Restaurant Review: LYFE Kitchen

Founded by former McDonald’s bigwigs and a trio of celebrity chefs from Palo Alto, California, LYFE Kitchen’s goal is to deliver nutritious food quickly without skimping on quality. Prices are reasonable—a grass-fed burger is $8.99—and the sodium and calorie counts (460 and 530, respectively, for that burger) are helpful. An indoor herb garden and modern, comfortable seating make the space more pleasant than most quick-eats places. But LYFE, an acronym for “love your food every day,” isn’t quite ready for everyday status. Grilled artichokes are a charming starter, and corn chowder, thickened with cashew cream, is rich and comforting. Salads, while full of fresh vegetables, nuts, and berries, are bland without a liberal douse of dressing. Both the Quinoa Crunch Bowl and a flatbread topped with fresh mushrooms and goat cheese were crisp and full of flavor. Large-portion entrées such as steak and salmon were under-seasoned and disappointing, doing nothing to help remove the stigma that health food is tasteless. The satisfying Pizzadillawich, with eggplant, peppers, onions, basil, and cheese stuffed in a folded flatbread, is the best item on the menu. The house-made “waters” (like Ginger Mint Chia) are lovely. For now, LYFE at least qualifies as a twice-a-week quick meal stop.