One stop that we made while in San Francisco was at Cafe Gratitude, a healthy, environmentally-aware cafe. Eccentric to say the least, this restaurant was nested in an area near no other restaurants. The interior was painted green with accents of blues. On each table sat a board game with cards that encouraged diners to introspect and dig deep within themselves for self discovery and understanding. Napkins were recycled dishcloths and self-bottled water in etched glass pitchers were readily available to guests.
Upon glancing at the menu, I was surprised to see what Cafe Gratitude offered. Not only was 90% of their menu raw, gluten-free, and organic, it was also extremely pricey. They sold smoothies for $10! No one at our table ordered one of those, but it was definitely a surprise. By raw, I mean that the restaurant does not cook their menu items. Only the soups were cooked; all other foods were prepared as they were picked. For example, my friend ordered a "pizza" but the base that would normally be the crust was made of uncooked cracker-like dough. They called it a pizza, but it was nothing like what you would order from California Pizza Kitchen or Pizza Hut.
I was in the breakfast mood so I ordered a bowl of apple & granola, almond milk, and a slice of almond toast. The granola was extremely crunchy beyond belief, but had a nice cinnamon bite to it. I was really excited about the almond milk, but my expectations were unmet. When I ordered it, I was thinking something more along the lines of Almond Milk Tea, but I was deceived. It tasted more like cardboard than anything else. The almond toast was a shocker as well. I felt like a hamster biting into a round hockey puck of seeds because it was so hard, but the taste was decent.
However unimpressed I may have been with my entree, I was won over with the dessert at Cafe Gratitude. Between four people, we decided to split a chocolate cake and a banana split. I had never had a gluten-free cake before, but it was probably the most delicious cake I had sunk my teeth into. It was moist and dense all at once and so rich in chocolate flavor. It took a long time for our dessert order to come out so I was wondering whether or not they were making the cake to order but it came out chilled, so we never figured out what took so long. Whatever it was they were doing in the kitchen at that time, it was well worth the wait. 
The banana split that we ordered was equally if not more delightful. I'm thinking that they made the ice cream from scratch, and it was oh-so-scrumptious. Maybe that's why our dessert order took about 30 minutes to arrive. With a fresh banana, chopped nuts, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce, this was your favorite dessert as a child that got dressed up and went to fancy cocktail party. Definitely the most sophisticated tasting banana split sundae that I have had. Sonic's and DQ's banana split can well...split because the Sundae for Two at Cafe Gratitude puts theirs to shame. Cafe Gratitude is a restaurant that is very local and unique in its offerings and environment. If my local Californian friend had not suggested it, I would have never set foot in the establishment. I'm really glad that I did because the experience was very special and I know that I will not find a place like that in the south. For a picky eater, a completely raw restaurant probably isn't the best idea, but for a food adventurer like me, it was an appreciated journey.
If you're in the Bay Area and your stomach is prepared to digest food in its most fresh and raw form, I would highly recommend Cafe Gratitude. The waitstaff is eccentric, the food is like no other, and the ambiance is hippie-chic. Heck, even Jason Mraz talks about this place in his song "Make it Mine". If nothing else, go because their plates are adorned with cute phrases and they have menu items like "I Am Grateful" and "I Am Renewed". You will walk out a different person.
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