For a Californian like myself, Raw is a place that brings me close to home; because my home is the land of fresh juice, salads and avocados, I am pleasantly reminded of that modo di essere at this entirely raw-vegan cafe. Raw is not a place that tries to mimic a style that may appeal to tourists — it is instead a place that executes a raw menu with much creativity and much innovation.

It is clear that a good deal of research and experimentation has gone into creating the menu, and that this work continues on, as the menu is ever evolving. I suspect that this is both because of the use of seasonal produce and because of a continuous curiosity on the part of the chefs to try new takes on raw-vegan cuisine. My favorites on the menu are the raw “gelato,” the nori rolls, the avocado “toast,” and the raw cacao cake.