Ubuntu
Drove up to Napa to have lunch at Ubuntu, a vegetarian/vegan restaurant and yoga studio. My first reaction was how beautiful the space is. You feel immediately calmer inside the tall ceilings surrounded by rock walls accented by dark wood panels and just enough window light. Beautiful art hangs from the walls and a metal statue of four figures in yoga poses centers the room. The kitchen is visible from the dining area and right above is the yoga studio. We wanted to get the whole experience so we ordered the entire menu.
Roasted Beets
We started with the savory slow roasted beets and legumes which came with sweet broccoli pesto sauce.
Snake Salad
The snake salad was amazing, it was all types of fresh greens and edible flowers with radishes and a slight vinaigrette.
Roasted Asparagus
Then we had the roasted asparagus with cucumbers, legumes, olives, cheese and a fennel foam. It had amazing texture and flavors, one of my favorites!
Curry-Roasted Garbanzo Beans and Pearl Pasta
And finally my favorite part of the meal… garbanzo beans roasted with curry powder…oh my god… it was heaven. The crispy texture and the spicy flavors won me over.
Warm focaccia with truffled greens, apricots and radish
The warm focaccia plate was a favorite of the table, it was crispy and warm and the greens and apricots added a sweetness to the slightly salty bread.
Rustic yellow bean soup and grits with fava beans and goat cheese
The rustic yellow bean soup was spiced with rosemary and had amazing texture. I love goat cheese so I enjoyed the grits, though it was lacking texture and flavor.
Overall, the meal was fantastic, I was pleasantly surprised by their menu. Unlike most vegetarian/vegan restaurants that focus heavily on fake meats and bland or overwhelming flavors, Ubuntu focuses on fresh ingredients from the garden, and surprises you with the interesting flavors and textures.
As we left I noticed they have a Tibetan singing bell, which I love, the waiter rang it for me <3 I can’t wait for next time, and maybe I’ll try their yoga studio.
strange statue
Tibetan Singing Bell
