Spiritland Bistro

As a former vegan and still a vegetarian, I so wanted to love this restaurant. I tried it awhile back and it was bland, bland, bland. Others have said the same. Has it improved? Should I try it again?

Been there twice in the last year and both times, YUM-O! Wait staff is also great! Love it--curry dishes and desserts are great!

I often had problems with freshness there and the restaurant being out of ingredients. For example, on some days they would not have their green smoothie, and on others it tasted day-old. I had the same problem with the Indian curry dish: it lacked ingredients that the menu said it contained because someone there did not want to go shopping. When I wrote them about this, they never replied -- bad policy because it shows they don't care enough to fix things.

Everything I've ever eaten there has been excellent with plenty of great flavor and quality, healthful ingredients.

They have 3 course weekly specials (see their website) and you can order individual courses or the entire 3 course meal. The great thing is that they advertise the specials on their website and there is always a theme, so you can look ahead and see what they are serving up before you go. The menu items are always great as well.

The only place were you can snooty and raw in the same place.Yippie

When the tomatoes are in season the live soup is a hurray. The wait folks are fun, funny, and attituded in their black and white wearings.

The only other live food opportunity is in Ventura, Mary's Garden. Cheaper, smaller, a fine place to dine. They often close early.

My experience is that both places are worth an event, not your grab and gulp type of places. Take a friend, take your time.

It's a joke that a place that claims to be "GREEN" and "ECO," or whatever trendy buzz word you choose is so pushy with trying to get you to purchase bottled water.

went there for dinner once. and haven't gone back. $20 for vegan risotto that was 75% overly steamed broccoli? no thanks. we can pay the same for a truely miraculous meal at millenium in san fransicso. i'd rather wait for that, thanks. i really want to like spiritland, but all it's done for me is remind me that if i had the time, i'd open my own vegan restaurant in SB, which is still a barren wasteland of real vegan restaurant options.

I love this restaurant. The food is delish and made with love. The wait is long, so plan to dine, but the wonderful wait staff and food make up for it. It's expensive.

My only complaint, not enough of a raw selection. I would not consider this a raw restaurant by any means. They do serve meat there too, but there are many vegan options.

I recommend it!