Iydea

Fantastic!!! My favourite place to eat! Very good quality healthy wholesome food made fresh. Menu changes daily so you cannot get bored of this place! Always a wide range on offer so plenty to chose from!
Excellent value as portions are decent. For any meal of the day this restaurant is a little gem!

I am an 80% vegetarian this month.
This meant that Iydea was on my things to do list.
Even as a 20% non-​vegetarian, there has always been something that has appealed to me about this place. I think it’s because it always looks busy and the people always look relaxed and happy when eating. Probably because they don’t experience the meat-​shame.
I was a bit nervous. I don’t really know how to act in vegetarian places. I feel like I am surrounded by botanists and I am just a dumb plant intern.
I don’t really know what vegetarian food works together. So I fell back on the things that sounded most familiar: enchilada, broccoli, mint pea and onion salad, garlic and coriander dressing, sour cream and chive dressing and erm… I think sweet potatoes.
A strange mix.
It was excellent. The enchilada had rice, beans, peppers and cheese and had just enough crisp on the outside of the tortilla to satisfy my craving for a crunch. The red onion in the mint pea salad gave it a great tang.
I thought it was fairly pricey for a small lunch. If it were 10−15% less I would probably have given it 5 stars.
I also think that they could do a better job of making vegetarian food more accessible for non-​vegetarians. For example, a simple «have you eaten here before?» would have made me feel a little less out of place.
I am glad Iydea exists. I will go back. Hopefully, they will ask me whether I have eaten there before. I will say «yes» and then order 6 random foods that might go together.
I will leave a shame-​free student of the earth.

I could get used to this vegetarian lark!
Scott and I decided to pop into Iydea on our way home, as I didn’t feel like cooking. Again, this is another place I hadn’t taken any notice of over the past 9 years — I do wish I had paid this place a visit a lot sooner!
I was a little confused as to how things work, so I asked the lady at the counter for some help. It’s essentially a buffet service, whereby you choose your main, 2 sides and 2 toppings. I had Mushroom Bourgnion, with red cabbage and broccolli. For the toppings I had some hummus and some spicy beetroot stuff that was actually really tasty considering I’m not really a big beetroot fan. I have to say I really, really enjoyed it! Everything was really flavoursome. I wouldn’t say it’s on the same level as Food For Friends, but if you want a cheap, tasty veggie meal then I would definitely recommend.

Love love love this place.
Super cool chillzone, very fast service and the food is always varied and interesting! Love that all the ingredients are clearly listed so you can really make an informed desicion

No, I don’t have a good review to make of this place. There was some good things but also some bad that made me not enjoy my meal as much as I was expecting!
Ok I will start with the bad stuff: staff, place and some of the food! The staff weren’t the politest and friendliest that I had the chance to meet in Brighton. Was my first time here but I tried to figure out how it worked by myself before even approaching the counter. The system can be a bit confusing with all the names and dishes side by side. So I ordered what I wanted for main and then I was asked what I wanted on the side. I wasn’t sure so I asked what could I choose from, because a bit of help wouldn’t hurt. What I got was: «there» and she just pointed to the food. Then the same happened in the sauces section but I have learnt my lesson so I didn’t even dare asking a question. So I ended up ordering something awkward and making the strangest combination.
When it comes to the place/​space itself, nothing special. The décor is pretty basic, not very attractive and the music was far too loud!
Well, about the food, it’s a buffet style. So the food was alright but just alright! I had an enchilada with roasted carrots and fruit chutney (I know, a strange combination but I tried my best!). The enchilada was good but not great, the carrots were far too roasted and at most lukewarm. So, I didn’t appreciate that I had to make a combination of one main, two sides and two sauces all on the same plate. The mix of flavours it’s just not good, got me lost!
However there was a bright side. The portions were really good for what I paid and the prices are good too. A full plate for a great price (take-​away prices are even better). The really good thing on my meal was the homemade lemonade. Almost worth the trip there.
Overall was an nearly ok experience. The staff that took my order was disappointing but it’s a good place for a quick and inexpensive meal.

Thanks Iydea! After your Chili Bean Enchilada I’m a changed woman.
My ‘iydea’ today was to open my mind and my mouth to a tasty veggie lunch. I’m a pretty committed meat eater and don’t often stray into leafier territory.
The friendly man behind the canteen style counter was keen to help me on my veggie venture explaining I could pay for a main dish and then pick two sides and two toppings all included in the price. So I got the enchilada and had him scoop in some penne pasta with sun-​blushed tomato and a mozzarella and rocket salad. I swerved the toppings as I thought there was already enough going on in my take-​out box (which is microwaveable by the way).
It was so fresh and warm and hearty. I was converted. There are a lot of fast-​food and convenience stores on Western road and Iydea’s lunch menu is such a welcome and healthy option! I had a brimming box of flavoursome food for just a fiver. I felt full and satisfied and didn’t fall into a post-​lunch slump.
And I didn’t really miss the meat! But I do think I’ll eat a chicken leg tonight just to rebalance the universe.

This new branch of Iydea is roomier being two stories and also far brighter having large windows up and downstairs.
The menu is un-​changed from the Kensignton Gardens branch, but why should it be? There is a reason the original branch was such a success. The food is unpretentious, hearty veggie food which is filling and comforting.
My only complaint from my visit was that they ran low on some the side dishes early on, but I guess that just shows the popularity and this is something that I’m sure they will learn from!