The Ins and Outs of Cafe Gratitude

An Investigation of Cafe Gratitude reveals the truth in their philosophy.

“What are you grateful for?” is a question you should be prepared to answer on your brunch trip to Cafe Gratitude, one of a growing brand of restaurants in Los Angeles that have been evolving to embody more of the city’s aesthetic, emphasizing kindness and gratitude, alongside a latte and brunch.

Cafe Gratitude, located in the village section of Larchmont Blvd, was established in 2004. Their mission as a restaurant is to “live by a set of principles and values that guide us each day and set us apart. With them, we can provide our employees with a work environment where love and gratitude are the stars that guide us, creating an experience unlike any other we know of, and that is our goal. After all, we are not just in the restaurant business; we are in the business of developing people. Of all the successes we’ve found, we are most proud of the lives that have been changed through our communities and culture.” 

With a bold statement like this, I had to pay Cafe Gratitude a visit, and scope it out for myself.

If I told you that a raw ingredient vegan restaurant as a non-vegan was amazing, you wouldn’t believe me. You would think I’m even more insane if I told you that you are asked to share what you are grateful for or perhaps what empowers you upon entering the restaurant, or right before the check comes. From burgers made from seeds, nuts, and spices, to fried chicken made of mushrooms, to additional interviews regarding the Question of the Day you are bound to be asked when walking in the doors of Cafe Gratitude, I was eager to seek out customers’ thoughts on the whole dining experience.

“First and foremost, I come for the food, because, there could be the greatest environment, and if the food is terrible, then the environment wouldn’t matter. But also, the environment here is great; everyone here is so lovely,” offers a young woman in her twenties, who almost seamlessly fits the aesthetic of Cafe Gratitude. It was a sentiment echoed by many others I spoke with, all with positive comments about the overall atmosphere of Cafe Gratitude. 

Upon entering the restaurant, I experienced the warm welcome and attentive service firsthand. The indoor and outdoor seating options provided an openness to the flow of the restaurant, with open windows showcasing beautiful surrounding nature. Customers mentioned how they appreciated the aesthetic of the space, describing it as “quite nice” and enjoying the “open windows and everything.” You might not get a feel for the gratitude vibe of the restaurant at first, but soon after being seated, you will most likely be asked ‘What are you grateful for?’ or a question that revolves around the restaurant’s ubiquitous noun.

A similar response was shared by the boyfriend of a woman who was getting food from Cafe Gratitude because she is freezing her eggs and, as part of her diet, she was told to eat only “healthy foods.” Her boyfriend shares his opinions on his first time eating at Cafe Gratitude. “I’ve had takeout before, but this is my first sit-in experience. Being here was lovely. When I think of Cafe Gratitude, I get a little ‘eye-roll’ about the place, but it’s so delicious; it washes away my criticisms.” 

Cafe Gratitude is best known for its aesthetic and the now-legendary “Question of the Day”

Despite the negative reputation about the “cult-ish” vibe associated with Cafe Gratitude, the customers I spoke to didn’t seem to find this to be an issue as they continue to dine regularly at the restaurant. Still,  the question remains if people necessarily avoid Cafe Gratitude because of its reputation. One customer mentioned, “I don’t come here because I want the Question of The Day or anything, but the aesthetic’s nice. We come here for the food and the service. Everyone is really lovely here, and the servers remember you, which is nice.”

While asking the Question of the Day, ‘What are you grateful for?’ is a very repetitive act, especially for those who come here regularly ( a majority of the people I met), the service and the food was described as “too good” not to keep coming back. The servers find this bizarre part of their job as their biggest struggle while working at Cafe Gratitude. A current server remarked that  “…asking The Question of the Day is the most challenging part of the job…it’s food for thought and gives our guests something to think about. Most of the time, people get uncomfortable and don’t look at the question open-mindedly.” 

Another server shared a belief that she is the only server who continues to ask the Question of the Day. “I love asking people the Question of the Day. I notice that people will come in, not in the best mood, and then I’ll ask ‘What are you grateful for?’ and then their face instantly lights up.”

It seems, for the most part, that the gratitude gimmick works, and keeps the customers coming back for more. Whether the “I AM GREAT” black bean burgers are really that good, or people actually enjoy a side of food for thought with their meal, Cafe Gratitude seems to have it figured out.