Turning over a new "Leaf"

Vegan Food Review:

LEAF VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

After a lovely April day in Broomfield (at my temporary office job), I decided to meet my boyfriend, Kyle, at an all-vegetarian restaurant for dinner. One that had some rave reviews, up in Boulder. 

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant
1710 Pearl Street, Boulder CO

Leaf is a family-owned restaurant offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu items. An aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, embracing open windows in warm weather; Leaf serves high quality dishes with a farm-to-table vibe and will absolutely leave you satisfied.

STARTERS

We started our Leaf experience with the Avocado Tartare: marinated mushrooms, avocado, endive, and pico de gallo.

Now, I've never had a proper tartare - but I've certainly served one. When I was living in Washington D.C. (circa 2016) I served at a downtown fine-dining restaurant called NoPa, where they served all sorts of exquisite (and not-super-vegan) dishes... so I was prepared for what it would look like, but not what it would taste like.

Can we just appreciate this beauty, for a moment?

From the splashed olive oil puddles in the endive leaves to the earthy-green sprouts a-top, I just wanted to stare at this tartare for an hour. Eventually, hunger took over, and I had a few bites: delicate, oily, and creamy... this dish lets you taste the ingredients to a simple degree. There's a freshness along with a salty-savory profile which makes this such a delightfully refined experience.

Our next dish was a little more hands-on: Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos.

Spicy, meaty, and again: fresh. Be prepared to get your hands dirty with these babies. The cauliflower is crispy, yet full of flavor and extra crunchy with the carrot and celery.

I paired both of these appetizers with Prosecco, FYI. Prosecco is perfect to cleanse the palate between more dense food items. Plus, it also just tastes really, really good.

ENTREES

Kyle went with a vegetarian dish, so if you're vegan, please cover your eyes for this next photo. 

Just kidding; please don't, it's still beautiful! Mushrooms of the Sea: campanelli pasta, oyster and trumpet mushrooms, dulse "sea" cream, tomato, pecorino (sheep's milk). According to Kyle, these mushrooms really are just like fish. I wouldn't know, but I'll take his word for it.

 I'm excited to present this next one to you: Jamaican Jerk Tempeh. (Fully vegan.) 

The Jamaican Jerk Tempeh is a cake of tempeh and forbidden black rice in a coconut plantain sauce with sauteed greens, fruit salsa, garnished with a plaintain chip.

Creamy, sweet, but flavorful. The plantain was a fun garnish for scooping bites. I paired this dish with a Cotes du Rhone which brought out the spicy notes. And you might not guess by looking at her, but she's very filling. 

DESSERT

Of course, we couldn't leave without trying dessert. Right?

This fun culinary art project is Leaf's Red Velvet Beet Cake with golden milk cream, candied ginger, beet glaze, and cumin walnuts.

This is a dense cake, almost like a bread pudding. Dare I say this one was a little dry, but luckily you can soak this up with the golden milk cream and beet sauce provided.

THE FINAL VERDICT

Would I return to Leaf?

Yes.

The ambiance is ten out of ten, the food is exceptionally beautiful and tasty, and the drinks are great. Service was on par; the hostess appeared to be on her first day or so, but the manager on duty (or possible owner) who brought us our drinks was very accommodating, even offering to pour my Prosecco at the table for me (which is a gesture I always appreciate). 

Next time, I would love to come back for a salad or new entree, a different dessert, and I have 100% interest in trying a dessert cocktail.

All in all, I'm pleased to say we found a new spot to take family when they come to town! 

Have you ever tried this establishment? What dishes were your favorite? 

Leave a comment down below and let me know!