The Red Avocado

I miss this place. I heard a rumor though that they have found a new location and it’s coming back before the end of the year!

You know that moment when you’re handed a check at a restaurant and you realize what you’ve just eaten couldn’t fathomably be worth that much? Half that much, even? And you hand your credit card over and you have but resist the urge to take it out of the tip, because it’s not the server’s fault this food is so egregiously lackluster? So you sign your name and get your coat and when you see the charge on your statement are filled with pure regret?
Yeah it’s the only real vegan gig in town. That doesn’t mean it’s good vegan, not at all.

I’m not particularly a fan of vegetarian cuisine so I give The Red Avocado four stars – I might rate it higher if I were a vegan.
My husband and I chose this place because we were eating with a vegetarian friend who had been trying to avoid pork during her week-​long trip to Iowa.
We all shared the corn-​coconut soup, really delicious with a curry flavor. I added a salad with barley, greens, and sprouts. It was tasty, tangy, and satisfying. My husband ordered a the best dish of the evening: corn cakes and tofu with shiitake mushrooms and a curried sauce. Our friend got the veggie burger on homemade bread with sweet potato «fries» that tasted more steamed than fried. I sampled a bite of her burger. It was good, but also tasted a like… curry.
The three of us split a chocolate-​cashew tart topped with strawberry sauce for dessert. The crust was tender but the chocolate part had a chewy, slightly oily texture that I found a little off-​putting, although I’m not sure you can get melt-​in-​the-​mouth chocolate without a little dairy!
My main quibble with the food here is that we ordered three items that all had a similar curry flavor. It left me wondering if the cook had any other tricks to coax flavor out of vegan ingredients.

If you like scowling waitresses with the alacrity of glaciers, over-​priced third-​rate ‘food,’ and a dining room that smells like flatulent grandma’s bathroom, then this dump is for you.
I’ve been a vegetarian since 1990, so I’ve eaten at a lot of vegetarian restaurants all over the world, and this is second only in shittiness to the place in Quito, Ecuador that gave me food poisoning – the waitstaff was better at the place in Quito, though. I’ve given the Red Avocado four tries over the past three years because finding good vegetarian fare is tough, and I keep hoping they’ll change. They don’t. But I’ll be a sucker no longer.
The service is slow and the waitstaff is either grouchy or weird. The hostess is the only one who smiled. It’s as if they’re all on quaaludes. We waited ten minutes to be seated despite the fact that there were many empty tables, and when we peeked at the reservation list, there were only two.
When we were finally seated, it was like we had been placed in stinky grandma’s poorly-​ventilated bathroom: dust, mildew, old air-​freshener, and minty turds. Why didn’t we ask to be moved? Because I had already complained about the time it took to seat us. I hadn’t really complained, actually; I asked, «About how long is the wait tonight?» That’s when the waitress lied and said they had «a bunch» of reservations. She made it clear with her sneer that I was on her shit list and that she’d kick my ass or spit in my food if I crossed her again.
Ten minutes after placing our orders with the frowning waitress on whose shit list I was, out came the zombie-​like waiter with our drinks. For four bucks I got about five ounces of carrot/​apple/​ginger juice. That’s literally three times as much as I pay in Manhattan. Our waiter Lurch served my friend his bottle of beer in a very odd way: two tablespoons of beer in a tall glass, and the opened bottle.
I quickly finished my thimble of juice, and to be honest, it was good. As was the veggie burger that arrived ten minutes later. Though, it was served on bread, not a roll, which was vexing to at least one of us at the table.
The real atrocities of the meal were the sweet potato «fries” – cold, oily, clammy, limp, served in a slimy lump. Like a pile of slugs. They must have been a few days old, sitting in the refrigerator in Tupperware (I hope), and the chef must have forgotten to heat them up.
The waitress did offer to heat up the fries, but I said no. She took them off our bill.
She offered us dessert in a way that suggested she knew the food sucked or she thought we were fat: «I don’t suppose you want dessert?»
Lousy. I feel sorry for the people who highly rated this place. I really do. You don’t know what good vegan food is, and you don’t know that you don’t have to tolerate this crappy service or smelly atmosphere.
I’ve tried at least four dishes at the Red Avocado. All bland. You’re better off heading to McDonald’s and asking for a number two meal without the meat.

Nice little vegan restaurant. I wasn’t inspired by any of the dishes. Not some place I’d visit often.

We came here on a lovely Sunday afternoon when our original destination was full and though we’re not vegetarians, we were pleasantly surprised.
The exterior of the building is a relatively inviting house that has a nice front patio for dining on a nice day. You walk by the coffee bar and back into the dining area that feels a little on the artsy side, but overall is very cozy and has some nice lighting that creates a nice ambiance. The waitresses that helped us were very nice and made some great recommendations as well as explained to me, the vegetarian troglodyte, what some of the menu items were. To our delight, many of the items were explained on a glossary on the back of the menu!
My wife enjoyed the mushroom spinach crêpe with a bowl of the corn coconut milk soup. Both were excellent and while we’re still unsure of how a crêpe is made without egg, it worked! I had a Reuben sandwich made with Tempah (my newest word currently!). It was about as good as this sandwich can get without having meat on it.
The coffee was good, not great, however, the Tropical latte that the wifey enjoyed was magical. Made with coconut milk and some additional spices, it was delicious and really a highlight!
The price was middle of the road — $ 28 for two of us, but in the end, well worth it. The food was on the other side of ordinary and the creativity really took it from a 3 to a 4 in our book. A place we’ll be back to when we’re feeling a little on the light side, but still looking for something out of the ordinary.

If you are vegetarian or vegan, this place won’t disappoint. If you are still an omnivore, you will likely still find something to enjoy.
Creative vegan dishes and cool atmosphere.
Great desserts too!
If you find that something you ordered didn’t turn out as expected, I am sure the servers and owners would do something about it. They really care that you enjoy your visit.

I went there for sunday brunch with my vegetarian husband. I heard really good thngs about the restaurant. I agree that the basement atmosphere was odd. We ordered the quesadilla and it was good. Unfortunately the french toast was bland and they served my husband a burnt piece. (you can tell they tried to cut it off and hid it at the bottom of the stack). My plate was the «sampler» that had french toast, caraway-​cabage tempeh (tasteless), scrambler «eggs» that were over spiced, home-​style potatoes that tasted like boiled potatoes that had been broiled (wet, soggy, tasteless), and beans and corn that were also really really wet. Sorry, never again.

I’m a huge fan of Red Avocado. I became vegan while living in Iowa City, and I love to come here for lunch/​brunch or dinner. My boyfriend is a meat lover, yet we both manage to find something we enjoy! (although sometimes my boyfriend complains about the small-​ish portions– I like that, so you don’t over eat) There are certain staples, such as the pesto pasta salad– perfect for lunch, or to share as an appetizer for dinner. The bread is also wonderful! If you let them know in advance, you can purchase an entire loaf (around $ 6).
Lately, we have had 2 amazing seasonal dishes. One was a pasta dish with assorted mushrooms and sauce made with a creamy stout beer. The other was a vegan reuben pizza with grilled tempeh, onions, and a delicious vegan 1000 island sauce. Unfortunately these dishes were only seasonal– I would definitely get them again! But alas, next time they will hopefully have something else to rave about.
Their wine and beer menu is also good and pretty well priced. I love how they indicate whether the wines are vegan or not (apparently some are made with fish products?)
If you have extra room, you should also try the Banana Bolt drink– awesome if you go for brunch!
This is a pretty cool place with a hippie atmosphere. Lately the artwork has been awesome too. I’m so thankful to have a wonderful vegan, organic, local restaurant in Iowa City!

I ate here on a recent trip out to Iowa City. The place is pretty cool. It’s in an old house, so it has that really cozy, warm atmosphere.
As far as the food goes, I was the only vegan eating with four non-​vegans and everyone was satisfied. I had the potato gnocci which was pretty amazing. Granted, I’d never tried gnocci before, so I don’t really have a basis of comparison, but this stuff was pretty good. We also had a bruschetta appetizer special that had olives and other delicious things that everyone loved. I got the apple crisp dessert to go, which was definitely a healthy-​looking take on an apple crisp, but it tasted delicious none-​the-​less.
The only issue was with the slightly unenthusiastic waitress, but the food was good enough to warrant four stars in my view.

i love how this menu looks, the ideas, and the sourcing. it may very well be one-​of-​a-​kind in iowa city, which on its own gives it an extra star. i found the food to be more idea than execution. i like my execution loud and proud. the grains and vegetables were very fresh, and essentially a very mild rustic fusion, if you will. having an institution like this in the grand ol’ chain-​ridden midwest is a joy. i just wish the folks would take the liberty to take their fusion intentions and fly with them — arguable how well it would be received in this town, though. the prices were quite high, i think, but then again, the ingredients, being local/​sustainable/​organic/​etc — okay, we’ll give ‘em that. i didn’t get to try the vegan ice cream and would be really interested in seeing how that goes.
and after poking around in the new pioneer co-​op and smelling their loose leaf teas, i am intrigued in that regard as well.
i’d go back. maybe i’d re-​review the place, too. hmm.

Oh my god!!! I LOVE The Red Avocado!
The food isn’t just good, it’s down right obscene.
I know what you’re thinking, «How could anyone get this excited about a Vegan restaurant.» This isn’t one of those Vegetarian/​Vegan restaurants.
You know the ones I mean, remember that scene in «Annie Hall» where Woody Allen is in the Vegan restaurant and sits down to a meal of «mashed yeast»? This is a million miles a way from that.
The food is delicious, rich, satisfying and yet healthy.
«Jupiter’s Gnocci», «College Green Sunset,» «Revolutionary Reuben,» and the yummy pates are some of my all time favorites. I’ve yet to have anything off of their menu that wasn’t delish.
My only complaint is the ironic lack of avocado on their menu.

Whenever I’m in Iowa city, stopping by this restaurant is a must. That’s at least how I did it whenever i was in Iowa City — Red Avocado for lunch and then Masala for dinner.
The caramel banana drink is incredible. This restaurant is super vegan-​friendly. They even offer a Vegan ice-​cream dessert that is pretty tasty. Seating can be a bit tricky, though, because the restaurant is pretty small.

Just for being in the middle of high-​fructose corn syrup, genetically-​modified soy/​corn land you have to give Red Avocado some credit. It has achieved the impossible of bringing good organic food to Iowa.
I found the atmosphere fun and interesting. The wait staff was great. The food was good. Some of the dishes are made of pretty much the same ingredients… so order some meals that have very different ingredients.
Overall a great place and a wonderful establishment.

Although a devout carnivore, whenever I crave vegetarian food, few places can satisfy as well as Red Avocado. Located just a few strides away downtown Iowa City, the restaurant is spacious and cozy, clean and earthy, bold and organic. Its outdoor seating is perfect for sunny day lunches with iced teas, while the reddish brown interior is inviting for chilly days and evenings.
Red Avocado’s conscious, loving preparation with attention to balance is key in presenting dishes that read like common items, yet always surprise: Each bite into the veggie burger reveals a perfect harmony of texture and seasoning. Each spoonful of coconut corn soup caresses and expands, its subtle sweetness lingering. The coup de grace is definitely the Revolutionary Reuben. Tempeh-​filled and seemingly heretical, its outer crunch and refreshing tangy flavor will wipe your favorite deli version from memory and replace it with the phrase, «what, you vegan?» I’m not, but this place definitely makes me think twice.

The Red Avocado has a simple, hippie sort of atmosphere and serves some really delicious vegan food. We started with the Appetizer Deluxe — three (delicious) spreads — hummus, carrot chipotle, and white bean pâté, homemade pita chips and a selection of sliced veggies (which looked a little peaked, but tasted fine.) I would have liked to see a little more dip on that platter given the price of the starter. For mains, we tried the Veggie Burger Platter, which was possibly the most delicious veggie burger I have ever had, and the special of the day — a yummy pasta dish with basil-​infused oil, veggies and cashews. The mains were seriously DELISH, which is why I am giving this restaurant a 4 star rating. It wasn’t cheap, but it sure was good.

I was quite impressed by The Red Avocado when I first arrived in Iowa City five years ago, but have since become disenchanted with it.
The vegan menu is varied (pastas, curries, stir frys, etc.) and features daily drink, entrée and appetizer specials. While I can forgive the fact that the entrée special is usually just a variation on a theme, I am less inclined to excuse the chef’s weird compulsion to incorporate 15 different items into one dish. (Perhaps the circular dinner plate encourages this?) As Tim Gunn would say, there’s just too much going on… edit edit edit!
Of course, I probably wouldn’t be upset by the lack of refinement if I wasn’t paying prices indicative of a refined meal. Dinner entrees run between $ 14 and $ 23, while desserts, starter salads and appetizers are about $ 6 each. These prices have climbed steadily over the last few years while the portion sizes have shrunk. It is hard for two people sharing a nice dinner to get out of the Red Avocado for under $ 60 (which, for a vegan restaurant housed in a mostly windowless basement with institutional tables and chairs, is outrageous). I am sad to say that lunch is equally overpriced.
If The Red Avocado could sort through its very obvious identity issues, it could be a fabulous option (like Herbivore in San Francisco, for example). In the meantime, expect a solid low-​to-​mid-​range restaurant trying desperately to pass itself off as something more.

The Red Avocado offers a wealth of delicious food, grown locally and prepared to perfection. While it transcends the bohemian, eclectic feel of the 60s, the gourmet cuisine rivals some of the best in the 21^st century.
If you attend on the last Wednesday of the month, your piece of mind can be filled along with your belly as The Red Avocado makes sure to give back to local charities and works programs on that day.
Their fresh curry danced on my tongue, the couple next to us enriched the conversation and dining experience as we chatted across tables, and the wait and kitchen staff could not have been more accommodating. Bravo!

While staying in Iowa City a few days, er, during hot August nights/days…my nephew took us to this gem of a vegetarian restaurant for dinner. Katy and I ditched Mike and Kaila for some delicious food and beverage with a few housemates/​medical students.
I would say that this place knows what true vegetarian/​vegan is… although I am not usually big on purely veggie restaurants, this place was top notch. An interesting atmosphere, you should be sure to sit inside – pretty interesting rooms, we chose outside which was nice on a warm humid evening.
My highlight though was the watermelon, cucumber, apple fresh juice drink. Wow! What a cooling soother for a hot day… YUM!
If you’re ever in Iowa City, stop there for some good veggie grub.

Wow, I am incredulous; Unilocal has made it to Iowa, people!
Located in the bottom floor of a house on a quaint, tree lined block complete with a great co-​op grocery and a delightful bookstore, the Red Avocado is a slice of San Francisco in the Midwest. As explained by the insert in the menu, they serve vegetarian, organic food, use safe cleaning products, pay their workers over mininum wage, mitigate waste and compost.
The eats are tasty. I’d suggest the tempeh ruben, chock full of colorful veggies. They also have a great (non-​al) drink menu listing fresh smoothies, juices and a killer iced-​tea blend. My dad slurped his banana mango shake in one gulp!
The décor is an eclectic mixture of kitsch, cute and artistic. Try the mini courtyard in the back; the trellis is adorned by a lovely trumpet vine. Just watch out for the curious ants!