Singing Bowl Cafe in Erie, PA

If you live within driving distance of Erie, PA, I've got great news for you! There is a new vegetarian/vegan cafe called the Singing Bowl. Having just opened in December, it's brand spanking new. Although their primary focus is vegan, they will add dairy cheese to sandwiches for your non-vegan friends. Even though vegan is the new vegetarian, some people still find a 'vegetarian' restaurant more approachable than a vegan one. This is just one example of how the Cafe bends over backwards to be welcoming.

The restaurant has a sandwich lunch menu and offers a Soup of the Day and a Lunch Special. They also do Dinner Specials and on the day of our lunch visit, the dinner was going be be Awesome Seitan Stroganoff. My pictures aren't the best, but I definitely wanted to show you what the restaurant has to offer. I apologize in advance for the photo quality. It seems I've been spoiled by my tripod and remote.

Carrot Ginger Ale Soup

We shared a bowl of Carrot Ginger Ale Soup for starters. The whole idea of ginger ale in soup fascinated me.... and the taste was addicting. I ordered a BLT with chimichurri sauce that was lick-your-fingers good. I was tempted by the lunch special which was a Jamaican Plate but the board said it had cashews. Not being a nut lover, that scared me away. But Jim ordered it and it really wowed us. There were two navy bean and rainbow chard patties encrusted in cashew crumbs with a gumbo/pilaf on the side. The flavors were exotic and delicious. We didn't have room for dessert, but got to sample the green tea cake with ginger frosting that was light and wonderful. Check out these cupcakes, too.

BLT

Jamaican Lunch Special

The service is warm, friendly and fast. If you've ever visited the Whole Foods Co-op in Erie, it's likely you'll see some familiar faces. Even though it reveals some of my hippie tendencies, I have to say the Cafe has wonderful vibes. In an up and coming neighborhood, this revamped old building is now decorated with creative and eclectic local art. The atmosphere draws you in and makes you want to linger over your lunch. Jesse, the owner, has some innovative and fun ideas to bring to the Cafe, so be sure to keep an eye on their facebook page for special events. We're going to be looking for reasons to make the drive to Erie just so we can grab something to eat the Cafe. Right now, Sunday Lunch is sounding good!

Location: 2504 Peach Street, Erie, PA, 16502

Phone:(814) 454-8300

Hours: Wed - Fri: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm/Sat:10:00 am - 10:00 pm/Sun:10:00 am - 5:00 pm

*Saturday Night is Sushi Night

On another note, Isa over at the PPK is starting a grassroots effort to encourage vegan bake sales to benefit Haiti. For tips on starting your own and a rundown of current locations, check out her blog. My rural area isn't a likely spot for a bake sale so we're donating cash instead. Here's just one spot to show your support.