Botanika Cafe Ridgefield — Restaurant in Ridgefield

Visited Botanika today for the first time since my daughter and I had to attend something in neighboring South Salem. We live about 45 minutes away but will definitely return. First off, it’s located on the main drag in Ridgefield which is an absolutely adorable little New England town right next to Westchester. It’s a great way to spend a half day and feel like you are on a mini vacation, with local museums, a pretty park, quaint shops, and lots of places to eat like Botanika! The people working there were so nice and helped us decide what to order from the extensive menu. My daughter is vegan and has a gluten sensitivity so this place was like hitting the jackpot for her. As neither a vegan or gluten free person I still loved it! It is cozy, quaint, kitschy, and quirky. We loved sitting in the window seat tables with artsy pillows below the flowery hanging decor. We had the Stroganoff special which was gluten free pasta (I usually hate gluten free pasta but this I couldn’t tell at all- they said it comes from Italy) with a plant based creamy sauce and mushrooms. It was delicious. We honestly fought over the last bits. We also had the Italian sandwich. Deliciously cooked vegetables- mushrooms, onions, peppers, squash, carrots on a hearty nutty like bread (again- I would never guess it was gluten free). My only complaint is that it was so full that it kinda of fell apart while I was eating it so I used a fork and knife. Might have been even better this way so I got a good variety with every bite. They have an extensive menu (not reflected on their website) so you’ll see when you get there, as well as a nice coffee, tea, smoothie, and natural beverage selection. The food, the vibe, the service were all excellent. They have desserts as well but there is also a big ice cream/ chocolate shop with indoor and outdoor seating right across the street that makes the perfect follow up. They also serve some plant based ice cream and...

I absolutely love Botanika. I visit my parents in Ridgefield from out of state about once a year and sometimes wonder if I look more forward to frequenting Botanika while I'm in town than seeing them (joking, I think?).

Botanika's vibe is friendly, beautiful people serving healthy & nourishing food in a beautiful space. The menu can be a little overwhelming with the number of choices, but I've found it hard to go wrong: I love the eggplant sandwich, the falafel wrap. Breakfast Burrito, and their pancakes are maybe the best I've ever had, with a delightful slight sour flavor that somehow works so well with the maple butter & syrup. Their soups are consistently incredible as well.

If you aren't used to vegan / plant-based options, free yourself of any expectations of how foods like "eggs" and "cheese", or other plant-based alternatives to meat, and allow yourself to be surprised by how they stand on their own.

Everything is gluten & dairy free, and they are conscientious of allergies, but do ask as there are a lot of nuts in use in many of the dishes.

Likewise, don't fall for the trap of thinking that vegan food won't fill you up - the portions are generous, and I often have leftovers from most dishes. Generally speaking though, the food is on the lighter & healthier side, and always sits well and I don't feel stuffed after a meal.

Desserts are sweetened mainly with natural sugars - maple syrup - and are not overly sweet, but subtly delicious with a variety of complimentary flavors working together - the various nut/date energy balls, the tahini cookies, etc all fall into this category, and then of course their rich & silky key lime & cheesecakes are wonderful as well.

If you haven't guessed by now, I'm something of an evangelist for healthy eating, and for Botanika - the people behind it, what it stands for, and the wonderful food they have brought to Ridgefield. Heartily...

I come here every once in a while, because I really want to like the place and support local business. However, I always leave feeling disappointed. 1-the food is incredibly overpriced for what it is. Even with inflation, the prices are still ridiculous. Example, one time my husband and I order a Caesar wrap, smoothie and a golden latte and the total came out to $35.00. 2-food is not restaurant quality and mediocre at best. Ordered the pasta bolognese once and the sauce lacked flavor, was watery and pasta was mushy. The tempeh Caesar wrap is OK, but the tempeh itself was way too dry, as was the wrap itself (I also want to mention that the wrap doesn’t hold so you have to eat it with a fork). 3-this could just be me, but the service is not great. I never felt welcomed, the person at the register tends to come off quite cold (this happened on multiple occasions). Also, it’s very slow. My husband waited 20 minutes for a green smoothie (which still had large chunks of fruit in it). To add, the menu itself is quite disorganized and difficult to read. 4-I love the idea of having lots of plants in a restaurant, but the decor (to me) tends to look disorderly and...