Vegan
American
Take-out
Bakery
Catering
Gluten-free
Canadian
Restaurant and bakery providing vegan comfort food and baked goods, with gluten-free options. Serves lunch until, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Open Tue-Sat 11:00am-10:00pm, Sun 11:00am-3:00pm.
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120 St. Paul St, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada, L2R 3M2
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Last update on 30 Aug 2023 by geometric-noise
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Added by veganstastebetter on 04 Apr 2011
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113 Reviews
First Review by veganstastebetter
eatingthe.rainbow
Points +30
YAAAS~! - Edit
Amazing food . Always. Regardless of what I have ordered there I have LOVED it!!! I will say, their wraps are my FAVE! This was one of the restaurants I absolutely loved even before going vegetarian - so so good.
Read morePros: Great atmosphere, Delicious food, The cutest S&P shakers, ever
Cons: Sometimes there is a wait
Guest
TracyVegan
Points +52
Unhygienic and Disgusting Cooks - Edit
Right of the bat this place loses 2 stars for what I witnessed in their kitchen. NONE of the cooks were wearing gloves. ALL of the cooks were sweating and wiping sweat with their forearms, handling food with their bare hands, and dirty looking. My boyfriend even saw one of the cooks massaging kale with his bare hands. We watched this at the checkout counter in shock.
Read moreWe had driven several hours for our trip to Canada and we were very hungry, so we decided to stay and get only cooked foods hoping that the cooks wouldn't have touched anything cooked. We had the seitan bites which were amazing and tofu scramble which was ok.
I hope the owner will start providing gloves to his staff and enforcing clean food handling practices. Sadly I cannot recommend eating at Rise Above until/unless the cooks start respecting the food that goes into people's bodies.
Pros: Good food, Friendly waitress, Decent prices
Cons: Disgusting and unhygienic cooks
begoodjen
LOL if you think all restaurants have cooks in the back with gloves on I don't know what to tell you. Who cares as long as they wash their hands.
Read moreGuest
bethmartens1
Points +21
AMAZING - Edit
I have been to rise above several times now, and all of my visits have been wonderful. Great food, great atmosphere and great service. Everyone is very friendly and inviting. The food is absolutely amazing and everything (that I had had at least) tastes delicious! Love it and would recommend to friends/family!
Read morePros: Great food, Very friendly
Guest
Shappy76
Points +45
Opened my eyes to how good vegan can be! - Edit
This is about the only truly vegan restaurant in Niagara, so it's a good thing it's awesome.
Read moreMy wife and I love the penne so much that it's tough to order anything else, but the flatbreads are terrific, and the Buffalo "wings" are good for a treat.
We often get takeout, but there is full table service available as well.
Guest
Vegan GiGi
Points +1036
VERY yummy food. - Edit
My partner and I decided to stop in St. Catharine's to get doughnuts at Beechwood Doughnuts and dinner at Rise Above. I'm SO happy we did!
Read moreRise Above has a nice warm atmosphere with lots of books at the front (a "free library" sort of system where you can take and leave books), including many important animal rights books. There were also beautiful animal prints made by a local artist hanging on the walls.
We decided to share a small soup as an appetizer (curry split pea), I got the seitan souvlaki bowl (with creamy tzatziki sauce), and my partner got the smoked beet reuben with potato wedges on the side. We also got a peanut butter blondie to go. Everything was very delicious!
Our waitress was very friendly too, and I liked that they print "Thank you for eating vegan today!" on the receipts :)
Pros: delicious food, entirely vegan, supports local artists
Guest
JulianneLavallee
Points +166
Perfect! - Edit
This was the first vegan restaurant myself and my boyfriend have been to and it was fantastic! Our waiter was super nice and friendly, the decor was very cute, the music was nice, overall a very casual atmosphere. The menu is all vegan and there are so many choices I had a hard time choosing! I got the Buffalo cauliflower tacos with the soup of the day and it was so great! I couldn't believe how good it tasted. I wish I had room for dessert. We had the cutest salt and pepper shakers on our table and there was a cute bookshelf in the corner. Once we left I knew that we would be back and I absolutely can't wait to come back to try more. Definitely would recommend.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2016-08-26
Pros: Supports local artists, Reasonable Prices, Fair trade pop
Guest
Jason Griffin
Points +264
The best. - Edit
My wife seduced me with a baked good from Rise Above years ago, and it has been our go to restaurant ever since.
Read moreWhether you're having brunch, dinner, or coffee/dessert this is the best spot in the Niagara Region.
Super warm and friendly staff; I've never been disappointed with a meal at Rise Above.
Their Vegan Cheesecake is top notch...
Pros: Delicious food (all vegan), Nice ambience (staff, music,featured art), Good selection (soups, sandwiches, entrees, ect.)
Cons: Can be busy, reservations are a good idea, Parking can be crummy
Guest
ArianaRoach
Points +477
The BEST - Edit
Where do I even start with Rise Above... I think Rise Above was my first taste of vegan cuisine before I was even vegan. It totally changed my definition of what I thought vegan food could be. This restaurant has been my go-to place to eat for the past couple of years. The owner and staff have never been anything less of exceptionally kind and generous. I'm so thankful that Rise Above is located in my area. The food is wonderful, even my non-vegan family loves it. It can be quite busy at times, especially on weekends, so it could be beneficial to place a reservation. (But that just means more people are eating delicious vegan food so I'm all for it! Lol) The atmosphere is very laid-back and the staff is amazing... as I've mentioned before. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the city.
Read moreOverall, Rise Above has to be my favourite restaurant of all time.
Pros: Delicious food, Amazing staff, Wonderful atmosphere
Guest
Vegannemarie
Points +24
Merveilleux ! - Edit
Un joyau de cuisine végétalienne. Personnel gentil et atmosphère très agréable. Nous avons adoré les champignons farcis, le burger aux betteraves et le gâteau aux carottes. Notre palais a été émerveillé!
Read moreGuest
NewEngland_CW
Points +16
What a wonderful treat to find this place! - Edit
My husband and I were visiting Niagara Falls and were hoping to find a restaurant nearby that served healthy vegan food. Thanks to HappyCow we found the one and only vegan restaurant within a 20 minute drive and how glad were we to find it! The menu had so many options that even though a few were sold out for the evening, we still had plenty of options to pick from. In fact, we ordered two wraps and two desserts to go so we would have more deliciousness for the lunch the next day. Portions and prices were perfect and as so many other reviewers said, the desserts were awesome. We had fantastic service. Even though we arrived late, we were assured that we did not need to rush through our meal and to relax and enjoy.
Read moreI only wish we lived closer so we could enjoy this restaurant again and again. Great job Rise Above gang! Keep up the great work!
Pros: Lots of menu options, Portion sizes and prices, Out of this world desserts
Cons: Few options not available late in evening (as one
Guest
tommyp
Points +20
excellent food - Edit
Excellent food!
Read morePros: Lots of choices on the menu, great service.
Guest
shaak8
Points +37
I really want to love you... - Edit
Rise Above is a fully vegan restaurant in St Catharines something that excited me to no end when I first moved. It's a beautiful restaurant with great ambiance and a fun, friendly staff but sadly the food is just ok.
Read moreTo give a few examples, the vegan Caesar is really nothing more than a vegan-mayo based dressing (vs some of the more creative and tasty nut based you can make) and quite plain. The curry bowl again is ok but nothing that couldn't be whipped up at home in 30 minutes and overall the portions (especially for takeout) are very small which isn't great for convincing my 200lb athlete fiancé that we should eat there.
They have some great seasonal dishes such as the tourtière that was a beautiful plate, and a seasonal summer bowl from last year but these get rotated off the menu leaving the options from the not that exciting regular menu.
Desserts and coffee on the other hand are excellent (as well as the wine prices/selection from a local organic winery).
This is a good spot if you don't feel like cooking or feel like enjoying a good atmosphere but it isn't going to change your life.
Guest
SrdjanMoraca
Points +27
Great food! - Edit
Had a sweet potato burger. Was really delicious. Will come back again.
Read moreGuest
EmmaShaw
Points +46
AMAZING FOOD! - Edit
I absolutely love it here! I have been on many occasions and I have never been disappointed. As of this year I cut soy out of my diet and they have still managed to cater to me. I definitely recommend trying to buffalo seitan!
Read morePros: Excellent food, nice atmosphere, friendly staff
Guest
finegold
Points +28
Great food - Edit
Went there while visiting the Niagara Falls area. The food was great, very flavorful. The fried mozza sticks were amazing. If I lived in the area I would definitely be a regular at this restaurant.
Read morePros: excellent food, friendly staff, good location
Cons: small, not many tables
Guest
vegan_ryan
Points +3869
Super amazing - Edit
Delicious delicious delicious.
Read moreThe service is friendly, I had to flip a coin to finally choose something on the menu, and the desserts were great, as well.
I really wish I could go here again. You should go!
Pros: All vegan, Friendly
Guest
Daeneryske
Points +36
Amaaaaaazing - Edit
My husband and I loved this place. We shared the mozzarella sticks appetizer. Then I had the sweet potato burger and the daily soup special (pea and asparagus soup). The hubs got the seitan burger with greens. Then we shared a bowl of macaroni and cheese. It was all delicious!
Read morePros: Large menu, Great service, Deliciousness
Guest
GPPerry
Points +80
The best Vegan restaurant in Niagara - Edit
This is by far the best vegan restaurant in the Niagara Peninsula in my opinion. It continually wins awards and is constantly improving. I can't say how much I love rise above!
Read morePros: all vegan restaurant, great location, large menu
Cons: no parking , a little pricey, small space so limited seating at times
Guest
kmbump
Points +101
Organic beer and huge bowls of Coconut Bliss in the same place? - Edit
Great beer and wine selection including organics. We loved the raw kale Caesar salad, the roasted mushroom and asparagus soup, the peanut curry and mushroom strudel. We couldn't believe how big the bowls of Coconut Bliss were, and we had ours with some of their baked goods on top. Entree portions were smaller. Best vegan restaurant we have been to of those we have visited in Massachusetts and Canada. Do make reservations and expect good service.
Read morePros: multiple desserts without cane sugar, options without nightshades
Cons: none
Guest
tcb1
Points +67
Great! - Edit
What can I say? Everything was great--the food was really good and the atmosphere was comfortable and fun.
Read moreGuest
dorisrumours
Points +56
love this vegan place - savoury and sweet! - Edit
Visited this place last month and thoroughly enjoyed everything! We sat outside on the one table that is available on the sidewalk, enjoyed great vegan soup and sandwiches, plus vegan donuts for dessert. It doesn't get much better for a vegan! The owner was great to chat with and we will definitely be back whenever we are in the area.
Read morePros: friendly service, great menu, amazing vegan desserts
Cons: wish there were more outside tables
Guest
carlylauren
Points +16
love it! - Edit
Always a great selection, fresh ingredients and great service. The baked goods are amazing!!
Read moreGuest
magickstar
Points +18
Amazing Vegan Food - Edit
We discovered this restaurant earlier this year and I'm so happy we did! The staff is amazing including the owners! The owners serve tables and are super friendly and inviting.
Read moreWe just got back from a road trip and when we went on our honey moon this restaurant has the best food in all of the different places we tried. My husband and I always get there seitan which is also the best seitan we have ever had. We have also tried there pizzas, burgers, grilled cheese and quesadilla's which are all amazing. They also have amazing desserts including cheesecake, cupcakes, brownies and yummy cakes. All items they serve are vegan which is extremely important for my husband as he's deadly allergic to dairy products. If you want some amazing food you need to come to this restaurant!! You won't be disappointed I promise.
Pros: Great Food, Great Customer Service, Friendly Staff
Cons: Need More Seating
Guest
begoodjen
Points +95
Great if you have lots of time - Edit
Man, they are not in a hurry in this place. I stood and watched someone literally take over ten minutes to put a sandwich together that I had pre-ordered to be ready at noon, and didn't get out of the place until 12:15. Guys, you are downtown and it was a weekday. People are working and on their lunch hours! I once ate in for lunch and the whole affair took over an hour and a half. It was a Saturday and I had time, so it was ok, but still. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes just to get a drink. I was a regular, and if they fix this problem, I'll be back. Otherwise I'll just do without.
Read moreFood=varies from ok to delicious.
Dessert=perfect and yummy in every way.
Service=friendly, but slow as molasses
Pros: Dessert, specifically the blondie, decor, books to read while you wait
Cons: slowest service in the free world
Guest
VeganVicki
Points +20
Great desserts and good food! - Edit
Great vegan find near Niagara Falls. The food was good but the desserts were great! I had the cauliflower sandwich with the kale salad, adding the seitan at the sever's suggestion. It was good, but next time I'd leave the seitan off to save the calories (it's fried). Ask for the salad dressing on the side because it was a bit heavy. The combination of flavors was very nice and we enjoyed our meals. We picked up some desserts for later and they were so good! I forgot the name of the bar, but it had chocolate, a coconut cream and a chocolately oat crust. The maple nut and pumpkin doughnuts were yummy too! I think this is the only vegan eatery near Niagara and I would definitely recommend it!
Read morePros: vegan food!!!, desserts, location
Cons: not low in calories, slight odor from cooking
Guest
AimlessArrow
Points +57
Amazing desserts, hit or miss food, and not cheap - Edit
They deserve the reputation they have for their sweets. Doughnuts and most other treats are amazing. The milkshakes are also amazing. However, the menu food is hit or miss. I have had a few very good menu items, including the sweet potato taquitos and the caesar salad. Some of the not so great items include the burrito and chili cheese wedges. I would still eat here regularly and try all the food if it were a little cheaper. A main dish and an app with small portions will set you back $20. The food prices also seem to have gone up recently. It's okay for a treat once in a while, but not all the time. I wish they would not try to use all these fancy ingredients and offer a more affordable menu that will keep customers coming back every week.
Read moreI would give the desserts and other sweets a 5/5, and the other food a 3.5/5. When considering everything else such as service and the prices, I would give them around a 4/5 overall. Definitely a place I would promote to vegans and non-vegans, but there is room for improvement with the food quality and prices.
Pros: Best desserts and milkshakes ever
Cons: Expensive small portions, Hit or miss food, Closed on Monday
Guest
nowherefast
Points +64
Overhyped resturant - Edit
I went here recently with my partner. I got the Crispy Seitan Wrap and my partner got the Enchilada. The servers were not friendly and took their sweet time. I found the seitan to be weirdly spiced and could not taste any sauce. The enchilada tasted as if it was simply made up of canned Amy's chili and daiya. Shortly after going I found out from a friend that only that up until a month or so ago the servers were paid less than minimum wage here!! And that since they are now being paid minimum wage many have seen their hours decrease. One positive thing I do have to say is that I have tried a few doughnuts and pastries in the past and the bakers are the shining stars of the establishment.
Read morePros: baked goods
Cons: bad service, unfriendly, staff conflicts
Cocoluva
Just an fyi no server gets paid minimum wage even now unless the employer chooses to pay them more. servers make "server wage" which is less than minimum n since the wage increases minimum server wage is now up to 9.50 still less then minimum for most ppl just a little something to remember for all when out to eat tip ur waiter/waitress
Read moreGuest
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