Sugar Plum Vegan

I have had more Sugar Plum Vegan desserts since my last review and I have to admit that some of them were not what’s up. In fact — three of the most recent items that I bought from Rainbow Grocery were left half uneaten.
I still love Sugar Plum Vegan and they excel at certain vegan (and often gluten-​free) desserts — but some of their products taste bland, dry, and far from the moist dessert treat that most people are anticipating when they pick up a cake or cookie.
I still advocate supporting this bakery — but I recommend sticking to the cowboy cookies, the raspberry thrumbprint cookie and some of the other great suggestions in other reviews on this page.
Trust.

Sugar Plum Café is not closed!!!
It is now Plum Café and is all vegan.
I loved that this week on Halloween, the bakery case was all gluten free!
The grilled cheese sandwich was incredibly luscious, melty and delicious!
There is a room in back, tables in front and in rooms inside.
I am glad they are popular and a success!

Sugar Plum Vegan still creates delicious vegan baked goods — they are sold at «The Plum» café (which used to be «Sugar Plum Vegan Café») as well as other retail locations, and you can also contact them via the website listed for orders for cakes and pastries.
This review is for the Sugar Plum Vegan baked goods which I purchased at The Plum Café. I bought a «Chocolate Midnight» cake — it had rich sugary frosting and a slightly dry chocolate cake, but overall the flavors were delicious and very satisfying. The cupcakes were really good — though I liked the chocolate covered custard filled Bavarian Cream better than the lemon/​lavender (cake was a bit dry). The peanut butter brownie was STUPENDOUS! It was really awesome — rich chocolate, softer cake and delicious everything.

How have I not come here sooner?!
It was raining pretty hard, but the place was still packed to the rim.
Thanks to my Unilocal friends and one of my girlfriends for suggesting the Sweet potato panini. Soooo good! I also tried the Reuben, which wasn’t so great. The side salad was super fresh. Can’t forget the desserts! Loved the lavendar lemon cupcake! Also loved the cookie I had.
I want to try the nachos and the tuna melt so I will definitely be back for more!

I parked right in front and didn’t even know it. It’s kind of easy to miss if you didn’t know what to look for, so look for a white Victorian house. Order and pay at the front and seat yourself. A server brings your food out to you.
Hibiscus Peppermint Iced Tea– I liked how it made my mouth minty.
PETA’s Favorite Sweet Potato & Avocado Panini: Roasted Onions, Poppy Seed Aioli, Tomatoes, Daiya Mozzarella on Ciabatta Bread
I’ve wanted to try the panini ever since reading about it being on PETA’s Top Five Vegan Sandwiches. Avocados are not in season, so thus my sandwich didn’t have any avocado. Drat! Other than that, it was as good as I was hoping it was going to be. I didn’t miss meat at all. I loved the ciabatta bread that gave the sandwich a crunch.
Award Winning Jackfruit Tuna Melt: Jackfruit-​Walnut «Tuna» with Daiya Cheddar on Multi-​Grain Bread
I wonder what kind of award it won. I forgot to ask. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten jackfruit before, so I wasn’t sure how it was going to taste like. It looked like tuna but I can’t say it tasted like tuna. The bread had a lot of grains on it. It provided a lot of texture but I didn’t really like it. The sandwich was quite small, especially compared to the panini.
The sandwiches came with a salad. Eh… It’s just a filler.

UPDATE to below review: a few months back, SPV was sold and it’s now called The Plum Café. I have had one meal there … will wait until I’ve tried it again before posting a review there.
We need more restaurant choices ilke SPV. Be sure to go when you’ve the time, cuz your patience will be tested — either at the counter, waiting for your food (expect 30 min) or both! But, the food is both delicious and different (when’s the last time you had a sweet potato panini; have one and you’ll be craving the next!). Atmosphere is what you’d expect from the outside, great place for a kick-​back lunch or weekend brunch (they have a buffet on weekends). You can expect to pay a few bucks more for your organic, vegan creations that — honestly! — will make you forget all about your meat cravings for awhile. Both the «burger» and the «BLT» are excellent, enjoy your food on the back patio (watch out for smokers) or front patio — or inside, enjoying some of the cool local art. Hope to see more new restaurants with meatless offerings!

As I have recently altered my diet to exclude meats, I am fortunate to have a vegan restaurant with in walking distance form my home.
This building has been through many incarnations since I have lived in the sacramento area, but I think this is the most fitting for the space. (While I loved True Love, it was never the same here as it was on 24^th and J)
What I appreciate about this business is the food is fresh, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly and and environment is very serene.
I have been here many times, and I have had the tempeh ruben, but once I tried the sweet potato and avocado panini, I was hooked. It is a perfect blend of sweet and savory wrapped up in a bun of delicious.
The only reason I am giving this place 4 stars instead of 5 is the service time takes a bit. I appreciate the fresh ingredients, and the quality of food, but every time I have been the line has been long, it takes several minutes to take and process an oder and about 15 – 20 minutes to prepare your dish. As the menu is small, and more are sandwiches, It shouldn’t take as long as it does to fulfill the order.
I highly recommend you give this place a try even if you are not an vegan. You will be pleased with the flavors and how filling a meatless meal can be!

In terms of gluten free desserts, probably the best place to go, though you sacrifice flavor and texture. Other than that, the lemon lavender cupcake and cowboy cream cookie were okay.

I’ve only been to Sugar Plum for their bottomless brunch. My last visit was nearly a year ago. As they say, «what a difference a year makes».
As a huge fan of brunch, Sugar Plum has always been high on my list, even if the service wasn’t up to par. In fact it downright sucked! The food was amazing for the cost. I was actually surprised that they could afford to serve such great food in «unlimited» quantities… Apparently they couldn’t.
I like the idea of a buffet-​style setup as opposed to having to ask a server for more. Especially because the formerly aloof servers would find a way to mess up the second plate. So when the super cute cashier informed me the brunch was now self-​serve, I was excited. Also, in a candid moment, she acknowledged their previous system was «dysfunctional». I stammered to say something in agreement but I’m not sure what I said. I was shocked to hear such honesty!
I can’t decide if this system is any better. I like serving myself as opposed to ordering from a waiter. I don’t like that the cashew gravy was a lil cold & thick from sitting over a can of Sterno. Otherwise it would’ve been awesome with the biscuits. The pancakes weren’t as good as before, neither was the frittata. The potatoes were ok but again, cold. It appears they don’t serve tempeh bacon anymore either. The included coffee is still good and it’s the only thing they didn’t run out of.
This review would’ve turned to 0 stars if I had arrived after 12:30… I was going up for pancakes, since I didn’t snatch any on my first trip, when I saw the cook grab the tray of pancakes and took ‘em to the back. I heard the employees say they couldn’t sell anymore brunch meals. It was 12:22 & their «bottomless brunch» had bottomed out! I understand they don’t want to have extra food but there was still a line of people waiting to gobble up sum brunch! In fact I had never even seen anything resembling a line in all my previous visits. They brought back out half of the pancakes, but that, biscuits, and salad were all that were left for seconds.
So it appears the service took a few steps forward with the hiring of new front counter employees, while the quality of the food took a step back. If Sugar Plum can keep the food warm (er), Google the definition of «bottomless» and bring back the tempeh bacon, this brunch gets a full 5 stars!

I really want to like this place. I like the feel of it. I like the outdoor seating. I like the hippy vibe. Unfortunately, the service and the food itself leave a lot to be desired.
The first time I drove down here and they said the kitchen was closed. It was 3pm. Okay, I get it… Vegan takes a while to prepare, so maybe they just didn’t prepare enough food that day. Grabbed an iced coffee and a cupcake from the cooler. Ehh… cupcake was stale. Strike 2. Not to mention one of the cooks (possibly owner) complaining about how he doesn’t have enough staff as he’s walking past us to go smoke a cigarette. Hmm…
The second time I came was with family from out of town. We showed up for the brunch. Surprisingly pricey for what was offered. Stale enchiladas, boring salad, good potatoes (I would hope, considering you have to TRY to mess up potatoes), good pancakes, fresh fruit and tofu scramble that I can make better at home. Yet again, sorely unimpressed.
I’ve seen so many good ratings for this place that I’m wondering if my taste buds are off or if people are just so desperate for a good Vegan restaurant that their standards have diminished.
Maybe I will try them again, definitely not for their overpriced brunch, but maybe a sandwich or something. I’m not sure yet… it’s a trek to drive downtown for something that leaves you feeling that it would have been better if I made it at home.

To my surprise, I really liked the food. I’m not vegan, nor vegetarian. But all the food I tried was packed with flavor, and I never felt like I was «missing» the meat part of my meal. Tempeh bacon, a soy based product, seems to be the staple in the sandwiches. I had the antipasti panini which had the «bacon», olive tapanade and artichokes. The bacon tasted and crunched like bacon. It was delicious, served with a huge side of green salad. Portions are ridiculously huge. The pesto fries (roasted potatoes and onions covered with fresh, garlicky pesto) was basically a meal itself. The quinoa tabouli salad was the freshest I’ve tasted bursting with lemon, garlic, and nutty flavors.
Service was average. It does take awhile for your food to come out, but at least they tell you that right on the menu («please be patient»). No free refills on the iced teas. Boo. Front patio is great for people watching, if you wanna see silly, wasted youth, wannabe hipster chicks who ignore their barking dogs, or older suburban couples having dry cake across the street.
Prices are pretty cheap, considering the amount of food that you’re getting. Everything ranged from $ 7 – 11. I can’t wait to try the burgers and a couple other sandwiches that sounded pretty yum. They’ve got a tuna melt on the menu made with jackfruit and kelp powder. Hmmmm… who would’ve thought? 5 stars for creativity for sure!

That was some GOOOOD eating!
Michelle E. and I ventured midtown to experience the Bottomless Vegan Brunch at Sugar Plum Vegan. The best $ 12 I’ve ever spent!
The café looks like a house-​turned-​restaurant with homey décor and furniture. The staff was super sweet, friendly, helpful, and generous. The Bottomless Vegan Brunch was presented buffet-​style with the following:
— fresh fruit
— salad w/​cucumber, tomato, broccoli, mushrooms…
— biscuits and gravy
— blueberry pancakes
— chilaquiles
— tofu scramble
— potatoes
YUM YUM YUMMY YUM YUM!!!
I was happily full forever and ever! Yet I still was still tempted to take home a cupcake… or four ;D
— The Elvis (peanut butter, banana, chocolate.) This one was my fave!
— Red Velvet (mehhh only because they called it «Red Velvet» and it wasn’t very red velvet-​y. Maybe if they just named it «Chocolate.» Still yum tho.)
— Pumpkin (yessss, so good!)
— Blueberry (reminds me of a blueberry muffin with icing but whatev’s. Still yum.)
I waited to consume these cupcakes after my flight home to LA later in the evening so I can share it with family. While the presentation didn’t last, the deliciousness was very much in tact. Even by the next day, yumminess is still present :)
I’d like to officially announce that Sugar Plum Vegan is my new favorite out-​of-​town vegan restaurant! I guess I’ll be making lots of trips up to Sacramento: D
Also, if you need an ego boost, check yourself out in the bathroom mirror:

Finally tried the Sugar Plum Vegan… can’t believe it took this long since I live only a stone’s throw away, and now I am officially hooked. It’s in a sweet old Victorian house on a leafy Midtown street, very cozy, and the staff is welcoming and endearingly quirky.
If I rated their food just based on my meals, they’d get 5 stars… I usually get the burger with steak fries (nut & risotto patty that they make right there), it is freakin’ delicious! Also love the Reuben, club sandwich and
.god. the pesto fries are A-​MAZING! They are made with red potatoes and I swear I had a dream about them the night after eating there. Also, the baked goods are outta this world (favorites are the Entertainer and the peanut butter creamie). Wow.
It absolutely amazes me that this place has messed up my order almost every single time I’ve been there, and I still love them. It’s filled with good vibes– I always leave feeling happy.
My one beef (pun intended): I feel bad for the guys at the register and in the kitchen– they apparently don’t have a/​c (?) and they just sweat back there! (this was in the summer and it was really stuffy). However this place has become one of my absolute favorites in Sactown (even the back patio has a nice feel to it, mellow and pretty). An added bonus: I’ve seen dogs on the front patio and have brought my own pooch there, and I’ve heard the brunch is delish.

If you have preconceived notions concerning vegan food, I encourage you sweetly to read this harder than those who don’t.
No one loves a good burger (beef!) more than I do, which is why this review is truthful. I promise.
Sugar plum is a truly forward thinking and innovative café. Not only do they serve dessert, which is actually delicious, but they serve some great vegan café fare. Burgers, wraps, salads– the works!
Without a doubt, it’s the build-​your-​own– burger that is my fav! A risotto nut patty, with the works-​add grilled onions! It even comes with Daiya cheese, and special sauce! YUM! (eat your beefy heart out in-​n out!)
Truth be told I’m eating this dish right now. If you live in Midtown, there is no excuse not to try.
While you are at it, get the peppermint hibiscus ice tea.
Come on people now!

I respect a place that evolves to better itself. Sugar Plum seems to.
Despite my past complaints, the last four or five times I’ve been here have been MUCH better. It’s been a long time since I’ve encountered the dreaded greasy spoon (literally), and their service has gotten a little faster and friendlier. They even have a Square for their iPhone that allows them to accept card instead of just cash.
I usually go for weekend endless brunch. You used to have to wait forever for your breakfast to come (and it would usually be cold), then wait forever to get the attention of an employee to ask for a refill, and wait another forever for a new plate to come out. They’ve streamlined it by just putting the food out buffet style and refilling whatever they’re running out of. That way, you can serve yourself and choose what you want, and how much of it, without a hassle. It’s SO much quicker and easier on everyone. I think they’ve gotten more consistent with what they offer too, and how they make it.
We had a little hiccup this last weekend where we showed up at 10:15ish (the time we usually go for brunch) and were told that they only do coffee and pastries until 11:00. They tried to play it off like it’s always been this way, but that’s BS. Every other time I’ve come for brunch, we’ve been there way before 11:00 and never been told this before. It must be a new rule, which is fine, but we didn’t know and sat around starving for another hour, waiting to eat. So, be warned. If you want brunch, don’t get there until 11:00.

This place is amazing!!! A friend and I went down there to taste test some desserts because she’s going to have them cater her wedding but we ended up ordering a bunch of other food. The café itself is adorable, welcoming, and there is a ton of seating area in the main dining area, the side room, the huge back patio, and the front patio! The employees are friendly and it’s just a great environment.
We started with the spinach artichoke dip with crostini. It has an AMAZING flavor but it wasn’t really a dip so it was hard to eat. It had whole spinach leaves and huge chunks of artichoke hearts and the crostini was long and thin so you couldn’t really use them to scoop up the «dip». Either way, the flavor was great so we spooned chunks of veggies onto the bread or just ate it with our forks.
Next, we had the vegan tuna sandwich, which was made using jackfruit, which I love. Jackfruit has a great flavor and meaty texture (without having to rely on processed, fake meats), but that didn’t really come out in the spread because it was so thoroughly processed. It’s hard to make faux fish, and this sandwich was really good.
We then got the Midtown burger, which was basically a vegan Big Mac. It was AMAZING. I normally don’t go for veggie burgers because they can be so simple and easily made at home but this burger was right on. The flavor of the burger and especially the vegan Thousand Island sauce made it fantastic.
We then tried a number of cupcakes, including the red velvet, cherry chocolate chip, lime-​coconut, and the faux hostess cupcakes. I think the faux hostess with the chocolate base (it also comes with a vanilla base) was my favorite. However, we visited on a Friday, which is apparently the worst day to get baked goods, as they put out all fresh baked items on Saturday. The desserts were a little dry but you could tell they’re well made and I bet they’re amazing fresh.

My boyfriend says that the pastries here «are so light, you could toss ‘em into the air and they’d never come down.»
I have to agree.
5 stars. We’ve tried their Whoopie Pie, their Coconut Cupcake, their Cinnamon Bun their Cinnamon Bun with poppyseed, and their Entertainer Cupcake. All were excellent.
The prices are right and the services are polite.
My boyfriend is a meat eater.
And he loves Sugar Plum Vegan.
But I don’t think Sugar Plum Vegan will love him for being a meat eater.

Let us set the record straight.
I am a carnivore. I indulge in tearing my way through flesh, be it braised, grilled, seared, baked, broiled… all forms. Veggies? Love the color. Salads? The perfect pillow for the meat that comes as the entrée.
A vegan place in Sacramento? That is amazing?
I was down.
Granted it took up the spot of the old True Love café *tears up at the thought of the late night coffee spots I use to frequent in the area* but walking back through those doors was a whiff of nostalgia.
I was recommended the Sweet Potato/​Avo Panini which goes as the menu states here: with Tomatoes, Baby Spinach, Roasted Onions and Poppy Seed Aioli on Ciabatta Bread. Friends, this is no Panini. The bread was delightfully crunchy on the outside, soft and dense, like focaccia. The filling of veggie goodness? The melding of the various textures and sweet/​savory was on the cusp of perfection and immortal martyrdom… how do you say, um, ecstasy?
This Panini came accompanied with an equi large tossed greens, sprinkled lightly with their vinaigrette. All for around $ 9. Granted, slightly expensive than my usual meat encapsulated spectacle, but for the freshness of the produce, rightly accounted for.
Dining inside, outside, and on the back patio. In addition to their amazing sandwiches, I was further tempted by the diverse array of vegan baked goods in the display. Whoopie Pie? The two chocolate patties puffing with a cheese cream filling? The creamy sandwich cookies were all to die for. If I were not supremely full from only ½ a sandwich, I would have fallen for the Whoopie. Next time.
And I’ll remember to leave Sinclair’s The Jungle memories at home. All thoughts of consuming flesh left the minute I stepped over the threshold.

Holy sacred COW! This place is pretty damn awesome.
I kind of feel like one of those Bay Area assholes who like to say things like, «for Sacramento, this place is great… blah, blah, blah». But, even though I’m not even a vegetarian, let alone vegan, my being feels great knowing that no animals were harmed in the making of my lunch today.
After hearing about how tasty Daiya Cheese is, it was my mission to order thee cheesiest item on their ever changing menu. So, I ordered the Pistachio Pesto Cheesy Baked Ziti.
It was the most delicious baked ziti, I believe, I have ever tried. No joke. I could probably eat this everyday. I WISH I could eat this everyday.
My dish also came with a lightly (just right) dressed salad, and two pieces of darn tasty garlic bread.
My friend got the Sweet Potato and Avocado Panini (btw, all sandwiches can be made on gluten free millet bread), which was also delightful.
We also shared the Chili Cheese Fries with Sour Cream and Guacamole… um, they forgot the cheese, and ran out of the sour cream. But, they remedied the cheese part (damn that cheese is good), and another tasty dish was happily snarfed upon.
And, to top things off, each of us just had to get a little dessert to-​go. They had a nice little variety of vegan baked goods (red velvet cupcakes, muffins, whoopee pies, whoopee cookies, cinnamon buns, and a cute «ding dong»). I’ll have to ask my friend, how that ding dong measured up. But, I thoroughly enjoyed my chocolate banana muffin!
So, whether you’re a «way of the food-​chain» omnivore (there was a black bean guacamole cheeseburger on the menu too), vegetarian, or other fill-​in-​the-​blank-​atarian… you really should check this place out; you’re bound to find something delicious.
And, C’mon! How many vegan dinning establishments does Sacramento have? And, how long have they lasted?
By the crowds that started to gather, I don’t think this place will have any problem with their longevity.
I may even work on my longevity and start straying from the food-​chain… as long as I can get some more of this tasty fare.
P.S.
The nice gal there let us in on where they get the Daiya Cheese — one of the only places in Sacramento that carries the stuff: The Gluten Free Specialty store:
.
Yep, I made a bee-​line after lunch to grab me some o’ that cheese.
Damn, they’re just making it too hard for me to make excuses about eating healthfully.

I’m not a vegetarian, nor am I a vegan, I LOVE MEAT… and I’m not the biggest fan of synthetic materials acting as meat substitutes… just ask my vege-​pesca-​non-​dairy-​eating roommie.
That being said, I love this place for it’s well thought out menu and super friendly staff. Sure, you walk in and you’ll see more hemp clothing than you could dream of, but the fact of the matter is the baked goods are amazing! I’m jealous of their skill at making something without butter taste sooooo buttery delicious.
And let’s just talk about the nachoes for a minute… I forgot that I wasn’t eating real sour cream, holy sh*t that’s fresh and tasty, and the cheese was mild and not chalky.
Rick’s, I see you across the street with your pink building and dry-​icky flavored desserts, there’s not enough time to describe how I loathe you! I want to scream to the people eating there, come here and have reasonably priced food and tastes like it has more butter in it than your over-​priced fru-​fru cakes!
While I’m not a convert, I will gladly go here and suggest it to any person who is a skeptic about Vegan Baking/​Cooking!
BOO RICKS, YAY SUGAR PLUM! :)