I just returned from a trip to Las Vegas, Sedona and Scottsdale/Phoenix with my family and friends, where we naturally checked out as many organic restaurants and foods as we could where we were staying. Flower Child was a standout restaurant. It is owned by the same company as True Food Kitchen (review here), a restaurant that we ate at three times over the course of our stay in Scottsdale, and as many when we were in Santa Monica last year.
It starts with Flower Child’s fundamental promise to serve healthy food for a happy world. Flower Child is set up to serve fast-food quickly, in an innovative cafeteria-style. Here’s how it works: Enter their bright, clean restaurant and check out their delicious menu hanging above the cash. Next, order your food from the cashier – if you are doing take-out, rather than eating-in, there is a separate line and system, which is very cool and helps keep the lines moving. Make no mistake, it’s very efficient. Also, make sure that you let the cashier who is taking your order know of any dietary restrictions, choices, or allergies that you or your party has – they can accommodate almost all, with a smile.
After you order, you will be given a table sign with a number on it, so the server knows where to bring your food when it’s ready. Although cafeteria style, your food is brought to your table. Non-alcoholic drinks are self-serve, and there are plenty of options. You can take the time after you order before your food comes to wash your hands well, at their wash station. How great is it to not have to go to the bathroom to wash your hands before eating?
Please understand that I dined here as one of 10 people. We have requests in our group to eat vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, plus severe anaphylactic allergies to nuts, peanuts, fish, and sesame. Our entire group was happy enough to eat here twice plus all were kept safe and well nourished. Even the kids menu is great value without junk.
Flower Child’s menu consists of five main sections; salads, appetizers, bowls, sides, and wraps. Most of the items are vegan or vegetarian and then you can choose the protein that you want to add – sustainable salmon, organic chicken, grass-fed steak, and organic tofu. Talk about being able to accommodate everyone! It’s a brilliant way to design a menu – getting to add things in, rather than remove ingredients! Flower Child uses organic and non-GMO ingredients, their organic produce is guided by the wisdom of the Environmental Working Group, and they prepare their dishes to awesmazing deliciousness, plated beautifully. The sides are all delicious, especially the brussel sprouts, they are crispy with lots of umami. You can order a selection of 1, 2, or 3 sides for yourself or to share, the vast selection of sides make sure you can always eat a rainbow.
The only problem with Flower Child, is that it’s very far from where I live. Hey Flower Child creators, please come to Toronto!
