We visited Roasted and Raw after seeing it on Eater’s East Bay May 2022. We ordered the Greek Freek falafel bowl and Super Burrito. The sauces and Carne Asada were delicious, but overall I was a underwhelmed by the falafel and my girlfriend said the burrito did not have much depth of flavor. I think I’ll come back and try a new dish with the same Carne Asana protein!
Soooo this spot was interesting, I enjoyed my meal, I ordered the Vallejo Burrito. And a smoothie from the other side... it was a smoothie mango, pineapple, orange and I believe Strawberries..... it tasted awful..I didn't care for it at all but I did enjoy my burrito it was light not heavy at all with a burst of flavors.... they are a little pricey though.... most deff a unique vegan placed to try....
I tried Roasted and Raw for the first time today after hearing about it from a colleague. I gotta say, the tastiest menu item I had was the ginger juice. The Mac and cheese was okay, but that was only because the cheese shreds melted on top was the tastiest part. The rest was bland. The super burrito was okay, and I think all the flavor came from the protein choice. The rice had no flavor, but it was cooked well. It was also served with 5 sticks/wedges of what I presumed to be yuca fries. 5 sticks (I thought that was funny- such an odd serving). The breakfast burrito had absolutely no flavor. The empanada was okay, but not spectacular. It’s good to try new places. It is sad when you’re not impressed. But it’s better to have satisfied the curiosity.To the owner’s response:I literally ordered from your restaurant for the first time today, 4/16/22, as a new customer. A colleague told me the Mac n cheese was the best she’s had, but while it was aesthetically pleasing, it lacked flavor aside from the cheese on top. As for the rice, it’s plain white. It didn’t have color like Spanish rice or cilantro lime flavor. I don’t know what you use for flavoring, but the rice in the burritos did not have any flavor. It is my honest opinion. I’m glad I visited and tried what your restaurant offered, but my palate wasn’t impressed. I had considered returning to try the curry bowl, because it’s curry and that should have plenty of flavor, and other menu items, but a sour response like what you entered, rather than accept it as a genuine review, has abated that thought.
I eat here at least twice a week, everything tastes amazing. I've tried at least half of the menu by now and I'm at the point where I ask the team to choose something new for me. Lol The yuca fries are the best I've ever had. The soy-free chorizo empanadas is my quick go-to order. The quality of the handmade noodles tastes like it should cost more. The Vallejo burrito is fire regardless of what protein you get. And the spicy aioli? Don't even get me started about the spicy aioli! It's perfect, and I put it on everything -- imma leave it at that. This is food that will fill you, and won't weigh you down. It's exactly what you need right now.
I had gone to their previous location at Jack London. I stopped by for some warmth after First Fridays where it got a bit chilly. They were about to close but I got the rice and beans side and it warmed my body and soul.I just ordered the rice and beans side. They were the best! And the renowned Chef Emani was still moving and smiling at almost 9 o’clock pm. It is great to have such a great restaurant open breakfast, lunch and dinner, when I have business downtown. It will also be a go to place anytime of the day. The breakfast menu looks great too. What a nice addition to our downtown coming alive again.
I was impressed by how fresh, well cooked, and flavorful every item was in the bowls we ordered. I’m used to going to places with a bowl that’s just a bunch of readymade ingredients spooned in together. That’s not the case here. Each item has a distinct and subtle flavor. Even the rice, often an afterthought, was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The falafel, another common bowl ingredient, is a perfect balance of flavors and textures too and stands out in the dish. The care that’s put into the food is evident and appreciated.I’m so glad downtown Oakland finally has a great healthy option for dinner late into the evenings. I will be coming a lot and can’t wait to try everything on the menu.
Food wasn’t that good, burned veggies with rice were inedible. Bolognese tasted okay, nothing special.
Great empanadas!!! The aioli sauce that came with it, really complimented the crunchiness, soy chorizo and parsley. In addition, the smoothie bar offers really tasty juices and smoothies.I got the Banana Split to pair with my empanadas…great combination of sweetness and savory flavors.
Very clean, great music and you can get powered by pure juices / smoothies at the same time!
Visited the new location on 14th St. Mostly on point: we had a curry garbanzo bowl, super burrito, black bean burger, and bolognese w/ fettucini. Curry bowl was as good as ever: flavorful, great roasted veggies, and quinoa cooked well. The burrito was had great fillings (lots of avocado!) and came with yummy yucca fries. The black bean burger patty was huge and looked like it was house-made, bread was nicely toasted, and also came with yucca fries with delicious flavored mayo. The pasta was a total miss though. It was not a bolognese (sauce with meat/meat-substitute, or veg that's chopped up small, cooked with wine, very little tomato); this sauce was a heavy tomato sauce, with huge pieces of vegetables (broccoli, carrots, bok choy, etc.). It came with penne instead of fettuccine, and the penne was overcooked and soggy. It looked like it had been cooked previously and had been reheated in it's foil container, not cooked fresh like the other items in our meal. Perhaps a function of the small kitchen staff. Hope that when they get their groove going, the pasta dishes can improve like all their other offerings. Looking forward to coming back to try other items.