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| - Wow. Can't believe that it took this long to check out Bean! Some may be a little deterred by the idea of veganism, but chef really puts an end to that debacle. The flavors here are incredible, innovative, thoughtful, and really fun.
We came in on a Saturday afternoon and pretty much every table in the main dining area was full. We sat immediately, however, and worked our way up and down the menu. The service was friendly and very helpful with some of the items I was unfamiliar with. We placed our order and had a chance to just hang out whilst waiting. It did take a while to get our food, but chef was the only person in the kitchen and seriously putting in some hustle. Fun to watch!
Our food came. DELICIOUS. I ordered the Buffalo Bean Bowl -- rice, kidney beans, kale, vegan ranch, and tofu coated in buffalo sauce. It was magic. So flavorful and all of the spices swirled around magnificently. We also ordered a side of the northern white beans, more kale, and braised cabbage. All were perfect. It's so nice when fresh veggies are flavorful in their own right and not slathered with butter or some bogus sauce. Chef really puts time into making each item flavorful. My wife ordered the seitan burger sans bun. It was wonderfully smoky and hearty.
Each of our plates came with a banana nut muffin. Holy cow! Those things are amazing! No dairy whatsoever.
We were stuffed. So much food and both of us dined for less than $30.
Where I love the food and the staff, I think the ambiance is a little droll. Think their still working on the space and trying to liven it up a bit. Some simple decor would be great. Also, the men's room is a little dingy. Not a huge deal, but think it just lends itself to being a dated building off of Independence.
Though a bit difficult to get into (hyperspeed traffic on Independence Blvd), it's totally worth it. I can't wait to go back.
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