On the corner of Sunset and Logan – at the outskirts of Echo Park – stands a towering historic brick building bathed throughout with natural light. The farmers market just ten feet from the door is alluring, but truly nothing can compare to the temple of plant-based divinities within.

Location: 1700 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Parking: We noted two or three small pay-to-park lots local to the bistro. However, we chose to take the Metro into LA Union Station and from there it was a 7-minute Uber to avoid traffic.

Seating: The restaurant is small but has three different sections with tables. We were seated immediately by a host at 4 p.m. on a Friday.

I initially chose this spot because it advertised as a brewery. I saw nothing on Yelp referring to their brand of beers, so I called ahead for reassurance on whether they carried them. Upon arriving, I was disappointed to find out that they did not, in fact, have their beers ready (this is a new aspect of the restaurant). While this was unfortunate, I’m going to give you the reasons that Sage is absolutely still worth the trip.

What’s special about Sage Bistro and Brewery?

In short: everything. Sage has an extensive menu that will satisfy both junk food vegans like myself and the more health conscious of our plant-based brethren. I took my omnivorous friend and he was amazed as well, which is my fool-proof method for a good spot to review. The restaurant features a brunch, lunch, dinner and dessert menu, with a dessert bar and KindKreme gelato. You can tell that Sage puts care into every menu element, with a creative combination of ingredients and attention to detail.

After much exploration and debate – and only one game of rock, paper, scissors – we decided on the Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza ($17) – which I plan to attempt making on my own this week (thanks Pinterest!) – and the California Avocado Pesto Burger ($14). The pizza crust was soft and well flavored, the dairy free sauce, pesto and ranch were creamy and the cauliflower was a perfect crispy contrast. The burger was well marinated tempeh with fresh avocado and pesto, and the fries were fresh cut – absolutely breathtaking.

Though they did not have any of their house beers prepared, Sage had a selection of their own kombuchas on tap that we decided to sample. We tried the Blueberry & Ginger and the Orange Dreamsicle flavors that were both fruity and refreshing, perfect for the hot LA weather. The bistro also offers a full bar, with original crafts cocktails and a wide selection of draft beers. I chose Sour Monkey by Victory Brewing Company (9.5% ABV), which was sharp, tangy and sweet.

We deemed this visit a success and look forward to the release of the Sage Plant-Based beer in the coming months!

Sour Monkey by Victory Brewing Company is available at your local Bevmo.

Until Next Time,

The Vegan Brewja.

(Feature photo by me)