Lafayette, California, nestled in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, offers a diverse and growing culinary scene that caters to health-conscious diners. This guide explores some of the best options for those seeking nutritious and delicious meals in and around Lafayette.
Restaurants Prioritizing Health and Wellness
Several establishments in the Lafayette area are committed to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and preparing meals that contribute to the health and well-being of their patrons. These restaurants often accommodate various dietary preferences, including organic, gluten-free, and vegan options.
Sustainable and Seed Oil-Free Dining
One notable restaurant prioritizes health in its ingredients by using Texas olive oil, ghee, butter, avocado oil, and coconut oil instead of inflammatory seed oils. This practice extends to their barista bar, where vegan milks are free from oils and gums. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their composting practices, ensuring that natural ingredients return to the earth after nourishing customers. They pride themselves on being a female-owned, pride-proud business.
Scratch Farm Kitchen
Scratch Farm Kitchen's bowls provide a healthy way to refuel for the day. The comfort bowl, for example, contains turmeric rice, lima beans, fried egg, pickled red onion, squash, zucchini, and cucumber with a protein of your choice.
Restaurants with Diverse Healthy Options
Beyond dedicated health-focused restaurants, many establishments in the area offer a range of nutritious choices alongside their regular menus.
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Cafe Lola
Cafe Lola offers sandwiches, salads, and various healthy options. A highlight is the marinated portobello mushroom sandwich, served on a kaiser roll with peppers, onions, and provolone cheese.
Siro’s Bistro
Siro’s Bistro offers many tasty and nutritious options, including the Health Club sandwich, which features smoked turkey, grilled squash, zucchini, and sprouts with marinara sauce and pesto mayo.
The Salad Station
The Salad Station allows customers to create custom salads with a variety of greens, proteins, fruits, and vegetables.
Thai with Love
Thai with Love offers fantastic Thai cuisine, including healthy options like the mixed vegetable stir fry.
Restaurants in the Wider Bay Area with Healthy Options
While focusing on Lafayette, it's worth noting some restaurants in nearby cities that also emphasize healthy dining.
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True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen believes that food can be both crave-worthy and good for you. Their menu features seasonal ingredients, bold flavors, and proudly sourced produce and proteins. They offer 100% grass-fed burgers, pizzas made on an in-house fermented sourdough crust, bowls, salads, and vibrant cocktails.
Metro Lafayette
Metro Lafayette offers conscientiously sourced cuisine in a contemporary setting. Their menu includes dishes like Gnocchi Parisienne with roasted butternut squash, wild mushrooms, and lacinato kale; Dungeness Crab Cakes with roasted red pepper coulis; and Seared Sea Scallops on angel hair pasta with black truffle butter.
Rooftop (Walnut Creek)
Rooftop in Walnut Creek offers creatively prepared new American cuisine with a focus on fresh ingredients. Guests can enjoy dishes like black cod wrapped in a banana leaf with pea shoots and lamb meatballs.
The Park Bistro & Bar
The Park Bistro & Bar showcases fresh, local, and organically grown produce, naturally raised meats, and line-caught fish. Many dishes elevate “comfort” food with a wholesome quality.
The Cooperage (Walnut Creek)
The Cooperage offers upscale American comfort food with lighter, vegetarian options, including salad entrees made with local and organically grown ingredients.
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Elia
Elia offers authentic Greek food in Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, and San Carlos.
Sasa (Walnut Creek)
Sasa offers Japanese-inspired cuisine with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Their menu includes sushi, sashimi, and innovative small plates.
Pacific Catch
Pacific Catch is dedicated to delivering high-quality sustainable seafood. They partner with organizations like the Monterey Bay Seafood Aquarium's Seafood Watch and the Surfrider Foundation.
Wence’s Oyster Bar & Grill (Pleasant Hill)
Wence’s Oyster Bar & Grill offers a diverse menu featuring seafood, steak, and pastas.
1515 Restaurant & Lounge
1515 Restaurant & Lounge offers fresh and creative California cuisine. Their menu includes appetizers like seared jumbo scallops and entrees like fresh sea bass and grilled ribeye steak.
Hammer It Down Nutrition
Hammer It Down Nutrition serves high-quality protein shakes and energy-boosting teas that speed up your metabolism. These shakes are meant to serve as a meal replacement that is low in carbs and calories, but high in protein.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Restaurant
When selecting a healthy restaurant in Lafayette, consider the following factors:
- Ingredients: Look for restaurants that prioritize fresh, local, and organic ingredients.
- Dietary Options: Check if the restaurant offers options for your specific dietary needs, such as gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian.
- Cooking Methods: Inquire about cooking methods to ensure that food is prepared in a healthy way, such as baking, grilling, or steaming.
- Sustainability: Consider restaurants that are committed to sustainable practices, such as composting and sourcing ingredients responsibly.
- Customer Reviews: Read reviews from other diners to get an idea of the restaurant's quality and service.
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