“ Wonderful vegan food. GF options are substantial. Good ambiance a small NYC restaurant. Clean bathrooms. Non-vegetarians enjoy it. The GF dessert shells that were a part of a couple desserts were hard and unpleasant (need to be replaced). Prices are a little on the high side to be a regular go to. ”

“ I was wondering what I was going to do when Candle 79 closed. I loved it so much I still have the cookbook. There isn't really anything else quite like it though ABC v has a similar quality of food. This Café is nice. It's not as fancy as 79 but the food is yummy, fresh and fulfilling. I'm glad the owners found a way to revive their gourmet plant based dishes. It was packed when I went. ”

“ I've been coming to this lovely place since they opened. The space is clean modern and cozy. The food and service are both great! Wonderful plant based vegan spot that is reliably delicious. I love the kale ceasar the seitan piccata and the delectable polenta fries! I've been here for vegan brunch several time and it never disappoints! So thankful they exist and that I am lucky enough to have them close by! Candle you like you my life! ”

“ Had an excellent brunch here with my family! We started with the nachos which were so perfectly seasoned and I loved the cheese sauce, guacamole and sour cream. I could tell everything was made in house. I ordered the golden latte and it was so warming and comforting and a great choice for such a chilly day. I got the pumpkin spice French toast which I highly recommend. I love how thick the bread is and how sweet and succulent the batter was that coated it. It's a great seasonal choice and they do such a great job of getting the edges nice and crispy without burning it. The table also shared some tempeh bacon, which was also excellent! The service was very friendly and prompt. I like the coziness and decor of the restaurant and I felt very comfortable eating there. I can't wait to return! ”

“ Absolutely loved our dinner at Candle after our matinee show. A great variety of dishes, and flavor and presentation was fabulous. Seated right away even though we were a bit early, and the hostess was very welcoming. Ambiance was very low key, with pleasant background music that did not impede conversation. As someone who eats a vegetarian diet, and has had vegan that is bland, I was very happy with the dishes served. Great seasoning and sauces, even without actual dairy. Highly recommended! ”

“ Came here with my spouse recently, to belatedly celebrate my birthday & wasn't disappointed. It was a bit of an adjustment because we were used to their pre-pandemic locations. We had made many good memories at their former UES location, to be exact, so that felt wistful. Yet, this one was also pleasant, physically beautiful (albeit smaller than before), and truly enjoyable. The calm atmosphere was an ideal vibe, in which to enjoy our date. : ) The food was excellent, and everything that we ordered was tasty and fresh. The food came quickly and our server, Tatianna, was kind, warm and welcoming. Thanks for your sweet smile, lady! At the end of our nurturing vegetable and fruit-based meal - which tasted delightful, even though it was so healthy LOL - we got to meet their chef, Jorge. He was lovely and also extremely welcoming. All in all, it was a fun and mellow evening, which reminded us once again of why we love this restaurant and why we should come back more often! Thanks so much, Candle Team, for your care, talent and memorable hospitality! Warmly and with Gratitude, Katherine "Kat" & Goldalee ”

“ *** 4.5 stars *** Delicious vegan spot that I would call the smart casual of restaurants. While it feels like a casual neighborhood spot that you could just walk into, it has a chic/hip vibe and you could still come here for a special occasion (the table next to us was celebrating a birthday). The prices align with that, being more than you'd expect to pay at a casual place, but less than at a fancy restaurant ($20-$30 for a main). I'm not vegan but everything on the menu looked delicious. Because I am a huge mushroom fan I landed on the mushroom crepe and was not disappointed! I was also quite full for the rest of the night, which is not always the case after dining at a vegan restaurant. It was very easy to get a reservation (probably wasn't necessary as the restaurant was 30% full on a Saturday night). Hopefully they get a lot of business via take out, otherwise I'm concerned that they'll be able to stay open (but they are took good not to!). ”

“ I ordered on ClassPass. This place is definitely a cute sit down spot for a date or meal with friends. But you can order a few of the dishes from their menu to go on ClassPass. The food came out quickly and the ravioli was better than I expected. The spinach was prepared well and flavorfully drenched in the marinara sauce. The ravioli itself had chickpea or something inside which made the texture nice. All in all would recommend. ”

“ One of the OG vegan restaurants in NYC is back. Throughout most of my adult life, I'd hit up Candle Café on the UES (literally the only reason I'd willingly go to the UES) for progressive vegan food. And to Candle 79 for their lucullan cuisine and sophisticated surroundings on special occasions. My heart broke a little when I heard both of these venerable had closed. But, as their website promises, "with a new flame, Candle is back!" The menu is a little more simple, but never basic. They are the originators of making things like a humble market plate into a work of culinary art screaming with unexpected flavor when one might expect plainness, and a kale salad that is velvety and umami-rich rather than tough, chewy and unbearable to consume. The new Murray Hill location on third avenue is a sight to behold. Similar to the food, it's not flashy nor slick. I think of a throwback to the refined decor of the early aughts, before everyone was looking to outdo each other with their interior design. Classy without being boring. White exposed brick and natural wood accents, greenery peeking through here and there. The perfect place for lunch, however seeing as I stayed until almost dinnertime, it's practically glowing and cozy and lends itself to spirited dinners (speaking of spirits, until they get their license, you can BYOB). I ordered something that I don't typically order in a vegan restaurant, a burrito bowl. As I mentioned above, it a deceptively modest offering. It's literally the best burrito bowl I've ever had with sensationally flavored black beans (normally I would salt the hell out of black beans but they miraculously needed no salt), bright greens, chewy short grain brown rice and all smothered in exquisite guacamole and a very realistic non dairy sour cream. You may add another protein and I didn't hesitate to choose the grilled seitan, recalling the magic Candle always commanded with the often bland and chewy wheat meat. No regrets. My dining companion couldn't stop extolling the virtues of her mushroom crepe and it looked divine. I needed to get some work done solo and asked our kind waiter if I might stay for a bit and he was so nice about allowing me to do so. I had no desire to ever leave, as I worked on my laptop with an oat milk cappuccino. There are a lot of phenomenal vegan restaurants in Manhattan right now. Make sure you don't overlook Candle if you're looking for healthy, deliciously elevated comforting foods that you don't always see on menus these days. ”