Anyway, it's not like they'll ever be hurting for business, what with the Lakefront Libs in their gorgeous hundred-year-old homes a half mile away.
(3)
r.v. s.

Just ate here last night to get my veg on. For a half empty cafe on a Thursday night, service was painfully slow and aloof--I wished I had a huge cowbell to ring just to light a fire under people's butts. That's what merits only the 3 stars. I continue to eat there, though, because the seitan fajitas are out of this world. I've also had the BiBimBap--not bad.
(3)
Marion P.

I'm changing my review and taking off another star. I've always had issues with the Blind Faith for the high prices and their mediocre and often uncreative cooking, but lately the food has been getting even worse and they went up even more in price! Over 4 dollars for a side, 9 or 10 for a Caesar salad, 14 for a main dish? There are seriously hundreds of amazing, classy, well-designed, hip restaurants in fancy downtown Chicago neighborhoods where they serve better food for less. And then today, no water refills (even with three empty glasses standing at the edge of the table for half an hour) - we ended up getting our own! Disappointing. I'd rather eat twice at the Lucky Platter for the same money.
(2)
Pontip M.

I've been to Blind Faith several times since I started coming the beginning of last summer. I never would have thought I'd be a regular at a vegetarian restaurant! I'm not all about meat but to just choose from just a variety of fake meats and veggies was not nearly as difficult as I thought! I've only had a couple dishes that were good but not great: the Potato Enchiladas were really cheesy and creamy..way too much for my taste. And the Peach Crepes with Saffron sauce. I realized that I prefer my crepes hot and that I am not a fan of saffron in a cold sauce with peaches. So really that could be a comment on my personal taste instead of a dish gone wrong.. Things I love! : BiBim Bop, the rice and veggies with the egg on top is soooooo good! I think about it all the time! I get it with seitan added for extra protein and that just makes it better! The Curry with Black rice was so good and the rice is kinda sticky and sweet but worked really well with the curry! The soups have never failed! Always flavorful and filling. Chilequiles(sp?) were really yummy, I had them with the red and green salsas. When I go for brunch I usually get a smoothie too and those are always really tasty too! It is on the pricey side but sometimes really great food is like that. And the service is always friendly, attentive and they are quick to offer recommendations that are usually thoughtful and not contrived! I tell all of my veggie friends and the meaty friends who I think could appreciate the food to come here!
(5)
Aziz G.

Absolutely loved this place, didnt even know it was veg until someone pointed it out to me. Great for Sunday Brunch!
(5)
Matt F.

my girlfriend took me here. I was somewhat reserved about going to a strictly vegetarian joint, but I was not disappointed. The food is very good and healthy. Not only was I stuffed to the gills after eating here, I felt good about what I ate. Plus the deserts are amazing! didn't expect that from a vegetarian place.
(4)
Amy W.

I tried out Blind Faith for lunch, and was really impressed! Although there were only a couple vegan dishes on the menu, the one I picked (the bbq tempeh sammy) was really delicious. I would be interested to see what their dinner menu entails...
(4)
Lindsey C.

I had the pesto veggie wrap, which is the most popular dish, the waitress informed me. It tasted pretty good while I was eating it, but I had a horrible stomach ache afterwards. I thought the food was incredibly overpriced. The waitress asked if I wanted a salad or fries with my wrap and I opted for fries, and then noticed I was charged a buck for them. It doesnt' say that on the menu. Had I known that they were a dollar, I still probably would have gotten them, but at least I wouldn't have been surprised when the check came. My friend really liked her meal, but it was 13 bucks and a small portion. I am not a vegetarian, nor am I cheap. I just appreciate good food and value. If I was a vegetarian, I'm sure I would appreciate this restaurant a bit more- but a lot of the stuff seemed like it'd be easy to make at home. So much of the food is Tex-Mex inspired and that is an incredibly easy genre of recipes to tackle. And it's also to find good vegetarian Mexican food elsewhere in the city for a much cheaper price. The service was good and the decor was nice, but I don't think I'll be going back.
(2)
Kelly E.

A pretty decent place. We chose it at random, not knowing it was vegetarian/organic/vegan cuisine. I had the Enchiladas Verdes, my boyfriend the Sagamite. Both great dishes. Service was good, decor was kinda generic and the layout of the place seemed slightly awkward to me, but despite that, I enjoyed my time there. I didn't try any baked goods, but they looked appetizing! Decent place :)
(4)
Daphne D.

I have been coming to this place a lot in the past few years and aside from a burnt cobbler one time the food is always quite good. Though I feel like the menu has not changed in three years. The three stars reflects the poor service I seem to get every time. The waiters just blatantly ignore you and consistently have forgotten part of my order. I mean, the menu says it comes with a biscuit how difficult is it to remember that part? Clearly the kitchen staff has things down, now if the front of the house could do the same this place would be great.
(3)
Kim B.

Probably my favorite veggie restaurant in the Chicago area. Their macro plate is my favorite that I found while living in Chicago and they always had a good veggie of the day. One of the problems when I lived there was always trying to figure out if something was honey-free (Mongolian Stir-Fry, I'm looking at you). My friends and I would get different answers on different days, which was always annoying. Hopefully this isn't a problem anymore. I was also a big fan of the desserts and specifically, the chocolate peanut butter cake. They also had vegan cupcakes way before they became so trendy.
(4)
K C.

Went here for mother's day breakfast and it was a fantastic experience. I loved it. I ordered the Eggs Mornay, my husband the blueberry pancakes and my mom the lemon gnocchi. Yum. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. Will definitely return for different meals.
(4)
Roman W.

This is my very first review I'm your typical meat and potatoes type of guy, so when I was giving a opportunity to eat at a place that shuns the very idea of serving meat as a form of food, my natural reaction to this place was already jaded. In addition to the not serving meat thing, I also had a bad experience with tofu that wasn't (according my friend who eats tofu) prepare right and since then anything that had the word tofu in it I immediately turned it away. Upon entering The Blind Faith Cafe I got this very comfortable and low key feel from the place, which was a new environment to me so I didn't mind too much. It's a reasonable size establishment, great place to take a friend or two, but if you looking to take a gang of friends 10 or more you should look elsewhere. As far as the service, the time I was there it was a little slow but the wait staff was very friendly. I was told that Saitan is a good meat substitute and when cook and seasoned right the taste are very similar, so upon receiving that bit of information I order the AZTEC HASH and I have to say I was very shock. I kept telling my friend who was with me that "I can't believe there's no meat in this," it was just unbelievably good. I have been to the Blind Faith three times already and I will be back again. Now I still eat my meat and potatoes, I haven't giving that up completely, but it is refreshing to try something different that excites your taste buds once in awhile. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, meat-eater and non-meat eaters, the food here is fantastic. Side note: I recently found out that the cafe has stop serving my favorite dish the AZTEC HASH. I called to find out if it was completely off of the menu and was told that it may come back as a special. Updated side note: I called Blind Faith and found out that the Aztec Hash is off the menu. FOR SHAME!!!!!
(4)
Colleen B.

The service was quick and not pushy at all. I had some sort of biscuit with seitan and shitake mushrooms and my friend had a grilled/glazed tofu something-or-other. It was all very good. The tiramisu was not the best, but the vegan chocolate cake with sorbet and raspberry sauce was muy tasty. I am a meat-eater by my friend was not; we both enjoyed out meals, and my friend was so excited to find a place where she can eat everything on the menu. I will say that the wine was a bit pricey, but other than that, I really don't have any complaints. I'll be back, for sure.
(4)
jimmy l.

first time here and it was amazing! i usually don't get up to Evanston as much as i want to, but this trip was defiantly worth it. the restaurant is very spacious and relaxed, and a very nice staff too. i had the fajita platter, which was super good and i like that they make their own seitan too! it was a HUGE portion to the point where i even had enough to take home for a big lunch. it seems like most of their entrees are big portions from what i observed from other tables. they even had a side of soy cheese and doubled the guacamole and salsa to replace the sour cream that couldn't be made vegan but its all good, i was very satisfied. i tried the Thai peanut noodles that my girlfriend ordered and they were delicious and spicy to the perfect touch. I'll have to order that next time. the waitress was really nice and always checking up on us which i really appreciate. we took the vegan chocolate cake home for later since we were stuffed, but later on, i got to that chocolate cake and it was off the chain. vegan deserts can be a 50/50 situation and blind faith aced it. i will defiantly be coming back again!!
(5)
Jason M.

Very good food, fast, excellent service, reasonable prices. We went on an off night, a Tuesday, around 7:00 or 7:30. We were one of maybe three tables in the dining room, and there were maybe another five or six people in the cafe side. I'd like to go back when it's more crowded, to compare service, because ours was excellent: attentive, fast, and the waiter had a great personality. Beer, two entrees, dessert. 10 or 12 beers on the list, but mostly good stuff, with craft breweries well-represented. Waiter poured and repoured, using generic pint glasses, from bottles priced about what you'd find anywhere: $5-10, depending on your choice. Maybe because it was an off night our food was out about five minutes after we ordered. The Mongolian stir fry, served with brown rice on the side, it primarily a seitan and broccoli dish, with some strips of red pepper added for variety. The lemon seitan, served over jasmine rice, was very lemony, a nice counterpoint to the heavier, vaguely spicy stir fry. Both dishes seemed straightforward enough to prepare at home. Dessert, a slice of chai cheesecake with a raspberry sauce garnish on the side, was a nice savory-sweet way to end the meal. Other reviewers have noted the higher prices, and I agree. Knock a couple of bucks off the entrees and two or three off dessert, and I'd think about going back more often. But Evanston and Chicago are full of great restaurants, and Blind Faith, while A-OK, isn't competitive enough to make it my go-to place. We'll go back eventually, I'm sure, but it isn't a destination.
(3)
Virginia T.

I've been to Blind Faith a few times. The first couple times were alright. I fell in love with the Blind Faith Chef Salad (Mixed greens topped with grated carrots, red onion, cashews, raisins, jack cheese and avocado with a poppy seed dressing). But that was easy enough to replicate at home! Everything else I've had there was only "meh". A lot of things I tried at Blind Faith I've had much better at other places, and it seems like they were only mildly original or under seasoned. But even all that wouldn't be enough to get a measly 1 star review....no. On my last visit to Blind Faith....I actually walked out! Upon walking in, no servers greeted me, and it took nearly 5 minutes (no joke) to even get seated....then almost 10 minutes later (!!) still no server and not even any water. I can pay A LOT less to be ignored somewhere else, thanks! Edit: I hear they have a new chef, ok -that might fix the originality and seasoning problems, but the problems with the wait staff, prices, parking, etc. means I'll choose another veggie friendly restaurant vs. Blind Faith.
(1)
Colleen B.

It's really adorable inside. I love the plants that line the windows. It's like sitting in a field, or underwater, or something. They have a regular restaurant section and a counter you can order at and then sit to eat. I really enjoy the food when I want to feel l like I am doing something good for myself. Like charity. I think the flavors are pretty fresh tasting. I have had a few different options so far. The pesto and veggie sandwich was good, maybe a little oily, but the sieten (sp?) was great. The breakfasts are yum too. They serve fair trade coffee which is tasty and once again makes me feel good about myself. I have only tried a ginger cookie from there, it was excellent. The rest of the baked goods look awesome.
(4)
Dan C.

This place has really lost its soul. I used to be a regular, but their renovation into a faux-upscale restaurant makes me ill. I ate there tonight, and was disappointed to see that the self-serve section is no more. Table service or take out only! I had a completely bland Thai Yellow Curry that arrived lukewarm. And then the owner drove up looking like a hippie but driving a BMW and it all started to make sense. . .he's pulling one over on us! Think about it--is the food organic? Is a seitan stirfry really worth $14?? It's not organic, people--just a different kind of processed food. I'm really disappointed, and won't be coming here very often anymore. Good luck faux-hippie owner. . .but I think you're on the wrong path.
(2)
Stan S.

Blind Faith is a great vegetarian restaurant. I am not even a vegetarian myself, and I love it. I have never had a bad meal there. The food is healthy, refined, tasty and nutritious. It is very reasonably priced, too. I probably eat too much meat so I love to go here and find something delicious and healthy. The atmosphere here is refined and sophisticated. They always have interesting art on the walls too. The help is usually attentive and caring. Be prepared to learn something about good food and expand your horizons. Instead of coffee or black tea, order twig tea. Try the seitan dishes if you want something meaty. Of course their salads are great too, and they use a lot of organic ingredients. They have an adjoing bakery so you can pick up something to go when you leave. The baked goods are yummy too.
(5)
Liz W.

An experience I don't have too often as a vegan is being able to go into a restaurant and actually have some choices. Normally I look through the menu like, 'hmm, i guess this will work if I get it with no cheese, but I have to ask what the base is and what's in the sauce and..." Not here! Ohh! I can eat THIS! Oh, and THAT! Oh my god, and they have vegan desserts, like chocolate peanut butter cake. Heaven.
(4)
Ian O.

Love the chilequiles. Didn't miss the meat.
(5)
Emily Q.

Food is fine but overpriced. Nothing special except it is vegetarian. There are better veggie restaurants out there for sure. Definitely overpriced.
(2)
April L.

I'm not vegetarian, but I have to say that the food here at Blind Faith is excellent and so delicious. Seitan rocks =) And the desserts in their bakery are tasty too! Get here early - it seems to always be packed.
(4)
Ash B.

Wow, I heard this place was really good but I was a little disappointed to tell you the truth. The few times I've been I felt like it was way too overpriced. It tries just way too hard to be "vegetarian". I am vegetarian, and Blind faith seemed like one of those places that has a conglomeration of the "token vegetarian dishes" that other restaurants might have. Nothing really spectacular or notable other than the smoothies. But still overpriced for what you get.
(3)
Lauren W.

Oh Blind Faith Cafe, how I wanted to love you. I read about your earthy vibe, your relaxed atmosphere, your affinity for brown rice and seitan. I trekked all the way up to Evanston just to experience you in all your veggie glory. Alas, alack, you disappoint me! Indeed, the ambiance is nice and the vibe is mellow, but upon walking in, no servers greeted me, and I wasn't sure whether I should stand in the bakery area or the restaurant to be seated. The host and waitress seemed inordinately tired, and I felt freakish for trying to smile and be friendly. I ordered the Chipotle Quesadillas with seitan, and substituted soy cheese for the monterey jack. The waitress seemed to deem me a troublemaker for asking if the soy cheese was vegan, because after she brought out my food, she never came back again. (I swear I'm not a leper!) I guess I've gotten spoiled by the Chicago Diner, where you can ask a million questions and the wait staff will still love you, usually because they're vegans, too. The portion size was good, and the whole wheat tortilla was light and crispy, but the seitan's flavor was weird--sort of artificially smoky-tasting, and greasy. The diced lettuce and tomato and paltry spoonful of slimy guacamole did their best to help the seitan out, but it was a losing battle. Overall verdict? Unremarkable. For $9, I say boo. So why did I give Blind Faith 3 stars? Oh, for their glorious vegan chocolate cake! Hands down, the best vegan cake I've ever had. Ever. It was outrageously moist and dense, with no soymilky flavor whatsoever. The white frosting tasted JUST LIKE vanilla buttercream. I have no idea how they did it--had I been able to flag down the evasive waitress I actually would have double checked that they didn't give me non-vegan cake by mistake. It was that good. And only $4.95 for a huge slab of it. Yeeessssss... I think I'll have to give Blind Faith another chance, but sans quesadillas next time. At the very least, I know the dessert will blow my socks off.
(3)
Natalie S.

Yay! they changed their menu again and it's awesome! Still my favorite vegan bakery and now I can even eat something good for dinner first!
(4)
Brett G.

3 1/2 stars. If I go there again, it will probably make it up to an even four stars. Fortunately the meals that two people from our group had were the dishes described by fellow Yelpers as the most spicy/tasteful: the fajitas. I enjoyed my main course. Another of my friends had the red pepper quiche, which she said was very good as well. A pasta dish and soup/salad combo rounded out our meals - everyone liked their food. The guacamole was ex-cell-ent! At $7.95, it had better be. We had to ask for salsa, and I'm not sure the waiter knew that the menu had it listed as coming with the chips and guac. Hmm. The hummus was pretty standard - a lot of hummus with not enough pita pieces, so they brought us more about twenty minutes or so later. I don't really have any complaints about the food (portions were pretty big), the service was a little odd (e.g. the server asked if he should put through the order even after we'd all talked about how hungry we were and the quiche would take an extra fifteen minutes to cook), but the server was friendly and helpful. I was a little surprised at how expensive everything came out to be, but I suppose it's better than eating at a big, cheaper chain. Definitely on the high side of "moderate", as in $30 per person. We were too full for dessert.
(4)
K M.

3 stars for the food - it was A-ok; 0 stars for the service. Would love to go back and try it again but I'm stil irked about the service we rec'd. So bear w/ my review as the negative reviews will be more about the service. My husband and I were going to catch a performance at S.P.A.C.E. so we decided to try this cafe for a standard one hourish meal. Neither one of us is vegetarian but we do occassionally enjoy a meatless meal. For a vegetarian meal, I thought the prices were kinda high so I expected a a gourmet flair but everything on the menu seemed just ok - nothing too fancy. My husband wanted coffee - didn't get that until we asked 20 minutes from when we placed our order. Our waitress never came by after she took our order. APP-We started off 30 minutes later from the time we placed the order w/ the grilled vegetables and fresh mozzarella. They were 3 short stacks of veggies: a medley of a slick of red and green peppers, a slice of zucchini, and thin slices of eggplant and mozzarella doused in a balsamic vinagrette. It was good but nothing spectacular - I've had better and right off the grill. ENTREE- I ordered the enchiladas verdes with NO sour cream and my husband ordered the teriyaki rice bowl. It would have been nice to try the enchiladas but they decided to tell me before they were going to serve it that there was no sour cream on the top of the entree but that it was inside. Our waitress asked me if that was ok. I was floored (not only cuz I was prego hungry) since I told her from the start NO sour cream! We were on a time crunch so me and my husband ended up sharing his rice bowl. She offered to get me another dish but I didn't want to wait another 45 min. (maybe they would have gotten it sooner to me cuz I was prego but that didn't seem to matter in the first place, but I digress). To me, the rice bowl was a small portion (not just because two ppl shared it) but it was tasty. I mean, you can't really go wrong with teriyaki flavor so to me again, the dish didn't catch my interest. Also, the chef must really like ginger cuz the ginger taste was overpowering. The waitress did try to offer me a complimentary dessert but I didn't accept it (long story and no time for this review). So to my disappointment, I didn't rate this place high. I know this place has potential cuz the dishes that passed by me looked good but unfortunately, luck didn't come my way. Oh well, it's not like there other places to try. hehehe.
(1)
Jennifer F.

It was delicious, I absolutely loved it. The vegan peanut butter chocolate cake was amazing and not just as a vegan substitute. Absolutely delicious in its own right. I went with a friend on a Friday night. We sat and gabbed and didn't feel rushed in the least. The restaurant is cozy, the service was good and the food was delicious. I can't wait to go back. Maybe tonight...
(5)
YerMah L.

Considering there aren't too many vegetarian Blind Faith is pretty decent. I'd give it an 8. I wouldn't rank it the best in Chicago, but considering the price, it's worth a try. I've been there a handful of times and haven't been terrible disappointed, nor have I been blown away. They have quite a diverse menu, and it is wonderful for people that have certain diet restrictions or food allergies. I must say their interpretation of Korean food blew donkey balls, but whatev, I guess I could go to a korean restaurant, or home if I really wanted authentic korean food. They do have a really nice bakery that features a lot of vegan/egg/ flour free goods as well. If you're in the Evanston area, it's definitely worth a stop. And, it's just a block away from the Mexican Shop which is amazing.
(3)
Carly O.

I want to give Blind Faith 4 stars, but the service was so bad, I can't. The food was good. I had the tofu scramble with egg whites and my friends had the potato pancakes and the chilaquiles. The atmosphere is very nice, quiet and spacious. Our waiter did seem a bit overwhelmed, but never came to take our order. Another server did and gave it to him. He then came by to apologize and said he had a table that asked for 9 different checks, but then walked away without asking if we needed refills on coffee or tea. After we ate, it took forever to flag him down for our check, even though he seemed to have plenty of time to chat up the table next to us. Then we went into the cafe part to get a shake to go (figuring if we went through our waiter, it would take half a century). Again, we waited for a long time, while what seemed like regulars were given their orders right away. While no one was downright rude, the overall feeling was that of being ignored. At one point I said I felt like a leper. I'm willing to give it another chance having just moved to Evanston and enjoying the food. I really hope we get better service the next time around.
(3)
Cat W.

Always a fan of the Blind Faith Cafe. Whatever your dietary quirk is, they have a sub-menu to suit. I'm not even particularly interested in macrobiotic meals but I have to say they're tasty. It's a wonderful place, nice ambiance, funny people. Their gluten free menu isn't expansive but it's existent. A word of caution: Be prepared for real food. Smoothies are dense - real whole fruit mixed with ice. Everything is what it claims to be. There isn't any filler or attempts to mask flavor, color or texture. I never realize how little real food I eat on a regular basis until I go to Blind Faith.
(5)
Mark R.

Okay menu. Nothing extraordinary but everything had good flavor.
(3)
Mork M.

Peanut butter chocolate cake.. and those cupcakes? Heaven. You probably realize this place is expensive but the food is top notch. The only entree I've really ordered and came back for was the jerk tofu sandwich which kinda comes and go's, don't see it on the menu? Vegan treats for sure.
(3)
Sandi H.

They've remodeled and the place def. fits the Evanston's crowd alot more now. I paid $13 for two half desserts topped with some pooped out sorbet on top and on top of that had to tip a waiter in the former self-service area. Granted it was a Friday evening but still this whole cutting out the self-service area is not cool. I have no complaint about the food except that it is expensive. The Santa Fe salad w/ seitan is my fav, then it's the seitan fajitas, and bimbim bop is delicious, also.
(4)
Michelle G.

I have been coming here for 20 years on and off. Over the years it was getting better and better. Until the last year or two the quality has dropped and prices increased. I ordered the lemon Rosemary seitan and it was so dry. There was no sauce or juice. I asked the waiter for some sauce and he was anything but helpful. He said look on the bottom. There was no Rosemary and lots of peas. I hate peas. The menu did not say anything about peas. Maybe it should be called lemon seitan with peas. No sauce. Cost with carrot juice and one glass of wine. $32.00 what happened here? I have to cross them off for quality/cost/service.
(1)
doug t.

What just happened? Did every waiter wake up last Sunday and take a frown pill. I've never been served by a group who were as pensive as a substitute teacher on a spring Friday. These poor servers are either eating too much of their own product or they got a moody, judgemental, passive-aggressive boss. We felt like we were inconveniencing them as well by bringing our 2-year-old son. Look, I know kids are difficult, you know kids are difficult, but when you are the one in the apron, white shirt and a tie - you shouldn't make it so obvious that kids get on your nerves. It tends to ruffle the feathers of your customers who pay your tips. Lighten up a little bit, y'all...eat some ice cream, get out of the house more, take a stool softener or get medicated. Just did not have much fun eating in your spot, Blind Faith.
(2)
Sarah B.

When I'm down and out this is the first place I stop for a little pick me up. The vegan baked goods here are amazing. AMAZING. The Vegan carrot cake is my personal favorite. I wish I could eat it everyday. I can't though, because it's pretty expensive. Maybe I should thank them for that? Otherwise my waistline would be an issue.
(4)
Melody S.

Oh, how I love Blind Faith. This was the other place (besides the Chicago Diner) that you'd find me at once a week or so when I lived in ChiTown. The food is great, and the desserts are even better. Holy cupcakes, Batman! 4 stars for being a bit pricey, and for forcing me to eat so many cupcakes.
(4)
Mehul S.

We went for a price fixe v-day dinner and were extremely impressed with the service. As a chocolate nut I was disappointed that there was no chocolate option for dessert on the set menu. Our waiter not only got us truffles and a chocolate dipped strawberry, but came back to ask us if we wanted more. The meal was steep at $90 for a couple, but the regular menu was more reasonable. Lots of options of different ethnic cuisines for both veggie and vegan, we will be back to try some of the other options, got my eye on the black bean tostada.
(4)
Dave D.

Let me preface this by saying I am not a vegetarian. I took a vegetarian date here a week ago an wasn't really impressed. The food was on the bland side. I don't understand why it is so difficult to make a hearty tasting vegetarian/vegan dish. The booze selection was great, which was necessary to suffer through the meal. Our waiter seemed like he had absolutely no interest in being there. Maybe that was part of his sarcastic charm but it was difficult to tell either way. I hear the bakery is really good but have never tried it. In conclusion, the whole experience was super mediocre. The whole experience was edible but didn't hold up to places like The Chicago Diner or The Handlebar...
(3)
Laviyah I.

Must say that my husband and I were pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and so did he. We were expecting the food to be alright, but it was actually quite delicious. This review would get four stars if it didn't take half an hour for my dessert to get to the table. It is a little pricey, but I guess your paying for the decor or the rent in Evanston.
(3)
Shawn J.

Great Food - and very veggie friendly. Wait staff? Maybe we went on a bad day... Great Drinks and the food was superb. Was bit pricey, but could be worth it!
(3)
Bethany W.

We've been enjoying taking our vegetarian friends and family here for years, but recently we ordered some dessert trays for a birthday party. Without much instruction, Blind Faith really delivered. People loved the vegan chocolate cake and the cashew butter bites especially, but everything was great. All the desserts were perfectly bite sized, so our guests enjoyed sampling several flavors rather than getting a big slice of boring birthday cake. Blind Faith also made sure there were vegan, non-vegan, gluten free, and sugar free options even though we didn't specify. Everyone was happy and well-fed! I would recommend the bakery as a great dessert catering choice for sure!
(5)
U.M. S.

My brother and his wife are vegetarians so I used to get dragged here all the time until I finally discovered two of their hidden gems: The Hawaiian Sunrise Smoothie and the Chilaquiles. Heavenly. Everything else isn't exactly up to my standards but everything is fresh and super vegan. Their pastries are pretty decent too. I don't particularly enjoy their vegan cake but their blondies are okay, their eclairs are great, and the chocolate chip cookies (non vegan) are delicious!
(3)
Rusty S.

"yeah for sure" the food was good. The herbe-de-province omelet was tiny and the portion of potatos on the side was pathetic! The seasonal vegetable sandwich was delicious, the gorgonzola mousse was really great and with the pickled pear, OH MY! to DIE for. When dining on a budget, I wouldn't go there again.
(3)
Faith H.

Love love love. A couple of my vegetarian friends wanted to go here, and I was skeptical. I was in the mood for something greasy and I thought there would be nothing there for me. But I ended up loving it. The brie and apple sandwich is awesome and the sweet potato fries were perfect. Will definitely be back here again. :)
(5)
Melissa M.

I recently gave Blind Faith another try and it was much better than the first time. It was cleaner, the service was better, the food was much more flavorful, and they now have a nice coffee shop area. The menu has a more international flair now and most of the dishes I tried were pretty good except for the potstickers, which were mushy. I particularly loved the tempeh in the Thai peanut dish. However, I think one of the benefits of vegetarianism is that it's cheaper. Not here. I'm sure I could easily replicate my dish, a mushroom biscuit thingy, for $2 in my own kitchen. $8 might have been reasonable, but my food was $12, which is what I expect to pay if unreasonably difficult cooking techniques or fancy rare local ingredients are involved. Are the carrots humanely raised or something? I also found the desserts were mediocre and I wished I had skipped them and instead opted for just getting some of the fresh juice they serve.
(3)
Isabela M.

Absolutely LOVE this place! Their food is soooo good. The enchilladas are my favorite. I wish they would run some specials so I can come back here more often! Staff is really friendly as well.
(5)
Miaowei A.

I've gone here for dinner a few times (they have a great buy-one-get-one-free deal for Northwestern students during dinnertime) and my favorite dish so far is their Seitan Marsala. The meals are always good but never memorable. My only really memorable food experience there was their Manhattan, really good. On Sunday I went for brunch and got the Huevos a la Mexicana. Once again, it was good but nothing spectacular and at $9.50, you can certainly get better brunch. The black beans were the best part of the dish -- not as spicy as I'd hoped but with good flavor. The green salsa was fresh and not sour like green salsa can often be which was good, but I had to use the whole portion and there was salsa oozing everywhere because there wasn't too much flavor to each bite. The eggs were fluffy but not the most uniform to look at, a little gloppy. While I generally like lighter foods, I always find the food at Blind Faith to be under-salted. Not a huge deal but a little irksome and contributes to its slight blandness. In general, every experience I've had here has been good, not great, and expensive (unless you qualify for buy-one-get-one-free entrees) for what you get.
(2)
Frances S.

I love to eat here when I'm visiting my sister - it's one of my favorite places around (also, check out the Chicago Diner if you're looking for vegetarian food in Chicago). The smoothies at Blind Faith are delicious, and I always love ordering the Enchiladas Verde, which are filled with potatoes, corn, and sour cream and then covered with cheese, salsa, and guacamole. Yum!!
(5)
Gaurang B.

Pretty expensive for no reason. I had heard praises about their dinner menu and I was here for lunch. The thing is, these two are very different and one gets extremely less choice in the lunch menu. I ordered quiche and it was really bland. While it was written that it is with fresh vegetables, I just got bunch of salted green leaves, even without any dressing or sauce. Even quantity was not truly enough. Menu-card offers descriptions which do not necessarily help one to figure out what it's actually going to be.. Only good thing I would probably say is that the service and ambiance were fine.
(1)
K T.

It was my hangout back in the late 1990's. My friends and I were the coed fun gang who supported this place with our money several times each week. It was not uncommon for us to be there nearly every day, at least some of us. We had fun and enjoyed the food. Times have changed. The owner whose attitude is not very pleasant thought it wise to change the decor and ambiance of the place a few years back. Not only did he ruin what was so charming and cozy, but he thought to raise the prices even further, when many of us were complaining they were too high 13 years ago. We don't patronize this place anymore. Arrogance and extreme change, all the while, not listening to what the customer wants, is why we do not go back!!! I rather eat straw and grass! It is far cheaper!!!
(1)
Elliott D.

I've experienced the many incarnations of Blind Faith--from the earliest days until a few nights ago. It has always been a reliable source of imaginative and healthful creations. I must say that it used to be a bit price friendlier to those with limited resources, but now it seems geared toward a "spendier" crowd. The self-serve half of the restaurant is no longer; the funky booths have been replaced by tables. The overall dÃ©cor has been recently updated and the place certainly looks all grown up now. The service over the years has been spotty, but it's quite good now.
(4)
Gloria S.

After not going to Blind Faith for a long time, we decided to revisit it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in what I ordered. I ordered the Mongolian stir-fry, which I had ordered during a previous visit a couple of years ago and really liked. This time, it was strangely mostly sauteed green bell pepper. I mean, the stir-fry was hidden underneath a phenomenally high pile of sliced green pepper, more green pepper than anyone could possible consume - there had to be at least 4-5 green bell peppers on top of the dish. It was strange. I couldn't believe my eyes. The actual protein portion was a tiny portion of the dish. The dish should have been called "Green Pepper Saute with Seitan". Obviously I will never order this again. We also went for a couple of brunches, and discovered that the Vegan Mexican Breakfast and the Chilaquiles were oddly tasteless, but the Aztec Hash was so spicy it was almost inedible (and I like spicy). In conclusion, I find that this restaurant is a bit strange and uneven. We have also tried the Seitan Marsala and Thai Peanut Noodles, and these were both OK - may order the Seitan Marsala again. Their Barbeque Seitan Sandwich is pretty good. The problem is, Blind Faith is so expensive, but the quality of the dishes and amount of food you get is just not worth it. I've been reading other reviews, and there is a consensus that many of the dishes are quite bland. Unlike many reviewers, we thought the service and waiters were fantastic and very attentive. Also, they no longer charge extra for tofu substitutions, so maybe Blind Faith has been listening.
(2)
Jef B.

Went there Sunday around noon, got seated quickly. We were served very courteously, and got a nice window-side table. I had the Bim Bim Bop, delicious!! She had the barbecue seitan. Both dishes were out of this world. Love love love this place, wish there was quality vegetarian food closer to my home; that trek up to Evanston is to challenging to take regularly.
(5)
- chicagobiker -.

Our breakfast dishes were pretty bland overall, but even worse was the service. First we waited about 10 minutes before giving our drink order. Then, when the food arrived, that was the last we saw of the waitress. She didn't bring the hot sauce I requested, we had no salt and pepper, no water refills, nothing. We were sitting there with bland food and no way to season it or wash it down. It was the pits. Chicago Diner or Handlebar are infinitely better.
(1)
JnK B.

When compared with a place like the Chicago Diner, the Blind Faith just doesn't hold up. It's way too expensive for what you get, the last 4 times we have gone there the service was slow and they messed up the orders (and it wasn't crowded), and they're not nearly as creative or as tasty as they think they are. Why have I gone back? I literally live around the corner. I would rather drive to the Chicago Diner any day of the week... And I will. In short: don't bother.
(2)
Janna K.

This is the first dining experience that has inspired me to write a review...and that's not a good thing. I have been going to Blind Faith for probably over 25 years...remember the days when it was a hole in the wall on the other side of Dempster and there were no other vegetarian restaurants around. My friend April took me and I was in heaven. At 16, I had found my people!! I ate there for years when I lived in Evanston and now return there on every trip home. I'm no longer keen to return. I went with old friends last night. They have a weird new menu - I long ago lost my favorite lemon seitan, but I know things have to change. It was very loud and really crowded. Though I'm thrilled a vegetarian restaurant gets that much business, for those prices, I'd rather not feel like I'm sitting on the laps of my fellow diners. I ordered the seitan marsala. It was a huge portion, but so greasy! The seitan also looked almost too much like meat. If I come to a vegetarian restaurant, I'm ok with food that is not meat, in fact, I prefer it. The taste was mediocre at best. My friends ordered a "trio" dip which was a plate of humus, not enough bread, and two dollops of other barely visible dips. Pretty, but didn't meet the description. I was also frustrated that the waiter didn't wait for other parties at the table to finish their salad before bringing out the entree. There was little to this dining experience that any of us enjoyed. Sadly, I won't be rushing back. Did they change management? Lose their souls? What's up??
(2)
M N.

If you're in Evanston or headed north at all you should check this place out. It's vegetarian with plenty of vegan options. I would recommend sitting in the cafe/take out section on the right as you head in the door. It's self serve but you'll be getting your food a lot quicker. Their deserts are excellent. I sometimes stop in here if I'm in the area just to get some cake to take home. Can't be beat. Pricey, but worth it to treat yourself now and then.
(4)
Lindley E.

Clumsy vegetarian cooking reminiscent of the Moosewood Cookbook. I'm okay with the picey part, but the food lacks finesse, big flavor, and the ability to satisfy. I used to brunch there fairly frequently, and everytime I left with the feeling that it just wasn't good enough considering the prices they charge. It isn't that they are too expensive, it is that the value just isn't there. Given that there are very few vegetarian restaurants in the city of broad shoulders and the environs, Blind Faith deserves your patronage. It would be more deserving, however, if they upped the ante and did justice to the menu. Last time I ate there was a few weeks ago -- I had be bim bop with tofu and brown rice. Should have been a no-brainer. Instead it was difficult to eat -- the zucchini was cut into half moons and not quite cooked through. None of the vegetables were cut into easy-to-eat pieces, which is something I have come to expect from be bim bap when ordered at a Korean restaurant. The flavor just wasn't there. It made me remember why I don't eat there anymore.
(3)
Jade T.

4.5 Stars The first time I ate here, I was not terribly impressed. I found the food to be bland. But as one of the only 100% vegetarian restaurants in the Chicago area, I have eaten here rather frequently over the past few months. I have seen great growth in the menu and the quality of the food: Blind Faith Cafe has evolved over the past year from a neighborhood cafe into an upscale vegetarian restaurant. In comparison to Green Zebra, it is more casual and the food is more classic than edgy. For being a vegetarian restaurant, Blind Faith Cafe actually attracts a diverse clientele consisting of families, older professionals, out-of-towners, bohemian hipsters, and more. The menu has been changed somewhat, but there is something for everyone, even for vegetable phobics. The Huevos Rancheros and Tofu Scramble are popular breakfast dishes. The French Toast Flambe is sure to impress. It is beautifully presented and delicious. For the Tunisian Couscous, an array of fresh vegetables in a spicy tomato stew sit on top of fluffy couscous. It is a vegan dish, except for the yogurt dressing. A must-try is the Mongolian Stir-Fry, a seemingly simple Americanized Chinese dish. The seitan has an almost a meat-like texture. The sauce may be spicy to those with sensitive palates, but flavors are well worth the heat. After a meal, check out the bakery for freshly made vegan and vegetarian sweets ranging from scones to tarts and chocolate cakes. Several items sell out before the day is through, so come in early. It is a common misperception that vegetarian cuisine is similar to "rabbit food" - dull, bland, and boring. Indeed most restaurants serve uninspiring vegetarian dishes, but at Blind Faith Cafe, the food can be interesting, tasty and healthy at the same time.
(5)
Slu S.

A little Saturday afternoon tradition. Century theater for a flick and Blind Faith or Lucky Platter for a night out. Call it old fashioned, but it is just darned good. I get the BeeBimBop nearly every time we go and have never been disappointed. I am about the opposite of Veg and I like the Blind Faith version better than Korean Restaurant version. Also, do not fail to get the Vegan chocolate cupcakes. They are tremendous.
(4)
Amanda M.

DELICIOUS! I wish it were closer to my neighborhood!
(5)
gnat c.

Oh Blind Faith, I think you're fabulous! 5 stars all the way. Every dish has flavor, and I think this is an accomplishment. Sure, it's a restaurant and food should have amazing taste, but often vegetarian cuisine needs a little tlc, clearly Blind Faith does this so well. I'm a huge fan of the pesto veggie sandwich and oh..the microbiotic plate is fab as well. I think it's rad that a lactard (non-milk consuming person) can get soy milk with coffee...and it's scrumpty soy milk at that! Often lactards are left with one selection on the menu sans milk, and hot damn, the Blind Faith is a great place to be milk free. yum.
(5)
Christina M.

A must go! They have a large variety of food and yummy treats. Their customer service is outstanding!!!! Many of my meat eatter friends ask .....can we go to that restaurant in Evanston again :)
(5)
Atl L.

I was surprisingly satisfied with our recent Friday evening meal here. I'm not a vegetarian and haven't dined at many vegetarian places so I wasn't sure what to expect. We were seated right away and our waiter was nice and attentive. I was happy to see all of the options on the menu and had trouble deciding. I finally landed on the enchilada verde which was stuffed with potatoes, corn and cheese. These were pretty good and the sauce was nice as was the dollop of guacamole. My husband had the black bean burrito and enjoyed that as well. Both of our plates were empty so that's a pretty good indication of how we liked the food. I felt that the pricing was inline with other restaurants in the area and seemed to average between $12-$15 per entree. I'm looking forward to going back and trying some of their other options. I also heard from a friend that they serve a decent brunch.
(4)
Kiyana B.

Excellent Flourless Chocolate cake ---- It's not often I get to go to a place for dinner & realize I want EVERY item on the menu....I ended up with the Mongolian Veggies & Seitan...VERY good. this place is hard to get to or i'd go every single day!!!!
(4)
Sandy S.

Just discovered Lake Side Cafe. Quite the pick-me-up after a few disappointing visits to Blind Faith (changed menu etc). If you're hankering for vegetarian yumminess (or whole-hog vegan), head down to 1418 Howard Street to Lake Side and skip Blind Faith. You'll be glad you did. Huge, fun menu and vegan baked goods that rival Blind Faith.
(2)
David S.

Not a big fan of Blind Faith. Sure they have some good seitan and decent vegan desserts but overall the food is mediocre. Service is average, price reasonable. *snore*
(3)
Drennen M.

I came here with my parents (always must have the parents around for the more expensive restaurants, which this place very much is), and despite none of us being very hungry, we all cleaned our enourmous plates (at least you get what you pay for). The food was fresh and fragrant and the staff friendly when we went there. As has been said before, try the seitan. They'll even tell you how to pronounce it. Haven't tried the bakery side yet, but I'll be back. For those of you wary of going anywhere with students, this place is far enough from campus that it won't be overrun Clarke's-on-Clarke-St. style. Do try it.
(5)
Sophia T.

let me add to the montage of reviews by saying yuck. nice ambiance and all but not a whole lot of vegan choices. people it's 2011, cater to people who give a shit about the earth! i had a veggies. that's it. boo
(3)
Patrice R.

I really do like this place. There are several vegan options and the food is consistently good and creative. The service is not great, with mostly teenaged wait staff that doesn't care, is forgetful, slow, and would rather stand around and chat with one another than take care of customers. But I keep hoping I might get lucky and go back for the food.
(2)
Leigh K.

My roommate Dan's friend from out of town was visiting this weekend and on Friday night we headed to Evanston for a wonderful meal at Blind Faith Cafe. I can't believe I'd never even heard of it since all-vegetarian restaurants are more sparse in Chicago than one might think. The only *strictly* vegetarian restaurants that I can think of that I have been to are Chicago Diner, Heartland Cafe, Udupi Palace, and Soul Veg. Still on my list to try out are Dharma Garden Thai, Alice and Friends, Amitabul, and Karyn's, so it was awesome to find a new place to take veg/vegan friends! We started with seitan fingers which were served with a marinara meets barbeque sauce. They were tasty with or without said sauce with a nice crunch you often don't get out of mock meat. For entrees, three people out of our party of four, ordered the special sweet and sour seitan, based on our waiter gushing about it. He was right. It was just wonderful. At the time, I almost wished that I'd gone with that, but in the end, I am glad I got something different so that I could yelp about a staple menu item. I went with seitan marsala, which doesn't taste a whole lot like chicken marsala, but the flavors were really good. Out of all mock meats, seitan is the most meat-like to me, so I'm glad I stuck with that. The steamed broccoli that it was served with was a nice pairing. After stuffing ourselves to the brim, I went with a non-vegan dessert to go; a piece of lemon cheesecake. It was the weakest menu item I had tried. The lemon was subtle, but it was too mushy. I only have one real complaint about Blind Faith Cafe though. When Z and I ordered a smoothie together, they brought it out in two little juice glasses as opposed to the pint glass it was served in and just bringing two straws. Anyone could see that we were getting ripped off of extra smoothie. Either way, I guess I don't mind paying a bit more or getting ripped off a bit as long as places like this stay open.
(4)
Mara S.

Went here the other day and thought it was excellent. I'm not a vegetarian, but it doesn't matter - my tofu, rice and veggies (I think it was called fried rice, but it really wasn't) was delicious. I'd recommend that you enjoy mushrooms if you go here. There's lots of them on the menu. Everything that I had really was delicious and the decor is pretty cool too... just homey and comfortable. The service was excellent and there's a cool bakery/ coffee shop attached to the restaurant that looked really yummy.
(5)
A. B.

Last year when I went to Blind Faith it wasn't very vegan-friendly. But I went this week and there were at least 5 vegan entrees. The food was good, the choices were good, the service was good! I will go back soon. Oh, and the vegan desserts are great, too. I had the capuccino brownie this week, which was great, but I also like the chocolate peanut butter cake, the carrot cake, and the cupcakes.
(5)
Jesster A.

Another Three and a half-er. I was never really enamoured of this place - even when I was a vegetarian. Like Lindsey H. notes, It reminds me too much of the Moosewood Cookbook (which IS a classic - but I find too many dishes to be too dry and too bland.) Still, Blind Faith Cafe is also a classic and an Evanston tradition and I'm glad so many people continue to love it. ASIDE to J.B.: What do you think of the PESTO SAUCE (on pasta) here?
(3)
Angela L.

We wandered into this restaurant without knowing it was vegetarian. I'm not a vegetarian, but I love vegetarian food and everything on the menu looked good. We tried the Veggie Burger and the Apple/Brie sandwich, which were both tasty, although the bread on the Apple/Brie sandwich seemed a bit on the buttery side (it was grilled). What I liked most about this restaurant is the relatively wide selection of vegetarian dishes. The smoothies looked great; definitely a good reason to come back. I took a star off because the server was sloooooow. It took him quite a while to get to our table to take our order and he walked at a "slow as molasses" pace. We were missing silverware and napkins when we received our food and it took him so long to walk across the room. I really could have been up, retrieved the napkins, and returned to my table before he was halfway there. Then...the drink refill (sigh...). Everyone else seemed to be set on normal server speed:)
(4)
Emily C.

9/22/08 I was in the mood for something different and mainly a cupcake - previously the food here was subpar but the baked goods immensly satisfying. I was shocked by the remodel, the place looks upscale and the menu went through an upgrade as well, prices range $12-14 per entree but the presentation and taste were divine. We had the Lemon Seitan and the (I won't get this right) Sweet Potato Cake Dish. The hummus was a bit bitter with that fizzy on the tongue effect and could have used some veggies for dipping. The miso soup was a hit with my 7 year old, though the corn bread was too dry for him. The only dissappointment is that the waiter charged us but left out two of our dessert items, one I caught because it was the cupcake my son wanted on the way home, the other was a piece of cake. I am currently eating the Chocolate Moussem and it is fantastic, well worth the $5, decadent and rich, but not overly sweet. All in all two entrees, an appetizer, soup,cherry lemonade, cornbread, 3 spice cakes, a cupcake, a blueberry bar, a mousse - and a piece of cake we didn't get cost roughly $67.00 after taxes and before tip. Not bad considering you can spend more at Karyn's and the food/service is not consistent. This is the first Vegan/Veg restaurant where I felt like a real person eating real food - not substitutes.
(4)
Amanda P.

Forgive me, but I'm nostalgic for their old former location in Roscoe Village. The cafe now has a smaller menu and higher prices, and they've changed the ambience to make it look like a fancier restaurant. Maybe I could live with this if they weren't serving some of the exact same casual fare that they used to. The food is still tasty, but the newfound pretentiousness of the place ticks me off.
(3)
Deborah B.

I don't frequent Blind Faith as much as I did several years ago, but that's partly because I live in the city now and am excited by a lot of new places around me. Also, my fiance sometimes really wants something meaty for dinner. I still love this place, though, and highly recommend eating in both the cafe area and the dining room. Two different experiences, but equally good. I also wouldn't be caught dead leaving the place with out a piece of the vegan chocolate cake. If you are too full, take it to go. Trust me, I once bought my friend a plane ticket to visit me out east in exchange for a piece of this cake. The deal worked out all around!
(5)
Benet H.

like its separated-at-birth sister facility the Heartland Cafe this is a truly tasteless exercise in non-meat eating. yes, the waiters and patrons are ernest but it never ceases to amaze me how much people are willing to sacrifice (ie flavor) for some ideology. Meatless food can taste great...the asian sub continent has know this for -what?- four thousand years.....why can't it be done here?????
(2)
Ross W.

Been a couple times the vegetarian fare is overpriced and the servers were snotty and patronizing. Avoid this place.
(1)
Food S.

This place is has the best vegan menu that I know of. Breakfast is really good- the food is imaginative, fresh and never too greasy.
(4)
kelly c.

I go out of my way to go here every once in awhile. It's good, fresh food with many vegan options. They have good breakfast and dinner. I've always had friendly servers, but they do seem to be out of things a lot. I think the price and portion are very fair, opposed to some other criticisms on here. The rice dream latte is really really good. So are the blueberry bars, but they seem to mysteriously be getting smaller and smaller.
(3)
rachel p.

i'm not particularly a fan of fake meat products and i never really understood why vegetarians so often try to approximate real meat with oddly textured soy protien, which is why i picked this place (as opposed to many other veggie places around the city) to take my best friend for his bday. that said, i LOVE veggies, and i thought a few of the dishes were legitimately very good: the baked artichoke hearts and the moroccan veggie tajine. pretty much everything else left me feeling "meh." it seems like there is so much room to be creative with veggie cuisine and the food here felt fairly uninspired. as for the service, my boyfriend described it as 'glacial' which i feel is pretty apt. it took us forever to get our order in, there were long gaps in between courses and i felt like we must have waited for our check for 20 minutes.
(3)
Trinidad F.

So the atmosphere for this place is nice but I dont recommend to go alone. The waiter was friendly AND cute. lol. I started with the Green salad which was basically just field greens and romaine. It was kinda tiny...I expected more. My main dish was the Teriyaki Grilled Tofu...it was AMAZING. The tofu was perfectly grilled. It wasnt too soft or dried out. The veggies were fresh and had a amazing flavor. YUM!!!!! It was a little expensive for just tofu and veggies but I enjoyed it a lot.
(4)
Mary A.

Although I've had a couple meals I didn't love, in general Blind Faith is great. Sure bets include the Mongolian Stir Fry, Seitan Marsala, or Seitan Fajitas for dinner and pretty much anything Mexican for breakfast. I really like the low-key atmosphere, and I've always had good, friendly service, as well.
(4)
Cassandra J.

i am giving this place 4 stars just because they consistently have tasty vegan baked goods. which is more than i can say for most veg restaurants in chicago... basically, over priced food you could make at home. i used to LOVE the seitan fajitas but last time i ordered them they were super bland and when i asked for the salsa that usually comes with them i was brought something slightly resembling salsa but having a bit of an opaqueness to it that worried me... i went up here for lunch the other day and was reminded that this place is best served, well, without service. the food prices are so high, that when you add tip on for the mediocre service, its really a rip off. but if you sit in the 'self serve' front area, you get very friendly counter service and a far cheaper bill. i am a huge fan of the vegan maple spice cake and the chocolate cake, while basic, is always tasty. last time i was in i had the vegan mango cheesecake and it was delicious. i was surprised, it looked pretty questionable but tasted awesome. so yeah, don't get table service. make sure to save room for dessert, and be prepared to season your food once it gets to you because they certainly aren't doing said seasoning in the kitchen and you'll be A OK at blind faith.
(4)
Skazoo M.

I'm about as carnivorous as they come but dine often with vegetarian friends so I've made my way to Blind Faith a few times. Sure, I sulked a little on my first time but after eating the food I had no problem coming back! They do the best job with seitan of any vegetarian restaurant I've ever been to. Parking has been super easy everytime I've been there - there has always been an open parking meter nearby. The setting is clean and casual with enough space between tables that you have privacy even on a busy night. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable about the dishes they're serving and are easygoing - helping to create a relaxing atmosphere. And I'd give it 5 stars - but they discontinued the Thai Peanut Noodles! My favorite dish... Why? Why?
(4)
Matt G.

Picking a restaurant blindly in Evanston did not end well today. Blind Faith Cafe had potential to be a nice alternative choice to other diners and restaurants in the area. Serving vegetarian food is a positive for those who need that. Other than that, the food was over priced (4 people at lunch @ $46) and under flavored. Our table of four sampled everything from omelets to stew to yogurt and granola. It is safe to say that none of us were impressed and a few of us were disappointed. The only thing that made me give it 2 stars instead of 1 was the Vanilla Milkshake which was not bad at all.
(2)
Liz B.

Disappointing. I thought it was going to be a cozy cafe, not a stuffy sit-down place with snotty waiters in black pants and crisp white shirts. It's one of those places with whole number prices (i.e, no $12.95 entree on the menu, that will be $13 in fancy curlicue typography). Sure the Lemon Seitan was good, but I feel no need to return. They took away my lemonade when I was half finished drinking it and for a $3 lemonade, I would like to get my money's worth. A little girl in my neighborhood sells the same thing, but fresher, with a slice of lemon and a little cocktail umbrella for $1.00 at her stand.
(2)
Bella D.

3.5+ I've come here several times and it was fun to eat here. It was cool to try the vegetarian foods. Nice service and interesting experience with the different types of veggie foods.
(3)
Kate R.

ohhhhh blind faith. how i despise having a love-hate relationship with you but you leave me no choice. in middle school when i decided to go vegetarian, who was there for me and my crazy antics? you were. you became my number 1 restaurant and even my meat-obsessed brother would succumb to my wishes a few times a year and eat your food. that was when you had seitan fajitas, seitan marsala, black bean tostadas (or chili tostadas if you wanted), enchiladas verdes, tofu "crab" cakes and bibim bop. these were staples in my diet and i frequented you at least twice a week until i left for college. and when i came home, even if only for a night, you were my number one spot to go for some food. then, you decided to go and change. why? why? why??????? i understand remodeling, who doesn't like a nice face-lift once and awhile? i should have guessed what was going to come next though...once they got all chic-like and put up partitions throughout the restaurant and really took away the awesome order-at-the-counter-sit-down-and-relax area in the front of the restaurant, i knew we had problems. anywho... first, the chili option for the tostadas and the tofu "crab" cakes were nixed from the menu. then, my beloved seitan marsala. next victim? my seitan fajitas. i don't even know if i can go on from here......it is so sad to see some very delicious and simple yet complex tasting dishes gone from their menu, especially when i would look around the restaurant and these dishes were popular! if it ain't broke, why fix it?!?!!? (sigh)...i still stop by blind faith for their tostadas, enchiladas verdes and their breakfast and baked goods (good to see not much has changed in those departments), but i do not come here nearly as often as i used to. i miss the good old days, blind faith. come back please.
(3)
Deborah E.

Let me state upfront I am NOT a vegetarian or a vegan. I have no food issues, and I generally avoid vegetarian restaurants because they smell like freakin' gerbil cages, i.e., Chicago Diner. However, as I write this I am eating one of the BEST damn chocolate cupcakes I have ever had! And it is a VEGAN cupcake from Blind Faith! OMG - delicious! See, about a year ago, my partner devised a ruse to get me to eat healthier. Knowing my weakness for cupcakes, she would occasionally stop at Blind Faith on her way home from work and bring me one of these fab choco ones. Of course she NEVER told me they were vegan, fearing that I would gag and become despondent. Well, we went to dinner there one evening and lo and behold WHAT do I see in the dessert case but my beloved cupcake? :0 I forgave her - and she continues to bring them home to me. There is a HUGE dollop of some kind of yellow frosting on it which is obviously NOT a cream cheese frosting, so I have NO damn clue what the ingredients are but it is GOOOOOODDDDD....................
(4)
Molly T.

I love this place! Sure it's ginormous and sure it's trying to do a little too much (be a full service coffee bar/cafe and restaurant) but the food was sooo good! My dad -- a former veg -- wanted to check it out so we had dinner there and each got one of the specials. I got tempeh thai peanut noodles and he got the shiitake/walnut loaf. I loved my noodles but I must say the walnut loaf was amazing. It's something I never would have ordered, but it looked so good that it caught the eye of people at neighboring tables. It looked like meatloaf and had a really hearty consistency and a great flavor..plus it came with crispy greens (kale?) which gave a great texture contrast to the walnut loaf. Oh and I nearly forgot about the avocado salad! The avocado was absolute perfection (I've been in avocado withdrawal since leaving California, so this gave me my fix) and I want the recipe to that dressing--lime and cilantro and something else? I had a kukicha tea to drink (which I had for the first time at Angelica Kitchen in NYC). Our meals were $14 each b/c they were specials but the menu has a wide variety of vegetarian dishes for less and the portions are quite generous. Finally, we spotted a Chicago celeb while we were there! Author Sara Paretsky, holding two of her own books....
(4)
Chloe M.

This was a pretty good place. I am not vegetarian, but love trying anything new and interested. A friend of mine suggested it and it had good food, the prices are a little steep for the portions, but decent. The desserts are phenomenal!
(3)
M P.

Maybe this was an off night - but the service wasn't great. Food wasn't as good as the price tag.
(2)
Mel W.

First of all, I am not a vegetarian but I must say, I don't mind coming here once in a while. Have dined here a couple of times and definitely pleased with the food and service. The one dish I LOVE is the portobello mushroom burger...perfectly seasoned onions, on a buttery crisp bun. yum yum! the salads are another favorite...the portions are a bit small but the ingredients were very fresh! A nice change from your typical heavy american meal :)
(4)
bettina c.

I've been going to Blind Faith for a LONG time! The food is always good - very reliable. Their dishes have a Tex Mex flair but they also also have a large variety of other types of food too. I love their breakfast/ brunch & their salads are always full of really fresh veggies! Their vegan chocolate cake is so good too. The wait staff is always friendly. And they recently updated their decor to give it more seating. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5th star is that its a bit on the pricey side. However, I think that the quality and the tastiness of the food is well worth it.
(4)
Jason P.

Nice vegetarian place that has decent food. I like the veggie burger as they make their own patties. The fries are fresh cut, which means they have to be soggy unfortunately.
(3)
amy c.

It was a little better than ok. I will like and support any place that has a healthy, veggie focus. I just wasn't wowed by the prices and the food (though the potato dill soup was AWESOME). They were really quick, had goods portions and a nice very nice staff. I just wish I would have gotten the peanut noodles. (Sigh)
(4)
L B.

I've eaten there a couple times now and really enjoyed it. I'm not a vegetarian but do enjoy meatless meals, so this hits the spot. If you're going with meat-eaters, this place would be perfect because it's not all tofu and seitan (though you can get those too if that's what floats your boat). Seems like they always have a pasta dish, and some tex-mex favorites like bean tostadas. Nice cocktail and wine list too--this isn't a health food restaurant! Just good, fresh, homemade food that happens to be meatless. The only thing stopping me from giving the place 5 stars is I feel like the food is usually just slightly undersalted for my tastes. Not so bland that I don't enjoy it, but just enough for me to take note. But I probably use too much salt, anyway. :)
(4)
Jeffrey S.

My favorite place for food in Chicago! I love this all vegeterian restaurant in Evanston becuase it is solid, dependable, clean good food. The menu is not as innovative as The Chicago Diner, however the food is so much better and consistent. The ambience has recently been improved and is pretty nice. The desserts are phenomenal. Don't miss a corn muffin. I love the Mongolian Stir Fry. House Kukicha Tea rocks. I love the Maple Spice muffins. Breakfast is also superb. My favorite cheap date night is a dinner at Blind Faith and then a great film at the movies down the street (with free parking for us city folk).
(5)
Daisy C.

Consistently good, innovative food. Service is good, too. And the baked goods, especially the cookies, are fabulous. I was on a strict diet during my pregnancy and my first treat after giving birth was a molases cookie from Blind Faith. It's a bit overpriced for what it is, but otherwise pretty close to perfect for a vegetarian-only place.
(4)
Kaaren D.

One of my all time favorite places to eat. The portions are very large, and I can always eat a meal, and take home the extra to eat another meal. I love that when that happens. Good vegan food, what a rare find. I usually sit in the section where you order and claim a seat, rather than in the more upscale "restaurant." The food is the same, and I think service is a little faster that way. I don't mind bussing my table. It's kind of an Evanston kind of thing to do.
(5)
Sarah F.

The setting is nice and the service is fine, but I can't rave about the food. I find it bland and disappointing every time I dine here. I find the baked goods to be dry as well.
(2)
christine r.

yummy! yummy!! yummy!!! best vegetarian food i've had in (okay, near) the city. the bi bim bop, while not completely authentic, is delicious. the brown rice is cooked just right and the veggies taste delicately sesame. i also really love the macrobiotic plate. it feels so fresh and healthy! i think blind faith cafe is the first place that cooked tempeh to my liking. although a bit pricey for my liking, it's worth a trip out to evanston. make it a day of shopping and delicious lunching!
(5)
Nick B.

Very good food and reasonable prices. They do things with seitan and tempe that i didnt know or think would be possible. I would also suggest their bakery which is very good
(5)
Greg C.

This place is great! While the menu is not extensive, there is enough of a selection to attend to a variety of tastes and there is usually a special to try out as well. As of late, my favorite is the teriyaki tofu, which I ordered on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. I would also agree that the bakery items are great and I sometimes opt to carry some dinner home to be sure to split a dessert with a friend. Something that I haven't seen mentioned here is their great selection of beverages. From teas to a small selection of beers to their wine list, you need not worry about finding something that will compliment your meal. While I have not had a bad service experience there, I have had a few instances of exceptional service from different staff. All in all, this is a favorite of my girlfriend (who is a vegetarian) and it quickly became a favorite of mine (who is the pretty far from that). It's very easy to get to via the Purple line and there is ample parking for cars (either right in front with meters, or two blocks east without).
(4)
Jim R.

Since we live close by, my wife and I go to Blind Faith about 4 times a year, typically have a great meal. This past Saturday night we were greeted by a friendly server and ordered a few new items along with their Thai Peanut Noodles, one of my favorites. However, for once this dish was not as good as usual -- my best description was too much sauce, making the it too "gloppy." When the server came by to ask if we wanted to take the leftovers home we told her our review. She immediately apologized, said she would tell the cook and asked if we would like to substitute something else from the menu. We were full, so we declined. When she returned with our bill she had comped it. While we were sitting outside finishing our drinks and enjoying the weather, the manager ("Eddie") came by with a couple of vegan truffles, thanked us for the feedback and told us to let him know if there was anything ever wrong again with the food. This was great customer service -- they take pride in their food and care about their patrons. Needless to say, we will be back again and again.
(5)
Sara K.

It does have vegetarian options, but Chicago Diner-caliber this place is not. The food is just...meh. There's nothing special about it other than its vegetarian-ness, and some of it can be pretty greasy. The service is never something to write home about either--all of the servers are pretty unenthusiastic and one of them gave my friend the stink eye when she found food floating in her water and wanted a clean glass. I just don't get the hype. It's unhealthy, unexciting food that just happens to not have meat in it.
(3)
Susan B.

Not good. I've been here a few times over the last few years because they have vegan options and it's easily accessible from the purple line. Sadly, the food is so bland- So. Very. Bland. It's also overpriced, especially considering nothing has flavor. I'm happy to pay for quality food but quality this is not. And it's not just the vegan menu items- my dad took two bites of the pancakes and couldn't eat any more-- and he loves to eat. How can you screw up PANCAKES, I ask you? And it's not just the food. Service has been poor each time. Last time I was there for Mother's Day and my Grandma's food came completely different than it was described in the menu. It was supposed to be a quiche filled with "seasonal veggies" ... It had onions and feta. She asked the server if she got the wrong plate and the server said "no- it changes all the time, today it's onions". She didn't offer my Grandma a different item, or to bring some veggies out, or to take the item off the bill. Happy friggin Mother's Day. I've given this place enough chances... I've been disappointed every time. Won't be back. There's a reason locals call it "Bland Thief Cafe".
(1)
Natalie M.

Ate here last night for my husband's birthday. I highly recommend the seitan marsala. It was fantastic. The vegan chocolate cake with raspberry sorbet was also excellent. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Amanda B.

Vegetarian? Okay. I will try it. To be honest, I came to go to the sushi place across the street but it ended up being a japanese market with a sushi counter and I was looking for a sit down place. Oddly enough, Blind Faith was suggested to me by a fellow yelper the day before, so fate brought me here. I wandered in and was greeted by a dessert case. Dessert doesn't have meat in it and you get it FREE here when you check in on yelp! THe service was polite. I ordered the Saten plate which came with green beans and squash and rice. It was covered in gravy and tasted like meat to me! The manager told me it was a wheat trigliceride meat substitute and was his favorite. THe other patrons there were pretty annoying, talking about how vegetarian they were. It wasn't the best food I ever had but it was good!! THere is metered street parking and some free street parking if you are willing to walk a couple blocks. I ate cheesecake with black cherries as my free dessert and it was fantastic.
(4)
Deborah H.

Good poached eggs w spinach and biscuit; service good too. The menu is a bit limited but has a good brunch selection.
(3)
Kelly S.

Huge variety at this place - I don't know of another restaurant where you can get grape leaves (our starter), eggplant lasagna (boyfriend's entree), AND Thai peanut noodles (my entree). This is definitely a good option if you and your dinner companions are craving massively different cuisines. The grape leaves were awesome, and my taste of the eggplant lasagna good enough to make me rethink my aversion to eggplant (!). But the noodles were so-so - not much flavor and lots of large scallion chunks (2 inches). However, I had plenty left over for lunch the next day, which made up for the oversized scallions. I'd come back and try something different!
(3)
Molly L.

I'm not vegetarian or vegan myself but I do love this restaurant. The food always has great flavors and I always leave feeling full and satisfied. I particularly love the Asian menu options on the menu, however all their food I've tried I've really enjoyed.
(5)
Ilbra I.

This place has a lot of vegan/vegetarian options that are tasty. I enjoy having their Mongolian Seitan or Kung Pao Seitan with brown rice. Their vegan desserts are delicious... you would never think they were vegan! :)
(4)
Tim Y.

Big fan! I hadn't been here for ages, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it was still around. The interior has been completely revamped, and it's better than ever. Staff still charismatic and nice, with solid recommendations that don't *feel* like they're the "just-order-something-it's-all-fine" type. As I've mentioned in previous reviews for vegetarian/vegan places...I'm a committed meat-eater, so this is definitely a place you can bring somebody who would ordinarily turn their nose up at meatless entrees.
(4)
Jamsaheb ..

Food is good but just ok.. nothing extra ordinary.. Appetizer - sweet potato crostini - that was probably the best part of the dinning experience Yellow curry we had was below average Desserts - very ordinary, nothing special.... I know many vegan places who would have just as good food for probably way less prices..
(2)
Auden R.

I visited this place a few times over the past twelve or so years, and knew it to be a nice vegan-friendly spot - - - so when we decided to celebrate my birthday, we chose Blind Faith Cafe and traveled down for a nice vegan dining experience (from near the Milwaukee Wisconsin area)... When you walk into the establishment, the place has what I'd call somewhat of a "cafe area" (to the right) and a much nicer "formal dining area" (to the left) - - - I had always dined in the more formal dining area in all previous visits When we arrived, all 20+ of us were placed in that "cafe area"; I requested that we be moved to the more formal dining area, but the manager denied my request (no reason was provided) - - - the dining experience was somewhat cramped - - - it was disappointing in a way because we did not travel from Wisconsin to dine in a deli/cafe-style area... now, regarding the servers, it was a mixed bag; on one of our tables the server was attentive and on mark; on the other table, the server seemed rather aloof/disengaged - - - minor things like: simply forgetting a request to bring salt/pepper to the table (there were none on any of our tables and after several minutes of waiting we just got up to get them ourselves from bakery counter); at desert time she was asked to bring out the cafe mocha and the cake together (that just did not happen); she rarely checked back to see how we were doing; etc. etc. etc. really no big deal at all just little annoyances that altogether made the overall dining experience quite less than anticipated in fairness the food was generally decent; perhaps not as great as I remember from before, but still decent - no complaints/issues - - - and as for desert, truly delicious - - - the cafe mocha and vegan peanut-butter-chocolate cake, truly superb - - - yes pricey, but well worth it. All-in-all it was a "mixed bag" experience, but I have no plans on visiting there ever again, as there are several other vegan dining options in the area
(2)
Andrea R.

I've been intrigued by a Blind Faith Cafe for a long time now, but things like seitan scare me. I don't even like tofu so what would blind faith cafe have for me? As it turns out they have lots of choices! I dined here just last night with a very excited vegetarian friend. At first glance of the menu i wondered what I would eat, but once I realized I could remove tofu and seitan from any entree I had plenty of options. After some delish grape leaves I ordered the bibim bop rice bowl (sans seitan). The vegetarian ordered the thai peanut noodles. And our other dining companion went with the teriyaki fried rice bowl. My bibim bop was great- very flavorful and totally hit the spot. I pretty much scarfed it down. And my dining companions seemed happy with their meals as well. Their cocktail menu is also impressive, but I stuck with just a lovely glass of sauvignon blanc. I really liked the ambiance of Blind Faith Cafe as well. It was much more upscale than I had anticipated & quite cozy. Our waitress was on top of her game as well. When we asked her what the smoked eggplant caviar (a special) was she responded that it wasn't very good. Gotta love her honesty in saving us from a bad meal. I'd definitely go back and perhaps even without a vegetarian in tow.
(4)
L. R.

Went here with a couple friends for dinner. The food - I really like the food. The menu is nice and eclectic. There are vegetarian and vegan options as well as gluten free options. Each is denoted by a symbol on the menu. Blind Faith also serves drinks, wine and mixed drinks and those are very good. Everyone loved their food. There was the brie and apple sandwich one person raved about. Another had the potstickers and grape leaves. Still another had the Mongolian dish. These were all tasty and met with everyone's approval. I had the kung pao. Not a lot of spice but the way it was prepared was very nice, though a bit sweet for me. The service - Thus the four stars. It was horrible to say the least. The waitress took our order. We had to remind her to get our drinks. Once we got those, we didn't see her again until our food came out. This took a while. After that, that was it! No more waitress. No checking to see if we needed refills of drinks. No checking to see if the food was okay or if we needed anything else. We had to track her down for our bill. The bills were wrong. After waiting for them to be corrected, we had to wait for her to charge us out. I believe it was the first time any of us had ever left anything less than a 20% tip. It would have been so simple on one of her several passes by our table just to lean over and ask if we needed anything extra or if our food was alright. It would have been very easy for her to just see if we were happy with our food. Nothing, no contact whatsoever. Would love to go back and probably will, just hope not to sit in her section again.
(4)
Allison W.

Blind Faith is a good place whether or not you're vegan or veggie. Service was great and the quality of the food was better than most places I've tried that claim to be vegan or veggie. Desserts were pretty good, but not great. Main course, however, was great. I had the Pad Thai and it beat my expectations.
(4)
Eugene C.

It's in a great location in beautiful downtown Evanston. It's roomy, has a pleasant rustic, folksy charm to it yet elegant and modern furnishings too. The menu has a lot of Asian, Mexican, Mediterranean, American and Italian selections, perfect for the finicky vegetarian / vegan diner at a reasonable price. It's very filling, the waitstaff are very attentive and the cocktails are pretty good too. It's a good place to stop by if you're in the area and are craving a solid vegan / vegetarian dining experience without the hype or high price point like Karyn's.
(4)
Daniel S.

One of the best vegetarian restaurants I've ever been to, many options to choose from.
(5)
Andrea R.

Ate brunch here today at one of their tables outside with our dog. There was a wide variety of food to choose from on the menu- I tried the ranchero burrito & my husband had the aztec hash. Both were tasty & a good portion, and since they had healthier ingredients than most burritos I didn't have to feel guilty about eating it. Someone at the table next to us got what looked to be the greek salad and it looked amazing! Prices on the brunch menu ranged $10-$15, so pretty standard prices for the area. Service was great once we finally got service, but it did take them about 15 minutes before someone took our order & brought water, so docking a star for that. I'd definitely go back again if we weren't moving out of Evanston in a few days.
(3)
Lewis B.

I absolutely love Blind Faith - the food is always good, the waitstaff is great, and the ambiance is just right. The only reason that I can't give five stars is that this place gives me an upset stomach and intestinal distress every single time. You can also just drop in and pick up a coffee or some dessert - both of which are fantastic. And, unlike the regular meals, don't cause stomach upset. Long story short, if you happen to have IBS, proceed with caution. You'll certainly enjoy your experience there but you'll pay for it later.
(3)
Jillian M.

The food is tasty and I love the variety of vegetarian/vegan dishes. I would definitely visit more if it weren't so expensive; I bought a drink and an entree and with tip, it was nearly $40.00. I understand that the quality is high, but the prices don't justify the size/taste. The three stars is for this, but the food is definitely four stars.
(3)
A.J. Q.

Quite an assortment of dishes for anyone's palate. I had the Macrobiotic entree, vegan & gluten free, which I thought was quite filling and tasty. My wife had the Breakfast burrito for lunch which she said was very good as well. We hadn't been in to eat there in years and we're quite happy to see that they still have a good menu.
(4)
Heather F.

Wow. What a bad experience today after a great one two weeks ago. The service was the worst I've had in years. She forgot both butter and syrup for my daughters pancake and then never returned to the table again. Thank god for the busboy who finally acknowledged me and filled up my water and got me sour cream for my way too spicy breakfast. Sad too, as I was a server for many years. She got 10% for a reason. I just wish I could have directed it solely to the busboy!
(2)
Crystal P.

I have lots of vegan and vegetarian friends so Ive been here a good number of times. Breakfast Lunch and dinner - I know their menu and its many changes over the years. They cleaned up the restaurant and the remodel is nice. Years ago my service was always rude ( except for the coffee guy) but the food was good and not extremely pricey. I also would go to Heartland cafe and Karens. Most recently I was there my server was nice, but knew nothing about the food, didnt even offer us a drink, didnt bring silverware - the caliber of service didn't match the fact that the food was expensive. The food quality was good the prep wasnt perfect for the cost veggie over cooked, taste bland and the quantity was small. My complaint about the failure to even bring my drink resulted in the manager offering a desert and that was nice, but I still ate my whole meal without even water. Evanston has some new options that really are stronger now in this category head downtown, not sure even after 20 years, if I would go back.
(3)
Ali C.

Love this place. Their service is great and food is simply marvelous. They still make their own fresh pressed carrot juice - most places do not anymore. Too labor intensive. We had the vegetarian coconut curry and mongolian stir fry, both of which were delicious. Servers are also very well versed in the ingredients used in case anyone has food sensitivities.
(5)
Ashouraita K.

The concept seems to be better than the outcome of this restaurant, but I am going to try again on Valentine's Day because the menu looks great. They forgot about us for at least 20 minutes, but when we finally ordered our food, it did arrive in a timely manner. I wasn't into the food, but like I said, I will try again in two weeks.
(3)
Tree H.

Really delicious place. I was able to watch for staff morale over the course of the time between this review and the last review. The staff member who was kind of off/shy eventually warmed up and the awkwardness went away. Not sure what that was about; it was real, but then it was gone & fine. Seems like everyone's OK. That matters. Might be nice to get a little more variation on the menu, but what they do- they do well.
(5)
Andrew Z.

This place has been around for years. In the 80s, my dad used to go here when at a different location. At this point, it is really going down hill. The food is generally pretty good, and the service fine, it used to be a real cut above the standard fare. Not so much anymore. A few annoyances added, they don't give a large chunk of cornbread anymore with soup or chili. The deserts are really hit and miss when they used to be almost all hits. I still eat here when in the area, but I find my expectations constantly lowered each time I do. I am hoping for a revival here, but if not, I will probably find somewhere else to go in the future.
(3)
Dana Z.

GLUTEN-FREE? NOT REALLY! This is the worst place to go if you have an actual gluten allergy or have Celiac like myself! If I could give this place "0 stars" that's how I'd rate it. They have poor customer service and they FALSE ADVERTISE - they are not really "gluten-free" when the manager admits that he has a bakery next store and there would be cross contamination. Okay, how can you list items as "GF" when there's a chance that they could contain gluten? That doesn't make any sense. Here was my experience - I ordered a hot green tea, the "GF" hummus appetizer and the "GF" beet salad. I mentioned to the waitress that I have a GLUTEN ALLERGY. She immediately said... "Oh well, we cannot guarantee that all the dishes are GF, there may be cross-contamination and if you're Celiac..." Then the manager interrupted and piped in - "Yeah, if you're Celiac, you probably don't want to eat here because I have a bakery next store!" Umm...REALLY? You advertise yourself as a "GF" restaurant with "GF" menu items and you've got a bakery as well? Bizarre. This place was just all around bad, bad, bad. Not to mention terrible customer service from the waitress.
(1)
Stephen S.

Blind Faith has such a diverse menu of offerings that it's hard to decide where to start. Usually at a vegetarian place I start by examining the use of the big three proteins (tofu, tempeh, and seitan). Blind Faith has tofu and seitan covered but instead of tempeh opts to use gardein instead. Of all the protein choices though, their seitan is made in house and so that was the obvious pick for me. I ended up settling on the seitan marsala. The seitan was a great texture, not overly chewy or overly tough, and soaked up that white wine sauce amazingly. I also really loved the sweet potato mash that accompanied it. They had a Yelp check in offer for a free dessert with an entree and we were celebrating a birthday so we went with the peanut butter chocolate cake and the eskimo pie. I'd a huge peanut butter and chocolate fan and this cake was just great. I'd definitely come back to explore the menu some more (as lots of things sounded delicious that I didn't have a chance to try) but would have a hard time not ordering seitan.
(4)
Kali S.

My boyfriend and I are new to this vegan thing so we decided we try out Blind Faith Cafe. What a great decision! We started with the spicy seitan satay. It was delicious and it's worth going there just for that. I got the peanut noodles and they were just alright. I would have liked more sauce and a thicker sauce, but it was still good. My boyfriend got the yellow curry and it was fantastic. The service was good; everyone was very friendly. I only wish they would open a location closer to me.
(5)
Marc R.

I started going to Blind Faith way back in the 1990s and loved it then. I did not like the Lincoln (Chicago) location when it opened, and understood why it closed - it was nothing like the Evanston location. There were very few vegetarian places like Blind Faith back then, and now there are many more, and the BF restaurant and bakery has perhaps entered the realm of a classic. We had the bibim bop which was solid, but not mind-blowing. It did not come with a side of hot sauce or any of the things one might expect although they brought us some Louisiana style hot sauce rather than Thai or Korean hot sauce or paste. Meh. The sietan was awesome! That stuff just rocked. Bakery items are amazing. Top flight. Vegan and Vegetarian options. Many of the classic meals are still on the menu which is always nice to see. Solid, friendly service, and delivering high quality food.
(3)
Sabina M.

My family and I love the warm atmosphere and the food. We're vegan and we find that there's a really decent selection, and love the macrobiotic plate. The desserts are the best I have had in any other vegan restaurant I have been to here in Chicago. I'm not sure why the rating is low because this place deserves 5 stars if not only for how long they have been around serving plant based goodness. We love comming here so much we decided to spend our thanksgiving dinner here tomorrow, if they will be open. ( came on here to check but left a review prior to said checking. ) XD
(5)
John S.

Excellent food. Started with the quesadilla. Loved the gouda cheese shallot combo. We also have the steamed potstickers that everyone enjoyed. For my main course i had the fajita platter. Really enjoyed the seitan. Huge order was not able to finish. For dessert I had the peanut butter chocolate cake. Which is by far the best thing i had here. I would not recommend skipping this dessert, because it is to die for. Service was very helpful and friendly. Only reason i didnt give it 5 stars is the mixed drinks were only so-so. My wife had cucumber mint breeze. It tasted like it barely had any Vodka, our friend white sangria which was rather disappointing taste wise. Other then the drinks i would highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)
Helen S.

3.5 stars rounding down. My diet is generally carnivorous, but I had a curious craving for veggies and met a friend for dinner. Because I ran 7 miles the night before, and ravenously ate all the things at brunch the next morning, I wasn't too hungry even by dinner time. We ordered the hummus as a starter. I only tried a little bit of it and thought that it was strange, since it didn't taste like any other hummus I've ever tried. For my main, I got the blind faith salad, which was okay. Flavors meshed well, but it had too many raisins and not enough avocado. My friend's fajitas though were amazing. I've never liked seitan in the past, but I took a bite of hers and wow. Too bad this wasn't my main, or else I would've bumped up my review. Decor was cute and a little fancier than I expected actually. Overall, okay meal, I might return when I feel the urge for more veggies.
(3)
Susan J.

Consistently delicious vegetarian food with the bonus of a bar and excellent baked goods. They make a mean caipirinha!
(5)
Susanna K.

Clean, spacious restaurant with great light and a homey, welcoming vibe. I've been a Blind Faith customer for several years --- hard not to be with a name like that --- and just went back after being away a while. I was pleasantly reminded of the consistency of quality and the freshness of the food. We were seated quickly and the service as always was excellent --- pleasant but discreet, letting us stay and talk without a problem, splitting the check without fuss. Water refilled itself. Comfortable booths that feel cozy and private --- great for a long conversation. After all these years, I've never had a bad experience here. Even when it's packed, food comes out quickly, service is excellent. I usually order one of the many salads, which are all excellent and reasonably priced (under $10). I recommend the roasted beets or the Blind Faith salad. The Santa Fe salad is not really Santa Fe (I'm from the southwest), but a Midwestern interpretation (still good, though). I recommend the potstickers. The entrees are worth trying as well --- this time my friend said she'd drive back up from Hyde Park for the shitake walnut loaf. The food is filling but not heavy, and you don't miss the meat (if you're a meat-eater) with the different protein options. Definitely worth trying at least once -- but be careful, you might become a regular! There is meter parking in front or free street parking just a bit further east on Dempster.
(5)
Andrea J.

I do love this place, perfect for vegetarians and meat lovers. The menu is fantastic, I just wish they would change it up more frequently....however the dumplings is one of my favs and they have a great bakery!
(4)
Katherine S.

While the prices are a tad high here, you will walk away full and happy! The peanut butter-chocolate cake is to DIE for--take it from my non-vegan parents who want to come back for seconds--and all the food tastes expertly made and high quality. I recommend the macrobiotic plate for the adventurous foodie/taste tester and the miso for the keep-it-simple folk. Oh, and the cappuccini (cappuccinos for the non-italians) are so perfect BF puts the starbucks across the street to shame. Just go. Eat. Enjoy. Stop being so hard on vegans and their amazing cuisine.
(5)
L. D.

The food here is consistently good, the service is fine. I love the macrobiotic plate (all vegan). I only wish they had some more low-sugar desserts. But a great restaurant.
(4)
Tiffany S.

One of the best vegetarian places I have been to! Great food, great service, will definitely be back.
(5)
Susanne D.

It's a great place to eat vegetarian. Everything is tasty, portions are large enough to take some home. Only drawback is that it's a bit pricey for our budget, but it's great for a very special occasion.
(4)
Wenqian W.

We really love the mongolia one! The brocoli and seitan were really nice! We will definitely go back!
(5)
Leah C.

best GF desserts... it's been some time since i've eaten a meal here (pre-yelp days) but have stopped in for some treats at the bakery whenever i'm in the area. i'm always greeted with a smile and friendly fun convo and always walk away with some delicious treats. i'm not exclusively GF or vegan (i'm vegetarian) but when given the option, will take both -- especially here. the lemon torte (GF, vegan) is crumbly like your typical GF dessert but the "icing" makes up for it and makes this a delectable dessert. the carrot cake (vegan) is delicious and not overly sweet. my favorite is the thumbprint cookies (GF, vegan) - they are nuttily scrumptious.
(4)
Amanda O.

Went back in to give it a try for just desert and coffee. I had the carrot cake and my friend had the chocolate peanut butter cake/pie. Both were very tasty. The thing that actually impressed us about this trip was the coffee! We each had a cup of decaf coffee and they brought us cream but no sweetener. Instead of flagging someone down we both just tried the coffee without (just cream) and were very impressed. There was better service this time around even though we sat on the bakery side. We were tended to but not annoyed.
(3)
Julia C.

I was looking for a breakfast spot yesterday and came across this cafe thought the name was unique enough and decided to try it out. I had a great waitress by the name of Amy who tried everything to make sure we were satisfied with her service and the food we ordered. There isn't a wide variety of choices but what they do offer was delish! All three of us were completely satisfied and full! I would definitely go there again!
(5)
Amy R.

It is definitely a bit on the pricey side but the food is very good with lots of vegan options and alternatives. The vegan chocolate cake is officially in my top three best chocolate cakes ever!
(4)
Genefe D.

My co-worker friend and I random stumbled upon this place. We went to Evanston to do some scoping and snooping. We took the train in and walked around for a bit seeing what our options were. We finally decided on this place and blindly walked in. We didn't realize it was a vegan/vegetarian place until we saw the menu. It was totally cool because we both work at an all natural/organic food store. Both being meat eaters we though that this would be a nice break from our carnivorous ways. It was a random when we were there. It was that in between time, late lunch early dinner but yet awkward to be in a restaurant. There was only 2 other tables there when we were seated. Service was great. Our service was very attentive and we never went thirsty. Tea and water a plenty. No fear of dehydration at our table. I ordered the Bibim Bop Rice Bow which was Spicy grilled seitan and marinated vegetables served with brown and jasmine rice topped with an over easy egg. I've always wanted to try seitan but was afraid after seeing how clunky and unappetizing it was on an episode of Top Chef. To my surprise it was so tasty. I liked it because it was crunchy but still good. Everything was so flavorful. I can't remember what my friend ordered but he enjoyed his food. We were both full and satisfied. This was an unexpected visit but would definitely come back if I was in the area and in the mood for some vegan/vegetarian eats. Also on a very random off subject side note...there's A LOT of run stores in Evantson. We though it was just so strange and funny.
(4)
Tiffany R.

I enjoyed the food a lot. Make sure you have some chocolate peanut butter cake. It is a nice people watching experience. The customer service could use some work (which is THE only reason they got 3 stars). However, our server did bring my dog some water which earned them some points back. If you are a Vegan, it's definitely worth a try!!!!!
(3)
Kristen Q.

Doesn't deserve your faith. This food would make you question your choice of being vegan and vegetarian. It was that poor in quality. I had the macrobiotic plate, the black beans were good and it stopped there. It lacked salt and flavor. The items on the plate didn't make sense- pickles... With miso soup.. pickles? My husband had the bleak BBQ seitan sandwich. The seitan was fine but the bun was hard and not even toasted. The BBQ sauce tasted like it was from a can. There are way too many options on the menu- which in hindsight should have been a red flag. My husband called it "the vegetarian Denny's." The service and decor are also lack luster. We were sat in the cafe area for no really reason, it wasn't that crowed when we arrived. The table next to us was so close I keep bumping into the man next to me. Another red flag was when i asked our waiter what she would recommend, she said "I really wanted to like the gnocchi..." We also waited, what seem like an hour, while we steamed over how unhappy we were about our food, waiting for our bill.
(1)
Kunjal W.

I have periodic cravings for this place. I'm vegetarian, but my brother, who eats everything and anything, recommended it to me. I absolutely love their Kung Pao...mmmm I'm practically drooling writing this review! I brought my meat-loving fiancÃ© here too and he was pretty impressed! The last vegan/vegetarian place we tried was awful, like we were eating cardboard and foam. But blind faith has yet to let me down. I'm moving out of state in a month, but I will be back for more of you, Kung Pao!
(5)
Chris W.

It's a simple place with a simple review. Not to say that the menu is simple, I'd say it's got some gourmet choices and their desserts (which I did not try) LOOK amazing when you first walk in. Whelp, the food was good but boy oh gee willikers it was pretty expensive. I got some $15 dollar fajitas which were great. More food than I could handle and I just started a diet so I've been trying to consume a ton more veggies. My boyfriend got the stuffed avocado which was all soupy in the end, but he still liked the flavor a lot, a ton of food for him too. Overall the service was just sub par, but their drink menu is nice, their cider was fresh, and I'd eat there again, just not if I'm trying to budget my money. This is a great place for a date or to catch up with an old friend.
(4)
I S.

A friend of mine is vegetarian so we came here, I'm personally not into vegetarian food but enjoyed the experience nevertheless. The ambiance isn't horrible nor over the top amazing and my cucumber egg sandwich was delicious. Nothing to complain or rave about in terms of the service but I've always heard great things from other friends who are more avid vegetarians about here
(3)
C J.

This place has gone Downhill! The menu is really unimaginative. Vegetarian can mean more than lettuce leaves and soybean products. My salad was basically some spinach leaves and a few cashews. Really? Just because I didn't want the raisins, do you not know how to make a satisfying dinner sized salad? What about vegetables? I had to get something to eat at the grocery store after buying dinner! Service was lackluster. Had to ask for water 3 times! Overpriced and boring.
(1)
Josh A.

We had a fantastic time at Blind Faith Cafe. The potstickers we ordered for an appetizer were great. I'm not sure what the filling consisted of but we loved whatever it was. The shiitake walnut loaf and yellow curry were both delicious as were the two desserts that we ordered. We had the chocolate pudding and an incredible berry tart. The server was very friendly and all of the food came out surprisingly quick. I'm looking forward to going back for Valentine's Day!
(5)

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Address : 525 Dempster St
Evanston, IL, 60201
Phone (847) 328-6875
Website https://www.blindfaithcafe.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :Closed
Mon : Closed
Tue

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Blind Faith Café

525 Dempster St, Evanston, IL, 60201

Blind Faith Café Menu

Starters

Salads

Sandwiches

Soups

Entrees

Juices & Sodas

Smoothies & Shakes

Espresso Drinks

Teas & Chocolate

Iced Drinks

Desserts

Dessert Cocktails

Healthy Meal suggestions for Blind Faith Café

Starters

Salads

Sandwiches

Soups

Entrees

Juices & Sodas

Smoothies & Shakes

Espresso Drinks

Teas & Chocolate

Iced Drinks

Desserts

Dessert Cocktails

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