With a couple of years under its belt, the Miracle Mile outpost of Cafe Gratitude appears to be thriving. No longer strictly raw and vegan, the restaurant has broadened its menu to include a hot soup of the day along with cooked burritos and tacos. A veggie burger with caramelized onions is also in the works.

It has been interesting watching Cafe Gratitude evolve. When it first opened, its ambitious menu touted more than 100 “living foods.” Hemp-wearing servers exuberantly expressed their seemingly scripted lines as in, “You ARE bounteous,” and more often than not food took an exorbitantly long time to reach tables. Though far from losing sight of its original mission of nourishing and celebrating in a joyful, loving and grateful way, much has changed here — for the better.

Cafe Gratitude's owners continue to expand with their newest venture, Gracias Madre in San Francisco's Mission District, that offers organic, vegan Mexican cuisine. The founders, who live on a farm in Vacaville and grow their own food, have turned over the daily operations of the San Rafael eatery — there are several Cafe Gratitude throughout the Bay Area — to their son Ryland Engelhart, who lives upstairs from the restaurant. Many of the improvements here have occurred under his management, namely the introduction of cooked foods.

A recent vegan hot soup, or “I Am Thriving,” ($6.50 cup) was chockfull of white beans and Swiss chard

and showed no lack of flavor. It was hefty, unctuous and completely satisfying. Likewise, a burrito ($12) filled with whole grain rice and black beans and most remarkably a macadamia nut cheese prepared with bell peppers, lemon juice and nuts was delicious. A zig-zag of ingeniously created faux sour cream prepared from soaked cashews and lemon juice added just the right moisture to the dish.

The food here shows a finesse it previously lacked. It no longer seems to be trying so hard to appeal; instead, the flavors, textures and now temperatures come together for a marriage that mostly works. Kids' choices still remain dicey. An order of “I Am a Hero” ($6.50), or noodles with sauce, was met with disapproval from my 8-year-old. Strands of zucchini covered in a zesty marinara sauce and sprinkled with Brazil nut parmesan bore little resemblance to the fettuccini he is accustomed to. It didn't help the dish is served at room temperature. The best choices for children include various milkshakes and smoothies prepared with vanilla bean and almond milk. A fruit and granola cup, or a cheesy rice or quinoa are also more accessible. Every item on the menu is offered from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Not surprisingly the

salads are fresh, lively and truly inspired. A selection of inventive dressings add pizzazz to the greens, and include such options as goji-chipotle, fig-balsamic and garlic-tahini. My favorite salad, which has been on the menu since the day Cafe Gratitude opened, is the “I Am Giving” ($9.75) marinated kale creation, a taut and crunchy jumble of bright and citrusy greens topped with teriyaki almonds. The grain bowls are also consistently good, but the buckwheat sunflower seed flatbread crusted pizzas don't quite translate.

In all, I really enjoyed my most recent visit to Cafe Gratitude. A casual and leisurely vibe permeates the cheery and open space. A sense of community seems to have taken hold as is evidenced by the regulars who come in for their morning cup of yerba matte or nightly bowls of grains. Strains of reggae music waft through the air as a mixed Marin demographic take time to nourish and replenish themselves at this unique eatery that prides itself in practicing what it calls “sacred commerce.”

 

REVIEW

Cafe Gratitude

Address: 2220 Fourth St., San Rafael

Phone: 415-578-4928

Web site: www.Cafegratitude.com

Cuisine: Vegan, raw and some new cooked items

Service: Good, can be slow

Noise level: Moderate to loud

Recommended dishes: Kale salad, soup of the day, burrito, desserts

Liquor selection: Beer and wine

Corkage: $7

Heart-healthy and vegetarian selections: Everything

Parking: Two lots

Wheelchair access: Yes

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Credit cards: All major

Summary: With the owners' son living upstairs and managing the Miracle Mile location of Cafe Gratitude, the restaurant has improved exponentially. The introduction of hot Mexican food offerings, including burritos, tamales and nachos — samplings from the chain's new Gracias Madre, an organic vegan Mexican restaurant in San Francisco's Mission District — has expanded the once strictly vegan and raw eatery's accessibility. Cafe Gratitude appears to be thriving.