Posted on
September 09, 2024 by
The VRG Blog Editor
Restaurant review by Ren Patel, VRG Intern
Nu Kitchen is a café located in Worcester, Somerville, and Newbury Port in Massachusetts.
Upon walking in the Worcester location, the most notable feature is the lively environment. The place is filled to the brim with plants. It provides a respite from the industrial Worcester environment with its fun lanterns and live greenery. If not for the food, I would recommend NU kitchen for the environment alone. The area is packed with many different types of seating, making it accommodating for large groups or individuals looking to get work done. There is a tree in the middle of the café, as well as a giant mural. You’ll feel like you’re eating in the gardens of Babylon because the hanging pathos, ivy, and spider plants are abundant. During the day there is tons of natural light pouring in from many windows and open ceilings. I have many good memories of visiting NU kitchen with friends so we could catch up over lattes, breakfast foods, salads, sandwiches, or wraps. While they cook all types of foods, their Vegan menu is extensive and does not disappoint.
I personally love their vegan BLT’s which can be made on ciabatta bread or a baguette. My sister often opts for bowls and wraps for something lighter on the stomach. Each meal comes with the option of spicy cucumber salad or kettle chips. I personally love the spicy cucumber since it adds a punch of flavor and freshness to the side of every meal. It consists of cucumber, spices, and vinegar. The Vegan Mega BLT best encapsulates NU Kitchen’s style with its crunchy lettuce, roasted tomatoes, lemon mayo, and house-made bacon tofu. Most of the vegan meats they use are house-made just like this one.
If on some off chance, you find their vegan menu limiting, many of the items throughout their menu are also labeled vegan. For example, the ‘Strawberry Experience Waffle’ which does not skimp out of the coconut, strawberry, and fudge toppings, happens to be vegan! Their breakfast options are particularly filling, with the waffles being fairly dense.
The Worcester NU kitchen offers some unique lattes such as their charcoal latte or beetroot latte. I have tried both and they provide unique tastes. The charcoal latte is sweet with a bit of a grainy texture. The deep black color is topped with a white fluffy cream. The beetroot latte had an earthy taste and smooth texture. Both came in fun colors and can be hot or cold. Although I personally recommend ordering both hot since it accentuates the flavor.
After filling up on our meals, my sister often sends me to grab a pastry or two for the table. They usually have regular, gluten-free, and vegan options. These are made in the house each morning and are super fresh. My favorites are their muffins, which are dense and filled with fruits. Be sure to check the dietary label on your sweets since they aren’t always vegan.
Overall NU kitchen is a great place to socialize, work, eat, and check out. Their amazing atmosphere combined with the fresh food never disappoints.
If you are looking for other vegan-friendly restaurants in the U.S or Canada, go here. You can visit NU kitchen’s website here: https://www.thenukitchen.com/
Cajun Chickn Nuggets photo by Rissa Miller
