Vegetarians, vegans find culinary haven at Sunwishes Cafe

Confused about the difference between tofu, seitan and tempeh?

Just ask the young and friendly staff of Sunwishes vegetarian cafe.

Tofu is a soft, soy-based product, while seitan is made from the protein portion of wheat and is considered to have a more "meaty" flavor and texture. Tempeh is made from cooked soybeans that have been fermented and pressed into flat cakes.

And the cheerful eatery uses all three in its strictly vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Sunwishes Cafe, located at 2027 Walnut St., became a haven for vegetarians when it opened roughly seven months ago.

The brainchild of founder, owner and chef Sarah Gethers, the restaurant is one of only a handful in the city that advertise vegetarian fare.

Gethers is modest about the cuisine she prepares.

"We usually let the food speak for itself," she said.

The decor reflects the happy and friendly feel of the cafe. Patrons can lounge on bright yellow chairs while watching the Walnut Street pedestrians stroll by -- an excellent spot to people-watch. The restaurant is purposely bright, with pale green and yellow walls decorated with geometric artwork, and fake ivy looping its way across tables and chairs on the cafe's lower level.

And the menu is as fresh as the locale's ambiance. The current menu, which changes seasonally, showcases a distinctive fall flavor, featuring ingredients like pumpkin and squash.

My dining companion and I sampled two salads (both around $6), one sandwich (prices range $8.50-$10) and one dessert.

Judging by the ingredients alone, the Moroccan quinoa salad didn't excite my taste buds. However, the quinoa, millet, yellow split peas, green and red lentils, raisins and toasted pine nuts over mesclun lettuce mix was surprisingly tasty. The warm grains, accompanied by an apricot vinaigrette, were a satisfying and flavorful combination.

The caramelized pear salad also showcased unique ingredients, such as shredded butternut squash and spicy pumpkin seeds. Together with spinach, cucumbers, red onions and pears, the salad is light and refreshing.

Sandwiches -- like the Caesar nut burger and tropical grilled tempeh burger -- featured imitation-meat ingredients.

My guest and I shared the Indian spiced seitan sandwich. Though perhaps not the most visually appealing dish -- the thick, gray almond sauce that covered the sandwich's seasoned seitan filling, while good, looked unappetizing -- the flavor combination was excellent.

Sunwishes also offers an abundance of beverage options ranging from smoothies to homemade iced teas and fresh juices to a bottled, carbonated drink called "The Switch."

Desserts (all $4.25) are supplied by an off-site business called Lotus Cake Studio and are completely vegan. We ordered the cookies and cream cake, which was moist and light.

The restaurant offers both take-out and sit-down options. Menu items are posted both on the restaurant's Walnut Street-facing window and on a large wipe board inside the store.

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