Life Alive is a small neighborhood restaurant that has hooked almost everyone I know that’s eaten there. John’s a convert, Nicole‘s a fanatic, and I go there at least once a week. In fact, I’m surprised I didn’t write this review sooner!
Life Alive has locations in Cambridge (my go-to location), Salem, and Lowell. I’ve been to the one in Lowell and it was great, as expected – but I love the Cambridge location the best.
Life Alive boasts a full menu of wholesome, organic, therapeutic, and vibrant food. They want you to experience what true nourishment feels like – with a combination of whole foods and ethical practices.
Don’t mistake this for a hippy dippy vegan restaurant serving flavorless sprouts over wilted vegetables and cardboard-like tofu. It’s anything but. Every ingredient – whether it’s beets, avocado, legumes, quinoa, or kale – is expertly prepared with the minimum amount of fussing, cooking, or modifying to promote the most flavor and maximum health benefits to each customer.
Life Alive makes the most healthy meal you could possibly get that is also the most delicious, most filling, and has the best value. I love making restaurant recreations at home but I’ve stopped short of trying to copy Life Alive. It takes time to prep all of the many ingredients they incorporate into each dish; I will happily pay $10 to leave it to the professionals.
Life Alive also makes fantastic flavor packed sauces that top each dish featuring ginger, soy, flax, and many other super foods. They also have a juice and smoothie bar with a huge menu, full of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The only negative thing I can think of is that the lines tend to get long. Still, service is as fast as they can be. And there is an abundance of additional seating on their downstairs level, which alleviates some of the crowded feeling upstairs.
My go-to meal at Life Alive is The Adventurer:
See?!
On top of all that, Life Alive also has an Appreciation Card program. I’m so close to getting my free meal!
Life Alive is a place to eat consciously. I am mindful of how I feel before and after I eat here, and afterward I always feel amazing. I always say to John that Life Alive is the type of place that if we found on vacation and didn’t have at home, I would be so bummed. If you are in the area it’s a must try and if you’re from out of the area it’s a must visit.
Domestocrat 
I always get the Green Goddess w. tofu and sub the brown rice for the rainbow quinoa for the extra protein and a ginger Kombucha. Probably my favorite meal ever. I’ve tried to make it at home & it’s seriously just not the same. How do they get their kale like that? Maybe a flash boil? If you ever figure it out let your readers know : )
I think they steam it somehow but it’s something I can’t seem to do at home!
I’ve made a pretty passable Green Goddess bowl at home. To get the kale just barely cooked, I add it at the very end and turn off the heat and let the residual heat cook it (like making a perfect hard-boiled egg). I’ve also figured out the Flaxy Ginger Nama Shoyu sauce!
Ooooh, impressive Mel!
OK I think I have the ginger nama shoyu figured out! 1/2 cup fresh ginger, 8 cloves of garlic, 1 1/2 cups evoo, 2.5 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon nama shoyu, pinch of sea salt, all in the vitamix. Had that over rainbow quinoa, steamed broccoli, blanched kale, diced tofu, avocado. Wasn’t 100% Life Alive but it was the closest I’ve come!
Nice, thank you for sharing! I gotta try that!
The owner gave up bits of the recipe in an interview I was reading the other day…
“It has garlic, ginger, lemon, toasted sesame [oil], extra-virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Nama shoyu, mirin, and maple syrup . . . and secret herbs,”
Hope that brings you even closer. :)
Cool – thank you!!