pulse cafe: tomorrow

[thespian.livejournal.com]

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Somerville-MA/The-Pulse-Cafe/210782108571

also on their website: http://www.thepulsecafe.com/

they're opening tomorrow from 5 to 9 pm.

Ron would like you to know they're a vegan cafe (but not earthy crunchy, despite the wheatgrass shots: a look at their menu reveals a lot of traditionally meaty things, like a seitan-based gyro that I want to try), and they're at 195 Elm St., the former site of Joey's Thai Cafe.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Thanks for posting this! Can you edit it to include the restaurant's location (195 Elm St., former Joey's Thai Cafe location) and description (vegan restaurant)?

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I'm a little confused how "traditionally meaty things" work at a vegan restaurant...something's either meaty or it isn't, and vegan...isn't.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yeah, having eaten their food plenty of times, I'm a little baffled by it myself.

[ron_newman]

Baffled by the description or by how they prepare the food?

Pronoun/Antecedent Fail

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Oops, by the description. The food I quite enjoy. :)

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I think the OP means there are meat-like dishes/substitutes, although seitan is, in my personal opinion, not the best example of that.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

How can it not be obvious? Dishes that are traditionally prepared using meat (such gyros) are instead prepared using a meat-substitute that is vegan (such as seitan). The restaurant Grasshopper has been doing this for years, serving some vegan dishes that mimic the flavor and texture of meat-based dishes for those who like that taste but don't want to eat any actual animal products. Nothing new.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I didn't think it was a problem either. well, obviously.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I think there's an implied difference between "meaty" and "meat."

In the context of "vegan restaurant" then meaty would mean it has no meat but has a meatlike quality.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

"A food traditionally prepared with meat is instead prepared with a vegan protein, such as seitan, tempeh, or tofu."

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

OMG THEY HAVE BIBIMBAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Granted, without a fried egg on top, I'm unsure whether it will be as fantastic as the non-vegan standard I am used to, but OMG THEY HAVE BIBIMBAP!

And many of the "NG" options look fantastic, too.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Not to take anything away from Pulse (where I plan to be often in the coming months :) but did you know that Hana Sushi on Mass Ave has bibimbap? It's my favorite thing there. I just order it without the egg but in the clay pot. Fantastic.

(I haven't tried Bob's bibimbap yet, but if his other dishes are any indication, I'm sure it'll be amazing and I look forward to it!)

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I haven't been at Hana Sushi at all. (Mass Ave being so very far away and all.)

[teko.livejournal.com]

Wow, nice variety! Though honestly I expected a simple veggie take-out place; $11 for a seitan gyro, ouch.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

their dinners are quite affordable and in line with prices in the area; their appetizers, soups and salads are as well. But I am in agreement with you on the sandwiches being quite pricey. I'll try the gyro once, because it sounds great, but...I can get a regular, meat based gyro barely a block up for $6, or $7 with fries.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It's a little tough to justify, given that the meat gyro is made with quality lamb and beef and the veggie one's made of seitan... which can be made incredibly cheaply. Ditto the $11 eggplant sandwich, yikes. For those prices, I'll just go for an entree for $2 more.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

It'd be nice for things to be cheaper, but I also suspect Pulse is using higher quality (more expensive) veggies and other ingredients as well.

I've had their Reuben, anyway, and it was sublime.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Awesome, I'll give it a try!

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

If the sweet potato fries that come with it are good, then I feel better about the $11. Sweet potato fries can be kind of pricey other places.

Opening Postponed Until WEDNESDAY!!!!

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

According to Pulse Cafe's Facebook: "Not so good news. We will be delaying our opening until tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3 at 5:00. We have a couple minor things to correct to make sure everything is perfect. Hope to see you all soon!"