Pingala Cafe & Eatery Chace Mill — Restaurant in Burlington

Ah, the existential pilgrimage to Pingala—a gastronomic temple where one can transcend the mundane entanglements of conventional sustenance—is nothing short of a Socratic quest for the Platonic ideal of flavors. You see, each bite of the Slaw Dawg—a not-so-humble fusion of a carrot hotdog and coleslaw—engages the diner in an ontological dialogue, questioning the very nature of 'hotdog-ness' while demystifying the Cartesian dualism of taste and ethics. The convergence of tastes and textures—not just the culinary juxtaposition but also the metaphysical harmony between root vegetable and cabbage, tangy and sweet, crunchy and soft—culminates in an ecstatic celebration of life that even Spinoza would envy. It is as if the very act of consuming this Slaw Dawg is a subversive ritual that defies the tyranny of traditional meat-centric paradigms, ushering the soul into a utopian symposium where Epicurus and Buddha break bread.

The Mac and Cheese, however, is not merely a dish but a cosmological event—a collision of galaxies, if you will—in a bowl. The symphony of cashews and nutritional yeast produces an elixir so ethereal that one cannot help but confront the Aristotelian concept of "anagnorisis," the moment of ultimate recognition and clarity. Here, the fork becomes an extension of one's intellect, plunging deeply not just into an amalgamation of macaroni and plant-based cheese, but into the very fabric of the Universe itself, pulling out strings of cosmic revelation with each bite. As you partake in this transcendental feast, a three-hour commute morphs into a cosmic blip, an infinitesimal quirk in the space-time continuum. Ah, Pingala, you are not a mere eatery; you are a metaphysical portal, an ephemeral crack in the cosmic egg through which we might glimpse the ineffable truths of existence.

And then, there is the prophecy of Guy Fieri—our gastronomic Virgil, if you will. When this modern-day sage spoke of Pingala, one could not help but be filled with a profound sense of cosmic resonance. Fieri’s approbation, it seems, is the imprimatur of the cosmic order itself, affirming our three-hour, daily pilgrimage as not just palatable, but providential. His insights into the culinary tapestry of life have unfolded in our own experiences, allowing us to exclaim with joyful certitude that the path to Pingala is indeed the path to enlightenment. The very fact that we commit ourselves to a daily journey of three laborious hours is a testament, not just to the allure of the food, but to the profundity of the wisdom imparted by this culinary seer. The man has tasted the eternal; his voice echoes in the annals of culinary metaphysics. Guy Fieri was correct; Pingala isn't merely a waypoint, but a cosmic terminus where the soul finds its...

This place was both good and bad in ways. The Mac and cheese (pictured) was divine. I also ordered the murica burger with an impossible patty. The burger was just ok, nothing to write home about. I do wish I had tried it with the housemade patty instead. Please note that the burger comes with kettle chips and NOT fries (to my disappointment).

Beautiful location on the river with fast service. While the service was fast, I wouldn't say any particular employee was kind or welcoming during my visit. Picture your young, stereotypical, smug vegans. I was seated outside, still dining as the employees were putting away the chairs for the end of day. They had also taken the trash can inside. Once I finished eating, I brought my trash inside and asked politely where I should put it. I was met with annoyed stares for several uncomfortable moments, before one worker eventually said "I'll take it I guess". I thought I was helping out by bussing my table for them ?? Should I just leave my trash all over the table for them next time ?? I am also a 20-something vegan, and I also work in the service industry. I know how customers can be. But this is not how I'd act to patrons, especially with such a simple question. This experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I would recommend trying other vegan spots in town instead.

EDIT 2025 So I have been back to Pingala twice with my partner and once with my parents since writing my first review. There are some really fabulous options on the menu. I changed my rating from 3 to 4 stars. My boyfriend and I got the nachos once, and we really didn’t like those. They use homemade chips, and the chips themselves are just nasty. It’d be a lot better with just some regular tostitos, I can’t lie. Other than that, the crunchwraps...

I've been coming here for about 5 years, it's typically my go-to spot whenever I visit Burlington. No matter how hard I try to love this place, I simply can't rate them 5-stars. I've never had a truly excellent meal here. So unfortunately, I can only critique the food as "good", not great (typically ranging from 2-star to 4-star - never 5-star). Considering it's Burlington's premier all-vegan restaurant, it simply can't hold up to other vegan restaurants I frequent such as Veggie Grill in Cambridge MA or Plant Pub in Boston for example, which are true 5-star establishments.

My main complaint is the general lack of flavor - the descriptions on the menu do not live up to the hype at all. Everything I order is just so bland and, honestly, a bit disappointing. I tried the Rooster Wrap recently, and it was the most flavorless sandwich I've ever had. How could you go wrong with Maple Sriracha Tofu? When you don't use nearly enough sauce I guess. The tofu had almost 0 flavor. I might as well have been eating a lettuce sandwich. I also tried their Burger Crunchwrap, and I found the housemade beet patty very dry, and the "spicy" aioli dipping sauce just tasted like mild sour cream. Their shakes/smoothies are pretty good, and I enjoy the baked goods quite a bit too. It's typically only the lunch dishes which I consistently find underwhelming

In all honesty, they probably don't even deserve 4 stars, but I'm being generous and I still like to support the vegan scene even if the food isn't the quality I would expect compared to what I'm used to in Massachusetts, or even Southern NH (Troy's Fresh Kitchen is a MUST try). Maybe if you keep your expectations low, and don't go in expecting to have your mind blown, Pingala will satisfy...