Had a lovely lunch here with David S. & Jade W. after volunteering together at Three Square. Had been looking forward to trying this spot, and our meal was more hit than miss. The space has a Zen vibe with a fountain, plants and chimes. Wait staff were super friendly and helpful.
We shared three dishes family style: the much lauded (and rightfully so) crispy, addictive eggplant, ma pao tofu (I'm a huge fan of soft tofu, but I think it needed spice) and curry "fish" (we'd ordered black bean but ate it anyway) Here is where the former vegan in me (sooo obnoxious as a Cal undergrad that I would not ingest honey "because bees worked to make it" thank goodness I got over myself!) is not a big fan of faux meats, but they seem to be the norm. The "fish" had a great sauce with tamarind kick, but texture was somewhat of an issue for all of us. Included in the price was brown (!) rice and a vegetable consommé which was soothing but a little bland.
For 8$ each, inclusive of tax and tip, we ate well and enjoyed the experience. Definitely worth another visit and I believe even carnivores will enjoy the food as the preparation shows attention to detail and commitment to vegetarian/vegan eats. 8 is also my favorite & lucky number, so I love how they open at 11:38AM according to front door :))