True Food Kitchen: Mindful Eating [Review]

Restaurant: True Food Kitchen

Address: River North | 1 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Phone number: (312) 204-6981

Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11am – 10pm

Friday: 11am – 11pm

Saturday: 10am – 11pm

Sunday: 10am – 9pm

Brunch: Saturday & Sunday | 10am – 3pm

Cuisine type: Urban Health Food Restaurant – Mediterranean, Asian, and Californian style cuisine.

Price per entrée: $$

Attire: CASUAL

Reservations: YES

Payment: CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

Two years ago, I made the decision to become vegetarian and along with that, set goals to form a healthy relationship with food that would fill my body with nourishing ingredients. Ever since making this switch, I have witnessed my eating habits change in drastic ways, all for the better. I started cooking my own meals and creative juices began to flow whenever I was in the kitchen. Healthy eating was integrated into my lifestyle and now, I can’t imagine my relationship with food being anything else but a journey towards maintaining optimum health. So, what does this have to do with a restaurant? Well, when you start paying attention to the foods you consume, the “dining out” experience becomes quite intimidating. At least it was for me because I didn’t want to be that girl at the table who modified every dish and questioned whether the effort going into her food would be genuine or not. However, in March 2019 this all changed when I walked through the doors of True Food Kitchen.

Located in Chicago’s River North, True Food Kitchen is an urban health food restaurant where eating well is never out of season. Their philosophy is deeply rooted in the idea that food should make you feel good, not worse. It all started with founder Dr. Andrew Weil, renowned physician and doctor of integrative medicine. The restaurant itself was founded in 2008 and since then, has championed Weil’s vision centered around the anti-inflammatory food pyramid. Chronic inflammation is a very real response given by the immune system, but it can be managed with a diet consisting of high antioxidant foods. For these reasons, the menu is influenced by Mediterranean, Asian, and Californian cuisines which cater to anti-inflammatory diet needs while offering a wide range of delicious meal options – from pizza and salads to sandwiches and grain-bowls, True Food Kitchen has a unique set of entrees.

One simply cannot talk about the magic that is True Food Kitchen and not mention the team of true chefs who are a driving force behind the dishes. Brand Chef, Robert McCormick, is greatly influenced by new ingredients and food combinations that require taking a leap of faith. As lead chef, he makes innovative discoveries within the menu his priority. Memorable dishes at True Food Kitchen wouldn’t be possible without the proper vision regarding how to cook them. This falls in the hands of Culinary Operations Vice President Michael Sullivan, who puts time and energy into making dishes highly personal. And last but certainly not least, Beverage Director Jon Augustin or otherwise known as “beverage wizard” inspires customers with his flavorful concoctions all the way from house-made teas to natural refreshers. This team, without a doubt, is a force to be reckoned with.

It’s easy to label a restaurant as unforgettable, but what makes it stand out? For me, it’s the food (duh, a given), their natural ability to cater to guests from every walk of life, the service, and how the environment makes you feel every time you walk in to have a meal. What makes True Food Kitchen so unique is the fact that it achieves all these points without trying too hard. The city streets of Chicago are lined with restaurants just waiting to give guests the experience of a lifetime. It can feel overwhelming at times, but once you find the place that feels like home… you’re golden. True Food Kitchen shows customers that delectable dining and nutrition awareness can go hand in hand without compromising the enjoyable flavors of a dish. Most importantly, their establishment treats every guest as an individual and recognizes that not everyone is going to have the same story when it comes to eating. Their menu caters to vegans, vegetarians, and even those who follow gluten-free diets. By following a mindset of “your way,” they ensure guests can customize a dish in any way they want or need it. Remember when I told you that eating out intimated me because I didn’t want to be a hassle with my food? Well, True Food Kitchen embraces the challenge of food modification and I never feel as though I’m burdening the chef with my requests. More and more restaurants have been making contemporary cuisine with a healthier twist and the going green trend has been rising to the surface. In a world where quite a lot can blend together, True Food Kitchen does everything it needs to stand out.

The first time I ever dined at True Food Kitchen was with my younger sister Emma, older sister Sarah, and her boyfriend Brandon. All I knew was that I wanted to try a great vegetarian restaurant with an innovative menu, and before I could get any other words out my sister knew just the place. It was a casual dinner, no special occasions, but we made a reservation just to be safe because we knew chances are it would be busy. I remember being greeted at the door right away from two sweet hostesses who offered to keep some of my shopping bags behind the front stand, so I didn’t have to mess with them at the table. I was very appreciative of this because often, people greeting you in restaurants don’t think twice about what you have going on. Once we all made it to the table we were greeted by our server in a timely fashion and she informed us about all the special items on the menu. She was incredibly kind, attentive, present, and made us feel seen. To me, this embodies strong service. This wasn’t specific to just her as every person working there was genuinely happy to be educating guests on the mission of their restaurant, their favorite dishes, and answering any questions one may have. I was also blown away by the options available and how it appealed to a wide array of people.

That brings me to the moment I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for… the FOOD. I love grain bowls and any opportunity to add more protein into my veggie-based diet, so when I saw the section labeled Bowls on the menu, I was ecstatic. I decided to go with the Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl which consisted of sautéed rainbow carrot, broccoli, bok choy, mushroom, brown rice, avocado, sprinkled with toasted sesame and tossed in a lovely coating of teriyaki sauce. For each dish, there is an option to add protein so naturally I went with tofu on mine.  

My younger sister isn’t vegetarian or vegan, and as in most cases, she gravitated towards the pizza selection. She has always been one to play it safe when we go out to eat because she knows what she likes and never gets disappointed by it. The Margherita Pizza is what she ended up on and a quick note here, there was gluten-free crust options offered, but my sister didn’t need to do that. I tend to judge restaurant quality based on her opinions as well because she happens to be a tough critic when it comes to menu items and when she got the pizza in front of her I could tell it made a good impression. It had that woodfired affect to it and a nice balance of crispy and fluffy texture. Size comes into question quite a bit with any dish but especially with pizza and this one was very decent in the sense it was large enough to keep you satisfied but not too large you felt wasteful. The fact that my sister loved it and found something she could enjoy is further proof that this menu can satisfy the hunger craving of anyone who gets the pleasure of choosing from it.  

My older sister Sarah is vegan and has been for well over 5 years now. I know from her personal dining experiences how special it is when she finds a restaurant that caters to vegans and showcases how many delicious options there are for meatless meals. Her favorite item on the menu is the T.L.T. (think vegan B.L.T) which comes with smoked tempeh, butter lettuce, organic tomato, avocado, vegan mayonnaise, and seeded grain bread. Each burger and sandwich come with a choice of cucumber salad, kale salad, or sweet potato hash. I remember loving how even something as simple as a side was different than your usual choice of French fries or a baked potato. This menu truly gives guests an opportunity to explore different foods and pushes people to be different with what they order. Sarah also struggles with various digestive issues and she loves eating at True Food Kitchen because of their mission to serve cuisines that cater to specific diet needs. When you can trust the food going into your body, it makes you appreciate the restaurant that much more.

A modern space with natural light and endless greenery – that is how I would begin to describe the ambiance of True Food Kitchen. It is a stunning environment consumed by bright pops of yellow and green. The wooden floors and tables provide a nice contrast and that farm to table concept is effortlessly brought to life. The back wall is lined with glasses, wine bottles, and plants to add some character into the room. I love how it represents the earth and pulls from the simplicity factor. Once you make it inside, you don’t want to leave and that is the feeling people should get when they go somewhere to eat. It isn’t pictured here, but they also have a wooden wall with the saying “Love Your Mother” painted in a deep blue underneath the Earth. So once again, this becomes the perfect backdrop for fun photos, and it accentuates the theme of what they stand for.

I don’t really see a strong competitor in the realm of full-service dining for True Food Kitchen because I see them standing on such a bold path individually. It could also be said that restaurants focused on this healthy lifestyle mission come to face challenges when competing in the market, however, True Food Kitchen has been successful and continues to grow as a chain. This doesn’t mean there aren’t other vegan friendly restaurants rooted in the city that follow this healthy lifestyle trend. Some that come to mind are Sweetgreen which is known for their salads and a mission of sustainability. There is also LYFE Kitchen which stands for “love your food every day” and they create feel good food from local farmers. Both places compete in a similar market as True Food Kitchen, but they carry different vibes when it comes to food and how the service runs. One of the biggest differences would be how they aren’t environments where you have a server. It is faster paced where you order in line and watch your food or bowl be made right before your eyes. True Food Kitchen stands out because they are built colorfully, eco-friendly, and offer a whole different experience when it comes to how people envision “dining out.”

Going out to dinner isn’t just about the food you eat, it’s about the entire experience you have with every bite. True Food Kitchen left an impression on me and further confirmed my love for being vegetarian. By supporting healthy lifestyles and having passion for ingredients with purpose, their mission speaks volumes towards what every restaurant should embody. Since my first visit, I have been back numerous times, including to celebrate my birthday. They made me feel even more special by bringing out their famous flourless chocolate cake (which is vegan, gluten-free, and DELICIOUS I might add). It was topped with a scoop of vanilla coconut ice cream, almonds, cacao nibs, and drizzled with warm, velvety smooth caramel sauce. They even took the time to light a candle and stick it in the cake so I could make a wish! It was a great time and I remember feeling very at home in those moments because they were accompanied with pure joy. For the reasonable prices, beautifully decorated setup, genuine hospitality, and amazing food, this place is worth every dime you spend. Make a conscious health decision for yourself and give it try. You will not be disappointed, and you know what they say… better food means better living.

Rating Scale: 1-5 Exclamation Points

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