Dining

Item Description

$50 Candle Gift Card AND signed Vegan Holiday Cookbook to legendary plant-based gourmet restaurant Candle 79 on the Upper East Side.

The Candle Cafe story began in the summer of 1984, when Bart Potenza purchased Sunny’s, a landmark health food store and juice bar located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. In honor of the previous owner's nightly ritual of lighting candles to bless their establishment, Bart renamed it the Healthy Candle and made it his own.

In 1987, Joy Pierson began frequenting Healthy Candle as a customer and friend. She eventually became the in-house nutritionist for the fast-growing eatery. Bart was so impressed by her commitment to the vegetarian and holistic movement that he made her a partner in the business.

​In its 10 year history, the Healthy Candle evolved from a juice bar and vitamin shop, into a full service juice bar and cafe featuring a vegetarian menu of homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and entrees.

As their mutual passion for their mission grew, so did their power as a team in the vegetarian movement. In its 10 year history, the Healthy Candle evolved from a juice bar and vitamin shop, into a full service juice bar and cafe featuring a vegetarian menu of homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and entrees.

Customer demand overwhelmingly confirmed that Healthy Candle could make a difference in people’s lives by feeding them fresh, wholesome, vegetarian food.  Bart and Joy knew they had to expand, but how? They asked, and the universe answered: on Friday the 13th, 1993, Bart and Joy won $53,000 in the take-five lottery, and Candle Cafe was on its way!
 
In 2003, demand for growth called again, and Candle 79 was born just five blocks away. This two-story upscale dining experience incorporates the famed organic plant-based cuisine in a more formal setting featuring organic wine and full eco bar. This once again filled a void in the market for the conscientious yet sophisticated eater.  Candle 79 has twice been rated as Zagat’s #1 vegetarian restaurant, with a local and international reputation that has a regular clientele that includes neighborhood residents, celebrities, politicians, and corporate executives from around the world.
 
Candle Cafe West opened its doors in April 2012.  Deemed a hybrid of the original Candle Cafe location and Candle 79, this gorgeous space is located on Broadway between 89th/90th streets. It accommodates around 100 guests at one time, with a spacious eco-cocktail bar and elegant touches. The Candle Cafe West menu has similar items as the other two locations, with a full bar including organic spirits, wines and beer and specialty cocktails.  Candle Cafe West is also certified kosher.
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Since 1994, Candle Cafe has been serving an organic vegan menu composed of the freshest ingredients available and has been continually rated as one of the best vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the country by both traditional and holistic communities.