By Desmond M.
Since the Bay Area is such a progressive location, it’s naturally very vegetarian friendly. There are a lot of great restaurants that cater exclusively to vegans and vegetarians. Now, if you’re a meat eater, you might not be so keen on the idea of a meatless lifestyle. But vegetarian food is hardly all tofu and salads. Don’t believe me? Then check out the Saturn Cafe, and prepare to be totally satisfied. With a 100% vegetarian menu offering classic cafe and diner fare, tons of vegan options, and special menus for soy and gluten allergies, Saturn is a great place to eat no matter what your dietary desires are.
The first thing you’ll notice when you walk in is the “out-of-this-world” atmosphere: bright pink and silver decorates the room, the tables are customized with trinkets, and it’s not uncommon to have a very friendly server with piercings, tattoos, or brightly colored hair. It’s simply a really fun environment to enjoy a delicious veggie burger, fries, and a milkshake.
But don’t get too lost in admiring the paint job. The whole menu is delicious and you really can’t go wrong, but I definitely recommend ordering any of their creative burgers, served with a pile of normal or steak fries. If you’ve got company, try sharing a sampler platter before your meal, which consists of taquitos, sweet potato fries, thin-cut garlic fries, onion strings and two dipping sauces. And don’t forget to top it off with some fantastic vegan pie, offered in seasonal fruit flavors.
Saturn’s values are just as great as the food. The owners, committed to environmental justice and responsible business practice, get organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. It’s conveniently located in downtown Berkeley, right next to BART. And don’t worry if you’re craving pancakes in the evening, they serve breakfast all day. In short, I cannot recommend the Saturn Cafe highly enough. It’s an excellent place to grab a bite, whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just hungry for some awesome, guilt-free diner food.