Since indoor dining has been prohibited to slow the spread of COVID-19, outdoor dining is the only option for local restaurants other than take out. Thankfully for Larchmont diners, as we’ve reported previously, there are lots of options. And now, there’s another: Cafe Gratitude, at 639 N. Larchmont Blvd. , is now open, offering outdoor dining at its flagship location on Larchmont, as well as its locations in Venice and the Arts District.
Open for outdoor dining service and takeout daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Cafe Gratitude, specializing in organic, plant-based food, has quickly become a local favorite since opening on Larchmont nearly ten years ago.
In response to the pandemic, Executive Chef Dreux Ellis and General Manager Anthony Pecos told the Buzz the restaurant has slimmed down its menu and focused on the most popular items. They also scaled back on the most labor intensive items to accommodate reduced staff, because business is down about fifty percent. The restaurant was shuttered for a while, and after everyone was furloughed, some staff chose not to come back…but enough staff have returned with the re-openin, and Pecos has been working on ways to reduce costs.
“We have a really seasoned team at Larchmont and this crisis has really brought us together as a team and company,” said Ellis. “We have shaved off what was unnecessary and fortunately, Larchmont is doing very well. There’s an awesome energy and sense of community with everyone working together.” Ellis said he is optimistic the small restaurant group will make it through the pandemic.
“Right now we are open with dining outside the restaurant, and within a week or so, we will be opening up a larger space in our parking area,” explained General Manager Anthony Pecos. “We are planning to operate this way for the next eight months to a year.”
For those who prefer it take-out, though, it’s still available, including family meal options (serves 6) to order for pickup or delivery via the website under ‘Order Now’ (the restaurant encourages customers to order directly via website or by calling the restaurant directly to help reduce costs for both parties!). And because Tuesdays are for tacos, Cafe Gratitude has also brought back its famous All Day Taco menu for takeout and dine-in.
Cafe Gratitude is also offering a special I AM HAPPY MEAL one-day reset kit, with all the food and drinks you will need for the entire day – whether you’re a green juice guru or just need to recover from the weekend. Order for pickup/delivery via the Cafe Gratitude website and get your kit within an hour (use promo code ” for $5 off when you order through our website). Meal kit includes: Crunchy (Superfood breakfast parfait), Healthy (Green juice), Fulfilled (Market green veggie salad), Brave (Immunity shot), Accepting (Japanese Grain Bowl), and Immortal (Ayurvedic almond milk). The team is also working on launching wellness shot boxes and wine specials coming soon.
And for those of us using this quarantine time at home in the kitchen, you can grab a copy of Cafe Gratitude’s newly-released ‘Love Is Served’ cookbook, filled with So-Cal inspired plant-based recipes.
Whether you’re opting for takeout or patio dine-in, Cafe Gratitude continues to strictly enforce sanitation and safety protocols. The restaurant is no longer accepting cash transactions, face masks are required by patrons and staff, and guests are asked to sanitize their hands upon entering the store while also respecting social distancing. Sanitization protocols have also been put into place, conducted every 30 minutes in the kitchen and bathroom areas.