If it’s the goal of most restaurateurs to own their own place, then it’s a definite sign of achievement to open multiple locations. Café Gratitude, serving vegan, raw and “living” food, just opened its third location in Berkeley. While turning out the same unbelievably good-for-you fare with strange, but cleverly titled menu items, the noticeably hippie vibe seems like a better fit in its newest East Bay spot than at the other two locations in San Francisco.

Like the original, the food is painstakingly prepared according to strict guidelines to preserve all the beneficial enzymes that are so treasured by purists. I had the "I Am Insightful" live samosas as an appetizer. Seven triangular shaped pockets of dehydrated spinach filled with sprouted almonds (making it a living item), sesame seed pate and marinated vegetables served with mint sauce ($7.50). The main course of "I Am Abundant" is a sampler plate of a few other entrees. It has live nachos, a kale-sea salad, stuffed mushrooms, olive tapenade, live hummus, a mini portion of their Thai coconut soup and three different types of live crackers and toasts ($12.00). Although I couldn’t finish my plate, my dining companion insisted that we share a dessert. The special of the day, "I Am Rapture," was a strawberry shortcake slice with layers of live hazelnut paste instead of cake, a cream made from cashew milk, and lots of strawberries ($6.50). While I can’t say that it was the best shortcake I've ever had, if I had a wheat allergy, it would have been a slice of heaven.

The cost was $30 per person, making it a pricey lunch. Yet all the items are organic, including the coffee, tea and wine by the glass. Several different nuts are soaked in water for a significant amount of time, allowing them to sprout and therefore be a “living” food item. Compared to what it would have cost to buy all the ingredients and equipment to make it at home, it’s a bargain.

The only complaint I have of Café Gratitude is the always cheerful, yet frustrating, service staff. On every occasion, at all three venues, I had to wait a significant amount of time to receive something I ordered. Either the server forgot about my order all together or, worse, it sat waiting to be delivered. Since all the seating is communal, it’s hard to have a stranger eating in front of you, listening to your conversation, while you have hunger pains wondering if your lunch is ever coming.

But in a place that focuses on improving the quality of your relationship with food and tries to make you feel better about yourself, it’s almost impossible to be negative. In a business where there are more failures than achievements, it’s great to see Terces and Matthew Engelhart expanding their ideas of food and eating to the East Bay. While eating this hard-core healthy on a regular basis isn’t appealing to everyone, they are definitely satisfying a small group of conscientious consumers.

Berkeley Café Gratitude opened February 2006
1730 Shattuck Ave., 5 blocks north of University Ave., open 10am-10pm everyday

San Francisco Locations:
1336 9th Ave., open 10am-10pm everyday

Original Location:
2400 Harrison Ave. at 20th St., open 10am -10pm everyday