What are you grateful for? This thought-provoking question is the basis of the gem of the Crossroads Art District, Cafe Gratitude. This vegan restaurant is located at 333 Southwest Blvd. in Kansas City, Mo. You may have sped past this restaurant on the way to Union Station but next time you’re downtown, make a pit stop to be amazed by the inspiring food and message Cafe Gratitude has to offer.

As usual, it’s a late Friday night with two of my friends and we decide to check out the trending restaurant Cafe Gratitude that we have been hearing so much about. We didn’t know much about the restaurant going in so we were very surprised to find out it was vegan and preached a strong message of sustainability. This did not bother us but rather made us ecstatic because of how environmentally conscious we already were.

Even though the brick building was not very big, the owners were able to make the most out of the space with creative seating. They used long, wooden benches with earth-toned pillows to line the walls, and across from them were wooden tables and chairs. There was even a community table in the middle of the restaurant. The low lighting added to the ambiance along with the recycled wine bottles hanging from the ceiling for additional lighting. It took us about fifteen minutes to be seated which was shocking because it was after 9 p.m., but it only proved how popular this place is.

At the top of the menu are the words “I am,” which corresponded with the menu items names. For example, the avocado toast is called “Enough.” Thus, I am enough. I found this very humbling and interesting to read all the different words they choose to include on the menu.

One of my friends ordered the “Magical” which was a veggie burger topped with guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions all on a whole wheat bun. This wasn’t as magical as it sounds, it tasted mainly of beans and beets and the portion size was small. My other friend ordered an item that definitely lived up to its name, “Sensational.” This spaghetti squash alfredo includes squash noodles, spinach and portabella mushrooms tossed in the house alfredo sauce. It was then topped with Brazil nut parmesan, basil and crushed peppers. Eating this, I forgot that it was vegan. It tasted exactly like real cheese, maybe even better. This dish is the ultimate comfort food because it was cheesy and warmed your stomach with every bite. You probably couldn’t get this dish anywhere else.

I ordered the “transformed” and let me say, it did exactly that. I never knew sweet potato tacos could be so good. Two organic corn tortillas filled with roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, salsa fresca, Verde and guacamole all topped with a cashew cheese. This dish was absolutely mouth-watering. The creator of this dish was able to balance the perfectly baked sweet potatoes with the beans and salsa fresca creating an amazing freshness. Other items on the menu include “Humble” which is an Indian curry dish, “Dynamic” an eggplant parmesan and “Terrific” which is a kelp noodle bowl. After finishing our meal, our waitress brought out an assorted tray of desserts. Some of the items on the tray were chocolate and coconut truffles, a chocolate cherry cake and various cheesecakes. We chose to split the cherry cheesecake that had an almond crust. It was interesting because it was somehow refreshing and very strong but the crust helped to offset it. Personally, I am more of a chocolate fan so I didn’t love this but it was good. However, I definitely didn’t think it was worth the $8.50. This just seemed like a crazy price for a dessert when my meal was only $12.50.

All meals came with the house side salad which was just some hearty leaves dressed in a balsamic vinaigrette. It was good but nothing out of the ordinary. The dressing wasn’t consistent throughout the three salads, mine was perfect but my other friends either had too little or way too much. The other thing I disliked about the restaurant was the small glasses. They provide glass bottles of water so you can refill it yourself. This wouldn’t have been a problem but as an avid water-drinker, I felt like I was refilling my cup every minute just to keep up with myself. Lastly, be prepared to walk. Parking is very limited and you’ll probably end up parking in the parking garage which cost money.

Cafe Gratitude sets an example for other restaurants that sustainability is possible. From the solar panels on the roofs to the biodegradable “to-go” boxes. They even compost leftover food back into the farm that produces their fresh organic produce. Overall, I would give this restaurant a 4 out of 5 stars because of the reasonable prices of entrees, sustainability, creativity in food and vibrant flavor that proves that you don’t need meat to have a great meal.