I ate here a long while ago. I personally hated it. The food was cold and flavor less. I was not aware they don't have any warm food. I basically ate grass and leaves and paid $70 for it. One of the worst meals I have ever had due to it being all raw cold and just really no taste. If you like or need to eat raw vegan food then this is for you. If you are not looking for that then you will hate it.
(1)
Connie L.
For all the people who hated their customer service, the good news to you all is they are going out of business by end of summer and converting to another unrelated business. Oh yeah to all the customer service emphasized people. As for my own personal experience, I went with my aunt so I didn't need them to come over and bothered us with the usual greeting and such. I enjoyed our conversation while waiting for the food. For the few interactions we had, to their fairness, she did cracked a smile, she talked about which is the more popular item when I have doubts between two appetizers. One of which is the cheese perogies. I also talked to her about her new plans after end of summer and she gave me a new business card that has all the info needed to contact them. I enjoyed the brief time I was there. I felt the peace and calmness when I entered this place. My aunt who is first time trying vegan organic food told me she felt like visiting a restaurant in the new territories of HK where she is back to the trees and farmland. I really don't think this place is about customer service, it is about peace and finding your tranquility in a hat opus setting. As for the decor, I paid extra hard attentions. There were a book shelf full of books, a bar setting that allows you to sit on high chairs in the back, you can sit in the front with the salt lamps next to pots of really nicely grown summer flowers. There were roses brushes on the outside. Dog water container with organic k-9 biscuits. Maybe I am a bit bias but whoever hates dogs and find them annoying, I have a hard time trusting them, but for those welcoming pets. They have a gold of heart. As for the food, they surely are overpriced but this is the sunburn place with extremely high rent. I felt the cheese perogies was made with very fresh ingredients from sunflower seeds to grounded bell papers to taramus to lemon juice. I carried the leftover away and found them not as fresh as they were when consumed immediately at the restaurant. The out of heaven cheesecake is not your gourmet cake but considering this is hand made from scratch with their own receipt, this is fine. I forget to tell you the aftermath and side benefit of eating here, which is to be healthier and rid your body of toxic chemical waste that is in most restaurant's dishes that heavily relies on msg, salt, sauces and gravies. This place is located right across the train track in downtown downers groves, a very convenient location that allows you to enjoy the water fountains and the nice sun. You could definitely sit in the outdoors when the weather is friendly. The man brought our changes over, I didn't give them much tips but thanked them for giving me a 100% recycled paper carry out container and for serving us. I felt happy the rest of the day.
(4)
Kristen L.
Enjoyed the mushrooms and sweet potatoes. Food is tasty... I will give them that much. Worth the amount of money they charge? Heck no. Owners were extraordinarily rude. Didn't say "hello" when I entered, even though I was the only one there. The entire time, I felt like I was being watched. I ate quickly, tipped well, and left. Didn't seem to care very much that I was a customer or that I might not be back if they were rude. And so it goes, I won't be back.
(2)
B K.
The service sucks, place feels like a funeral home. The girl found it more important to crochet versus inform us of their menu items.
(1)
Christine M.
I stopped in the other day for lunch with my 4 and 1 yr old. I had been wanting to try it out, especially since my son is gluten-free and there aren't many places that are 100% GF, which we would LOVE as it's due to celiac. The owners were the only ones working, and we were (not) greeted by the woman. I asked if they happen to even check with their suppliers to verify their ingredients are 100% GF, and she rudely replied that they only used plants, nuts, and seeds, and are non-GMO and organic and most GF restaurants use a lot of GMOs. ? It was quite an odd welcome and immediately struck me as tacky to compare themselves to other restaurants rather than just answering my question. Regardless, we proceeded to order the 'cheese pierogies' and Earth Burger. The burger did not come out as described in the menu exactly, which would have been fine. However, the man (her husband) brought it out and did not explain a single thing about the food. Prior to ordering, I asked one simple question and the woman responded with the coldest response. No menu explanations or suggestions were offered despite me attempting to order the most kid-friendly items. Granted we are not raw vegans, but my kids are used to lots of veggies and a mostly whole foods diet. Still, the cuisine is clearly off the beaten path and any restaurant owner would typically communicate with customers, welcome them, try to best accommodate, etc. I will also mention there was only one other table occupied. I paid $35 for a tiny veggie burger wrapped in lettuce that fell apart instantly that came with a tiny kale salad and jicama sticks with oil drizzled on top. I wouldn't have ordered this either if I knew the 'root veggie fries' were jicama after I ordered the 'cheese pierogies' that were jicama slices with a hummus-like concoction stuffed inside. But how would I have known when the menu didn't specify and they didn't communicate?! The kids picked at some of it but otherwise didn't care for it. I'm okay with big price tags if the quality and SERVICE match it. There is a HUGE disconnect here. I enjoyed the food, but would not return based primarily on the service, as well as price. I'm glad this place will be changing ownership soon. Hopefully, they keep the gluten-free aspect, but anything else about it can change, especially the attitude!! Oh, I also thought it was tacky that they have a poster outside showing celebrity photos, saying if they were in DG, they would dine there. Really? That's your marketing? One could make the same pitch for McDonald's by citing celebs who have been there. How about working on your service, attitude, and perhaps prices rather than comparing yourself to others.
(1)
Obsessive C.
In regards to essay contest on owners giving cafe away to winner..... That's a bunch of BS...they aren't giving anything away for free! They are set to make $80,000 if they get their 640 entries...entry fee is $125 per person..........owner can decide to let the contest go through even if he/sshe doesn't get all entries...so I'm sure they are doing their math!
(1)
Jenny V.
I tried this place twice, and regretted it both times. On recommendation of the server I got a "fajita." what I received was a bowl of raw vegetables, swimming in some white tasteless watery something or other .... and a plate of beets. With tip, I think I ended up spending $35 on that meal. I went in months later in search of a smoothie. Spent almost $10 on a 12oz smoothie that didn't taste like anything. Terrible service. The woman who owns the place, despite being a peace and love hippie, seems to have a real attitude and no aptitude for customer service. The guy owner is sort of spaced out and spent more time on the phone, and talking to other customers than preparing the food I ordered - so both times it took forever. Glad to hear they are closing.
(1)
Nadia K.
I'm from the land of raw vegans (being from SoCal and vegan myself) but a trip to Chicago brought me to seek out the best vegan fare the Western suburbs had to offer-- so avoid avoid avoid because Borrowed Cafe is definitely NOT it. The owners were rude, I have no idea if they washed their hands between eating their own meal and handling our food (gross!), they were out of virtually everything we wanted, didn't know how to recommend a dish ("everything is good" -hint: it wasn't), and it's WAY TOO OVERPRICED. And I'm from LA!! Do not bother with this place. Waste of time, money, and emotion. They need to take a line from their own mandala and put out good energy as the entire place is just one energy vortex. Namaste my Aunt Effie.
(1)
Beth E.
I thought "humorless, pale vegan" was a stereotype. And then I ate lunch at Borrowed Earth Cafe. I eat a plant based diet and was in the area after doing a long run on some local trails, so I was looking forward to some healthy fuel. What I got was an attitude bordering on contempt and a lackluster, uncreative meal. As I entered the empty restaurant, I was barely greeted as the female owner was chatting on the phone. The male owner came to take my order and I let him know I was excited to try his place out as I live in Chicago and have been wanting to make the trip out to his restaurant for a while. He looked at me with absolutely no expression on his face and said "Do you know what you want?" When I told him I couldn't decide between the pizza or the burger he responded with "Do you need more time?" I smiled and said "Which one do you recommend since I've never been here before." His answer? A deadpan "I never choose for people." Um, ok I'll have the burger then... The food consisted of cut up vegetables with apple cider vinegar, oil, and some paprika and salt. The burger patty itself had a decent texture, but was served wrapped in a kale leaf rather than the buckwheat bun that was mentioned on the menu. I ordered a piece of chocolate cake to go, which was by far, the best part of the meal, but it also cost me pricey $8.95. Before tip, my meal cost $30. As others mentioned, I could have made a nice little raw organic meal for myself from the Whole Foods salad bar for far less and I would have left in a much better mood. My advice? Skip this joint and its unhappy, unhealthy owners. A raw food meal should be tasty and vibrant and served with kindness. (Don't vegans make some sort of pact to be nice to all sentient beings?!)
This place is one of the best kept secrets in Chicago. You're in for a fantastic treat when you walk into the doors of Kathy and Danny's Borrowed Earth Cafe. You're not only getting fresh, local, organic raw vegan food, but good for you.
(5)
Dan H.
This is one of the most amazing restaurants in the entire Chicagoland area, in my opinion. Kathy and Daniel Living are two remarkable characters and just being around them is enough to delight and entertain patrons. My wife and I are raw vegans and are both totally impressed with the originality and taste balancing nature of the offerings here. Everything is good, as far as we are concerned, and we have tried everything on the menu! Contrary to what we have read here about the attitudes of the owners and servers, we go here because of the attitudes. They have a nonjudgemental, dripping sarcasm to them that is just hilarious! I can see where it could be mistaken sometimes, but not really. They are very funny people and our interactions with them are as entertaining as the food is delicious. We give this restaurant the highest rating!
(5)
Boon K.
Great Vegan raw food that will surprise you as to how full you get by just eating half their burger. The burger is very dense and pack with hints of curry and just full of favor.
(4)
Agnes L.
My husband and I are not anything close to being vegans, but we absolutely adore this place for the fresh ingredients and inventive combinations. Gems from past dining experiences- I've had a slew of their menu items including the creamy spinach dip app, hearty salads and playful entrees mimicking traditional carb-y dishes like lasagna and pizza. It's honestly amazing how they can coax so much flavor. Trying to convert the nonbelievers- One time I brought my cousin, who is in culinary school in North Carolina, here during a weekend trip, and she proclaimed the food to be "fancy salad" and actually incorporated the leftovers into an omelet the next day. (I know - blasphemous, really.) But she did appreciate the quality and rarity of the products along with the health benefits (ie. hemp, jicama, flaxseed, kale). In the end, my husband and I have always found it difficult to introduce our non-vegan friends and family to this restaurant. Saving the best for last- But what is our favorite part of dining here and what our out-of-town visitors end up enjoying the most is the dessert. This place does dessert on another level that beats the traditional restaurant versions. With our most recent dining experience, I picked up carry-out for Valentine's Day of four sweet treats - chocolate ganache cake (because the hubby is a chocoholic), strawberry cheesecake (two miniature heart-shaped ones with rose petals to help celebrate the holiday), a jelly doughnut (kind of in honor of Fat Tuesday's paczki) and a persimmon cake (just because of how little I ever see this fruit). As a daughter of a diabetic, I admire the substitutes used in these delectable dishes. Decisions like crushed nuts instead of crust, chewy figs/dates/fruits to replace dough, etc. make these healthier. The cakes tasted like the real deal. The doughnut - not so much, BUT actually way better. It is incredible how rich they all are in flavor, yet I don't need to feel guilty about gorging afterward. Final appeal- If you're apprehensive about the whole raw/vegan cuisine scene, at least come here for their stunning show-stoppers of desserts. They often change up the offerings so despite how many times I've patronized Borrowed Earth Cafe, I always end up with new ones that never fail to satisfy my and my husband's sweet tooth.
(5)
Darcy R.
it's hard to describe the psychological warfare that goes on between the owners and the hapless customers who come here for a meal. Let's just say, it becomes uncomfortable for the uninitiated. The owners don't seem to get the concept that service is part of the meal. I know so many people, myself included, who have simply stopped coming, solely due to the antics of the owners. The food is average to very good and gets expensive when you tack on the free insults. The best analogy I can give is that it is like going through immigration at the airport where no one really speaks to you, but you are there and they recognize that you need to be processed. No discourse, just eat, pay and leave.
(1)
Alison G.
Ahhhhh... Really, I am not a fan. I thought I love veggies, however not in this way, just not my type. The food they serve are very likely those you would find in Whole Food or any other healthy food courts. Not saying healthy ingredient is bad. I just am not a fan. We had the lasagna and sweet potato crepe...... So i asked my friend if she likes it? My friend says the food was fine however little too pricey for "whole food type of thing".
(2)
Laura N.
My last review just shows what an idiot I used to be and how much I've changed. Now, I'm primarily a vegetarian (I do eat fish and certain seafood) that tries to incorporate more vegan foods, juices, and smoothies in my diet. In contrast to my last review, I dislike meat and love salads now. While I do still munch on unhealthy greasy foods (I'm not going to pretend I eat perfectly healthy food all the time -- I don't), I fall in love hard with raw food places. Having an open mind is important when trying new places and I don't think my mind was open enough the last time I was here. I don't hate on meat eaters (if I want you to respect my food choices, then I try to respect yours), but please do yourself a favor and have an open mind when eating in new places. That said, Borrowed Earth is AMAZING. Go there. Now. The end. And that is the update I wanted to write. :)
(5)
Angela G.
The food here is truly amazing, especially given the fact that it is entirely handmade, raw vegan food. Even the crackers that come with the spinach artichoke dip are hand pressed seeds (I forget what kind). I loved the icecream, it was delectable and made from banana. The food was very fresh and healthy, which means a lot to me these days. The only thing i was a bit turned off by was the service. I was the only person there for lunch and I felt like the woman (owner I believe) couldn't wait to get rid of me! She was very unfriendly and took my menu before I ordered?? So odd. It was a confusing experience..I loved the food but honestly will probably not go back due to the unfriendly nature of the staff.
(3)
Grace S.
Disclaimer: I hate salad. What was I thinking when I agreed to come here? I guess when my friend suggested we try this vegan restaurant, I thought it might be a cool new experience. Yes it was a new experience, but it was certainly not enjoyable, at least not for me. I knew this place only served raw vegan food, so I know it was my own fault for taking a chance and coming to eat here. But I have been to vegetarian restaurants before and enjoyed it, so I thought it would be okay. In actuality, I did not know what I was in for. I took two bites of my entree (lasagna) and I couldn't eat anymore. I still have no idea what kind of vegetables it was made out of, but I didn't like it. I took a bite of my friend's entree (sweet potato quesadilla) which I thought was a lot better. I personally still was not a fan of the food, but if I had to recommend something here, it would definitely be the quesadilla. My other friend got something else that I also tried and hated so I won't even try and recommend anything else. I then ordered the dessert hoping it would be able to provide some sort of redemption, but even that didn't taste good to me. I ordered the dark chocolate raspberry ganache, and and all I remember was that it was super nutty. I couldn't finish it. As for the service, it was not up to par. I read in the other reviews that service is poor, so I did not have high expectations. It really is true that the woman does not provide any recommendations. Also I thought it was odd that she dropped my friend's knife on the table and didn't even feel bad or apologize... Nobody got hurt, but all the woman said was, "Oops!" and laughed. And no one really said hello or goodbye to us. It's like they didn't even care. To top it all off, it was like $40 for my meal. I feel like I paid $40 to eat a piece of lettuce. As I said, I am not a fan of salad. I just can't eat cold, raw vegetables. So if you do not like salad, do not come here thinking it will be a cool new experience; chances are, you will not like the food and will be hungry the rest of the day.
(1)
Samah K.
If this is the first time you are trying raw vegan be advise you may not like it. I ate the sweet potato quesadilla and it made me feel nauseous so it was a good experience but i probably won't go there again
(1)
Joe B.
Used to be a fan. Noticed the quality has diminished recently. Very expensive and way over priced. Also, the staff are overly friendly one day, will ignore you the next. Does Raw Food lead to personality changes? I stopped going to Borrowed Earth less frequently and actually more lost weight by making sensible diet choices.
(2)
Laura M.
You would think being able to collect $18+ for a kale salad would be enough to put a smile on these folks faces. Nuh uh. Cold and impersonal were they. My guess upon reading the other reviews is that these people want out and are just biding their time. Bring more vegan restaurants to the western suburbs please!! Don't waste your time here unless you like shelling out big bucks to inhospitable robots. Food was so so, though.
(2)
Kristen H.
Great food, exceptionally snotty service. I went with my father for a birthday dinner and had been looking forward to trying a completely raw vegan restaurant (they are rare, especially in the suburbs). When I sat down, I asked the waitress if they had any sugar inside of their smoothies, and she rudely stated "we do not have any sugar in this restaurant" as though I was asking them to add sugar inside of my smoothie. I'm sorry that we were not the stereotypical looking customers, but I actually do not consume any sugar and wanted to confirm. I did order the mixed berry smoothie, and it was okay. My boyfriend makes better smoothies at home for us. My dad ordered the lasagna and though it was overwhelming to him (he is not the healthiest eater), I finished it off for him. It was unique and tasty! I ordered the cheese perogies and stuffed mushrooms which were both quite tasty! Overall, the waitress barely spoke to us, and when she had to it was cold. She was not friendly or welcoming even though we were the only table in the restaurant. After reading other reviews, I believe that our waitress was also one of the owners. Even if you have wonderful food, you need to treat your customers right regardless of their appearance. Still indecisive if I will return.
(3)
Erik L.
My daughter and I ate here on Saturday and we had a great experience. I am not a Vegan so I was a little Leary, but the food was delicious and the service was great. I had the jambalaya special and my daughter had the sweet potato quesadilla. We also ordered the spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer. We both liked our dishes. We also split the turtle cheesecake, and although I'm not entirely clear on what it as made of, it was fantastic. We will be back!
(4)
Joey S.
All the food I've had here so far has been awesome! It's truly a treat to find raw food places--especially in the suburbs. Being a raw foodist for many years and understanding how time consuming and costly it is to prepare some things--one thing that would keeps me coming back regularly (even though I live in Chicago) to this place is the price. $18.95 + tax is a bit steep for entrees!!!
A very pleasurable experience at the borrowed earth. I had the earth burger and wife had the sweet potato quesadilla. SO GOOD. Both were handcrafted and were a delicious change of pace from the mainstream. The salads were awesome and the jicama fries were crisp, cool and delicious. All the flavors were complex and done right I've seen many bash the high cost but for the ingredients used this food is not expensive. Food like this is difficult to prepare and expensive to purchase. So well done! Thanks for a nice respite.
(4)
John O.
My wife and I have a sort of love/hate relationship with this place - we LOVE the fact that there is a vegan restaurant in Downers Grove that brings some much needed diversity in cuisine options to the town. -We love the fact that these people are in the heart of red-meat, republican land, trying to convert people to a much healthier and earth-friendly lifestyle, one diner at a time -we LOVE the food and appreciate the time and care that go into all of their dishes -we HATE the attitude (if you aren't sure what I am talking about, go try and ask for a substitution, or salt, or extra dressing or really anything that deviates from thier S.O.P). There are times (maybe a bad day or two) where the staff make the legendary soup nazi look like mother teresa.. -we HATE (well maybe not hate, but strongly dislike) the prices. But I guess all that nut butter IS pretty expensive. Overall though, love conquers hate on this one - worth a visit if you are looking to eat healthier or try something different. Peace out.
(4)
NessaBelle H.
Wow.... I seldom experience an extreme level of disinterest and borderline rudeness from the staff at an establishment that expects you to tip, but this place takes the cake. While the food was decent, the staff left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I got the impression that if you don't frequent the joint or have dreadlocks (which I did at one point in my life, but they wouldn't know that, and that's besides the point), you weren't worthy of their time or energy. Guess what, assholes? You own a restaurant that's open to the public.. Meaning.. If you expect to stay in business for an extended period of time, you should be friendly and attentive to your customers so that they would want to come back. Unfortunately, there was a severe lack of evidence that this establishment was in any way adhering to this philosophy. I live in Portland, OR, a city known for amazing food (in case you didn't know), much of which is veggie/vegan or at least friendly to said lifestyles. Many restaurants in Portland are known for having poor service. But the variety of poor service I'm referring to is along the lines of 'you ordered your drinks 20 min ago and they still haven't arrived,' not the type where 'you're greeted (for lack of a better word) by someone who appears as though they would've rather you never came in.' I shrugged it off at first thinking I misread the host's demeanor, but to my surprise the behavior continued throughout my dining experience. To the owners (whom I later discovered were precisely the people I'm speaking of): you're food is good but not great, I've had better (much better, in fact). If you were more friendly to your customers more of them would return and your restaurant wouldn't be practically empty during prime dinner hours. And know this, service is half the battle. If you're in a bad mood because you had a bad day, you're customers won't be sympathetic because they don't know about your problems so check your 'tude at the door. Smile when you greet your customers and thank them when they leave. Be attentive and happy to oblige their requests. After all, they could've easily eaten elsewhere. If you don't take this advice I will sincerely be in shock if you're still in business the next time I visit the Chicago area. I truly believe the only reason you've made it this far is because you essentially have no competition. If I decided to open a raw restaurant in your area, I would put you out of business so fast it would make you're head spin, and consequently you would get strangled by your own dreadlocks. So.... Good luck.
(1)
Terry K.
We had dinner there this past Friday, the food and service was great! I don't get the negative reviews on service; we were very pleasantly greeted and offered our choice of seating. There was only one waitress, but she was very friendly. There were 6 other tables filled, so she was busy, but never neglected us. She quickly asked us if we were ready, but we were not, and patiently asked a couple of minutes later. We ordered the vegi lasagna and the burger. Great raw-vegan versions! The "cheese" sauce on the lasagna was perfect. Umami flavors with spice and just a hint of heat. The sides salads were generous and the meal pretty much filled me up. My wife's vegan burger was also great, but a little light on the salt. It also satiated her appetite. Despite being quite full, we could not resist trying the chocolate ganache. I thought it was a very good raw-vegan rendition of the real version, except for a dark chocolate version. My wife liked it better then a non-vegan ganache as it was very chocolaty without being too sweet. I'm an omnivore on a month-long, raw-vegan cleanse; after regular raw-vegan fare for the past couple of weeks, this was a real treat. My wife is a vegetarian, helping me on the raw-vegan ways. We both really enjoyed our experience at Borrowed Earth Cafe.
(4)
Joanna B.
After trying raw vegan food for the first time in Lockport and loving it, I thought I'd try this place since it was near my school. Reading the reviews on service beforehand, I was worried. However, the dreadlocked lady who took my order was friendly and chatting with customers. She took my order quickly and my food was prepared and packaged (I ordered to-go) quickly, too, so no complaints there. The customers inside were complimenting the food they had, and seemed to enjoy the cafe, too. I had the "burger and fries," which comes with a side salad. The menu doesn't really tell you what the fries actually are (just "vegetable") nor what's in the salad. I didn't like either of them - the fries were bland with some sort of over-seasoned tomato sauce on them; the salad was just lettuce and one vegetable, also over-seasoned. However, I really liked the burger. It was two flax-seed type wafers sandwiching a meat-like mass of vegetables, mustard, and catsup. It was ok, but probably couldve used more variety in vegetables in the "burger," and the presentation could've looked better (it really looked kind of sad). It tasted ok, not great. I liked the Lockport vegan place better (Thanks Jordan Vegan Cafe). I kinda regret spending $19 on this one average-sized, meh-tasting dish. Plates are expensive here, expect to spend around twenty bucks just for an entree, ten bucks for dessert, and 6 bucks and up for some drinks. =/ They should offer coupons.
(3)
Rachel J.
Delicious, well-crafted and healthy food served by ambassadors of a worthy cause! Bravo!
(5)
Jayaraman B.
I dropped into this place today after having read a few negative reviews about it, I really liked the place and the food. Food looks different, tastes different and smells different but all in a good way. I tried the burrito. I could not imagine how they can manage to make such healthy/raw food to taste good. If you are looking for a regular delicious food, it is not the place (in my opinion). Kudos to the owners to make burrito shells made of nutritious grains. I loved the place even more after a lady working there told me they use organic ingredients. Been used to california (where finding an organic/healthy restaurant is easy), I really wanted a healthy food place near chicago. I feel this place could be my first in the list here. Keep in mind that you are not only buying food here. You are buying a whole new and valuable concept. Really respect the owners for their vision to serve quality food.
(4)
Sonja B.
Admittedly would not have gone in had I remembered it was all raw. I am an adventurous, strict vegetarian eater. My husband and I took advantage of the opportunity to eat a super healthy lunch. When I looked at the menu prices I was scared. All entrees, even salads, are almost $20. No coffee. There goes brunch... The app we ordered was a lovely, Cheese Perogie. We loved it. +1 Needs Salt: The Spinach Quiche tasted like a vegan egg salad... I wish there'd been salt on the table. My husband ordered the special (mind you, it did not have a special price) - a zucchini noodle dish that needed salt. -2 The salad that came with the entrees was the bommmmmb. +1 Dessert was good: We both tried cheese cake at the end and these were great. +1 Oh, and our server was really nice and attentive. We spent $100 on a lunch we thought needed more seasoning. Won't be coming back, but happy to know there's a joint that serves healthy vegan food for the suburban crowd.
(2)
Zoran O.
It's the real deal. Your body will thank you. Everything is raw - meaning cold dishes - but there is nothing cold about it at all - lovely vibe.
(4)
Dean K.
Food is pricey but pretty amazing. No joke. If my wife and i are looking for food that we absolutely know will nourish our bodies and souls, Borrowed Earth has the food. And I can appreciate the higher prices than what most people are used to paying but if you're conscious about what you're getting, it really is a value. A large plate of organic, vibrant and colorful raw food is expensive, and certainly the time and preparation that goes into making is a big part of that. That is why even though our bill is higher than at most restaurants, it's significantly higher quality. It's not hard to tell. Only downside is that the owners are not very kind. They are very hot/cold and very hard to read (and feel like they dismiss us when we stop in). Whereas were were faithful patrons a while back (only because of the food, and quite limited options of these types of restaurants in the 'burbs), it was how we were treated by the owners that has left a very bitter taste in our mouth, and have committed to not going back, as much as we love the food.
(2)
Sarah C.
I'm definitely the opposite of vegan. I mean, I help butcher the deer my husband harvests every fall. So, yeah. I'm a meat and potatoes girl. But I am really glad I tried this place and I would go back. I had the Not Egg Salad and really enjoyed the flavor and textures. I didn't miss the eggs at all. The side salad that comes with it has a really nice dressing too. Some other reviews mention the cost. I felt the cost was commensurate with the nature of the product. Tree nuts are not inexpensive and so anything that has cashews is going to be spendy. And then consider that everything is very fresh and spoils easily. They are either buying in small batches, which is always costly, or building in the cost of what they'll lose in inventory every week to spoilage. That's true of all restaurants, but a traditional place can offset that loss with using lots of frozen/prepared stuff. This is all fresh so you're going to feel it more. Oh, and don't skip dessert - the truffles are especially nice :)
(4)
James D.
In agreement with much of the comments below... I am very displeased with this place. I felt the service was very inattentive, the pricing on the food was OUTRAGEOUS, and the food itself was very BLAND. The soup is served cold? Yuck. And the taste was bitter and offputting. The prices were awful, nearly $18 for an entre. This would make sense at a moderately high end gourmet meal. NOT a salad. These people need to get over themselves and be more realistic the way they run their business.
(1)
Candice M.
The prices are shocking considering the food was plain bad. $43 for an awful lunch. The food is bland and has a terrible aftertaste. Vegan doesn't have to taste bad and either does raw. I've been eating raw vegan off and have tried several spots in Chicago. I decided to try this place since we were in the burbs. We went in and there are no pics of the food. "Everything is good" is what they kept telling me in a hurried way like we were bothering them by asking. Let me tell you this: it was over $40 for lunch: one entree & two appetizers. The people working there with dreadlocks were not friendly or curious for feedback on the food. You'd be better off eating from an extensive salad bar for two people at Whole Foods w/vegan dressing. You get more variety, better tasting food for half the price!
(1)
Sylvia A.
Such great vegan food and vegan desserts! The people are super friendly and the food is nice and fresh.
(5)
Cheryl A C.
I agree with Katie J Very unfriendly owners , actually very rude. Is this what happens to you when you eat good food ! Scary won't see me again.
(1)
Jo M.
The food is very good, especially if you are a vegan or raw person. The atmosphere is a little dingy, and the prices are really high. I know going raw means you need the freshest ingredients, and takes a so much more time to prepare than fast food which gets nuked or dumped in a fryer. I understand all of that. And I appreciate all the work that goes into it, I'm just saying the prices are high. So I would say you get what you pay for, high quality, fresh ingredients, prepared in a time consuming, but flavorful unique way.
(4)
Sherry K.
So delicious! From the tea to the desert & everything in-between! Wish I was this creative & could eat this fresh, healthy & tasty everyday. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but the servings are very generous & once you taste the food, you will know it's worth every penny. Borrowed Earth Cafe' is my new favorite!
(5)
Gosia Z.
When you first walk in you instantly feel the zen vibe. It's a nice little restaurant. The food was pretty amazing. I'm not a vegetarian or vegan. I like my meat but I loved the food here. I got the spinach quiche and it was so delicious. It looked like a huge salad on my plate but the sauce that was in my quiche was spectacular. My favorite part probably being the walnut crust on bottom. The vegan cheesecake was a little bit much. I couldn't finish it on my own, but was just as good as my quiche. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary and you're into trying new things this place is a must! The only downside was the price. It was close to 20 bucks per entree, but you get what you pay for. Fully raw and organic.
(4)
Alyssa J P.
Why is the only vegan restaurant in the burbs raw??? I'm really not a fan of raw food. I will say that the quality of what I ate was high, I just didn't care for it. Also, it's super overpriced.
(2)
Mave D.
Had my second visit here last night... Once again I am stunned with the experience! The list of what makes the restaurant special is long... but the most striking impression from my visit last night regarding the food is how it seems to almost explode with energy in your body as you eat it! A newbie to raw vegan food down the counter from me said exactlty the same thing - explosively energizing she said! Equally impressive is how they are able to consistently combine ingredients to come up with taste combinations that completely transcend the sum of the parts that would be served at other five star establishments. The effect is like in the movies when they use the term "suspension of disbelief!" Eating here I am completely oblivious to the details on what I am eating whether it is raw or vegan or what spices are used because the overall effect is so transformative! I suggest you visit close to closing when they are less busy - and try to get Danny to play the guitar. He sounds exactly like the food tastes. His compositions are as transcendental and satisfying as hjs sound singing and playing the 12 string guitar. Thanks to Danny and Kathy for the extreme hospitality!
(5)
Jessica K.
I have eaten here a few times & while their food can be pretty amazing (especially their desserts), the service leaves a lot to be desired. They are grumpy, unfriendly, & somehow make you feel like you are doing them a disservice by eating there. I love their cheesecakes & pierogis, but not enough to want to feel like I'm inconveniencing someone the entire time. They used to be nice, I'm not sure what happened. I won't likely be back.
(3)
Sara M.
Didn't even get to eat here, I was too disgusted by the attitudes of the staff. Came in with a little girl I was babysitting who has both special needs and special dietary needs- it was a hot day and I wanted to get her some ice cream. Because she can't do dairy, I thought it would be a cool idea to try Borrowed Earth. Well first of all there was one table in the whole place and it took about 5 minutes before any one of their 3 staff members (that I saw, anyway) came over to help us. I asked about their vegan ice creams and he said that they had sold out and he kind of jumped at me, saying I should call first before I came in. I never said it was an issue that they didn't have any so I was a little taken aback by the attitude. I then asked if he had any other cold sweets. He said they had a vegan cheesecake. I said, "oh.." and just kind of zoned out for maybe 30 seconds and paused to think about whether my girly would eat the cheesecake or if it would be wasted. In those 30 seconds, two things happened: (1) my girly walked away and stood by the door to watch a train come by (2) the man at the counter had already started trying to wrap up a cheesecake even though I didn't agree to buy it yet. When I came back to reality, I asked him how much the cheesecake would cost. TEN FREAKING DOLLARS for ONE piece of vegan cheesecake. I said, no thanks buddy. He looked definitely aggravated because he had to put the piece back. I then asked him something about gluten and commented that I didn't really know what gluten was. He snorted/laughed and said, "it's wheat." I don't know why I kept talking at this point but I asked him about something else on their menu and in the middle of me talking (literally, in the middle of a sentence), he cut me off and said, "You might want to make her stop doing that." Referring to my girly looking out the window at trains and gently tapping the wind chime on their door to hear the noise. Then he interrupted again, "It's very fragile." It all sounds very innocent but I assure you, with his attitude and looks of disgust they were more than nice requests. So here's what I have to say to him: All right, hippy dude. First of all, did your mother teach you no manners? She is a girl. You can ask her to stop what she is doing. Or be a little bit nicer to her. You know, treat her like you would want to be treated. God forbid someone you know have special needs and force you to interact with a "subhuman," which I'm positive is what you viewed my girly as. Second of all, WHY WOULD YOU PUT A WIND CHIME ON YOUR DOOR (which slams open and close all day) IF IT IS SO FRAGILE?! I just grabbed my girly and left. Very unhappy. As a 21 year old who has been a vegetarian for 9 years and was at one point vegan (AKA: someone who fits in to their target demographic), I will not ever return.
(1)
Bethany S.
My third visit here, and I think I can safely say I'm a fan. I don't love all their entrees, and I wish they put more of the yummy dressing on the otherwise plain salads, but I do find the Sweet Potato Quesadilla to be delicious. If you haven't eaten many raw meals before, I recommend getting something that doesn't have a common equivalent in real life, like lasagna or chili, because then your brain won't expect something cooked. Keep an open mind and you might be surprised. I also have loved all their desserts, including the "ice cream" and "cheesecake". My favorite part is probably the ambiance. I recommend sitting in the bar area, which I finally did on this last visit. You can watch the cooks (who are also the owners, a fun married couple) do their thing, and if it hits a lull Bobby might entertain you with some funny stories. I think I'd come here often if I lived nearby!
(4)
Sabby H.
Went back here for dinner on a whim. Food was excellent - had the Jimaca Chili Fries and my husband who was very suspect of the entire concept ended up loving his burrito. The salads are excellent. For dessert we had the German chocolate cake - amazing. The frosting was made with whipped avocado and Cacao. The "cake" itself was so good with raspberries laced throughout. I'd come back just to eat this cake. Service was improved - the hippie owners were nice and engaged with us about the food we were eating.
(4)
Crista L.
On my third attempt to visit the Borrowed Earth Cafe, I finally have an opportunity to eat there. The first two times I tried, the place was closed. ((Closed on Mondays)) Maybe the owner didn't realize that I come from 40 miles away, I'm on my third attempt, and I'm really excited to finally visit her restaurant. When I walked through the door, I was greeted by a monotonous, humdrum, boring hippie who wanted to know: "dining in or taking out?" I looked over the menu and asked for recommendations. The lady couldn't offer any. "Everythng on the menu is equally liked," she said. Couldn't offer a dessert recommendation. She took my order as quickly as possible and tried walking away before I could finish. (I was the only person there) She never smiled. Never thanked me for visiting her cafe. I will admit that the food was amazing, although pricey (even for raw food.) I can appreciate the cleanliness of the place as well. I noticed a sign that mentioned a book about the couple who started the Borrowed Earth Cafe. You can read all about their story. There is no way in hell I'd purchase a book about someone so rude, discourteous. Would I visit the Borrowed Earth Cafe again? Sure. Exclusively for the good food.
(3)
James D.
Really tasty and fresh raw food . But the poor service would not make me a return customer. The hippies/hipsters seemed bothered to serve me.
(2)
Sasha R.
It was so nice to be able to order anything on the menu and know that it is healthy.I enjoyed some appetizers. I really liked the mushrooms and the green drink. Also really enjoyed the turtle cheesecake. For me it is totally worth it to spend more for quality.
(5)
Kymberly J.
I wasnt too impressed by this place since raw food isnt something I have ever eaten I'll have to give it another shot. I had the "gyro" plate. The flaxseed wrap was amazing but the filling was a bit too salty. Whatever spice or salt they used took over. So the filling was over powering and the hummus sauce was also a bit too much. I like spicy food and I love hummus so what gives? The staff was really cool and very apologetic for being out of the soup special (uhm....7:30 on a friday night and youre already out?).
(3)
Sharon V.
Yum and double yumyum. If you are a cool tree hugging healthy person, then you will find this place most groovy! This is my detox through nutrition place, this is my place to always find something delicious for my tummy and my soul. I go into Borrowed Earth and ask what is good, they surprise me with fabulous entrees each time! Danny & Kathy give me a new favorite each visit! Check it out and hug a tree!
(5)
Casey T.
I had been eyeing this place for awhile, so on our anniversary my partner and I decided to give it a try. I'm vegan and gluten free, he is not, but he's a good sport and really loves healthy food. We were very happy with everything we had! The food was incredible and our server was very nice. It's just refreshing and so necessary that there is a place like this in the suburbs. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was the price. We completely understand that whole, organic, healthy ingredients cost more, but this will probably be a once or twice a year place for us instead of a once or twice a month restaurant.
(4)
Jeff K.
I found this place on yelp about 1 year ago and have been meaning to try it ever since. I eat vegan and I took my two coworkers who are not vegan . Food was delicious, but a bit pricey. Entrees are about $15-$17 but do include a lot of food. The food: I had the pizza which is a slice of "pizza" which really is a nut crust with soy cheese, kale and tomato sauce. It does not taste or look like a pizza but it is very good. It also comes with 3 salads that is all greens which includes broccoli, kale, spinach and some dressing, also delicious. My coworker had the quiche and his plate looked very similar except his quiche was in a different shape. Also did not taste or look like a quiche but was delicious. As a FYI, the environment is like they are trying to be as stereotypical of a vegan as they can. The music is very hippy, they have a plug in water fountain and the two people there are full out in dreadlocks. It was relaxing but honestly a little weird and I am a VEGAN. So if you go there, note you are getting extremely fresh delicious vegan food. The food will not taste like the name but it will be delicious. If you are not a healthy eater, vegetarian or vegan, I suggest you to pick another place. I liked it and will return next time I am in the area.
This is a Raw Vegan restaurant - not just a Vegetarian restaurant. So if you can handle that, you will be impressed. Omnivores approach with this mindset: what can really be done without meat, dairy, or animal products of any kind? The menu is extremely creative and I came out of the restaurant feeling like a Super-Human Green Machine after enjoying the "spinach quiche". The salad dressing was amazing. The quiche was a little grainy (nuts). It's not cheap, each selection costs at least $15-$25. But, I guess it's pretty expensive to keep all that fresh produce on hand. If it was more reasonable, I'd return more often. Service was adequate. Restaurant has an open kitchen with cool and stylish "tree-hugger" decor. (You'll understand when you get there). Only 2 complaints: 1. PLASTIC water carafe and CUP? Really??? Not so tree-hugger. Go glass my friends. 2. Lack of drink options. How about some fruit infused water as an option other than plain water served in a cup or the juice bar?
(4)
Stefany S.
I stopped by Borrowed Earth with my boyfriend when we were in town for a concert. I don't eat a lot of raw, but I am vegan & after doing a Google maps search, this was one of the few places in the area that is all vegan. The food is excellent. We started with the stuffed mushrooms, which were to die for! Such great flavor. I got the Lasagna & the bf got the Spinach/Kale Quiche. Both were delicious. I wasn't expecting a layered pile of veggies to be called Lasagna... it could have just as easily been called a chopped salad, but it was good & I would order it again. For desert we got the cheesecake, and it did not disappoint. We had plenty of food to take with us, and didn't have to buy dinner at the hotel before we went out that night. The owner was really chatty & funny, kept us rolling with stories and jokes. Sure it's expensive, our meal cost $57.16 with tax. I guess if you are the only raw vegan place anywhere near Chicago, you can charge whatever you want. I would go back again if I was ever in the area.
(4)
N S.
My husband and I recently started eating more vegetarian as much as possible and decided to try out borrowed earth cafe. Still eating some meat, this was quite the leap! The food was very different tasting but in a good way. I'm a nursing mother and am never full, but after I had the earth burger and salad I wasn't only totally stuffed for the first time in a long time-I felt amazing. Everything is so fresh!! The only thing I wish was that is wasn't so expensive-but that's organic food for you! Try it out!
QUICK OVERVIEW: I've grown weary of the attitudes from the owners almost every time we've been in. I usually don't write up reviews for places unless they're either amazing or absolutely suck. We've eaten there a handful of times and I'd say 1 out of 6 times was a pleasant experience. True Story! PRO: Food tastes pretty darn good and the portion sizes are good. The atmosphere is pretty good too, even though the place is small, it's quaint. CON: The food is pretty good yes, but DEFINITELY NOT WORTH THE PRICES they charge. I drive 40 minutes to get there from St. Charles. The last trip was just a couple days ago. We like eating raw vegan when we can. Also my wife and I don't get out much, just the two of us, with our schedules. So getting an appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, and waters costed us over $80!!! PLUS the gas to get out there that was an expensive night just to have a piss poor attitude from the restaurant owners. I'm not trying to be cheap here either. We've spent more than that at restaurants and had a great time without feeling any issue about spending that kind of money. We weren't even greeted when we came in at first. Danny (owner) was just talking from behind the counter area to a table, quite loudly, and didn't even acknowledge us. His wife Cathy then said: Sit wherever you'd like. So we did and as we walked past Danny I said hello and he didn't even look at me or say anything. Now I'm not being over-sensitive here either. The exact same thing happened when I said good-bye. Yep I had to be the one to say "good-bye" or we would have just walked out without any acknowledgement. This is a small maybe 1,000sq ft place that's wide open enough for them to see anyone in every spot. CONCLUSION: Overall Danny enjoys expressing his opinion and hearing himself speak. Sure he listens to you in a conversation, but it almost seems just enough to again place his next strong opinion. Anyway, make your mind up for yourself, but in my opinion we probably will not go back until reviews on here about their attitudes begin to be better. Keep reading and you will see that I am not alone.
(2)
Shannon M.
I'm not vegan or even vegetarian, but I wanted to check out this place as a dining option for when my best friend comes to visit (she is vegetarian). As first glance I thought they were trying a bit hard to cultivate eccentricity with the oddball hours (10:57am-9:03 pm??) but I figured I'd just roll with it. The restaurant is miniscule, only a few tables, plus a small patio; since it was a rare nice day this summer I opted for the latter, and my meal was serenaded with kids hyped up by ice cream from Every Day's a Sundae down the block and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Amtrak trains blowing by on the adjacent tracks. My waitress was pretty curt, for whatever reason, which didn't make me feel terribly welcome. Still, I pressed on with my order: clove iced tea, a daily special of pineapple-cucumber gazpacho and a homemade garden burger with jicama "fries" and a side salad. The good things: The cup of soup was pretty big, and was quite tasty, a nice mingling of fresh flavors. The clove tea looked pallid in color but packed a decent spicy punch, particularly toward the bottom of the glass. The side salad tasted good, with a green goddess-esque dressing (reminded me of the Moosewood green goddess recipe) and wee shavings of what I suppose was vegan "cheese"? The jicama "fries" were nice and crisp, rather like a blander apple; whatever spice was coloring them didn't seem to pack any heat, though. My only beef, as it were, was with the burger. A walnut and carrot-based patty sounded good, and it tasted okay, but the crumby texture kept disintegrating: part I was holding would erode away as I ate another part. The bun didn't do much for me either, a sort of mealy, pasty texture. Also, I asked for none of the raw catsup (I'm not a tomato person), which they didn't give me, but in its place was put something white (veganaise, perhaps?) which wasn't listed in the description on the menu, and which also got all over the place and made the patty slide around between the two buns, as it was slathered on both sides. I'll have to pass on this dish in the future. Overall, 4 stars on the food and 2 stars on the service rounds out to three stars in total. I'll bring my visiting vegetarian friend and may return on my own.
(3)
Tim V.
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were going to the ice cream store next to Borrowed Earth, and overheard a middle-aged dreadlocked woman outside the restaurant complaining to a couple of patrons that they were having trouble attracting customers. About a week later, we were going to lunch w/ a vegetarian friend, and decided on this place. I'm not a vegan, and didn't know exactly what I was in for- but that's ok. I like to try new things, and if I don't like it then so be it. This review is not for the food, but for the staff. When a customer comes in, and there's no one else in your restaurant, it's just common courtesy to look up from what you're doing and greet them. The same dreadlocked woman I'd overheard complaining about bad business never looked up and I had to get her attention. She proceeded to tell us, somewhat abruptly, to sit wherever we wanted. From then until the food came out, the few interactions with her were cold, abrupt, and with zero eye contact. Our appetizer was brought out by a middle-aged dreadlocked man, also w/ very little personality. But whatever, at least he wasn't rude... that is, until he brought out our meals. He comes out and just stands there next to me not saying anything. I assume he forgot which meal I'd ordered, so I tell him "I had the gyro." He replies, "I know, I'm just waiting for you to move that plate." What?!? Isn't that his job? At least ask me nicely to please move the plate over. This place left a bad taste in my mouth, and not just from the food. I hope the staff read this review so it's no longer a mystery why their business is poor. Bad service=bad business.
(1)
Thom Z.
I can't say that I particularly love the food in this establishment, but this is coming from a well establish meat eater and appreciator of comfort and southern food. To me, heaven is grits and biscuits and gravy. That being said, I have to say that I greatly appreciate and respect the establishment's credos and ethics. The salads and dressing are extremely delicious and fresh, something that I absolutely loved. The raw food aspect of the main courses didn't enthuse me much, as a "cold burger" made of a patty of vegetables and fiber didn't sit with me too well. The patty was actually rather good, but the bun was hard and bland. The sauces were all delicious. The appetizers are actually very good, as well. The stuffed mushrooms ranking at the top of my list. I'll definitely visit again to try more of the menu to try and find something I can eat more regularly. Definitely a great find and a unique restaurant that's worthy of at least one visit by any foodies in the area and an interesting addition to the quickly booming downtown Downers. My hat goes off to the proprietors of Borrowed Earth Cafe.
(4)
Candice G.
Fantasmo BoBazmo. I could prob end this review right here but I'll go on because I see that a few folks didn't give it favorable reviews... Warning: if you've ever been to McDonald's and have uttered the words "super-size me", this may not be what you're looking for in cafe. I, personally, enjoy being thin, staying thin and living thin for as long as I can. I tried this place after recently becoming a vegetarian and realizing that there a ZERO veggie friendly places in my neck of the woods (Naperthrill). At the time, I had never eaten a raw meal before and was somewhat skeptical (planning a 2nd restaurant option afterwards if it were awful). I was, however, pleasantly surprised at the unique menu and thinking outside the box type foods. It really is insane all the flavors they put together to make these plates. My personal favorite is the burrito (with nut cheese--- tastes and looks much better than what you're probably thinking... get your mind out of the gutter) but the desserts and appetizers are great, too. I could eat Nori rolls for the rest of my life and be happy. Anyway, this is a true story... I became mildly obsessed with this place and found myself eating here every other day in the Summer. I had an event that I was attending and wanted to lose some quick lbs before by working out and eating healthy so I decided to pump up my eat here schedule and eat only raw foods for 1 week and see how it goes. I ended up eating from borrowed earth everyday for 7 days (they're closed on Sundays so I just ordered extra to go) and I lost 1 to 1 1/2 pounds each day. At the end of the week I was 11 pounds lighter than when I started (and I'm no fatty so it wasn't an easy task). Sure, I pooped nuts 10 times a day but hey, thems the breaks when you want to drop a few (in more ways than one). Also, eating raw made me feel so oddly alert and alive. It's not heavy and didn't make me feel like I needed a nap afterward. I love this place and if you're smart, you will too. I fully plan on eating more of it and pooping some rich nutty goodness this Summer. Also, parking is not an issue. There's tons of parking... unless you've never left the suburbs and are used to every storefront having their own parking lot. And it's defo reasonably priced. meals range from $8- $14 and the nice thing is that unlike most fatty restaurants, you aren't hungry again 2 hours later because your body hasn't received the nutrition it wants. Give it a try, be ready to eat outside the box. If you're coming from the city or lacking transportation, the Metra is a mere few steps in front of the building. There's no excuse not to try.
(5)
Courtney O.
Okay, let me start by saying the raw cheesecake could give me a moutgasm in about two and a half seconds. It is AMAZING. I want it right now, tomorrow, next Tuesday, and ten years from now. The owners are awesomely friendly and open to chatting it up with their patrons, and the food is unique, perfectly fresh, and healthy as it comes. So why the three stars? Well, listen. I've had less than five experiences with raw food in my life, but every other time, the food was brought to room temperature before serving. Not a big deal, but I have a hard time really savoring the colder stuff. My other complaint is that I felt the two salads I had were, well, a bit too oily. It's all personal preference, to be sure, but had I known this, I wouldn't probably passed on having them plated with the rest of my food. Love the concept, though--the suburbs are so limited in veg options (especially raw!) and I think this is a great asset to the DG. I'd just rather chow elsewhere, especially given the prices which are steep. But seriously--just get the cheesecake, okay? Just sayin'.
(3)
Kathy R.
I really like coming to this place and the food is excellent. You do have to have an open mind. Everything is very crunchy--Be ready to actually chew your food! I'm not a raw vegan by any stretch, but I enjoy eating food that is good for me and feeling good after I eat it. Crista had mentioned in her review that the reception walking in was tepid and I agree that the owners could easily be perceived that way. They need to be prodded a bit to have a conversation. I go in too, when I'm one of the only people sitting at the bar area (which is my favorite place to sit, since I'm usually alone--it's a hard sell for most of my friends). I have to pull them into talking to me, but they are super friendly once they open up. I think that they mostly enjoy people who ask questions about the food prep and the lifestyle of "raw." They've given me great advice about purchasing equipment for my kitchen and will tell you the ingredients in anything they make. The prices are high, but for a good reason. EVERYTHING is organic and the prep-time on the dishes is about 3 times what traditional chefs do. I've been watching my health and cleaning up my diet. I can tell you that if you eat there, you will not be hungry for the rest of the day and you'll have much energy. My body really likes this food and I feel good the following day too. It's sort of a quicky detox for me when I'm feeling sluggish. My favorite dish is the gyros plate. They make a cashew hummus that is way better than the traditional one with cooked chickpeas. The "meat" is very filling and is made up of a tasty nut/spice mixture. They do a carrot wrap that doesn't necessarily taste like carrots, but it's a pretty orange color and looks great on the plate. I have always had some sort of dessert. The best one I've ever had there was a cherry/vanilla cheesecake. OMG!! Light, tart and so yummy! If they don't have cherry, try blueberry. It's just as good. Oh, and I LOVE the stuffed mushroom appetizer! Delicious! They get 5 stars from me because they do raw better than anyone else in the Chicago area. An entree and a dessert will run you 30 bucks. Worth the money and the travel time.
(5)
Anemone T.
The service was great and the food was tasty. We had the gyro wrap, the veggie burger, the choco-latte, and the chocolate ganache. Like other reviewers, the seemingly higher prices at raw food places often catch my attention but then I remind myself how this is made-from-scratch food using fresh produce. It's important not to skimp on quality. A great find in the suburbs after a day at Morton Arboretum.
(4)
Joyce W.
Two and a half stars. I wonder if the owners ever read Yelp reviews? First, the food is really yummy. One can tell that a lot of care and WORK went into the preperation. I think that is why it is so expensive. But the owners are so crabby and indifferent, that it makes me not want to go back. So if you want to try raw vegetarian, this is the place. Just be aware that you may be served by rude and surly owners.
(3)
Jim S.
I've been here twice and absolutely loved it. It's all raw, mostly organic and local, and wicked delicious. The portions are fairly large, so two of us could easily split and appetizer and entree and not finish. Everything, even the cheesecake, is healthy and nutritious. I'm amazed at how full and energized I feel after eating here. I'm not a vegetarian, but I enjoy this place. I know it's not for everyone. If you don't like salads, and you like dipping all your fruit in sugar, this place will be an expensive experiment for you.
(5)
Michelle J.
My vegan (sometimes raw) daughter and I (vegetarian) have eaten here several times since we heard about it early in 2010, and since then it has become one of our favorite restaurants. After experimenting with some raw cooking of our own, we understand why the food is expensive but remember it is all organic, very good for you and extremely filling. Other people have mentioned bad service but we have never experienced that. They are not overly friendly but polite. We have watched them explain to customers what type of restaurant they are when they were asked if they serve burgers and fries. If you want a quick sample, try their cheesecake or ice cream. Both are amazing and use a huge amount of raw nuts (which is why it is so expensive). We often take some cheesecake home for dessert later because we never have room left after a meal.
(5)
Kris D.
Food was delicious! I had a "pizza" but it was nothing like a pizza. I think the naming is deceiving, but the dish was so good! It was hard to compare it to anything, but I guess it was most like a vegetable dessert pie with a creamy consistency. That is a weird description but it was good! They served a ton of food on a plate. Even though I was stuffed, we decided to split a piece of pecan turtle "cheesecake". It was so good, I was practically licking the plate clean! The two down sides are the price and the owners. It was $17.95 for most entrees. Can't eat here all the time, but great for a healthy meal out! As for the owners, they seemed like they were too busy to bother with you even though it wasn't particularly busy. They would walk away as they answered a question. The food came out fast and we never were waiting for them. They just didn't give the feeling like they wanted you there. Those two things aside, I would still come back for sure!
(4)
Lisa W.
SO good. They make me want to take a class on preparing raw food - but boy is it easier just going there! You need to have an open mind, but everything they make is so flavorful and delicious - and very filling! They get very creative with their options, but I have to admit, my husband was more interested in the pizza and ice cream we can also find in downtown DG, lol. He was a good sport, tho, as I ate to my stomach's content. And the cafe is right next to "Every Day's A Sundae", so he was rewarded with some amazing ice cream! The staff was VERY helpful and sweet, I have had a few very good experiences there.
(4)
Vladi S.
the food was great and my discussion with the owners about Baba Yaga was very inspiring!
(5)
Patty S.
Imagine a place where culinary science is an art. Well, this is it! Borrowed Earth Cafe is definitely one of my favorite finds. The eclectic ambiance in conjunction with the unique menu provides a dining experience like no other. There are many different dishes to choose from and their specials are out of this world. One of my favorite things are the "fries" that are actually a vegetable and served with a puree of goodness. The salad that comes with the special is incredibly delicious! Everything was perfect! I had the portabella mushroom burger (which actually the mushroom is the bun for the entree) and my mom ordered the Earth Burger. These meals were gluten-free and delicious! The presentation was visually enjoyable, too. The owners are extremely talented and they educate you on the ingredients of their meals. What a pleasure it is to talk about what you are eating. The desserts are gluten-free, too; however, I was too full to try any. My next adventure there, I will only eat half of my meal, take the other half home, and enjoy a dessert . In my next review, I'll share with you the flavors of their baking. But in the meantime, if you haven't yet tried Borrowed Earth Cafe, take some time to stop in and have a vegan culinary experience of a lifetime!
(5)
Lee and Katey W.
I was SO excited to try this place as I like to try different foods. I convinced Lee to come even though he wasn't too thrilled about the raw food idea. They had a great menu and an interesting ambiance. The staff was nice and helpful...but we did not like the food. We got a spinach dip appetizer and some mushroom thing. Both are supposed to be served cold, which they were, but both dishes had very little taste. I got a lasagna type dish and their "nut cheese" tasted disgusting. Lee doesn't remember what he got and simply comments that it was "so gross." The only good thing was the apple pie dessert Lee had. It was layered with apples and some other yummy stuff. Also, a good concept to have an interesting raw food restaurant in the suburbs. We ended up going to whole foods after din to get something a little more satisfying.
(2)
Ian E.
As someone who can't eat dairy, it's nice to go to a cafe where I can eat anything on the menu without worrying about what the ingredients are - and everything on the menu sounds fantastic. The food here is excellent, very healthy, and very different from anything else you can find in the west burbs - everyone in our group tried something different and everyone enjoyed their meal. It's a little pricey, but in a good location with easy parking and definitely worth a try. I will likely visit again as there's numerous menu items i'd still like to try.
(4)
Pamela R.
Disclaimer: I've only been here once and willing to do a second visit if I'm in town so please don't take my review to the grave, things can change. It was expensive, there that's done, but it was good and filling. It was clean and that doesn't happen much with vegan/hippie style restaurants so I think the owners are very conscious of cleaniliness. They might not be the friendliest, but they try and the efforts with serving a healthy, tasty, and over-all clean feeling shine through. I'd try it again.
(4)
Kedar D.
Borrowed Earth does a wonderful job with the presentation of their delicious raw food, as well as with the large selection, from comfort foods to more unusual fare. This is gourmet food with an edge; best of all, it's in the suburbs, rather than in downtown Chicago. Conveniently located in front of the Downers Grove train station, it makes it easy for city-dwellers to visit, as well as outgoing suburbanites. The decor is modern and well-done with ample seating and a cool bar area where you can watch the food be prepared. I am extremely impressed by all of their desserts, from their cheesecakes to their German chocolate cake to their peanut butter balls. The tacos were also quite zesty and tasty. For me, you can't go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu. One critique is that they serve a huge portion of side salads with each main course. With my lasagna dish, 75% of the plate was salad, and only 25% was the lasagna. While I like the fact that they give you three different types of salads with different ingredients and dressings, I'd rather have more of the main course than anything else. I wasn't a fan of the salads, which had too unusual a taste and smell for my likes. Borrowed Earth also serves unusual drinks such as yerba mate latte with nut milk. This is definitely not Starbucks, but it's certainly healthier and more innovative. The service is super-friendly. Prices are on the higher side ($11-15 for main dishes). Overall, I recommend this restaurant for its quality and novelty value. It's a gutsy, cool idea for them to open up in the suburbs and I laud them for it.
(4)
Lindy A.
Awesome food for our first taste of raw food! It is amazing what they do with simple fresh food! We plan to eat here often! This experience has lead me to find out more about raw food cooking! I also loved the cooking class a friend and I took here! Amazing desserts! How do they do it!!! A+++ for Raw Foods! We will be regulars! A must try for everyone! Even my picky husband loved it! Thanks for all the time and creativity in preparing such awesome foods! Everything was so good we had over 6 different items on the menu just to taste it! All of them were outstanding! -Ken and Lindy
(5)
Kimberly N.
Best vegetarian restaurant in the burbs! It's a good way to get people who don't love vegetables to eat them in disguise. Everything is so fresh and flavorful. It's a really unique restaurant and a big breath of fresh air. I totally believe in the raw lifestyle, This place makes it a little easier for people who don't have too much time on there hands to prepare foods.
(5)
Kevin W.
All around Great. Owners are very nice and helpful. My food was wonderful and I wish I had a restaurant like Borrowed Earth Cafe close to my house. When I travel back to Chicago area I will make it a point to visit Borrowed Earth again. Thanks for sharing your passion.
(5)
Cait A.
I really like the owners, Bobby and Kathy, they're about as down-to-earth as it gets, they provide good service, are very attentive and congenial; they're usually down for a good conversation, too, if you're open. They have a great story, you can tell they're living their dream and really believe in what they're doing, which makes for a pretty positive and even inspiring experience. I like that they have a bar here and you can kind of watch them prepare your food, which, by the way, is ridiculously tasty. They are definitely masters of raw vegan fare over here. I am no longer a raw vegan (just a vegan, for life!) and haven't been here in probably a year ish, but I really like this spot. Yes, it is super expensive compared to where you might normally be accustomed to dining, but it's important to take into consideration how labor intensive it is to produce these kinds of dishes, plus all of their ingredients are gluten-free and organic, which can't be cheap. This cuisine is made with genuine loving-kindness and good intent; it's palpable! My recommendations: cheese perogies, spinach-artichoke dip & crackers, stuffed mushrooms, kale-licious salad, planet pizza, earth burger, the I can't believe it's not an egg salad sandwich, and you MUST NOT LEAVE without trying their cheesecake.
(5)
V.i.o.l.e.t.t.a. D.
I was just in tonight with a good friend of mine for our birthdays and I can't wait to come back :] I loved everything about this place; the food, the atmosphere, the service....all fantastic. Honestly, the gentleman that owns the place (alongside his wife) was wonderful, constantly coming back to chit chat with us about food and life. It was so nice to come across an establishment with good food and exceptionally warm service, really a breath of fresh air. My only woe is that I don't have enough money to eat here all the time. I love this place, if I could afford it, I'd be here 24/7 :] For din din tonight; she had the spinach quiche, I had the burrito and we shared "cheese" pierogies..then for dessert I had the strawberry "cheesecake" and she had the vanilla-choco "cheesecake". Total damage was $80+ with tip.....all well worth it.........one appetizer, two entrees and two desserts....and two VERY happy girls :p p.s. the dragonfly lights are awesome (as was that delicious broccoli, cauliflower, onion salad with that AMAZING house dressing...and I usually hate broccoli!!!).
(5)
Meg B.
I'm always up for something new and my friend has been to this restaurant before. I got the pizza and she had the earth burger. Both were very good! We then had a slice of turtle 'cheesecake'. God bless that dessert. Especially considering I often avoid any kind of treat due to my body's hatred of dairy. It was amazing, and we had numerous moments of 'mmmmm'! I'm keeping a star to myself for having to deal with the absolute dull faces of the owners. I said hello, and the woman looked at me like I should just die. Note to the owners: you are vegan hippies. Does love and peace ring a bell? Though it did make for a conversation topic...maybe they just hate each other? Just smile-it makes your dreads look better. Our waitress was great, don't know how she deals with her mute bosses tho :\
(4)
Maggie W.
I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food, so I'm always willing to try something new. So I tried this place one day for carry out. I got the sweet potato quesadilla, and it was delicious! And the side salads were also good! I love lettuce that is hearty and dark green - makes me feel like I'm really getting my vitamins. My husband on the other hand is not quite as adventurous as I am when it comes to food, although he's liked almost everything I've made him try (I still haven't won him over when it comes to Thai food). We went here for dinner last night, and let me tell you, his skepticism melted away pretty fast after he took his first bite! He thought everything was delicious. He had a pina colada smoothie to start, we shared the stuffed mushrooms appetizer, he had the eggplant parmigiana special and I had the Falafel. We shared the pumpkin "cheese"cake special for dessert. Yummy yummy yummy. The Falafel had some kind of coconut curry mango sauce on it - soooo delicious. This place has nice ambiance and I appreciate any restaurant that has outdoor seating. The only downside is the prices are a little steep. Our meal last night was $65 before tip. The entrees are around $18, appetizers around $9. I assume the prices are high because the food is high quality, and I can appreciate that, but I'm also on a tight budget and wish we could afford to eat here more often because the food is so healthy and sooo tasty.
(4)
Jessica D.
Teeny tiny restaurant in downtown DG, near the train station and the Tivoli theater. Very well thought out menu. There was a group of eight ladies which managed to squeeze in the front room by the large window. Really great achievement to open a raw vegan restaurant in the western suburbs, so tremendous kudos to them! Each of the owners is also the server and cooks. Large see-through cooking area with two monitors so you can see how they do thei rmagic. Great appetizers, entrees, soup of the day, desserts, beverages... the list goes on. I went with my significant other unit (who's not vegetarian) but he still managed to sort of enjoy his thai coconut soup, fresh coconut beverage, and curry wrap. I had most of his soup, a green earth smoothie, and the far east on jicama rice. We finished with an unbelievable rainbow pie. YUM! I think this is really a God send and I plan to come as much as possible, even though it's on the pricier side because everything (I assume) is organic. Only four stars instead of five because the glass my husband was given when the water carafe was brought over had a lipstick smear on the rim, which didn't come off in the wash apparently.
(4)
Liz O.
If you have never tried raw food this is the place to go. It is wonderful to have such a unique restaurant in the western suburbs. The food is usually good and depending on the chef it can be spectacular. I wouldn't always expect a friendly wait staff. They get pretty stressed when they are busy. If you are lucky enough to go on a slow day... sit at the bar because Danny has some really great stories.
(3)
Xaxa H.
2 stars only because the food is ok. The customer serivce here sucks! Are you kidding me?? I've given the place too many chances. I don't get the good reviews, most of the food is a bit salty and certainly way over-priced for an uninspired raw menu. The staff has this totally indifferent attitude, seriously borderline rude. The hippie behind the counter made a negative comment about people from the South. No, I did not bitch slap the piss-ant, but I wanted to...hello, he doesn't know I've spent half my life in the South. The last time I was in he seemed to be arguing with the female on duty. Neither one of them cracked a smile or even said hello. I'll be back, once the place is sold and converted into a pizzeria.
(2)
Samantha K.
Okay let me say that I'm not vegetarian or vegan. Currently, I'm on a detox diet and decided that this is the only place that I could eat in order to be true to my diet. I'm so glad I did! I literally just finished eating half my Planet Pizza. My first bite was weird. I'll admit that I considered throwing it away only because it's a lot different than I was expecting. After taking a few more bites I began to enjoy it. It's nothing close to the typical pizza. NOTHING. The three side salads that it comes with were delicious. The green house dressing tastes amazing. I want to know what's in it and make it for myself. Why did they lose a star? Price. I paid $17 for my meal. I guess you pay for what you get. Raw = expensive. Boo! I got my food for take out because I don't know anyone who eats raw vegan. And that's unfortunate.. I wish I were introduced to this earlier. The dessert looked amazing, but I'm not sure I want to pay $9 for a cheesecake. Maybe next time when I'm off this stupid diet. There's a bar like area for people to sit, tall tables along the wall, and the front dining area. (patio was closed.. for obvious Chicago reasons.) Next time I go, which will probably be in the next few days, I plan on trying the lasagna. Zucchini noodles?!?? Yeah, I'm excited. :] I love you Borrowed Earth Cafe. Love, your never-going-to-be-vegan customer.
(4)
Frank R.
Have been back a few times since, and have not been disappointed. Again, just so you know if you're not splitting and want dessert, an appetizer, or both, you're looking at about $30 per person once you factor in tip. All worth it.for quality ingredients they use, organic whenever possible.
(5)
Zanete S.
I usually don't like to give bad reviews. I rather say nothing. But, I couldn't shake off the awful experience we had at Borrowed Earth. We went there for our wedding anniversary. There were no other people, yet we didn't even get greeted. Had to wait for ever to be noticed. The owner had a smart-ass answer to every question I asked about everything and anything. I was annoyed. I feel sorry I chose the place. I could have made my own raw gourmet dinner and had a romantic evening at home. The food was nothing special. Mine is much better. Will never go back.
(1)
Chris M.
Let me be the first to say, I am NOT a vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination. Still, my wife and I tried this restaurant when we moved to the area recently. Wonderful! Don't be put off by some of the weird sounding ingredients, listen to the wait staff's suggestions and dive in. They seem to hit the mark every time. Try it!
(4)
H R.
A really disappointing experience...After seeing the fantastic Yelp reviews, I urged some friends to eat at the Borrowed Earth Cafe. We're all vegetarian so we thought it would be a good experience. Unfortunately all of the food was extremely unappetizing. We had appetizers and 3 different entrees and absolutely nobody enjoyed them. Worst of all, the final bill for 4 people was around $90! I feel bad giving such a low score because the owners and waiters were nice, but the food was really unappetizing. I've eaten at raw food restaurants before, and this was one of the worst.
(1)
Chiara H.
You have to come here fully knowing what to expect. It's a vegan restaurant that serves raw food, so of course the lasagna is not going to look like a traditional lasagna. This is a great place if you have an open mind and a healthy appetite. The portions are huge and everything's fresh! The service's very good, too. I met the owners once -- very, very nice people.
(5)
Brian D.
expensive but fresh and great. try the burito. dessert is bueno
(5)
Sophia T.
nice raw food. i'm not a r-foody or i wasn't back then and i enjoyed my meal and dessert. i had pizza and brownie (?). a gem to the suburb arena.
(5)
Shannon M.
Everyone should give this place a try at least once!! But don't go in thinking it is a typical cooked food restaurant! Everything is RAW! The owners do a fantastic job creating one-of-a-kind specialties that are not only a feast for the eyes, but also for the palate! Not to mention how fresh and healthy everything is! Do not miss the perogies, kale salad, and of course the desserts!! So glad to have these guys in Downers Grove!
(5)
Selene D.
I'm simply amazed. My meat-eating man who pretty much lives off of mayo, sausage and white bread scraped his plate clean. He got the lasagna. He remarked 'I don't think I've ever eaten so many vegetables at the same time!' TRY the Holy Cacao drink if you're a chocolate lover! Richer than any chocolate milk or hot chocolate I've ever had...kind of like a thick Aztec chocolate...oooh, it would be good with a little cayenne in there, huh? I had the burrito...didn't really like the flavor of the tortilla, but I still ate it and it was still pure awesomeness as a whole. The people are not pretentious. You know how hard that is to find in the Raw world? The owner seems to spend extra time and attention on the people who come in who seem to be 'Raw-luctant', or who are first-timers. She kinda leaves you alone if you're used to it. But it's good, it helps people who unknowingly wander in there feel comfortable. for dessert, the banana-reese's ice cream with chocolate syrup was to die for...I will be returning before many a period to get my fix of that and the Holy Cacao drink. All in all, I was quite impressed. This was my first real raw restaurant experience. I was a little skittish, but now I really have my interest peaked. And I agree with Leanne, the portions were HUGE for raw food...I wasn't expecting to get so much. I didn't even finish half of my burrito; I had to take it home along with the rest of the blueberry cheesecake we ordered. I left there stuffed. Who woulda known?
(5)
Greg M.
I happened on this place by accident yesterday. I had an interview in the area (got the job!) and saw this place while waiting to go in to get raked over the coals. After the raking I thought hmmm I could use a cup of coffee. Seeing the word cafe I thought they would have some espresso so I went in. Oh how wrong I was! Wrong wrong wrong! This is not a cafe as in coffee yumminess. This is a cafe as in peace, love, hippie, vegan raw food! OK normally I am an asshole (I admit it) but I thought hey ti's been forever since that vegan carrot cake so I should give it another shot. I was going to get the soup but opted for the kale-licious salad. I thought it was a funny name and didn't think much of it. That is until the salad was brought out to me and I saw what looked like hmmm pesto on the kale. I thought great I am going to have to choke this stuff down. Thank goodness there is a large pitcher of water for me to wash it down with. But let me tell you this salad is yummy licious! I almost wish I would have gotten another to go! The dressing on the salad was not pesto it was a tangy, tart but subtle sweetness to it. The only draw back to the salad and the whole experience was the price$15 and some change :( It was a mighty tasty salad but not for $15. Had I payed attention to the price I wouldn't had ordered it and went with a cheaper option. I can tell you that salad didn't cost any where near $15 and change with tax to make. Probably closer to a $1 and change. I would like to come back and try some of the other things but unfort the prices are going to be keeping me away. Eating healthy shouldn't be a luxury.
(3)
KW W.
Borrowed Earth serves delicious food. I am mostly raw (especially in the summer months). When I go to this restaurant, I try to choose food that I don't know how to make at home. Their variety of salads is excellent. I've also done "take out" many times. (If you do that, make sure to ask them to put your take out container into a bag. You don't want anything to spill in your car.)
(4)
Ash H.
YUM!!! I love this food---I wish I lived a little bit closer or that there were more than one location! Incredible, healthy alternative----I could eat here every day!
(5)
Jay B.
I was stuck in Downers Grove waiting on a car repair when I found myself wandering the streets of a town I had never driven through much less thought of visiting. I came to a small strip mall and noticed a small cafe and decided to have lunch, because I saw on the window menu the had falafels, which I freaking love. I was also intrigued because I had never eaten at a veggie/raw restaurant before. So I got the falafel, which came with a side salad and jicama "fries". The falafel was unlike any other I had ever had. It seemed as though the falafel balls were not fried but baked. There was no techina sauce, but a cheese like topping along with a salad topping. The whole thing was wrapped in a giant lettuce leaf. Surprising taste from the norm but amazing none the less. The salad was bitter and tasted like raw cabbage and tart lettuce so I wasn't a fan at all. But the fries, oh the fries! Sweet and with a little bit of crispyness in an amazing vinaigrette/Italian dressing type sauce, oh yeah. The only thing that turned me off was the willingness to use recycled and recyclable containers but then the willingness to turn around and give a customer a single container with a plastic bag without asking if it was necessary. Why go to the trouble of helping the Earth, then throw more unnecessary plastic back onto it. Just my opinion.
(4)
Margaret C.
As a vegetarian in the suburbs, the opening of this restaurant has been much anticipated. My boyfriend and I shared several different items (an appetizer, a wrap, two entrees and I dessert) and were pleased with everything that we tasted (try the carrot cake-wow!). The pairings of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and nuts are brilliant. This is definitely a destination for vegetarian/vegan/open-minded omnivores. The menu has great variety covering enough familiar territory that a non-raw diner wouldn't feel totally lost. You could easily spend just as much buying prepared items at Whole Foods-Why not instead support this locally-owned, eco-friendly operation. Also, you will be full and you will be satisfied. It's worth the trip.
(5)
Wan D.
amazing food. its all been said in previous posts but worth noting again are the burrito and the vanilla chocolate 'cheese' cake! and whats more we felt great after eating our lunch!!!!
(5)
Dawn B.
I should start by saying my husband and I are not vegetarians. Unlike many of Borrowed Earth's clientele, we eat meat - mostly chicken and turkey - but we've been known to grill up a steak or two. Processed foods? Yep, we've had 'em. I admit it - I like to tear into a bag of Cheetos once in a while. Everything in moderation, I say. Except at BE. If I could afford it (which is why I docked them one star), I just might eat here all the time. I felt so good after having a lunch special here the other day - I left without the headache I had walked in with. The food was so tasty - some really nice combinations of flavors, textures, sauces, and "cheese" - I had a pepper stuffed with nut cheese and it was the best meal I've had in a while. They fill your plate with several different "salads" of spiced, shredded veggies - very filling and not overpowering. They don't use a lot of onion, for which I am grateful - lots of veggie places fall back on onion and garlic to provide too much of the flavor, when subtlety is the smarter choice. Yum. Eat here, give it a chance. Oh - and I didn't feel stupid asking about the menu - what something was made of or how it was made. Explanations were offered with a smile and I felt zero judgment headed my way - which I found as refreshing as the food on my plate.
(4)
Remus B.
I'm a guy that LOVES a good steak! Going to a Vegan eatery was not what I had planned on doing by any means. My friends and I had just finished running a road race and they had suggested that we go to Downers Grove and try this place out, because aside from being extremly healthy it was A-mazingly good food.. So here I am hours later writing a review that words won't be able to do justice to a place that I plan on going back to again and again!! Put it like this...The food (we tried multiple dishes and desserts) was UNREAL! The presentation of the food was world class, the owners and sous chef were from another planet in terms of kindness, service and explanations of how everything was made! We sat in the "bar" area where you can view your food being made! Talk about Fresh-Clean-and mind blowing flavors!! You can also sit in one of the many nice tables and watch two televisons showing (live cam) your food being made!! You can HATE organic this and that, be a Mortons steakhouse guy (like myself) and REALLY enjoy this place!! I will be going back time and time again!! A real treasure for all eaters in the Burbs!
(5)
Food F.
My friend and I didn't like it, but if you are a RAW FOOD fan you might like it. We're not vegetarian but we generally like interesting veg food so I gave this a try. We sampled the burger & quesadilla and salads they came with -- each had unique flavors, but none of them I'd crave again except the macadamia nut sauce (which they called "cheese"). The biggest disappointment was that none of the items looked like "cheese" "quesadilla" or "garden burger". It would have been better if the menu used other names to describe each thing (eg shredded sweet potato wrap or veggie pate)
(3)
Kyle B.
I'll be honest folks. I'm a meat eater, big time. But this place is awesome. The staff are total hippies but what else would you expect from the type of restaurant it is? The food is all very good and they're very creative with it. I've been happy with everything I've ever had here. If you are a closed minded fatass who's diet is dominated by fast food and other junk this place is not for you. If you are looking for a change of pace thats healthy, tasty, and fun this is definitely a place you should consider!
(5)
Jan K.
On Friday nights, my husband and I usually get a slice of pizza before seeing a movie at The Tivoli, but I asked if we could please try this place, as I'd never experienced a raw food cafe. It was a HUGE mistake, on my part, because not only was it way overpriced for a plate of raw greens and a raw entree, but the husband and wife who own and run the business, cooking and serving, argued the whole time we were there, and were completely indifferent to their customers. bordoring on rude, and certainly unprofessional! Cost us $40 to be served mostly raw greens by grumpy people. Why go back??? Don't know how they stay in business, really...Sad.
(2)
Sarah B.
I love this restaurant! Which is strange, considering I also love bacon. But anywho, I came here a while ago with my mom because we felt like trying something completely different, which Borrowed Earth is. It's all raw (the food kind, not the nude kind). I don't remember what we had the first night, but it was yummy, and we loved all of the salads. We came back again with my aunt after that. She had the pizza (which was awesome, wish I ordered it), I had the burrito (also awesome), and I can't remember what my mom had. But for dessert we got the blueberry cheesecake (though technically non-cheesecake is correct) and it was AMAZING. Their desserts are where they really shine. Everyone we've had is delicious, plus you never feel fat eating all this food. I'm looking forward to going back once I'm home after college graduation... (scary).
(5)
Lauren M.
Whoa. I just ate here this afternoon and I was very impressed! I've eaten at a few other raw vegan places in my day (Karyn's downtown, Grezzo in Boston, and Soma Center in Lake Worth), and this was probably the best. It actually makes me realize that I was too nice with Soma Center's review. Definitely shoulda given that place three stars instead of four. But I digress. My mom and I had been aiming to try this place for quite a while, so I definitely was excited. I tried not to get my hopes up too much, though, since I didn't want to be disappointed. Maybe that strategy worked, or maybe the food was just plain delicious. We went inside and told the woman behind the counter (who I believe is the owner) that we were on a time crunch. She told us to sit anywhere, so we sat outside and enjoyed the sun. We split an appetizer of the pierogies, which were very good, and were delivered probably within five minutes of us ordering them. Neither my mom nor I really like conventional pierogies but these were great. They were wrapped in jicama and served with a small salad. For our entrees, my mom had the lasagna, and I had the sweet potato quesadilla. Upon one bite into the quesadilla I knew I had to give this place five stars. The "tortilla" was amazing. It had the perfect amount of tang and spice, and the "cheese" inside had some really good spice as well. I was really afraid that it would lean too much on the "cheese" and then be too heavy (see: Soma Cafe's raw tacos), but it was perfect. It also came with three different salads. One was like a coleslaw. One was made with collard greens. The third, my favorite, was more savory than sweet and made of broccoli and cauliflower. This is A LOT of food for a raw restaurant, so that, plus the fact that everything is organic, justifies the price to me. The dish even looked great on my plate. It had a dollop of "cheese" on top with some colorful spices. My mom enjoyed her dish as well, and I had a bite of her lasagna. It was really good! I haven't had lasagna since I became vegan about a year ago and it seemed similar to how I remember lasagna to be. She had three salads, though she had a cucumber-dill salad instead of one of the three that I had. Both of us took parts of our salads home to eat with our dinners. I wanted to save dessert, but we didn't have time. My mom was also shocked that I could possibly have room for dessert after our meal. Granted, she has a tiny appetite, but the food was filling. My mom thought that the waitress(/owner?) was a bit too curt with us, but I'm pretty sure that's just because we told her that we were pressed for time. My mom promised that we would return next week, and I really hope that's true!
(5)
Arune R.
Yes prices are pretty high, but let's not forget it is raw vegan gourmet cuisine. And if you have not been you should definetely go, because it is AMAZING! I had a green smoothie the first time I went, and let me just put it this way, I think my green smoothies made at home are the bomb, but this.. well this was just out of this world good! Second time I went I shared a few appetizers and had another smoothie, I think we had the spinach and artichoke dip which was pretty good, but compared to the perogies -- well it just could not compare. I think I could eat those all day - everyday. The best filling in this world! Definetely recommend this place to each and every one wondering if they should go!
(5)
Shannon B.
EAT HERE! Seriously. The food is great and the owners/staff are really wonderful. This place is the exact opposite of Karyn's- its warm, inviting and you are treated like a guest, not an intruder. I want to stress this because if you are new to raw, feeling comfortable makes the experience so much better. I'm taking the risk of sounding flaky here, but the place just radiates good vibes. You can tell they love what they are doing and are happy. They also have an open kitchen which is great, because you can see the food being prepared fresh for you and the smile on their face while they do it. The portions are huge and the food... oh the food.... The burrito is awesome! It has just enough heat and the wrap is amazing! I am considering taking a class there just so I can learn to make it. The Gyro is also delicious, the spices are perfect. There salads are too yummy for words. The chocolate raspberry cake they have is spectacular. I had to convince my fiance it wasn't a traditional cake. It was rich and creamy. This place it worth the drive out of the city. Is it crazy to relocate to be closer to a restaurant? Because I'm considering it.
(5)
Kim M.
If you are a vegan and into RAW food - then this place is definately worth checking out. The food is really amazing. It is very pricey; however, using the products the do - I don't think there is any other way to make it work and be profitable. My ONLY complaint is Kathy - almost every time I have been there she is rude and uninterested in her customers. Danny is a nice guy and pretty friendly. If you have kids - DO NOT TAKE THEM THERE! They obviously have no children and dislike kids being there. I will continue to go there. i just wish that Kathy changed her attitude. I think if she were friendlier to customers, that place would be an absolute hit!
(4)
Court R.
I've been meaning to write a review for these guys forever. You have no idea how thrilled I was when I discovered this place years ago as a vegetarian trying to go raw. As anyone who has tried the transition knows, going out to eat soon becomes a dreaded event instead of what should be considered as fun. So imagine my joy that I had found a restaurant out in the west suburbs that I could eat at without having to worry about ingredients, etc. This is run by great couple who are very active in the raw community and educating people about the benefits of the lifestyle. But the best part is their food is great. I've had their salads, cheesecake, green drinks and their raw version of pizza so far. Their homemade house dressing was a pleasant suprise - it was so good! And that is saying something coming from a gal who never uses dressing on her salads at home. I definitely make an exception for theirs, they need to bottle it up. Its a little pricey but that's because everything is organic. I pay just as much in organic restaurants in LA. Although its a small price to pay because I'm not a big fan of pesticides and GMO. I really recommend them, especially in the summer as they have outdoor seating and cool food is easiest for non raw eaters in the hot season.
(5)
Renee B.
Love love love it here. The sweet potato Quesadilla is my favorite. The salads are awesome, and dessert specials are a true treat.
(5)
Michelle Marie R.
I was so excited to try this great vegan cafe right in my very own home town! My very experienced vegan friend and I went in with huge smiles on our face! Sadly...we did not get a very warm welcome? I almost felt weird as if the staff was looking at us thinking 'these girls don't fit in here'. It was New Years Eve and we wanted to do something special! What better than a vegan meal!?! So we ordered the spinach artichoke dip and it was just way too salty for our taste. Without suggesting another dish, our waitress said very harshly 'I will take it away'! We didn't mean it personally! She then returned twice to inform us that she had made it herself and put just the right amount of salt, stating perhaps we were not used to this type of food. I am vegetarian and my friend has been vegan for almost ten years. Entrees...were delicious...salads as well. Not 16.95 well, but it's their right to price the entrees as they see fit. I would never dine there again due to the poor service, except when the whoping check arrived it was all smiles. I would however do takeout if the prices were more reasonable or if perhaps a 16.95 entree could feed two people. Good food, bad attitudes, unrealistic prices.
(2)
Robyn C.
Interesting, very interesting. This place is different and not just the food, but the workers, although very nice, are very interesting. My hubby and I went to try it out and it was pretty good especially considering i am a pretty soft carnivore. Soft in the sense that I, at least no longer eat red meat, otherwise I would call my self a hard core carnivore... HA! Anyway, if you aren't used to eating food like wheat meat or other meat substitutes, I wouldn't recommend coming here (until you are). So many people say that meat substitutes taste like the real thing, but honestly it does if you've been eating it for a while, but the first couple mouthfuls of fake meat sometimes taste pretty bad. So to get back to the food, my hubby ordered the special, zucchini pasta with pesto and I got the gyro. His was really good, but the $20 price tag to me is not worth it for like 4 shredded raw zucchinis and sauce. My gyro was okay, I think I expected something like wheat meat and it would be warm and it was $16, not really worth the price as well. Instead it was a brick of something that had nuts and spices in it. It was room temperature and can't even be called a meat substitute. The hummus was pretty good though and the zucchini wrap had a kick to it. What is really good were the 3 side salads that came with it. I would come back and just order that alone. They wouldn't really be able to sit big parties of 10+ the place is kind of small, but they do have a nice outside patio, but the sound of the train would be a turn off for me. We ordered their cheesecake dessert. This was pretty tasty considering it was made of nuts and no dairy. It too was pricey at $10/slice. The price is a turn off, but I guess that's how it goes, if you want to be healthy, you have to be ready to shell out the bucks to do it!!
(3)
Joy R.
Well, I read reviews and heard testimonies from people but I actually experienced it for myself today and suffice it to say... it was amazing. I had the falafel and my friend had the Spaghetti pie with three salad special. It was wonderful. We culminated the meal with a scrumptious piece of berry 'cheesecake'. Lord have mercy! Talk about delicious. Now, it's far from inexpensive. Our meal was $59.00 but it was worth every penny of it. I will go back. Took a piece of turtle cheesecake for my "non- raw eating" husband. Bet he will be more than pleasantly surprised. See you soon Borrowed Earth Cafe
(5)
Gabrielle S.
Amazing. Fresh. Delicious. And healthy? Yes. Yes. Yes. And YES. Loved every minute of my meal. All the salads were imaginative and tasty and exotic. That was their strength. They even got my 3 year old to try her vegetables. THAT'S something. We got to sit at the "bar" and watch them prepare the food which was fun for us all. Even my meat eating Aunt liked it. Very light and fresh and I felt energized and good after I ate. It's not cheap- but it is very worth it for the fresh ingredients and peace of mind. Instead of a food coma, I actually felt awesome afterwards. And full. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Rebecca C.
Yummy, yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy! What a nice find in Downers Grove! My friend and I stopped in there for dinner tonight after a day trip to the suburbs. This little gem has it down. I had their special empanada with three side salads of everything I love to eat. Save room for the truffles, and skip the bag, because they won't last the walk to the car. Perfectly located across the street from the Metra, which is a no-brainer from the city. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Z O.
Amazing, healthy food with excellent service! You feel like you've done your body good after eating here. I am quickly becoming a regular and my eating habits are much better. Desserts are delicious! Check out their website, the owner's story is pretty cool!
(5)
Enna S.
I am allergic to eggs, and I tried their faux egg salad. It was seriously the best thing I have ever eaten. EVER. I am not big into the vegan/raw movement, but this place is excellent.
(5)
Rita G.
I come here whenever I am in the area. The food is great. One of the reviews hit it when they said not to order something that makes you expect a lasagna or pizza dish. I crave the salads, even good in the winter! I have not found any problems with the service. I have heard some very rude people come in, ask pricing, then are offended by prices. Really? Also unsupervised children...well we all have dealt with that. Maybe that lady needs to watch her kid, not expect the owners to supervise them. Take the reviews as you wish, but I am a fussy foodie, do like meat occasionally (from local farmers), but can still appreciate good vegan raw food. The desserts are to die for, no matter who you are. The owners are friendly, and knowledgable. I guess the Michelin review says it all.
(5)
Julie A.
I love food, but I am picky. I stop here when someone tells me we are going to dinner at applebee's or a chili's. I am a meat eating girl. I love meat, But I also know everything is good in moderation, and those resturaunts will kill your arteries. Everything here is fresh. You get full without filling like you have eaten to much and need to nap! Your body feels fresh and good from this food. Your taste buds will also be pleasently suprised. Guacomole is raw food, so think of it that way! Give it a try. First timers should go for the burrito and cheese cake! If you like salads, try their signature salad dish with 6 diff salads on the plate. The owners are a very nice couple with a great attitude and a sense of humor.
(5)
Jason D.
If you are a vegan or raw eater, you can find much better food in Chicago. You might have to go to the city, but that is no excuse for eating the garbage that you find in this restaurant. An entree for one person is going to cost upwards of $15.00 and pretty much anything you order will arrive as a plate full of salad. If that is not bad enough, if you tell them that you are not satisfied with your meal... you will be responsible for the full bill anyway. I can't imagine how any business could get away with having a horrible product and treating customers like crap. Avoid it at all costs!
(1)
Stef F.
This is review #2. The better review. This review comes with a little more knowledge regarding raw food, and appreciating how much effort is put forth into food that actually tastes like the "real" thing but healthier. Did I leave full? Check! Did I leave with a doggy bag for tomorrow? Check! Did I leave happy? Hells yea, I did! What we ordered.... Appetizer: Perogies at $7.95. 5 star. Amazingly flavorful. Entree: Burrito at $14.95. 5 star. Spicy and I wish I'd ordered it. Entree: Spinach Frittata at $14.95 4 star. Good flavor, but became repetitive and I was jealous of the Burrito. Dessert: Chocolate/Vanilla Cheesecake at $7.95. 4.5 star. Huge piece. We couldn't finish it. Pretty tasty. Think the Berry Cheesecake would have been better though. Overall, we didn't get plowed at dinner like we usually would. I have healthy leftovers for tomorrow, and a ton of them at that. They really have a lot of flavor with their food. And I didn't feel like a fat-ass stuffed pig when I left. So heck yea, I'll go back.
(5)
PoopMama ..
I had been wanting to try this place ever since we moved to the area. My kid wanted to go to the train restaurant next door, so I thought I'd pop into Borrowed Earth and get something a little healthier for myself, to go. Unfortunately, the guy working there was giving off some major bad vibes. He was so rude to me, and made me feel so unwelcome. It really hurt my feelings. Thankfully the woman was a bit kinder. This experience bums me out because the food was so thoughtfully prepared, and delicious! The salad was probably the best restaurant salad I've had since living in this area. And the dessert (some chocolate pecan cake/pie thing) was amazing too! I really appreciate everything that goes into making the creative dishes this place offers, and I like what they're trying to do here. So if I'm ever in Downer's Grove again, I'll probably go give Borrowed Earth another chance.
(3)
Leanne M.
The biggest portions I've ever seen at a raw restaurant. Yum to pierogies made of cashew nut filling & radish shells. Yum to lasagna and beet salad and almond chocolate cake. The atmosphere feels more casual cafe-- but the food is fancy and creative good fun! Bring your veg friends and try something new. Take the metra and stop at DG Main Street to eat here for date night, healthy family night, then for a movie at the historic Tivoli for $3 each. Details: Raw vegan is all the good stuff made in fun ways to remind you of your favorite foods but reincarnated. Made of nuts, seeds, veggies, and fruits-- everything (even the desserts) are super healthy. Lots is gluten free for those of you who need that too.
(4)
Al D.
Ok... first off, full disclosure... I eat meat, have been eating it most of my life and will probably continue to eat it in the future (albeit it moderation). With that said, I picked this place for dinner b/c my Dad--who is a type 2 diabetic--has recently switched to a vegan diet to better deal with his diabetes. My parents were in town for the weekend so, my wife and I took them to this restaurant on Saturday night. The ambiance is very nice, there is a place to eat outside but it was a bit too chilly for us so, we had dinner inside.... it had a very nice warm/homey feel to it. We had the Dolmas for an appetizer, my Dad and wife had the Burrito Loco, my mom had the Falafels and I had the Bratwurst (special of the day). For dessert we all split the Cheese Cake. EVERYTHING was SUPER FRESH and the presentation of the food was excellent. After I added in a 20% tip the bill was $80. Both my dad and I loved the place, my mom was about 50/50 and my wife didn't really care for it. As a meat eater, I thought the food tasted great and I was pleasantly surprised. I plan to eat there again. I recommend it to people who have a curious palate and are looking to expand their culinary intellect.
(4)
Julia B.
Amazing cake!
(5)
Andrew K.
Most restaurants have some kind of theme, and/or specialize in a certain kind of cuisine. Borrowed Earth is distinctive in that it has an underlying philosophy and principle. Everything on the menu is "vegan", and furthermore "raw-vegan". The chefs have gone to great lengths to ensure this, including some creative innovations. The business is doing very well, and seems extremely well-organized and up-to-speed given that it was opened less than 2 years ago. We have to give a lot of respect to them for, literally, "putting their money where their mouth is". This was a bold entrepreneurial experiment by the owners, which has proven successful, largely on the basis of the courage of their convictions. A sampling from the menu: Entrees: Pizza, burger, frittata, burrito, lasagna, spaghetti. These are all basically emulations of common dishes. And that requires some imagination, such as the fact that the noodles are made from zucchini, and what would ordinarily be cheese is made from pureed nuts. Desserts: "Cheesecake", "ice cream", banana split, etc. (of course prepared without any dairy products). Besides dining in, the restaurant offers catering, classes on raw food cuisine, and other resources. It is true that one is paying a lot for food that has not much caloric value. Let's say you have a meal at Borrowed Earth consisting of an appetizer, entree, beverage and dessert (a reasonable and typical full-meal order). Including the gratuity this will cost from a minimum of $30, per person, up to $47 per person. Pricey. But one way to think about it is that you are participating in a specialized niche market, which requires equally specialized background knowledge on the part of the chefs. In particular, food safety given that the foods are uncooked. Also, carefully selected high-quality ingredients. And the portions are apparently larger than at most raw-food restaurants. The meal was filling, and we didn't even have an appetizer or dessert. So these are substantial portions without being high-calorie. A healthy choice. For many people, a craving for fatty, sugary foods to achieve a sense of satiety is the basis of a weight problem and all of the health problems associated with obesity. There is already an absolutely true real-life story of a man who lost 75 pounds over the course of 5 months, by adhering to a raw-food diet which he learned at Borrowed Earth. Remarkably similar to the story of "Jared", the weight-loss poster boy for "Subway" in their old commercial campaign. "Raw vegan" is not necessarily more healthy than "vegan" per se, or than other diets, it depends on how it is done. Whether there are additional health benefits to a strictly raw diet is almost a matter of faith, which is beyond the realm of nutritional science. Take any such claims with a grain of salt, and also weigh the disadvantages versus what you hope to gain from it. Eating here once will not "detoxify" you (the raw banana split unfortunately cannot cure your ailments). Eating here occasionally will do you no good if your diet is otherwise unhealthy. And you can't afford to eat here on a daily basis. But it's certainly interesting, and there may be a "take-home lesson" to be learned. Something as all-American as the "Hamburger and French Fries" is intentionally chosen as the model for a meal, and subjected to a reinterpretation, which demonstrates a point through its example. There is an expression "The proof is in the pudding": this is just good food, which speaks for itself. They are not making any outlandish claims about it in the menu or on their website. Philosophically, the vegan aspect is undoubtedly more important to the Borrowed Earth premise than the rawness aspect. For example there do exist "raw" advocates of a "Primal Carnivore" diet consisting mostly of raw meats. Whereas the owners would disagree. But the rawness is really what separates it from more typical vegetarian restaurants. Within Downer's Grove has a good location, with the option of dining outdoors on the patio. Has nice interior decor, excellent service and nothing but praise thus far for the owners and staff. If you are the one who wants to try "raw" in the first place, you won't be disappointed by Borrowed Earth, it's really tasty and the concept could not have been much better realized.
(4)
Natalia S.
if you've never gone, its quite the experience! i felt healthier just eating there. everything was delicious. especially a fan of their shredded kale with mystery (amazing) dressing. had the veg lasagna, which i would recommend but i am SO coming back for that salad... also you must get dessert. it's tradition. looks like this place is a 2 person show, but the couple is super nice :-) so when it doubt, pay them a visit ;-) be warned it is a tad bit pricy, but think of the nutrients you are ingesting!!
(5)
Traveling Foodie S.
I love this place. It's amazing what organic, vegan and raw food can taste. I have tried many of their menu items and never been disappointed. Their love and commitment to raw organic vegan lifestyle are reflected on the quality of food they make. I also took their class and was amazed how simple the food were to make.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
susheel m.
I ate here a long while ago. I personally hated it. The food was cold and flavor less. I was not aware they don't have any warm food. I basically ate grass and leaves and paid $70 for it. One of the worst meals I have ever had due to it being all raw cold and just really no taste. If you like or need to eat raw vegan food then this is for you. If you are not looking for that then you will hate it.
(1)Connie L.
For all the people who hated their customer service, the good news to you all is they are going out of business by end of summer and converting to another unrelated business. Oh yeah to all the customer service emphasized people. As for my own personal experience, I went with my aunt so I didn't need them to come over and bothered us with the usual greeting and such. I enjoyed our conversation while waiting for the food. For the few interactions we had, to their fairness, she did cracked a smile, she talked about which is the more popular item when I have doubts between two appetizers. One of which is the cheese perogies. I also talked to her about her new plans after end of summer and she gave me a new business card that has all the info needed to contact them. I enjoyed the brief time I was there. I felt the peace and calmness when I entered this place. My aunt who is first time trying vegan organic food told me she felt like visiting a restaurant in the new territories of HK where she is back to the trees and farmland. I really don't think this place is about customer service, it is about peace and finding your tranquility in a hat opus setting. As for the decor, I paid extra hard attentions. There were a book shelf full of books, a bar setting that allows you to sit on high chairs in the back, you can sit in the front with the salt lamps next to pots of really nicely grown summer flowers. There were roses brushes on the outside. Dog water container with organic k-9 biscuits. Maybe I am a bit bias but whoever hates dogs and find them annoying, I have a hard time trusting them, but for those welcoming pets. They have a gold of heart. As for the food, they surely are overpriced but this is the sunburn place with extremely high rent. I felt the cheese perogies was made with very fresh ingredients from sunflower seeds to grounded bell papers to taramus to lemon juice. I carried the leftover away and found them not as fresh as they were when consumed immediately at the restaurant. The out of heaven cheesecake is not your gourmet cake but considering this is hand made from scratch with their own receipt, this is fine. I forget to tell you the aftermath and side benefit of eating here, which is to be healthier and rid your body of toxic chemical waste that is in most restaurant's dishes that heavily relies on msg, salt, sauces and gravies. This place is located right across the train track in downtown downers groves, a very convenient location that allows you to enjoy the water fountains and the nice sun. You could definitely sit in the outdoors when the weather is friendly. The man brought our changes over, I didn't give them much tips but thanked them for giving me a 100% recycled paper carry out container and for serving us. I felt happy the rest of the day.
(4)Kristen L.
Enjoyed the mushrooms and sweet potatoes. Food is tasty... I will give them that much. Worth the amount of money they charge? Heck no. Owners were extraordinarily rude. Didn't say "hello" when I entered, even though I was the only one there. The entire time, I felt like I was being watched. I ate quickly, tipped well, and left. Didn't seem to care very much that I was a customer or that I might not be back if they were rude. And so it goes, I won't be back.
(2)B K.
The service sucks, place feels like a funeral home. The girl found it more important to crochet versus inform us of their menu items.
(1)Christine M.
I stopped in the other day for lunch with my 4 and 1 yr old. I had been wanting to try it out, especially since my son is gluten-free and there aren't many places that are 100% GF, which we would LOVE as it's due to celiac. The owners were the only ones working, and we were (not) greeted by the woman. I asked if they happen to even check with their suppliers to verify their ingredients are 100% GF, and she rudely replied that they only used plants, nuts, and seeds, and are non-GMO and organic and most GF restaurants use a lot of GMOs. ? It was quite an odd welcome and immediately struck me as tacky to compare themselves to other restaurants rather than just answering my question. Regardless, we proceeded to order the 'cheese pierogies' and Earth Burger. The burger did not come out as described in the menu exactly, which would have been fine. However, the man (her husband) brought it out and did not explain a single thing about the food. Prior to ordering, I asked one simple question and the woman responded with the coldest response. No menu explanations or suggestions were offered despite me attempting to order the most kid-friendly items. Granted we are not raw vegans, but my kids are used to lots of veggies and a mostly whole foods diet. Still, the cuisine is clearly off the beaten path and any restaurant owner would typically communicate with customers, welcome them, try to best accommodate, etc. I will also mention there was only one other table occupied. I paid $35 for a tiny veggie burger wrapped in lettuce that fell apart instantly that came with a tiny kale salad and jicama sticks with oil drizzled on top. I wouldn't have ordered this either if I knew the 'root veggie fries' were jicama after I ordered the 'cheese pierogies' that were jicama slices with a hummus-like concoction stuffed inside. But how would I have known when the menu didn't specify and they didn't communicate?! The kids picked at some of it but otherwise didn't care for it. I'm okay with big price tags if the quality and SERVICE match it. There is a HUGE disconnect here. I enjoyed the food, but would not return based primarily on the service, as well as price. I'm glad this place will be changing ownership soon. Hopefully, they keep the gluten-free aspect, but anything else about it can change, especially the attitude!! Oh, I also thought it was tacky that they have a poster outside showing celebrity photos, saying if they were in DG, they would dine there. Really? That's your marketing? One could make the same pitch for McDonald's by citing celebs who have been there. How about working on your service, attitude, and perhaps prices rather than comparing yourself to others.
(1)Obsessive C.
In regards to essay contest on owners giving cafe away to winner..... That's a bunch of BS...they aren't giving anything away for free! They are set to make $80,000 if they get their 640 entries...entry fee is $125 per person..........owner can decide to let the contest go through even if he/sshe doesn't get all entries...so I'm sure they are doing their math!
(1)Jenny V.
I tried this place twice, and regretted it both times. On recommendation of the server I got a "fajita." what I received was a bowl of raw vegetables, swimming in some white tasteless watery something or other .... and a plate of beets. With tip, I think I ended up spending $35 on that meal. I went in months later in search of a smoothie. Spent almost $10 on a 12oz smoothie that didn't taste like anything. Terrible service. The woman who owns the place, despite being a peace and love hippie, seems to have a real attitude and no aptitude for customer service. The guy owner is sort of spaced out and spent more time on the phone, and talking to other customers than preparing the food I ordered - so both times it took forever. Glad to hear they are closing.
(1)Nadia K.
I'm from the land of raw vegans (being from SoCal and vegan myself) but a trip to Chicago brought me to seek out the best vegan fare the Western suburbs had to offer-- so avoid avoid avoid because Borrowed Cafe is definitely NOT it. The owners were rude, I have no idea if they washed their hands between eating their own meal and handling our food (gross!), they were out of virtually everything we wanted, didn't know how to recommend a dish ("everything is good" -hint: it wasn't), and it's WAY TOO OVERPRICED. And I'm from LA!! Do not bother with this place. Waste of time, money, and emotion. They need to take a line from their own mandala and put out good energy as the entire place is just one energy vortex. Namaste my Aunt Effie.
(1)Beth E.
I thought "humorless, pale vegan" was a stereotype. And then I ate lunch at Borrowed Earth Cafe. I eat a plant based diet and was in the area after doing a long run on some local trails, so I was looking forward to some healthy fuel. What I got was an attitude bordering on contempt and a lackluster, uncreative meal. As I entered the empty restaurant, I was barely greeted as the female owner was chatting on the phone. The male owner came to take my order and I let him know I was excited to try his place out as I live in Chicago and have been wanting to make the trip out to his restaurant for a while. He looked at me with absolutely no expression on his face and said "Do you know what you want?" When I told him I couldn't decide between the pizza or the burger he responded with "Do you need more time?" I smiled and said "Which one do you recommend since I've never been here before." His answer? A deadpan "I never choose for people." Um, ok I'll have the burger then... The food consisted of cut up vegetables with apple cider vinegar, oil, and some paprika and salt. The burger patty itself had a decent texture, but was served wrapped in a kale leaf rather than the buckwheat bun that was mentioned on the menu. I ordered a piece of chocolate cake to go, which was by far, the best part of the meal, but it also cost me pricey $8.95. Before tip, my meal cost $30. As others mentioned, I could have made a nice little raw organic meal for myself from the Whole Foods salad bar for far less and I would have left in a much better mood. My advice? Skip this joint and its unhappy, unhealthy owners. A raw food meal should be tasty and vibrant and served with kindness. (Don't vegans make some sort of pact to be nice to all sentient beings?!)
(1)Jen L.
Yesterday I drove 45 minutes to taste some very delicious raw vegan food. I read the reviews and most are very positive about the food; however, there's so many negative comments about the husband and wife owners: Danny and Kathy. I like to give everybody the benefit of the doubt and wanted to see for myself if the reviews were correct. It's in a really cool area of town ..very quaint and when I walked in I loved the atmosphere right away. There's an outdoor patio which was not open yet due to the cold weather and the seating inside is really neat as you can sit at the bar area and watch Danny and Kathy create their awesome food. I went there to order something to go and decided on the Burrito Loco and then also wanted to treat myself and had some banana ice cream with chocolate. The Burrito Loco I can honestly say it was the best burrito I've ever had. It came with two side salads; one was a green salad with what seemed to be an avocado type dressing and the second was a beet slaw and both were divine. I will be back for sure to try the stuffed mushrooms and possibly the pierogies and of course some of the beautiful desserts that are displayed in a case behind the counter. When I first walked in Kathy greeted me right away and we had some small talk about the weather and I ordered my food...she was very friendly and nothing like what people are saying here on yelp. After I ordered my food I browsed around to check out the restaurant and saw Danny making my burrito and we started a conversation. We talked about several topics and the conversation was very intellectual and laid-back and I very much enjoyed it. For those who are saying negative things about Danny and Kathy I'd like to say to please think outside the box. Try and be a little mindful and open your hearts and be compassionate before writing such mean things. What everybody needs to realize is it's just the two of them working there so if there's a full restaurant there is not going to be any time to have small talk and also just take it for what it is maybe they are a bit different, just as you as you are probably a bit different than there are. I was the only one in the café at the time and I initiated conversation because I could tell just by looking at them that I could relate to them on many levels. I just wanted to give my opinion here to stick up for two very wonderful people who work so hard to keep a little raw vegan restaurant afloat. To those who are complaining about the prices need to keep in mind that everything they make is homemade and handcrafted. Not to mention organic and wonderfully delicious. Also, most people who leave reviews online are typically upset about something, so the people who had good experiences may not take the time to write about their good experience. In closing, the food is excellent the atmosphere is awesome and Danny and Kathy are two people I am very glad to have met. I highly recommend....whether you're raw, vegan, vegetarian or a meat eater to try this restaurant. Yum Yum Yum!!!!! Thanks for reading!
(5)Holly B.
This place is one of the best kept secrets in Chicago. You're in for a fantastic treat when you walk into the doors of Kathy and Danny's Borrowed Earth Cafe. You're not only getting fresh, local, organic raw vegan food, but good for you.
(5)Dan H.
This is one of the most amazing restaurants in the entire Chicagoland area, in my opinion. Kathy and Daniel Living are two remarkable characters and just being around them is enough to delight and entertain patrons. My wife and I are raw vegans and are both totally impressed with the originality and taste balancing nature of the offerings here. Everything is good, as far as we are concerned, and we have tried everything on the menu! Contrary to what we have read here about the attitudes of the owners and servers, we go here because of the attitudes. They have a nonjudgemental, dripping sarcasm to them that is just hilarious! I can see where it could be mistaken sometimes, but not really. They are very funny people and our interactions with them are as entertaining as the food is delicious. We give this restaurant the highest rating!
(5)Boon K.
Great Vegan raw food that will surprise you as to how full you get by just eating half their burger. The burger is very dense and pack with hints of curry and just full of favor.
(4)Agnes L.
My husband and I are not anything close to being vegans, but we absolutely adore this place for the fresh ingredients and inventive combinations. Gems from past dining experiences- I've had a slew of their menu items including the creamy spinach dip app, hearty salads and playful entrees mimicking traditional carb-y dishes like lasagna and pizza. It's honestly amazing how they can coax so much flavor. Trying to convert the nonbelievers- One time I brought my cousin, who is in culinary school in North Carolina, here during a weekend trip, and she proclaimed the food to be "fancy salad" and actually incorporated the leftovers into an omelet the next day. (I know - blasphemous, really.) But she did appreciate the quality and rarity of the products along with the health benefits (ie. hemp, jicama, flaxseed, kale). In the end, my husband and I have always found it difficult to introduce our non-vegan friends and family to this restaurant. Saving the best for last- But what is our favorite part of dining here and what our out-of-town visitors end up enjoying the most is the dessert. This place does dessert on another level that beats the traditional restaurant versions. With our most recent dining experience, I picked up carry-out for Valentine's Day of four sweet treats - chocolate ganache cake (because the hubby is a chocoholic), strawberry cheesecake (two miniature heart-shaped ones with rose petals to help celebrate the holiday), a jelly doughnut (kind of in honor of Fat Tuesday's paczki) and a persimmon cake (just because of how little I ever see this fruit). As a daughter of a diabetic, I admire the substitutes used in these delectable dishes. Decisions like crushed nuts instead of crust, chewy figs/dates/fruits to replace dough, etc. make these healthier. The cakes tasted like the real deal. The doughnut - not so much, BUT actually way better. It is incredible how rich they all are in flavor, yet I don't need to feel guilty about gorging afterward. Final appeal- If you're apprehensive about the whole raw/vegan cuisine scene, at least come here for their stunning show-stoppers of desserts. They often change up the offerings so despite how many times I've patronized Borrowed Earth Cafe, I always end up with new ones that never fail to satisfy my and my husband's sweet tooth.
(5)Darcy R.
it's hard to describe the psychological warfare that goes on between the owners and the hapless customers who come here for a meal. Let's just say, it becomes uncomfortable for the uninitiated. The owners don't seem to get the concept that service is part of the meal. I know so many people, myself included, who have simply stopped coming, solely due to the antics of the owners. The food is average to very good and gets expensive when you tack on the free insults. The best analogy I can give is that it is like going through immigration at the airport where no one really speaks to you, but you are there and they recognize that you need to be processed. No discourse, just eat, pay and leave.
(1)Alison G.
Ahhhhh... Really, I am not a fan. I thought I love veggies, however not in this way, just not my type. The food they serve are very likely those you would find in Whole Food or any other healthy food courts. Not saying healthy ingredient is bad. I just am not a fan. We had the lasagna and sweet potato crepe...... So i asked my friend if she likes it? My friend says the food was fine however little too pricey for "whole food type of thing".
(2)Laura N.
My last review just shows what an idiot I used to be and how much I've changed. Now, I'm primarily a vegetarian (I do eat fish and certain seafood) that tries to incorporate more vegan foods, juices, and smoothies in my diet. In contrast to my last review, I dislike meat and love salads now. While I do still munch on unhealthy greasy foods (I'm not going to pretend I eat perfectly healthy food all the time -- I don't), I fall in love hard with raw food places. Having an open mind is important when trying new places and I don't think my mind was open enough the last time I was here. I don't hate on meat eaters (if I want you to respect my food choices, then I try to respect yours), but please do yourself a favor and have an open mind when eating in new places. That said, Borrowed Earth is AMAZING. Go there. Now. The end. And that is the update I wanted to write. :)
(5)Angela G.
The food here is truly amazing, especially given the fact that it is entirely handmade, raw vegan food. Even the crackers that come with the spinach artichoke dip are hand pressed seeds (I forget what kind). I loved the icecream, it was delectable and made from banana. The food was very fresh and healthy, which means a lot to me these days. The only thing i was a bit turned off by was the service. I was the only person there for lunch and I felt like the woman (owner I believe) couldn't wait to get rid of me! She was very unfriendly and took my menu before I ordered?? So odd. It was a confusing experience..I loved the food but honestly will probably not go back due to the unfriendly nature of the staff.
(3)Grace S.
Disclaimer: I hate salad. What was I thinking when I agreed to come here? I guess when my friend suggested we try this vegan restaurant, I thought it might be a cool new experience. Yes it was a new experience, but it was certainly not enjoyable, at least not for me. I knew this place only served raw vegan food, so I know it was my own fault for taking a chance and coming to eat here. But I have been to vegetarian restaurants before and enjoyed it, so I thought it would be okay. In actuality, I did not know what I was in for. I took two bites of my entree (lasagna) and I couldn't eat anymore. I still have no idea what kind of vegetables it was made out of, but I didn't like it. I took a bite of my friend's entree (sweet potato quesadilla) which I thought was a lot better. I personally still was not a fan of the food, but if I had to recommend something here, it would definitely be the quesadilla. My other friend got something else that I also tried and hated so I won't even try and recommend anything else. I then ordered the dessert hoping it would be able to provide some sort of redemption, but even that didn't taste good to me. I ordered the dark chocolate raspberry ganache, and and all I remember was that it was super nutty. I couldn't finish it. As for the service, it was not up to par. I read in the other reviews that service is poor, so I did not have high expectations. It really is true that the woman does not provide any recommendations. Also I thought it was odd that she dropped my friend's knife on the table and didn't even feel bad or apologize... Nobody got hurt, but all the woman said was, "Oops!" and laughed. And no one really said hello or goodbye to us. It's like they didn't even care. To top it all off, it was like $40 for my meal. I feel like I paid $40 to eat a piece of lettuce. As I said, I am not a fan of salad. I just can't eat cold, raw vegetables. So if you do not like salad, do not come here thinking it will be a cool new experience; chances are, you will not like the food and will be hungry the rest of the day.
(1)Samah K.
If this is the first time you are trying raw vegan be advise you may not like it. I ate the sweet potato quesadilla and it made me feel nauseous so it was a good experience but i probably won't go there again
(1)Joe B.
Used to be a fan. Noticed the quality has diminished recently. Very expensive and way over priced. Also, the staff are overly friendly one day, will ignore you the next. Does Raw Food lead to personality changes? I stopped going to Borrowed Earth less frequently and actually more lost weight by making sensible diet choices.
(2)Laura M.
You would think being able to collect $18+ for a kale salad would be enough to put a smile on these folks faces. Nuh uh. Cold and impersonal were they. My guess upon reading the other reviews is that these people want out and are just biding their time. Bring more vegan restaurants to the western suburbs please!! Don't waste your time here unless you like shelling out big bucks to inhospitable robots. Food was so so, though.
(2)Kristen H.
Great food, exceptionally snotty service. I went with my father for a birthday dinner and had been looking forward to trying a completely raw vegan restaurant (they are rare, especially in the suburbs). When I sat down, I asked the waitress if they had any sugar inside of their smoothies, and she rudely stated "we do not have any sugar in this restaurant" as though I was asking them to add sugar inside of my smoothie. I'm sorry that we were not the stereotypical looking customers, but I actually do not consume any sugar and wanted to confirm. I did order the mixed berry smoothie, and it was okay. My boyfriend makes better smoothies at home for us. My dad ordered the lasagna and though it was overwhelming to him (he is not the healthiest eater), I finished it off for him. It was unique and tasty! I ordered the cheese perogies and stuffed mushrooms which were both quite tasty! Overall, the waitress barely spoke to us, and when she had to it was cold. She was not friendly or welcoming even though we were the only table in the restaurant. After reading other reviews, I believe that our waitress was also one of the owners. Even if you have wonderful food, you need to treat your customers right regardless of their appearance. Still indecisive if I will return.
(3)Erik L.
My daughter and I ate here on Saturday and we had a great experience. I am not a Vegan so I was a little Leary, but the food was delicious and the service was great. I had the jambalaya special and my daughter had the sweet potato quesadilla. We also ordered the spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer. We both liked our dishes. We also split the turtle cheesecake, and although I'm not entirely clear on what it as made of, it was fantastic. We will be back!
(4)Joey S.
All the food I've had here so far has been awesome! It's truly a treat to find raw food places--especially in the suburbs. Being a raw foodist for many years and understanding how time consuming and costly it is to prepare some things--one thing that would keeps me coming back regularly (even though I live in Chicago) to this place is the price. $18.95 + tax is a bit steep for entrees!!!
(4)Veronica S.
The food is decent but I wish the staff were more friendly. I loved the Chocolatté. I would come back just to get one but probably wouldn't dine-in again for a meal.
(2)William R.
A very pleasurable experience at the borrowed earth. I had the earth burger and wife had the sweet potato quesadilla. SO GOOD. Both were handcrafted and were a delicious change of pace from the mainstream. The salads were awesome and the jicama fries were crisp, cool and delicious. All the flavors were complex and done right I've seen many bash the high cost but for the ingredients used this food is not expensive. Food like this is difficult to prepare and expensive to purchase. So well done! Thanks for a nice respite.
(4)John O.
My wife and I have a sort of love/hate relationship with this place - we LOVE the fact that there is a vegan restaurant in Downers Grove that brings some much needed diversity in cuisine options to the town. -We love the fact that these people are in the heart of red-meat, republican land, trying to convert people to a much healthier and earth-friendly lifestyle, one diner at a time -we LOVE the food and appreciate the time and care that go into all of their dishes -we HATE the attitude (if you aren't sure what I am talking about, go try and ask for a substitution, or salt, or extra dressing or really anything that deviates from thier S.O.P). There are times (maybe a bad day or two) where the staff make the legendary soup nazi look like mother teresa.. -we HATE (well maybe not hate, but strongly dislike) the prices. But I guess all that nut butter IS pretty expensive. Overall though, love conquers hate on this one - worth a visit if you are looking to eat healthier or try something different. Peace out.
(4)NessaBelle H.
Wow.... I seldom experience an extreme level of disinterest and borderline rudeness from the staff at an establishment that expects you to tip, but this place takes the cake. While the food was decent, the staff left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I got the impression that if you don't frequent the joint or have dreadlocks (which I did at one point in my life, but they wouldn't know that, and that's besides the point), you weren't worthy of their time or energy. Guess what, assholes? You own a restaurant that's open to the public.. Meaning.. If you expect to stay in business for an extended period of time, you should be friendly and attentive to your customers so that they would want to come back. Unfortunately, there was a severe lack of evidence that this establishment was in any way adhering to this philosophy. I live in Portland, OR, a city known for amazing food (in case you didn't know), much of which is veggie/vegan or at least friendly to said lifestyles. Many restaurants in Portland are known for having poor service. But the variety of poor service I'm referring to is along the lines of 'you ordered your drinks 20 min ago and they still haven't arrived,' not the type where 'you're greeted (for lack of a better word) by someone who appears as though they would've rather you never came in.' I shrugged it off at first thinking I misread the host's demeanor, but to my surprise the behavior continued throughout my dining experience. To the owners (whom I later discovered were precisely the people I'm speaking of): you're food is good but not great, I've had better (much better, in fact). If you were more friendly to your customers more of them would return and your restaurant wouldn't be practically empty during prime dinner hours. And know this, service is half the battle. If you're in a bad mood because you had a bad day, you're customers won't be sympathetic because they don't know about your problems so check your 'tude at the door. Smile when you greet your customers and thank them when they leave. Be attentive and happy to oblige their requests. After all, they could've easily eaten elsewhere. If you don't take this advice I will sincerely be in shock if you're still in business the next time I visit the Chicago area. I truly believe the only reason you've made it this far is because you essentially have no competition. If I decided to open a raw restaurant in your area, I would put you out of business so fast it would make you're head spin, and consequently you would get strangled by your own dreadlocks. So.... Good luck.
(1)Terry K.
We had dinner there this past Friday, the food and service was great! I don't get the negative reviews on service; we were very pleasantly greeted and offered our choice of seating. There was only one waitress, but she was very friendly. There were 6 other tables filled, so she was busy, but never neglected us. She quickly asked us if we were ready, but we were not, and patiently asked a couple of minutes later. We ordered the vegi lasagna and the burger. Great raw-vegan versions! The "cheese" sauce on the lasagna was perfect. Umami flavors with spice and just a hint of heat. The sides salads were generous and the meal pretty much filled me up. My wife's vegan burger was also great, but a little light on the salt. It also satiated her appetite. Despite being quite full, we could not resist trying the chocolate ganache. I thought it was a very good raw-vegan rendition of the real version, except for a dark chocolate version. My wife liked it better then a non-vegan ganache as it was very chocolaty without being too sweet. I'm an omnivore on a month-long, raw-vegan cleanse; after regular raw-vegan fare for the past couple of weeks, this was a real treat. My wife is a vegetarian, helping me on the raw-vegan ways. We both really enjoyed our experience at Borrowed Earth Cafe.
(4)Joanna B.
After trying raw vegan food for the first time in Lockport and loving it, I thought I'd try this place since it was near my school. Reading the reviews on service beforehand, I was worried. However, the dreadlocked lady who took my order was friendly and chatting with customers. She took my order quickly and my food was prepared and packaged (I ordered to-go) quickly, too, so no complaints there. The customers inside were complimenting the food they had, and seemed to enjoy the cafe, too. I had the "burger and fries," which comes with a side salad. The menu doesn't really tell you what the fries actually are (just "vegetable") nor what's in the salad. I didn't like either of them - the fries were bland with some sort of over-seasoned tomato sauce on them; the salad was just lettuce and one vegetable, also over-seasoned. However, I really liked the burger. It was two flax-seed type wafers sandwiching a meat-like mass of vegetables, mustard, and catsup. It was ok, but probably couldve used more variety in vegetables in the "burger," and the presentation could've looked better (it really looked kind of sad). It tasted ok, not great. I liked the Lockport vegan place better (Thanks Jordan Vegan Cafe). I kinda regret spending $19 on this one average-sized, meh-tasting dish. Plates are expensive here, expect to spend around twenty bucks just for an entree, ten bucks for dessert, and 6 bucks and up for some drinks. =/ They should offer coupons.
(3)Rachel J.
Delicious, well-crafted and healthy food served by ambassadors of a worthy cause! Bravo!
(5)Jayaraman B.
I dropped into this place today after having read a few negative reviews about it, I really liked the place and the food. Food looks different, tastes different and smells different but all in a good way. I tried the burrito. I could not imagine how they can manage to make such healthy/raw food to taste good. If you are looking for a regular delicious food, it is not the place (in my opinion). Kudos to the owners to make burrito shells made of nutritious grains. I loved the place even more after a lady working there told me they use organic ingredients. Been used to california (where finding an organic/healthy restaurant is easy), I really wanted a healthy food place near chicago. I feel this place could be my first in the list here. Keep in mind that you are not only buying food here. You are buying a whole new and valuable concept. Really respect the owners for their vision to serve quality food.
(4)Sonja B.
Admittedly would not have gone in had I remembered it was all raw. I am an adventurous, strict vegetarian eater. My husband and I took advantage of the opportunity to eat a super healthy lunch. When I looked at the menu prices I was scared. All entrees, even salads, are almost $20. No coffee. There goes brunch... The app we ordered was a lovely, Cheese Perogie. We loved it. +1 Needs Salt: The Spinach Quiche tasted like a vegan egg salad... I wish there'd been salt on the table. My husband ordered the special (mind you, it did not have a special price) - a zucchini noodle dish that needed salt. -2 The salad that came with the entrees was the bommmmmb. +1 Dessert was good: We both tried cheese cake at the end and these were great. +1 Oh, and our server was really nice and attentive. We spent $100 on a lunch we thought needed more seasoning. Won't be coming back, but happy to know there's a joint that serves healthy vegan food for the suburban crowd.
(2)Zoran O.
It's the real deal. Your body will thank you. Everything is raw - meaning cold dishes - but there is nothing cold about it at all - lovely vibe.
(4)Dean K.
Food is pricey but pretty amazing. No joke. If my wife and i are looking for food that we absolutely know will nourish our bodies and souls, Borrowed Earth has the food. And I can appreciate the higher prices than what most people are used to paying but if you're conscious about what you're getting, it really is a value. A large plate of organic, vibrant and colorful raw food is expensive, and certainly the time and preparation that goes into making is a big part of that. That is why even though our bill is higher than at most restaurants, it's significantly higher quality. It's not hard to tell. Only downside is that the owners are not very kind. They are very hot/cold and very hard to read (and feel like they dismiss us when we stop in). Whereas were were faithful patrons a while back (only because of the food, and quite limited options of these types of restaurants in the 'burbs), it was how we were treated by the owners that has left a very bitter taste in our mouth, and have committed to not going back, as much as we love the food.
(2)Sarah C.
I'm definitely the opposite of vegan. I mean, I help butcher the deer my husband harvests every fall. So, yeah. I'm a meat and potatoes girl. But I am really glad I tried this place and I would go back. I had the Not Egg Salad and really enjoyed the flavor and textures. I didn't miss the eggs at all. The side salad that comes with it has a really nice dressing too. Some other reviews mention the cost. I felt the cost was commensurate with the nature of the product. Tree nuts are not inexpensive and so anything that has cashews is going to be spendy. And then consider that everything is very fresh and spoils easily. They are either buying in small batches, which is always costly, or building in the cost of what they'll lose in inventory every week to spoilage. That's true of all restaurants, but a traditional place can offset that loss with using lots of frozen/prepared stuff. This is all fresh so you're going to feel it more. Oh, and don't skip dessert - the truffles are especially nice :)
(4)James D.
In agreement with much of the comments below... I am very displeased with this place. I felt the service was very inattentive, the pricing on the food was OUTRAGEOUS, and the food itself was very BLAND. The soup is served cold? Yuck. And the taste was bitter and offputting. The prices were awful, nearly $18 for an entre. This would make sense at a moderately high end gourmet meal. NOT a salad. These people need to get over themselves and be more realistic the way they run their business.
(1)Candice M.
The prices are shocking considering the food was plain bad. $43 for an awful lunch. The food is bland and has a terrible aftertaste. Vegan doesn't have to taste bad and either does raw. I've been eating raw vegan off and have tried several spots in Chicago. I decided to try this place since we were in the burbs. We went in and there are no pics of the food. "Everything is good" is what they kept telling me in a hurried way like we were bothering them by asking. Let me tell you this: it was over $40 for lunch: one entree & two appetizers. The people working there with dreadlocks were not friendly or curious for feedback on the food. You'd be better off eating from an extensive salad bar for two people at Whole Foods w/vegan dressing. You get more variety, better tasting food for half the price!
(1)Sylvia A.
Such great vegan food and vegan desserts! The people are super friendly and the food is nice and fresh.
(5)Cheryl A C.
I agree with Katie J Very unfriendly owners , actually very rude. Is this what happens to you when you eat good food ! Scary won't see me again.
(1)Jo M.
The food is very good, especially if you are a vegan or raw person. The atmosphere is a little dingy, and the prices are really high. I know going raw means you need the freshest ingredients, and takes a so much more time to prepare than fast food which gets nuked or dumped in a fryer. I understand all of that. And I appreciate all the work that goes into it, I'm just saying the prices are high. So I would say you get what you pay for, high quality, fresh ingredients, prepared in a time consuming, but flavorful unique way.
(4)Sherry K.
So delicious! From the tea to the desert & everything in-between! Wish I was this creative & could eat this fresh, healthy & tasty everyday. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but the servings are very generous & once you taste the food, you will know it's worth every penny. Borrowed Earth Cafe' is my new favorite!
(5)Gosia Z.
When you first walk in you instantly feel the zen vibe. It's a nice little restaurant. The food was pretty amazing. I'm not a vegetarian or vegan. I like my meat but I loved the food here. I got the spinach quiche and it was so delicious. It looked like a huge salad on my plate but the sauce that was in my quiche was spectacular. My favorite part probably being the walnut crust on bottom. The vegan cheesecake was a little bit much. I couldn't finish it on my own, but was just as good as my quiche. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary and you're into trying new things this place is a must! The only downside was the price. It was close to 20 bucks per entree, but you get what you pay for. Fully raw and organic.
(4)Alyssa J P.
Why is the only vegan restaurant in the burbs raw??? I'm really not a fan of raw food. I will say that the quality of what I ate was high, I just didn't care for it. Also, it's super overpriced.
(2)Mave D.
Had my second visit here last night... Once again I am stunned with the experience! The list of what makes the restaurant special is long... but the most striking impression from my visit last night regarding the food is how it seems to almost explode with energy in your body as you eat it! A newbie to raw vegan food down the counter from me said exactlty the same thing - explosively energizing she said! Equally impressive is how they are able to consistently combine ingredients to come up with taste combinations that completely transcend the sum of the parts that would be served at other five star establishments. The effect is like in the movies when they use the term "suspension of disbelief!" Eating here I am completely oblivious to the details on what I am eating whether it is raw or vegan or what spices are used because the overall effect is so transformative! I suggest you visit close to closing when they are less busy - and try to get Danny to play the guitar. He sounds exactly like the food tastes. His compositions are as transcendental and satisfying as hjs sound singing and playing the 12 string guitar. Thanks to Danny and Kathy for the extreme hospitality!
(5)Jessica K.
I have eaten here a few times & while their food can be pretty amazing (especially their desserts), the service leaves a lot to be desired. They are grumpy, unfriendly, & somehow make you feel like you are doing them a disservice by eating there. I love their cheesecakes & pierogis, but not enough to want to feel like I'm inconveniencing someone the entire time. They used to be nice, I'm not sure what happened. I won't likely be back.
(3)Sara M.
Didn't even get to eat here, I was too disgusted by the attitudes of the staff. Came in with a little girl I was babysitting who has both special needs and special dietary needs- it was a hot day and I wanted to get her some ice cream. Because she can't do dairy, I thought it would be a cool idea to try Borrowed Earth. Well first of all there was one table in the whole place and it took about 5 minutes before any one of their 3 staff members (that I saw, anyway) came over to help us. I asked about their vegan ice creams and he said that they had sold out and he kind of jumped at me, saying I should call first before I came in. I never said it was an issue that they didn't have any so I was a little taken aback by the attitude. I then asked if he had any other cold sweets. He said they had a vegan cheesecake. I said, "oh.." and just kind of zoned out for maybe 30 seconds and paused to think about whether my girly would eat the cheesecake or if it would be wasted. In those 30 seconds, two things happened: (1) my girly walked away and stood by the door to watch a train come by (2) the man at the counter had already started trying to wrap up a cheesecake even though I didn't agree to buy it yet. When I came back to reality, I asked him how much the cheesecake would cost. TEN FREAKING DOLLARS for ONE piece of vegan cheesecake. I said, no thanks buddy. He looked definitely aggravated because he had to put the piece back. I then asked him something about gluten and commented that I didn't really know what gluten was. He snorted/laughed and said, "it's wheat." I don't know why I kept talking at this point but I asked him about something else on their menu and in the middle of me talking (literally, in the middle of a sentence), he cut me off and said, "You might want to make her stop doing that." Referring to my girly looking out the window at trains and gently tapping the wind chime on their door to hear the noise. Then he interrupted again, "It's very fragile." It all sounds very innocent but I assure you, with his attitude and looks of disgust they were more than nice requests. So here's what I have to say to him: All right, hippy dude. First of all, did your mother teach you no manners? She is a girl. You can ask her to stop what she is doing. Or be a little bit nicer to her. You know, treat her like you would want to be treated. God forbid someone you know have special needs and force you to interact with a "subhuman," which I'm positive is what you viewed my girly as. Second of all, WHY WOULD YOU PUT A WIND CHIME ON YOUR DOOR (which slams open and close all day) IF IT IS SO FRAGILE?! I just grabbed my girly and left. Very unhappy. As a 21 year old who has been a vegetarian for 9 years and was at one point vegan (AKA: someone who fits in to their target demographic), I will not ever return.
(1)Bethany S.
My third visit here, and I think I can safely say I'm a fan. I don't love all their entrees, and I wish they put more of the yummy dressing on the otherwise plain salads, but I do find the Sweet Potato Quesadilla to be delicious. If you haven't eaten many raw meals before, I recommend getting something that doesn't have a common equivalent in real life, like lasagna or chili, because then your brain won't expect something cooked. Keep an open mind and you might be surprised. I also have loved all their desserts, including the "ice cream" and "cheesecake". My favorite part is probably the ambiance. I recommend sitting in the bar area, which I finally did on this last visit. You can watch the cooks (who are also the owners, a fun married couple) do their thing, and if it hits a lull Bobby might entertain you with some funny stories. I think I'd come here often if I lived nearby!
(4)Sabby H.
Went back here for dinner on a whim. Food was excellent - had the Jimaca Chili Fries and my husband who was very suspect of the entire concept ended up loving his burrito. The salads are excellent. For dessert we had the German chocolate cake - amazing. The frosting was made with whipped avocado and Cacao. The "cake" itself was so good with raspberries laced throughout. I'd come back just to eat this cake. Service was improved - the hippie owners were nice and engaged with us about the food we were eating.
(4)Crista L.
On my third attempt to visit the Borrowed Earth Cafe, I finally have an opportunity to eat there. The first two times I tried, the place was closed. ((Closed on Mondays)) Maybe the owner didn't realize that I come from 40 miles away, I'm on my third attempt, and I'm really excited to finally visit her restaurant. When I walked through the door, I was greeted by a monotonous, humdrum, boring hippie who wanted to know: "dining in or taking out?" I looked over the menu and asked for recommendations. The lady couldn't offer any. "Everythng on the menu is equally liked," she said. Couldn't offer a dessert recommendation. She took my order as quickly as possible and tried walking away before I could finish. (I was the only person there) She never smiled. Never thanked me for visiting her cafe. I will admit that the food was amazing, although pricey (even for raw food.) I can appreciate the cleanliness of the place as well. I noticed a sign that mentioned a book about the couple who started the Borrowed Earth Cafe. You can read all about their story. There is no way in hell I'd purchase a book about someone so rude, discourteous. Would I visit the Borrowed Earth Cafe again? Sure. Exclusively for the good food.
(3)James D.
Really tasty and fresh raw food . But the poor service would not make me a return customer. The hippies/hipsters seemed bothered to serve me.
(2)Sasha R.
It was so nice to be able to order anything on the menu and know that it is healthy.I enjoyed some appetizers. I really liked the mushrooms and the green drink. Also really enjoyed the turtle cheesecake. For me it is totally worth it to spend more for quality.
(5)Kymberly J.
I wasnt too impressed by this place since raw food isnt something I have ever eaten I'll have to give it another shot. I had the "gyro" plate. The flaxseed wrap was amazing but the filling was a bit too salty. Whatever spice or salt they used took over. So the filling was over powering and the hummus sauce was also a bit too much. I like spicy food and I love hummus so what gives? The staff was really cool and very apologetic for being out of the soup special (uhm....7:30 on a friday night and youre already out?).
(3)Sharon V.
Yum and double yumyum. If you are a cool tree hugging healthy person, then you will find this place most groovy! This is my detox through nutrition place, this is my place to always find something delicious for my tummy and my soul. I go into Borrowed Earth and ask what is good, they surprise me with fabulous entrees each time! Danny & Kathy give me a new favorite each visit! Check it out and hug a tree!
(5)Casey T.
I had been eyeing this place for awhile, so on our anniversary my partner and I decided to give it a try. I'm vegan and gluten free, he is not, but he's a good sport and really loves healthy food. We were very happy with everything we had! The food was incredible and our server was very nice. It's just refreshing and so necessary that there is a place like this in the suburbs. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was the price. We completely understand that whole, organic, healthy ingredients cost more, but this will probably be a once or twice a year place for us instead of a once or twice a month restaurant.
(4)Jeff K.
I found this place on yelp about 1 year ago and have been meaning to try it ever since. I eat vegan and I took my two coworkers who are not vegan . Food was delicious, but a bit pricey. Entrees are about $15-$17 but do include a lot of food. The food: I had the pizza which is a slice of "pizza" which really is a nut crust with soy cheese, kale and tomato sauce. It does not taste or look like a pizza but it is very good. It also comes with 3 salads that is all greens which includes broccoli, kale, spinach and some dressing, also delicious. My coworker had the quiche and his plate looked very similar except his quiche was in a different shape. Also did not taste or look like a quiche but was delicious. As a FYI, the environment is like they are trying to be as stereotypical of a vegan as they can. The music is very hippy, they have a plug in water fountain and the two people there are full out in dreadlocks. It was relaxing but honestly a little weird and I am a VEGAN. So if you go there, note you are getting extremely fresh delicious vegan food. The food will not taste like the name but it will be delicious. If you are not a healthy eater, vegetarian or vegan, I suggest you to pick another place. I liked it and will return next time I am in the area.
(4)J J.
I went here with my sister, and as an FYI we are both vegetarians. She brought me there as a surprise lunch. Finally a place veggie friendly. We ordered the perogies as an appetizer. They were good. Tasted fresh and light. For my entrée I had a special, chile rellenos. It wasn't exactly bad. I was eating a pepper. That's about it. Its not that the food wasn't cooked, it was that to me there was no passion in the food. There was no build of flavor or change. The same thing every bite. I'm also not exactly sure why this place is so expensive. I buy organic vegetables so I know they're a little pricey but the profit margin is pretty ridiculous here. The service was also below average. We both felt a little unwelcome.
(1)Joe S.
This is a Raw Vegan restaurant - not just a Vegetarian restaurant. So if you can handle that, you will be impressed. Omnivores approach with this mindset: what can really be done without meat, dairy, or animal products of any kind? The menu is extremely creative and I came out of the restaurant feeling like a Super-Human Green Machine after enjoying the "spinach quiche". The salad dressing was amazing. The quiche was a little grainy (nuts). It's not cheap, each selection costs at least $15-$25. But, I guess it's pretty expensive to keep all that fresh produce on hand. If it was more reasonable, I'd return more often. Service was adequate. Restaurant has an open kitchen with cool and stylish "tree-hugger" decor. (You'll understand when you get there). Only 2 complaints: 1. PLASTIC water carafe and CUP? Really??? Not so tree-hugger. Go glass my friends. 2. Lack of drink options. How about some fruit infused water as an option other than plain water served in a cup or the juice bar?
(4)Stefany S.
I stopped by Borrowed Earth with my boyfriend when we were in town for a concert. I don't eat a lot of raw, but I am vegan & after doing a Google maps search, this was one of the few places in the area that is all vegan. The food is excellent. We started with the stuffed mushrooms, which were to die for! Such great flavor. I got the Lasagna & the bf got the Spinach/Kale Quiche. Both were delicious. I wasn't expecting a layered pile of veggies to be called Lasagna... it could have just as easily been called a chopped salad, but it was good & I would order it again. For desert we got the cheesecake, and it did not disappoint. We had plenty of food to take with us, and didn't have to buy dinner at the hotel before we went out that night. The owner was really chatty & funny, kept us rolling with stories and jokes. Sure it's expensive, our meal cost $57.16 with tax. I guess if you are the only raw vegan place anywhere near Chicago, you can charge whatever you want. I would go back again if I was ever in the area.
(4)N S.
My husband and I recently started eating more vegetarian as much as possible and decided to try out borrowed earth cafe. Still eating some meat, this was quite the leap! The food was very different tasting but in a good way. I'm a nursing mother and am never full, but after I had the earth burger and salad I wasn't only totally stuffed for the first time in a long time-I felt amazing. Everything is so fresh!! The only thing I wish was that is wasn't so expensive-but that's organic food for you! Try it out!
(5)Christina M.
Borrowed Earth Café has a decent menu with plenty of delectable items. I ate here for the first time recently and sadly they didn't have the Lasagna that I had really wanted to try. So I opted for the "Gimme a Gyro" instead; I thought it was good, but I liked my two side salads better, there's something about what they used as the gyro meat that was slightly off-putting to me, but I still ate it anyway - I want to emphasize that the side salads were amazing! For dessert I got the raw chocolate/vanilla pie - it was really good. The prices are the norm for raw food places, for two people (two entrees, an appetizer, and a dessert) you can get away with spending less than $50. I think it's worth it in moderation. :)
(4)Bob G.
QUICK OVERVIEW: I've grown weary of the attitudes from the owners almost every time we've been in. I usually don't write up reviews for places unless they're either amazing or absolutely suck. We've eaten there a handful of times and I'd say 1 out of 6 times was a pleasant experience. True Story! PRO: Food tastes pretty darn good and the portion sizes are good. The atmosphere is pretty good too, even though the place is small, it's quaint. CON: The food is pretty good yes, but DEFINITELY NOT WORTH THE PRICES they charge. I drive 40 minutes to get there from St. Charles. The last trip was just a couple days ago. We like eating raw vegan when we can. Also my wife and I don't get out much, just the two of us, with our schedules. So getting an appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, and waters costed us over $80!!! PLUS the gas to get out there that was an expensive night just to have a piss poor attitude from the restaurant owners. I'm not trying to be cheap here either. We've spent more than that at restaurants and had a great time without feeling any issue about spending that kind of money. We weren't even greeted when we came in at first. Danny (owner) was just talking from behind the counter area to a table, quite loudly, and didn't even acknowledge us. His wife Cathy then said: Sit wherever you'd like. So we did and as we walked past Danny I said hello and he didn't even look at me or say anything. Now I'm not being over-sensitive here either. The exact same thing happened when I said good-bye. Yep I had to be the one to say "good-bye" or we would have just walked out without any acknowledgement. This is a small maybe 1,000sq ft place that's wide open enough for them to see anyone in every spot. CONCLUSION: Overall Danny enjoys expressing his opinion and hearing himself speak. Sure he listens to you in a conversation, but it almost seems just enough to again place his next strong opinion. Anyway, make your mind up for yourself, but in my opinion we probably will not go back until reviews on here about their attitudes begin to be better. Keep reading and you will see that I am not alone.
(2)Shannon M.
I'm not vegan or even vegetarian, but I wanted to check out this place as a dining option for when my best friend comes to visit (she is vegetarian). As first glance I thought they were trying a bit hard to cultivate eccentricity with the oddball hours (10:57am-9:03 pm??) but I figured I'd just roll with it. The restaurant is miniscule, only a few tables, plus a small patio; since it was a rare nice day this summer I opted for the latter, and my meal was serenaded with kids hyped up by ice cream from Every Day's a Sundae down the block and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Amtrak trains blowing by on the adjacent tracks. My waitress was pretty curt, for whatever reason, which didn't make me feel terribly welcome. Still, I pressed on with my order: clove iced tea, a daily special of pineapple-cucumber gazpacho and a homemade garden burger with jicama "fries" and a side salad. The good things: The cup of soup was pretty big, and was quite tasty, a nice mingling of fresh flavors. The clove tea looked pallid in color but packed a decent spicy punch, particularly toward the bottom of the glass. The side salad tasted good, with a green goddess-esque dressing (reminded me of the Moosewood green goddess recipe) and wee shavings of what I suppose was vegan "cheese"? The jicama "fries" were nice and crisp, rather like a blander apple; whatever spice was coloring them didn't seem to pack any heat, though. My only beef, as it were, was with the burger. A walnut and carrot-based patty sounded good, and it tasted okay, but the crumby texture kept disintegrating: part I was holding would erode away as I ate another part. The bun didn't do much for me either, a sort of mealy, pasty texture. Also, I asked for none of the raw catsup (I'm not a tomato person), which they didn't give me, but in its place was put something white (veganaise, perhaps?) which wasn't listed in the description on the menu, and which also got all over the place and made the patty slide around between the two buns, as it was slathered on both sides. I'll have to pass on this dish in the future. Overall, 4 stars on the food and 2 stars on the service rounds out to three stars in total. I'll bring my visiting vegetarian friend and may return on my own.
(3)Tim V.
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were going to the ice cream store next to Borrowed Earth, and overheard a middle-aged dreadlocked woman outside the restaurant complaining to a couple of patrons that they were having trouble attracting customers. About a week later, we were going to lunch w/ a vegetarian friend, and decided on this place. I'm not a vegan, and didn't know exactly what I was in for- but that's ok. I like to try new things, and if I don't like it then so be it. This review is not for the food, but for the staff. When a customer comes in, and there's no one else in your restaurant, it's just common courtesy to look up from what you're doing and greet them. The same dreadlocked woman I'd overheard complaining about bad business never looked up and I had to get her attention. She proceeded to tell us, somewhat abruptly, to sit wherever we wanted. From then until the food came out, the few interactions with her were cold, abrupt, and with zero eye contact. Our appetizer was brought out by a middle-aged dreadlocked man, also w/ very little personality. But whatever, at least he wasn't rude... that is, until he brought out our meals. He comes out and just stands there next to me not saying anything. I assume he forgot which meal I'd ordered, so I tell him "I had the gyro." He replies, "I know, I'm just waiting for you to move that plate." What?!? Isn't that his job? At least ask me nicely to please move the plate over. This place left a bad taste in my mouth, and not just from the food. I hope the staff read this review so it's no longer a mystery why their business is poor. Bad service=bad business.
(1)Thom Z.
I can't say that I particularly love the food in this establishment, but this is coming from a well establish meat eater and appreciator of comfort and southern food. To me, heaven is grits and biscuits and gravy. That being said, I have to say that I greatly appreciate and respect the establishment's credos and ethics. The salads and dressing are extremely delicious and fresh, something that I absolutely loved. The raw food aspect of the main courses didn't enthuse me much, as a "cold burger" made of a patty of vegetables and fiber didn't sit with me too well. The patty was actually rather good, but the bun was hard and bland. The sauces were all delicious. The appetizers are actually very good, as well. The stuffed mushrooms ranking at the top of my list. I'll definitely visit again to try more of the menu to try and find something I can eat more regularly. Definitely a great find and a unique restaurant that's worthy of at least one visit by any foodies in the area and an interesting addition to the quickly booming downtown Downers. My hat goes off to the proprietors of Borrowed Earth Cafe.
(4)Candice G.
Fantasmo BoBazmo. I could prob end this review right here but I'll go on because I see that a few folks didn't give it favorable reviews... Warning: if you've ever been to McDonald's and have uttered the words "super-size me", this may not be what you're looking for in cafe. I, personally, enjoy being thin, staying thin and living thin for as long as I can. I tried this place after recently becoming a vegetarian and realizing that there a ZERO veggie friendly places in my neck of the woods (Naperthrill). At the time, I had never eaten a raw meal before and was somewhat skeptical (planning a 2nd restaurant option afterwards if it were awful). I was, however, pleasantly surprised at the unique menu and thinking outside the box type foods. It really is insane all the flavors they put together to make these plates. My personal favorite is the burrito (with nut cheese--- tastes and looks much better than what you're probably thinking... get your mind out of the gutter) but the desserts and appetizers are great, too. I could eat Nori rolls for the rest of my life and be happy. Anyway, this is a true story... I became mildly obsessed with this place and found myself eating here every other day in the Summer. I had an event that I was attending and wanted to lose some quick lbs before by working out and eating healthy so I decided to pump up my eat here schedule and eat only raw foods for 1 week and see how it goes. I ended up eating from borrowed earth everyday for 7 days (they're closed on Sundays so I just ordered extra to go) and I lost 1 to 1 1/2 pounds each day. At the end of the week I was 11 pounds lighter than when I started (and I'm no fatty so it wasn't an easy task). Sure, I pooped nuts 10 times a day but hey, thems the breaks when you want to drop a few (in more ways than one). Also, eating raw made me feel so oddly alert and alive. It's not heavy and didn't make me feel like I needed a nap afterward. I love this place and if you're smart, you will too. I fully plan on eating more of it and pooping some rich nutty goodness this Summer. Also, parking is not an issue. There's tons of parking... unless you've never left the suburbs and are used to every storefront having their own parking lot. And it's defo reasonably priced. meals range from $8- $14 and the nice thing is that unlike most fatty restaurants, you aren't hungry again 2 hours later because your body hasn't received the nutrition it wants. Give it a try, be ready to eat outside the box. If you're coming from the city or lacking transportation, the Metra is a mere few steps in front of the building. There's no excuse not to try.
(5)Courtney O.
Okay, let me start by saying the raw cheesecake could give me a moutgasm in about two and a half seconds. It is AMAZING. I want it right now, tomorrow, next Tuesday, and ten years from now. The owners are awesomely friendly and open to chatting it up with their patrons, and the food is unique, perfectly fresh, and healthy as it comes. So why the three stars? Well, listen. I've had less than five experiences with raw food in my life, but every other time, the food was brought to room temperature before serving. Not a big deal, but I have a hard time really savoring the colder stuff. My other complaint is that I felt the two salads I had were, well, a bit too oily. It's all personal preference, to be sure, but had I known this, I wouldn't probably passed on having them plated with the rest of my food. Love the concept, though--the suburbs are so limited in veg options (especially raw!) and I think this is a great asset to the DG. I'd just rather chow elsewhere, especially given the prices which are steep. But seriously--just get the cheesecake, okay? Just sayin'.
(3)Kathy R.
I really like coming to this place and the food is excellent. You do have to have an open mind. Everything is very crunchy--Be ready to actually chew your food! I'm not a raw vegan by any stretch, but I enjoy eating food that is good for me and feeling good after I eat it. Crista had mentioned in her review that the reception walking in was tepid and I agree that the owners could easily be perceived that way. They need to be prodded a bit to have a conversation. I go in too, when I'm one of the only people sitting at the bar area (which is my favorite place to sit, since I'm usually alone--it's a hard sell for most of my friends). I have to pull them into talking to me, but they are super friendly once they open up. I think that they mostly enjoy people who ask questions about the food prep and the lifestyle of "raw." They've given me great advice about purchasing equipment for my kitchen and will tell you the ingredients in anything they make. The prices are high, but for a good reason. EVERYTHING is organic and the prep-time on the dishes is about 3 times what traditional chefs do. I've been watching my health and cleaning up my diet. I can tell you that if you eat there, you will not be hungry for the rest of the day and you'll have much energy. My body really likes this food and I feel good the following day too. It's sort of a quicky detox for me when I'm feeling sluggish. My favorite dish is the gyros plate. They make a cashew hummus that is way better than the traditional one with cooked chickpeas. The "meat" is very filling and is made up of a tasty nut/spice mixture. They do a carrot wrap that doesn't necessarily taste like carrots, but it's a pretty orange color and looks great on the plate. I have always had some sort of dessert. The best one I've ever had there was a cherry/vanilla cheesecake. OMG!! Light, tart and so yummy! If they don't have cherry, try blueberry. It's just as good. Oh, and I LOVE the stuffed mushroom appetizer! Delicious! They get 5 stars from me because they do raw better than anyone else in the Chicago area. An entree and a dessert will run you 30 bucks. Worth the money and the travel time.
(5)Anemone T.
The service was great and the food was tasty. We had the gyro wrap, the veggie burger, the choco-latte, and the chocolate ganache. Like other reviewers, the seemingly higher prices at raw food places often catch my attention but then I remind myself how this is made-from-scratch food using fresh produce. It's important not to skimp on quality. A great find in the suburbs after a day at Morton Arboretum.
(4)Joyce W.
Two and a half stars. I wonder if the owners ever read Yelp reviews? First, the food is really yummy. One can tell that a lot of care and WORK went into the preperation. I think that is why it is so expensive. But the owners are so crabby and indifferent, that it makes me not want to go back. So if you want to try raw vegetarian, this is the place. Just be aware that you may be served by rude and surly owners.
(3)Jim S.
I've been here twice and absolutely loved it. It's all raw, mostly organic and local, and wicked delicious. The portions are fairly large, so two of us could easily split and appetizer and entree and not finish. Everything, even the cheesecake, is healthy and nutritious. I'm amazed at how full and energized I feel after eating here. I'm not a vegetarian, but I enjoy this place. I know it's not for everyone. If you don't like salads, and you like dipping all your fruit in sugar, this place will be an expensive experiment for you.
(5)Michelle J.
My vegan (sometimes raw) daughter and I (vegetarian) have eaten here several times since we heard about it early in 2010, and since then it has become one of our favorite restaurants. After experimenting with some raw cooking of our own, we understand why the food is expensive but remember it is all organic, very good for you and extremely filling. Other people have mentioned bad service but we have never experienced that. They are not overly friendly but polite. We have watched them explain to customers what type of restaurant they are when they were asked if they serve burgers and fries. If you want a quick sample, try their cheesecake or ice cream. Both are amazing and use a huge amount of raw nuts (which is why it is so expensive). We often take some cheesecake home for dessert later because we never have room left after a meal.
(5)Kris D.
Food was delicious! I had a "pizza" but it was nothing like a pizza. I think the naming is deceiving, but the dish was so good! It was hard to compare it to anything, but I guess it was most like a vegetable dessert pie with a creamy consistency. That is a weird description but it was good! They served a ton of food on a plate. Even though I was stuffed, we decided to split a piece of pecan turtle "cheesecake". It was so good, I was practically licking the plate clean! The two down sides are the price and the owners. It was $17.95 for most entrees. Can't eat here all the time, but great for a healthy meal out! As for the owners, they seemed like they were too busy to bother with you even though it wasn't particularly busy. They would walk away as they answered a question. The food came out fast and we never were waiting for them. They just didn't give the feeling like they wanted you there. Those two things aside, I would still come back for sure!
(4)Lisa W.
SO good. They make me want to take a class on preparing raw food - but boy is it easier just going there! You need to have an open mind, but everything they make is so flavorful and delicious - and very filling! They get very creative with their options, but I have to admit, my husband was more interested in the pizza and ice cream we can also find in downtown DG, lol. He was a good sport, tho, as I ate to my stomach's content. And the cafe is right next to "Every Day's A Sundae", so he was rewarded with some amazing ice cream! The staff was VERY helpful and sweet, I have had a few very good experiences there.
(4)Vladi S.
the food was great and my discussion with the owners about Baba Yaga was very inspiring!
(5)Patty S.
Imagine a place where culinary science is an art. Well, this is it! Borrowed Earth Cafe is definitely one of my favorite finds. The eclectic ambiance in conjunction with the unique menu provides a dining experience like no other. There are many different dishes to choose from and their specials are out of this world. One of my favorite things are the "fries" that are actually a vegetable and served with a puree of goodness. The salad that comes with the special is incredibly delicious! Everything was perfect! I had the portabella mushroom burger (which actually the mushroom is the bun for the entree) and my mom ordered the Earth Burger. These meals were gluten-free and delicious! The presentation was visually enjoyable, too. The owners are extremely talented and they educate you on the ingredients of their meals. What a pleasure it is to talk about what you are eating. The desserts are gluten-free, too; however, I was too full to try any. My next adventure there, I will only eat half of my meal, take the other half home, and enjoy a dessert . In my next review, I'll share with you the flavors of their baking. But in the meantime, if you haven't yet tried Borrowed Earth Cafe, take some time to stop in and have a vegan culinary experience of a lifetime!
(5)Lee and Katey W.
I was SO excited to try this place as I like to try different foods. I convinced Lee to come even though he wasn't too thrilled about the raw food idea. They had a great menu and an interesting ambiance. The staff was nice and helpful...but we did not like the food. We got a spinach dip appetizer and some mushroom thing. Both are supposed to be served cold, which they were, but both dishes had very little taste. I got a lasagna type dish and their "nut cheese" tasted disgusting. Lee doesn't remember what he got and simply comments that it was "so gross." The only good thing was the apple pie dessert Lee had. It was layered with apples and some other yummy stuff. Also, a good concept to have an interesting raw food restaurant in the suburbs. We ended up going to whole foods after din to get something a little more satisfying.
(2)Ian E.
As someone who can't eat dairy, it's nice to go to a cafe where I can eat anything on the menu without worrying about what the ingredients are - and everything on the menu sounds fantastic. The food here is excellent, very healthy, and very different from anything else you can find in the west burbs - everyone in our group tried something different and everyone enjoyed their meal. It's a little pricey, but in a good location with easy parking and definitely worth a try. I will likely visit again as there's numerous menu items i'd still like to try.
(4)Pamela R.
Disclaimer: I've only been here once and willing to do a second visit if I'm in town so please don't take my review to the grave, things can change. It was expensive, there that's done, but it was good and filling. It was clean and that doesn't happen much with vegan/hippie style restaurants so I think the owners are very conscious of cleaniliness. They might not be the friendliest, but they try and the efforts with serving a healthy, tasty, and over-all clean feeling shine through. I'd try it again.
(4)Kedar D.
Borrowed Earth does a wonderful job with the presentation of their delicious raw food, as well as with the large selection, from comfort foods to more unusual fare. This is gourmet food with an edge; best of all, it's in the suburbs, rather than in downtown Chicago. Conveniently located in front of the Downers Grove train station, it makes it easy for city-dwellers to visit, as well as outgoing suburbanites. The decor is modern and well-done with ample seating and a cool bar area where you can watch the food be prepared. I am extremely impressed by all of their desserts, from their cheesecakes to their German chocolate cake to their peanut butter balls. The tacos were also quite zesty and tasty. For me, you can't go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu. One critique is that they serve a huge portion of side salads with each main course. With my lasagna dish, 75% of the plate was salad, and only 25% was the lasagna. While I like the fact that they give you three different types of salads with different ingredients and dressings, I'd rather have more of the main course than anything else. I wasn't a fan of the salads, which had too unusual a taste and smell for my likes. Borrowed Earth also serves unusual drinks such as yerba mate latte with nut milk. This is definitely not Starbucks, but it's certainly healthier and more innovative. The service is super-friendly. Prices are on the higher side ($11-15 for main dishes). Overall, I recommend this restaurant for its quality and novelty value. It's a gutsy, cool idea for them to open up in the suburbs and I laud them for it.
(4)Lindy A.
Awesome food for our first taste of raw food! It is amazing what they do with simple fresh food! We plan to eat here often! This experience has lead me to find out more about raw food cooking! I also loved the cooking class a friend and I took here! Amazing desserts! How do they do it!!! A+++ for Raw Foods! We will be regulars! A must try for everyone! Even my picky husband loved it! Thanks for all the time and creativity in preparing such awesome foods! Everything was so good we had over 6 different items on the menu just to taste it! All of them were outstanding! -Ken and Lindy
(5)Kimberly N.
Best vegetarian restaurant in the burbs! It's a good way to get people who don't love vegetables to eat them in disguise. Everything is so fresh and flavorful. It's a really unique restaurant and a big breath of fresh air. I totally believe in the raw lifestyle, This place makes it a little easier for people who don't have too much time on there hands to prepare foods.
(5)Kevin W.
All around Great. Owners are very nice and helpful. My food was wonderful and I wish I had a restaurant like Borrowed Earth Cafe close to my house. When I travel back to Chicago area I will make it a point to visit Borrowed Earth again. Thanks for sharing your passion.
(5)Cait A.
I really like the owners, Bobby and Kathy, they're about as down-to-earth as it gets, they provide good service, are very attentive and congenial; they're usually down for a good conversation, too, if you're open. They have a great story, you can tell they're living their dream and really believe in what they're doing, which makes for a pretty positive and even inspiring experience. I like that they have a bar here and you can kind of watch them prepare your food, which, by the way, is ridiculously tasty. They are definitely masters of raw vegan fare over here. I am no longer a raw vegan (just a vegan, for life!) and haven't been here in probably a year ish, but I really like this spot. Yes, it is super expensive compared to where you might normally be accustomed to dining, but it's important to take into consideration how labor intensive it is to produce these kinds of dishes, plus all of their ingredients are gluten-free and organic, which can't be cheap. This cuisine is made with genuine loving-kindness and good intent; it's palpable! My recommendations: cheese perogies, spinach-artichoke dip & crackers, stuffed mushrooms, kale-licious salad, planet pizza, earth burger, the I can't believe it's not an egg salad sandwich, and you MUST NOT LEAVE without trying their cheesecake.
(5)V.i.o.l.e.t.t.a. D.
I was just in tonight with a good friend of mine for our birthdays and I can't wait to come back :] I loved everything about this place; the food, the atmosphere, the service....all fantastic. Honestly, the gentleman that owns the place (alongside his wife) was wonderful, constantly coming back to chit chat with us about food and life. It was so nice to come across an establishment with good food and exceptionally warm service, really a breath of fresh air. My only woe is that I don't have enough money to eat here all the time. I love this place, if I could afford it, I'd be here 24/7 :] For din din tonight; she had the spinach quiche, I had the burrito and we shared "cheese" pierogies..then for dessert I had the strawberry "cheesecake" and she had the vanilla-choco "cheesecake". Total damage was $80+ with tip.....all well worth it.........one appetizer, two entrees and two desserts....and two VERY happy girls :p p.s. the dragonfly lights are awesome (as was that delicious broccoli, cauliflower, onion salad with that AMAZING house dressing...and I usually hate broccoli!!!).
(5)Meg B.
I'm always up for something new and my friend has been to this restaurant before. I got the pizza and she had the earth burger. Both were very good! We then had a slice of turtle 'cheesecake'. God bless that dessert. Especially considering I often avoid any kind of treat due to my body's hatred of dairy. It was amazing, and we had numerous moments of 'mmmmm'! I'm keeping a star to myself for having to deal with the absolute dull faces of the owners. I said hello, and the woman looked at me like I should just die. Note to the owners: you are vegan hippies. Does love and peace ring a bell? Though it did make for a conversation topic...maybe they just hate each other? Just smile-it makes your dreads look better. Our waitress was great, don't know how she deals with her mute bosses tho :\
(4)Maggie W.
I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food, so I'm always willing to try something new. So I tried this place one day for carry out. I got the sweet potato quesadilla, and it was delicious! And the side salads were also good! I love lettuce that is hearty and dark green - makes me feel like I'm really getting my vitamins. My husband on the other hand is not quite as adventurous as I am when it comes to food, although he's liked almost everything I've made him try (I still haven't won him over when it comes to Thai food). We went here for dinner last night, and let me tell you, his skepticism melted away pretty fast after he took his first bite! He thought everything was delicious. He had a pina colada smoothie to start, we shared the stuffed mushrooms appetizer, he had the eggplant parmigiana special and I had the Falafel. We shared the pumpkin "cheese"cake special for dessert. Yummy yummy yummy. The Falafel had some kind of coconut curry mango sauce on it - soooo delicious. This place has nice ambiance and I appreciate any restaurant that has outdoor seating. The only downside is the prices are a little steep. Our meal last night was $65 before tip. The entrees are around $18, appetizers around $9. I assume the prices are high because the food is high quality, and I can appreciate that, but I'm also on a tight budget and wish we could afford to eat here more often because the food is so healthy and sooo tasty.
(4)Jessica D.
Teeny tiny restaurant in downtown DG, near the train station and the Tivoli theater. Very well thought out menu. There was a group of eight ladies which managed to squeeze in the front room by the large window. Really great achievement to open a raw vegan restaurant in the western suburbs, so tremendous kudos to them! Each of the owners is also the server and cooks. Large see-through cooking area with two monitors so you can see how they do thei rmagic. Great appetizers, entrees, soup of the day, desserts, beverages... the list goes on. I went with my significant other unit (who's not vegetarian) but he still managed to sort of enjoy his thai coconut soup, fresh coconut beverage, and curry wrap. I had most of his soup, a green earth smoothie, and the far east on jicama rice. We finished with an unbelievable rainbow pie. YUM! I think this is really a God send and I plan to come as much as possible, even though it's on the pricier side because everything (I assume) is organic. Only four stars instead of five because the glass my husband was given when the water carafe was brought over had a lipstick smear on the rim, which didn't come off in the wash apparently.
(4)Liz O.
If you have never tried raw food this is the place to go. It is wonderful to have such a unique restaurant in the western suburbs. The food is usually good and depending on the chef it can be spectacular. I wouldn't always expect a friendly wait staff. They get pretty stressed when they are busy. If you are lucky enough to go on a slow day... sit at the bar because Danny has some really great stories.
(3)Xaxa H.
2 stars only because the food is ok. The customer serivce here sucks! Are you kidding me?? I've given the place too many chances. I don't get the good reviews, most of the food is a bit salty and certainly way over-priced for an uninspired raw menu. The staff has this totally indifferent attitude, seriously borderline rude. The hippie behind the counter made a negative comment about people from the South. No, I did not bitch slap the piss-ant, but I wanted to...hello, he doesn't know I've spent half my life in the South. The last time I was in he seemed to be arguing with the female on duty. Neither one of them cracked a smile or even said hello. I'll be back, once the place is sold and converted into a pizzeria.
(2)Samantha K.
Okay let me say that I'm not vegetarian or vegan. Currently, I'm on a detox diet and decided that this is the only place that I could eat in order to be true to my diet. I'm so glad I did! I literally just finished eating half my Planet Pizza. My first bite was weird. I'll admit that I considered throwing it away only because it's a lot different than I was expecting. After taking a few more bites I began to enjoy it. It's nothing close to the typical pizza. NOTHING. The three side salads that it comes with were delicious. The green house dressing tastes amazing. I want to know what's in it and make it for myself. Why did they lose a star? Price. I paid $17 for my meal. I guess you pay for what you get. Raw = expensive. Boo! I got my food for take out because I don't know anyone who eats raw vegan. And that's unfortunate.. I wish I were introduced to this earlier. The dessert looked amazing, but I'm not sure I want to pay $9 for a cheesecake. Maybe next time when I'm off this stupid diet. There's a bar like area for people to sit, tall tables along the wall, and the front dining area. (patio was closed.. for obvious Chicago reasons.) Next time I go, which will probably be in the next few days, I plan on trying the lasagna. Zucchini noodles?!?? Yeah, I'm excited. :] I love you Borrowed Earth Cafe. Love, your never-going-to-be-vegan customer.
(4)Frank R.
Have been back a few times since, and have not been disappointed. Again, just so you know if you're not splitting and want dessert, an appetizer, or both, you're looking at about $30 per person once you factor in tip. All worth it.for quality ingredients they use, organic whenever possible.
(5)Zanete S.
I usually don't like to give bad reviews. I rather say nothing. But, I couldn't shake off the awful experience we had at Borrowed Earth. We went there for our wedding anniversary. There were no other people, yet we didn't even get greeted. Had to wait for ever to be noticed. The owner had a smart-ass answer to every question I asked about everything and anything. I was annoyed. I feel sorry I chose the place. I could have made my own raw gourmet dinner and had a romantic evening at home. The food was nothing special. Mine is much better. Will never go back.
(1)Chris M.
Let me be the first to say, I am NOT a vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination. Still, my wife and I tried this restaurant when we moved to the area recently. Wonderful! Don't be put off by some of the weird sounding ingredients, listen to the wait staff's suggestions and dive in. They seem to hit the mark every time. Try it!
(4)H R.
A really disappointing experience...After seeing the fantastic Yelp reviews, I urged some friends to eat at the Borrowed Earth Cafe. We're all vegetarian so we thought it would be a good experience. Unfortunately all of the food was extremely unappetizing. We had appetizers and 3 different entrees and absolutely nobody enjoyed them. Worst of all, the final bill for 4 people was around $90! I feel bad giving such a low score because the owners and waiters were nice, but the food was really unappetizing. I've eaten at raw food restaurants before, and this was one of the worst.
(1)Chiara H.
You have to come here fully knowing what to expect. It's a vegan restaurant that serves raw food, so of course the lasagna is not going to look like a traditional lasagna. This is a great place if you have an open mind and a healthy appetite. The portions are huge and everything's fresh! The service's very good, too. I met the owners once -- very, very nice people.
(5)Brian D.
expensive but fresh and great. try the burito. dessert is bueno
(5)Sophia T.
nice raw food. i'm not a r-foody or i wasn't back then and i enjoyed my meal and dessert. i had pizza and brownie (?). a gem to the suburb arena.
(5)Shannon M.
Everyone should give this place a try at least once!! But don't go in thinking it is a typical cooked food restaurant! Everything is RAW! The owners do a fantastic job creating one-of-a-kind specialties that are not only a feast for the eyes, but also for the palate! Not to mention how fresh and healthy everything is! Do not miss the perogies, kale salad, and of course the desserts!! So glad to have these guys in Downers Grove!
(5)Selene D.
I'm simply amazed. My meat-eating man who pretty much lives off of mayo, sausage and white bread scraped his plate clean. He got the lasagna. He remarked 'I don't think I've ever eaten so many vegetables at the same time!' TRY the Holy Cacao drink if you're a chocolate lover! Richer than any chocolate milk or hot chocolate I've ever had...kind of like a thick Aztec chocolate...oooh, it would be good with a little cayenne in there, huh? I had the burrito...didn't really like the flavor of the tortilla, but I still ate it and it was still pure awesomeness as a whole. The people are not pretentious. You know how hard that is to find in the Raw world? The owner seems to spend extra time and attention on the people who come in who seem to be 'Raw-luctant', or who are first-timers. She kinda leaves you alone if you're used to it. But it's good, it helps people who unknowingly wander in there feel comfortable. for dessert, the banana-reese's ice cream with chocolate syrup was to die for...I will be returning before many a period to get my fix of that and the Holy Cacao drink. All in all, I was quite impressed. This was my first real raw restaurant experience. I was a little skittish, but now I really have my interest peaked. And I agree with Leanne, the portions were HUGE for raw food...I wasn't expecting to get so much. I didn't even finish half of my burrito; I had to take it home along with the rest of the blueberry cheesecake we ordered. I left there stuffed. Who woulda known?
(5)Greg M.
I happened on this place by accident yesterday. I had an interview in the area (got the job!) and saw this place while waiting to go in to get raked over the coals. After the raking I thought hmmm I could use a cup of coffee. Seeing the word cafe I thought they would have some espresso so I went in. Oh how wrong I was! Wrong wrong wrong! This is not a cafe as in coffee yumminess. This is a cafe as in peace, love, hippie, vegan raw food! OK normally I am an asshole (I admit it) but I thought hey ti's been forever since that vegan carrot cake so I should give it another shot. I was going to get the soup but opted for the kale-licious salad. I thought it was a funny name and didn't think much of it. That is until the salad was brought out to me and I saw what looked like hmmm pesto on the kale. I thought great I am going to have to choke this stuff down. Thank goodness there is a large pitcher of water for me to wash it down with. But let me tell you this salad is yummy licious! I almost wish I would have gotten another to go! The dressing on the salad was not pesto it was a tangy, tart but subtle sweetness to it. The only draw back to the salad and the whole experience was the price$15 and some change :( It was a mighty tasty salad but not for $15. Had I payed attention to the price I wouldn't had ordered it and went with a cheaper option. I can tell you that salad didn't cost any where near $15 and change with tax to make. Probably closer to a $1 and change. I would like to come back and try some of the other things but unfort the prices are going to be keeping me away. Eating healthy shouldn't be a luxury.
(3)KW W.
Borrowed Earth serves delicious food. I am mostly raw (especially in the summer months). When I go to this restaurant, I try to choose food that I don't know how to make at home. Their variety of salads is excellent. I've also done "take out" many times. (If you do that, make sure to ask them to put your take out container into a bag. You don't want anything to spill in your car.)
(4)Ash H.
YUM!!! I love this food---I wish I lived a little bit closer or that there were more than one location! Incredible, healthy alternative----I could eat here every day!
(5)Jay B.
I was stuck in Downers Grove waiting on a car repair when I found myself wandering the streets of a town I had never driven through much less thought of visiting. I came to a small strip mall and noticed a small cafe and decided to have lunch, because I saw on the window menu the had falafels, which I freaking love. I was also intrigued because I had never eaten at a veggie/raw restaurant before. So I got the falafel, which came with a side salad and jicama "fries". The falafel was unlike any other I had ever had. It seemed as though the falafel balls were not fried but baked. There was no techina sauce, but a cheese like topping along with a salad topping. The whole thing was wrapped in a giant lettuce leaf. Surprising taste from the norm but amazing none the less. The salad was bitter and tasted like raw cabbage and tart lettuce so I wasn't a fan at all. But the fries, oh the fries! Sweet and with a little bit of crispyness in an amazing vinaigrette/Italian dressing type sauce, oh yeah. The only thing that turned me off was the willingness to use recycled and recyclable containers but then the willingness to turn around and give a customer a single container with a plastic bag without asking if it was necessary. Why go to the trouble of helping the Earth, then throw more unnecessary plastic back onto it. Just my opinion.
(4)Margaret C.
As a vegetarian in the suburbs, the opening of this restaurant has been much anticipated. My boyfriend and I shared several different items (an appetizer, a wrap, two entrees and I dessert) and were pleased with everything that we tasted (try the carrot cake-wow!). The pairings of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and nuts are brilliant. This is definitely a destination for vegetarian/vegan/open-minded omnivores. The menu has great variety covering enough familiar territory that a non-raw diner wouldn't feel totally lost. You could easily spend just as much buying prepared items at Whole Foods-Why not instead support this locally-owned, eco-friendly operation. Also, you will be full and you will be satisfied. It's worth the trip.
(5)Wan D.
amazing food. its all been said in previous posts but worth noting again are the burrito and the vanilla chocolate 'cheese' cake! and whats more we felt great after eating our lunch!!!!
(5)Dawn B.
I should start by saying my husband and I are not vegetarians. Unlike many of Borrowed Earth's clientele, we eat meat - mostly chicken and turkey - but we've been known to grill up a steak or two. Processed foods? Yep, we've had 'em. I admit it - I like to tear into a bag of Cheetos once in a while. Everything in moderation, I say. Except at BE. If I could afford it (which is why I docked them one star), I just might eat here all the time. I felt so good after having a lunch special here the other day - I left without the headache I had walked in with. The food was so tasty - some really nice combinations of flavors, textures, sauces, and "cheese" - I had a pepper stuffed with nut cheese and it was the best meal I've had in a while. They fill your plate with several different "salads" of spiced, shredded veggies - very filling and not overpowering. They don't use a lot of onion, for which I am grateful - lots of veggie places fall back on onion and garlic to provide too much of the flavor, when subtlety is the smarter choice. Yum. Eat here, give it a chance. Oh - and I didn't feel stupid asking about the menu - what something was made of or how it was made. Explanations were offered with a smile and I felt zero judgment headed my way - which I found as refreshing as the food on my plate.
(4)Remus B.
I'm a guy that LOVES a good steak! Going to a Vegan eatery was not what I had planned on doing by any means. My friends and I had just finished running a road race and they had suggested that we go to Downers Grove and try this place out, because aside from being extremly healthy it was A-mazingly good food.. So here I am hours later writing a review that words won't be able to do justice to a place that I plan on going back to again and again!! Put it like this...The food (we tried multiple dishes and desserts) was UNREAL! The presentation of the food was world class, the owners and sous chef were from another planet in terms of kindness, service and explanations of how everything was made! We sat in the "bar" area where you can view your food being made! Talk about Fresh-Clean-and mind blowing flavors!! You can also sit in one of the many nice tables and watch two televisons showing (live cam) your food being made!! You can HATE organic this and that, be a Mortons steakhouse guy (like myself) and REALLY enjoy this place!! I will be going back time and time again!! A real treasure for all eaters in the Burbs!
(5)Food F.
My friend and I didn't like it, but if you are a RAW FOOD fan you might like it. We're not vegetarian but we generally like interesting veg food so I gave this a try. We sampled the burger & quesadilla and salads they came with -- each had unique flavors, but none of them I'd crave again except the macadamia nut sauce (which they called "cheese"). The biggest disappointment was that none of the items looked like "cheese" "quesadilla" or "garden burger". It would have been better if the menu used other names to describe each thing (eg shredded sweet potato wrap or veggie pate)
(3)Kyle B.
I'll be honest folks. I'm a meat eater, big time. But this place is awesome. The staff are total hippies but what else would you expect from the type of restaurant it is? The food is all very good and they're very creative with it. I've been happy with everything I've ever had here. If you are a closed minded fatass who's diet is dominated by fast food and other junk this place is not for you. If you are looking for a change of pace thats healthy, tasty, and fun this is definitely a place you should consider!
(5)Jan K.
On Friday nights, my husband and I usually get a slice of pizza before seeing a movie at The Tivoli, but I asked if we could please try this place, as I'd never experienced a raw food cafe. It was a HUGE mistake, on my part, because not only was it way overpriced for a plate of raw greens and a raw entree, but the husband and wife who own and run the business, cooking and serving, argued the whole time we were there, and were completely indifferent to their customers. bordoring on rude, and certainly unprofessional! Cost us $40 to be served mostly raw greens by grumpy people. Why go back??? Don't know how they stay in business, really...Sad.
(2)Sarah B.
I love this restaurant! Which is strange, considering I also love bacon. But anywho, I came here a while ago with my mom because we felt like trying something completely different, which Borrowed Earth is. It's all raw (the food kind, not the nude kind). I don't remember what we had the first night, but it was yummy, and we loved all of the salads. We came back again with my aunt after that. She had the pizza (which was awesome, wish I ordered it), I had the burrito (also awesome), and I can't remember what my mom had. But for dessert we got the blueberry cheesecake (though technically non-cheesecake is correct) and it was AMAZING. Their desserts are where they really shine. Everyone we've had is delicious, plus you never feel fat eating all this food. I'm looking forward to going back once I'm home after college graduation... (scary).
(5)Lauren M.
Whoa. I just ate here this afternoon and I was very impressed! I've eaten at a few other raw vegan places in my day (Karyn's downtown, Grezzo in Boston, and Soma Center in Lake Worth), and this was probably the best. It actually makes me realize that I was too nice with Soma Center's review. Definitely shoulda given that place three stars instead of four. But I digress. My mom and I had been aiming to try this place for quite a while, so I definitely was excited. I tried not to get my hopes up too much, though, since I didn't want to be disappointed. Maybe that strategy worked, or maybe the food was just plain delicious. We went inside and told the woman behind the counter (who I believe is the owner) that we were on a time crunch. She told us to sit anywhere, so we sat outside and enjoyed the sun. We split an appetizer of the pierogies, which were very good, and were delivered probably within five minutes of us ordering them. Neither my mom nor I really like conventional pierogies but these were great. They were wrapped in jicama and served with a small salad. For our entrees, my mom had the lasagna, and I had the sweet potato quesadilla. Upon one bite into the quesadilla I knew I had to give this place five stars. The "tortilla" was amazing. It had the perfect amount of tang and spice, and the "cheese" inside had some really good spice as well. I was really afraid that it would lean too much on the "cheese" and then be too heavy (see: Soma Cafe's raw tacos), but it was perfect. It also came with three different salads. One was like a coleslaw. One was made with collard greens. The third, my favorite, was more savory than sweet and made of broccoli and cauliflower. This is A LOT of food for a raw restaurant, so that, plus the fact that everything is organic, justifies the price to me. The dish even looked great on my plate. It had a dollop of "cheese" on top with some colorful spices. My mom enjoyed her dish as well, and I had a bite of her lasagna. It was really good! I haven't had lasagna since I became vegan about a year ago and it seemed similar to how I remember lasagna to be. She had three salads, though she had a cucumber-dill salad instead of one of the three that I had. Both of us took parts of our salads home to eat with our dinners. I wanted to save dessert, but we didn't have time. My mom was also shocked that I could possibly have room for dessert after our meal. Granted, she has a tiny appetite, but the food was filling. My mom thought that the waitress(/owner?) was a bit too curt with us, but I'm pretty sure that's just because we told her that we were pressed for time. My mom promised that we would return next week, and I really hope that's true!
(5)Arune R.
Yes prices are pretty high, but let's not forget it is raw vegan gourmet cuisine. And if you have not been you should definetely go, because it is AMAZING! I had a green smoothie the first time I went, and let me just put it this way, I think my green smoothies made at home are the bomb, but this.. well this was just out of this world good! Second time I went I shared a few appetizers and had another smoothie, I think we had the spinach and artichoke dip which was pretty good, but compared to the perogies -- well it just could not compare. I think I could eat those all day - everyday. The best filling in this world! Definetely recommend this place to each and every one wondering if they should go!
(5)Shannon B.
EAT HERE! Seriously. The food is great and the owners/staff are really wonderful. This place is the exact opposite of Karyn's- its warm, inviting and you are treated like a guest, not an intruder. I want to stress this because if you are new to raw, feeling comfortable makes the experience so much better. I'm taking the risk of sounding flaky here, but the place just radiates good vibes. You can tell they love what they are doing and are happy. They also have an open kitchen which is great, because you can see the food being prepared fresh for you and the smile on their face while they do it. The portions are huge and the food... oh the food.... The burrito is awesome! It has just enough heat and the wrap is amazing! I am considering taking a class there just so I can learn to make it. The Gyro is also delicious, the spices are perfect. There salads are too yummy for words. The chocolate raspberry cake they have is spectacular. I had to convince my fiance it wasn't a traditional cake. It was rich and creamy. This place it worth the drive out of the city. Is it crazy to relocate to be closer to a restaurant? Because I'm considering it.
(5)Kim M.
If you are a vegan and into RAW food - then this place is definately worth checking out. The food is really amazing. It is very pricey; however, using the products the do - I don't think there is any other way to make it work and be profitable. My ONLY complaint is Kathy - almost every time I have been there she is rude and uninterested in her customers. Danny is a nice guy and pretty friendly. If you have kids - DO NOT TAKE THEM THERE! They obviously have no children and dislike kids being there. I will continue to go there. i just wish that Kathy changed her attitude. I think if she were friendlier to customers, that place would be an absolute hit!
(4)Court R.
I've been meaning to write a review for these guys forever. You have no idea how thrilled I was when I discovered this place years ago as a vegetarian trying to go raw. As anyone who has tried the transition knows, going out to eat soon becomes a dreaded event instead of what should be considered as fun. So imagine my joy that I had found a restaurant out in the west suburbs that I could eat at without having to worry about ingredients, etc. This is run by great couple who are very active in the raw community and educating people about the benefits of the lifestyle. But the best part is their food is great. I've had their salads, cheesecake, green drinks and their raw version of pizza so far. Their homemade house dressing was a pleasant suprise - it was so good! And that is saying something coming from a gal who never uses dressing on her salads at home. I definitely make an exception for theirs, they need to bottle it up. Its a little pricey but that's because everything is organic. I pay just as much in organic restaurants in LA. Although its a small price to pay because I'm not a big fan of pesticides and GMO. I really recommend them, especially in the summer as they have outdoor seating and cool food is easiest for non raw eaters in the hot season.
(5)Renee B.
Love love love it here. The sweet potato Quesadilla is my favorite. The salads are awesome, and dessert specials are a true treat.
(5)Michelle Marie R.
I was so excited to try this great vegan cafe right in my very own home town! My very experienced vegan friend and I went in with huge smiles on our face! Sadly...we did not get a very warm welcome? I almost felt weird as if the staff was looking at us thinking 'these girls don't fit in here'. It was New Years Eve and we wanted to do something special! What better than a vegan meal!?! So we ordered the spinach artichoke dip and it was just way too salty for our taste. Without suggesting another dish, our waitress said very harshly 'I will take it away'! We didn't mean it personally! She then returned twice to inform us that she had made it herself and put just the right amount of salt, stating perhaps we were not used to this type of food. I am vegetarian and my friend has been vegan for almost ten years. Entrees...were delicious...salads as well. Not 16.95 well, but it's their right to price the entrees as they see fit. I would never dine there again due to the poor service, except when the whoping check arrived it was all smiles. I would however do takeout if the prices were more reasonable or if perhaps a 16.95 entree could feed two people. Good food, bad attitudes, unrealistic prices.
(2)Robyn C.
Interesting, very interesting. This place is different and not just the food, but the workers, although very nice, are very interesting. My hubby and I went to try it out and it was pretty good especially considering i am a pretty soft carnivore. Soft in the sense that I, at least no longer eat red meat, otherwise I would call my self a hard core carnivore... HA! Anyway, if you aren't used to eating food like wheat meat or other meat substitutes, I wouldn't recommend coming here (until you are). So many people say that meat substitutes taste like the real thing, but honestly it does if you've been eating it for a while, but the first couple mouthfuls of fake meat sometimes taste pretty bad. So to get back to the food, my hubby ordered the special, zucchini pasta with pesto and I got the gyro. His was really good, but the $20 price tag to me is not worth it for like 4 shredded raw zucchinis and sauce. My gyro was okay, I think I expected something like wheat meat and it would be warm and it was $16, not really worth the price as well. Instead it was a brick of something that had nuts and spices in it. It was room temperature and can't even be called a meat substitute. The hummus was pretty good though and the zucchini wrap had a kick to it. What is really good were the 3 side salads that came with it. I would come back and just order that alone. They wouldn't really be able to sit big parties of 10+ the place is kind of small, but they do have a nice outside patio, but the sound of the train would be a turn off for me. We ordered their cheesecake dessert. This was pretty tasty considering it was made of nuts and no dairy. It too was pricey at $10/slice. The price is a turn off, but I guess that's how it goes, if you want to be healthy, you have to be ready to shell out the bucks to do it!!
(3)Joy R.
Well, I read reviews and heard testimonies from people but I actually experienced it for myself today and suffice it to say... it was amazing. I had the falafel and my friend had the Spaghetti pie with three salad special. It was wonderful. We culminated the meal with a scrumptious piece of berry 'cheesecake'. Lord have mercy! Talk about delicious. Now, it's far from inexpensive. Our meal was $59.00 but it was worth every penny of it. I will go back. Took a piece of turtle cheesecake for my "non- raw eating" husband. Bet he will be more than pleasantly surprised. See you soon Borrowed Earth Cafe
(5)Gabrielle S.
Amazing. Fresh. Delicious. And healthy? Yes. Yes. Yes. And YES. Loved every minute of my meal. All the salads were imaginative and tasty and exotic. That was their strength. They even got my 3 year old to try her vegetables. THAT'S something. We got to sit at the "bar" and watch them prepare the food which was fun for us all. Even my meat eating Aunt liked it. Very light and fresh and I felt energized and good after I ate. It's not cheap- but it is very worth it for the fresh ingredients and peace of mind. Instead of a food coma, I actually felt awesome afterwards. And full. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Rebecca C.
Yummy, yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy! What a nice find in Downers Grove! My friend and I stopped in there for dinner tonight after a day trip to the suburbs. This little gem has it down. I had their special empanada with three side salads of everything I love to eat. Save room for the truffles, and skip the bag, because they won't last the walk to the car. Perfectly located across the street from the Metra, which is a no-brainer from the city. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Z O.
Amazing, healthy food with excellent service! You feel like you've done your body good after eating here. I am quickly becoming a regular and my eating habits are much better. Desserts are delicious! Check out their website, the owner's story is pretty cool!
(5)Enna S.
I am allergic to eggs, and I tried their faux egg salad. It was seriously the best thing I have ever eaten. EVER. I am not big into the vegan/raw movement, but this place is excellent.
(5)Rita G.
I come here whenever I am in the area. The food is great. One of the reviews hit it when they said not to order something that makes you expect a lasagna or pizza dish. I crave the salads, even good in the winter! I have not found any problems with the service. I have heard some very rude people come in, ask pricing, then are offended by prices. Really? Also unsupervised children...well we all have dealt with that. Maybe that lady needs to watch her kid, not expect the owners to supervise them. Take the reviews as you wish, but I am a fussy foodie, do like meat occasionally (from local farmers), but can still appreciate good vegan raw food. The desserts are to die for, no matter who you are. The owners are friendly, and knowledgable. I guess the Michelin review says it all.
(5)Julie A.
I love food, but I am picky. I stop here when someone tells me we are going to dinner at applebee's or a chili's. I am a meat eating girl. I love meat, But I also know everything is good in moderation, and those resturaunts will kill your arteries. Everything here is fresh. You get full without filling like you have eaten to much and need to nap! Your body feels fresh and good from this food. Your taste buds will also be pleasently suprised. Guacomole is raw food, so think of it that way! Give it a try. First timers should go for the burrito and cheese cake! If you like salads, try their signature salad dish with 6 diff salads on the plate. The owners are a very nice couple with a great attitude and a sense of humor.
(5)Jason D.
If you are a vegan or raw eater, you can find much better food in Chicago. You might have to go to the city, but that is no excuse for eating the garbage that you find in this restaurant. An entree for one person is going to cost upwards of $15.00 and pretty much anything you order will arrive as a plate full of salad. If that is not bad enough, if you tell them that you are not satisfied with your meal... you will be responsible for the full bill anyway. I can't imagine how any business could get away with having a horrible product and treating customers like crap. Avoid it at all costs!
(1)Stef F.
This is review #2. The better review. This review comes with a little more knowledge regarding raw food, and appreciating how much effort is put forth into food that actually tastes like the "real" thing but healthier. Did I leave full? Check! Did I leave with a doggy bag for tomorrow? Check! Did I leave happy? Hells yea, I did! What we ordered.... Appetizer: Perogies at $7.95. 5 star. Amazingly flavorful. Entree: Burrito at $14.95. 5 star. Spicy and I wish I'd ordered it. Entree: Spinach Frittata at $14.95 4 star. Good flavor, but became repetitive and I was jealous of the Burrito. Dessert: Chocolate/Vanilla Cheesecake at $7.95. 4.5 star. Huge piece. We couldn't finish it. Pretty tasty. Think the Berry Cheesecake would have been better though. Overall, we didn't get plowed at dinner like we usually would. I have healthy leftovers for tomorrow, and a ton of them at that. They really have a lot of flavor with their food. And I didn't feel like a fat-ass stuffed pig when I left. So heck yea, I'll go back.
(5)PoopMama ..
I had been wanting to try this place ever since we moved to the area. My kid wanted to go to the train restaurant next door, so I thought I'd pop into Borrowed Earth and get something a little healthier for myself, to go. Unfortunately, the guy working there was giving off some major bad vibes. He was so rude to me, and made me feel so unwelcome. It really hurt my feelings. Thankfully the woman was a bit kinder. This experience bums me out because the food was so thoughtfully prepared, and delicious! The salad was probably the best restaurant salad I've had since living in this area. And the dessert (some chocolate pecan cake/pie thing) was amazing too! I really appreciate everything that goes into making the creative dishes this place offers, and I like what they're trying to do here. So if I'm ever in Downer's Grove again, I'll probably go give Borrowed Earth another chance.
(3)Leanne M.
The biggest portions I've ever seen at a raw restaurant. Yum to pierogies made of cashew nut filling & radish shells. Yum to lasagna and beet salad and almond chocolate cake. The atmosphere feels more casual cafe-- but the food is fancy and creative good fun! Bring your veg friends and try something new. Take the metra and stop at DG Main Street to eat here for date night, healthy family night, then for a movie at the historic Tivoli for $3 each. Details: Raw vegan is all the good stuff made in fun ways to remind you of your favorite foods but reincarnated. Made of nuts, seeds, veggies, and fruits-- everything (even the desserts) are super healthy. Lots is gluten free for those of you who need that too.
(4)Al D.
Ok... first off, full disclosure... I eat meat, have been eating it most of my life and will probably continue to eat it in the future (albeit it moderation). With that said, I picked this place for dinner b/c my Dad--who is a type 2 diabetic--has recently switched to a vegan diet to better deal with his diabetes. My parents were in town for the weekend so, my wife and I took them to this restaurant on Saturday night. The ambiance is very nice, there is a place to eat outside but it was a bit too chilly for us so, we had dinner inside.... it had a very nice warm/homey feel to it. We had the Dolmas for an appetizer, my Dad and wife had the Burrito Loco, my mom had the Falafels and I had the Bratwurst (special of the day). For dessert we all split the Cheese Cake. EVERYTHING was SUPER FRESH and the presentation of the food was excellent. After I added in a 20% tip the bill was $80. Both my dad and I loved the place, my mom was about 50/50 and my wife didn't really care for it. As a meat eater, I thought the food tasted great and I was pleasantly surprised. I plan to eat there again. I recommend it to people who have a curious palate and are looking to expand their culinary intellect.
(4)Julia B.
Amazing cake!
(5)Andrew K.
Most restaurants have some kind of theme, and/or specialize in a certain kind of cuisine. Borrowed Earth is distinctive in that it has an underlying philosophy and principle. Everything on the menu is "vegan", and furthermore "raw-vegan". The chefs have gone to great lengths to ensure this, including some creative innovations. The business is doing very well, and seems extremely well-organized and up-to-speed given that it was opened less than 2 years ago. We have to give a lot of respect to them for, literally, "putting their money where their mouth is". This was a bold entrepreneurial experiment by the owners, which has proven successful, largely on the basis of the courage of their convictions. A sampling from the menu: Entrees: Pizza, burger, frittata, burrito, lasagna, spaghetti. These are all basically emulations of common dishes. And that requires some imagination, such as the fact that the noodles are made from zucchini, and what would ordinarily be cheese is made from pureed nuts. Desserts: "Cheesecake", "ice cream", banana split, etc. (of course prepared without any dairy products). Besides dining in, the restaurant offers catering, classes on raw food cuisine, and other resources. It is true that one is paying a lot for food that has not much caloric value. Let's say you have a meal at Borrowed Earth consisting of an appetizer, entree, beverage and dessert (a reasonable and typical full-meal order). Including the gratuity this will cost from a minimum of $30, per person, up to $47 per person. Pricey. But one way to think about it is that you are participating in a specialized niche market, which requires equally specialized background knowledge on the part of the chefs. In particular, food safety given that the foods are uncooked. Also, carefully selected high-quality ingredients. And the portions are apparently larger than at most raw-food restaurants. The meal was filling, and we didn't even have an appetizer or dessert. So these are substantial portions without being high-calorie. A healthy choice. For many people, a craving for fatty, sugary foods to achieve a sense of satiety is the basis of a weight problem and all of the health problems associated with obesity. There is already an absolutely true real-life story of a man who lost 75 pounds over the course of 5 months, by adhering to a raw-food diet which he learned at Borrowed Earth. Remarkably similar to the story of "Jared", the weight-loss poster boy for "Subway" in their old commercial campaign. "Raw vegan" is not necessarily more healthy than "vegan" per se, or than other diets, it depends on how it is done. Whether there are additional health benefits to a strictly raw diet is almost a matter of faith, which is beyond the realm of nutritional science. Take any such claims with a grain of salt, and also weigh the disadvantages versus what you hope to gain from it. Eating here once will not "detoxify" you (the raw banana split unfortunately cannot cure your ailments). Eating here occasionally will do you no good if your diet is otherwise unhealthy. And you can't afford to eat here on a daily basis. But it's certainly interesting, and there may be a "take-home lesson" to be learned. Something as all-American as the "Hamburger and French Fries" is intentionally chosen as the model for a meal, and subjected to a reinterpretation, which demonstrates a point through its example. There is an expression "The proof is in the pudding": this is just good food, which speaks for itself. They are not making any outlandish claims about it in the menu or on their website. Philosophically, the vegan aspect is undoubtedly more important to the Borrowed Earth premise than the rawness aspect. For example there do exist "raw" advocates of a "Primal Carnivore" diet consisting mostly of raw meats. Whereas the owners would disagree. But the rawness is really what separates it from more typical vegetarian restaurants. Within Downer's Grove has a good location, with the option of dining outdoors on the patio. Has nice interior decor, excellent service and nothing but praise thus far for the owners and staff. If you are the one who wants to try "raw" in the first place, you won't be disappointed by Borrowed Earth, it's really tasty and the concept could not have been much better realized.
(4)Natalia S.
if you've never gone, its quite the experience! i felt healthier just eating there. everything was delicious. especially a fan of their shredded kale with mystery (amazing) dressing. had the veg lasagna, which i would recommend but i am SO coming back for that salad... also you must get dessert. it's tradition. looks like this place is a 2 person show, but the couple is super nice :-) so when it doubt, pay them a visit ;-) be warned it is a tad bit pricy, but think of the nutrients you are ingesting!!
(5)Traveling Foodie S.
I love this place. It's amazing what organic, vegan and raw food can taste. I have tried many of their menu items and never been disappointed. Their love and commitment to raw organic vegan lifestyle are reflected on the quality of food they make. I also took their class and was amazed how simple the food were to make.
(5)