A Zesty Dinner At Zephyr Vegetarian Cafe

On my dad's recent trip to Los Angeles, we headed down to Long Beach to see the lovely musical, Spamalot! Before the show, we dined at Zephyr Vegetarian Cafe, which is a quaint little cafe that is perfect for studying or lounging around. We used a coupon from the Entertainment Book for a free entree ($8 off).

We began the meal with cheesy garlic bread ($6), which was the appetizer special of the day.

The garlic bread was toasted very well and was crunchy. The focaccia bread was coated in a lovely buttery garlic sauce, layered with globs of daiya cheese. The daiya cheese was melted perfectly and took on the flavors of the garlic spread. There was an accompanying tomato sauce, which was very creamy and had a mild spice.

Next, my dad ordered a tempeh sandwich with vegetables ($9).

The tempeh was lightly fried and slightly crispy. It had a mild smoky flavor. The vegetables were well-cooked and the avocado added a wonderful creaminess. The bread was toasted perfectly and really soaked up the flavors of the sandwich. There was a wonderful puffy chip accompanying the sandwich, along with a mildly spicy salsa.

Next, I had my own dish: seitan stir-fried with veggies in a teriyaki sauce ($8).

This was fantastic. The chunks of seitan were very juicy and savory. The vegetables were well-cooked and soft and delectable. The teriyaki sauce generously coated the seitan and veggies and had a tangy flavor.

Lastly, we had a carrot cupcake (not pictured) ($3.75). The cupcake was fantastic. It was perfectly moist and the carrot flavor of the cake was subtle and not overpowering. The cream cheese frosting was so succulent and had a rich flavor, yet was light and airy.

Overall, the meal was fabulous. The food was flavorful and filling and not too oily. With the discount, the meal cost us about $24, which included tax, tip, and drinks. I would definitely return to Zephyr if I'm in the area again.