Country Life Natural Food Store and Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant — Restaurant in Columbus

I recently visited Country Life to pick up lunch for my family and myself. Inside decor is stimulating but in need of updating. Old wood, old furniture makes it looks like a 50’s diner. The staff are friendly and helpful. The day I visited, I walked in during lunchtime , where the line to the restaurant, located in the rear of the building , was long and slow moving. I ordered nacho chips and vegan cheeseburgers. What I got was a plain veggie patty with fixings on the side that was, unfortunately, very hard and dry. I ordered the baked potato loaded with chili and cheese. The beans were cooked and seasoned well and the entree was so large that I couldn’t finish it. Here are a few other entrees that I recall were served the day I entered the restaurant which looked and smelled very good: greens, rice and black eye peas, soup of the day and desserts. I tried the cheesecake. (Very soft and mushy, but creamy and sweet.) Not sure what the ingredients were, but I’ve had way better vegan cheesecake elsewhere.

The salad bar was fresh, vibrantly colored and self serve, so the customer is able to control the price. The salad bar contained many fresh veggies, greens, nuts and proteins to choose from, and while not a huge bar, it contained a variety of fresh ingredients that did not disappoint.

I also visited the holistic area located in front of the store and off to the right as you walk into the building. There are additional areas in the store which customers can select prepared or packaged items to take home, herbal and holistic medicines as well as a self serve area where customers may select milled and ground herbs and powders. The area was neat and mostly well organized and the prices were based upon net weight. Customers weigh and bag their own items and pay at the register.

I would recommend this vegan restaurant to anyone interested or curious about vegan food, produce or holistic medicine.

Country Life is a Columbus staple and has been around for a long time and is a great fixture to the city. I meet vegans all of the time and I direct them to this restaurant to dine in...

This may not be an issue for most people, but it was obvious immediately upon walking in that this is a faith based store, and as a person who doesn't identify as Christian it was incredibly uncomfortable. I mention it because it's not readily obvious through the Google listing. It's very in your face, not just the normal level of religious decor you expect in the South. There is literature everywhere, ranging from doomsday stuff to Bible studies to stuff somehow linking veganism to Christianity.

When you walk in, it's very difficult to figure out how to order or pay if you are not a regular. You have to walk straight to the back and then it's sort of a cafeteria type set up. You have to pay once you have your food by going back to the front store section.

As for the food, it was a good price point however it was very salty. I didn't care much for the "meatloaf" and I am a pretty dedicated vegetarian who is very familiar with vegan cooking, so I'm not just a dissatisfied carnivore who doesn't get vegan food. Heavy use of Liquid Aminos as a flavoring in everything but other than that bland. Is it possible to be bland and salty at the same time? Apparently the answer is yes

All in all it was a very awkward visit, one I will not be repeating if I'm traveling that way again. I'm sure this place serves a need in the community, and I am glad there seemed to be quite a few people who seemed to be enjoying their food, it just...

I moved from Atlanta where there is a wealth of natural foods markets and co-ops that l got excited about discovering and learning news ways to become more health conscious and to nourish my mind, soul, and body with each visit. Moving to Columbus, l had to venture out to search for such a place and wasn't sure what l would find. So far, l am still in search of a true to life, GMO and pesticide free, whole foods farmer's market but l did, however, stumble across this little gem! It reminded me of a neighborhood Trader Joe's. Country Life is well stocked with the herbals, tonics, water, natural supplements and medicinals l love! They even have a cafe' on site where they cook healthy and nutritious meals that are fresh and delicious from the farm to the table! I think l found a little piece of home when l found...