Symphonie Vegan

this is my first time here i notice that everyone seem to not care about anything or what happening i mean the staff that work in the restaurant . after i read the menu i kinda freak out it kinda lol me up big time wel if you are asian then cook asian food dont try to do something that you are not because you are trying to hard wel i decide to not eat so i took off with my friends . sorry . but the best restaurant i been eating in so far is called champa garden on 8th and 10 st in oakland is a family restaurant really good food. Pros: thumbs down Cons: thumb down more

Look, I am not being hasty in my review. I have been vegetarian for 20 years. I have eaten at this place for 10 years, when it used to be called Bode, and when it used to actually be good. And I just ate there for the LAST time. I don't know what has happened, but ever since it became New World, this place has been struggling to find an identity. Used to be high quality, Vietnamese vegetarian, and now they are trying to do WAY too much - Mexican, Brazilian, Chinese, and other things that cannot be categorized, much to their detriment. I got Mongolian Beef (for $12.95) and it was basically seitan with some red and green peppers over rice. Last time the plate was completely different. As another reviewer said, I could have made this at home, and done MUCH better for far less money. Service was poor, took too long for the food, and to boot, the waitress decided dinner time was a good time to start rearranging tables, making horrible, vibrating, scratching noises on the floor. The staff seemed inexperienced working the dining room, and the kitchen, and I cannot believe this place actually has gotten high ratings from anybody. To their credit, this LOCATION used to have some of the tastier veggie food in the area, but I'm sorry - there is WAY too much competition for this market, and I predict this place goes under unless they make MAJOR changes in almost every area of running a restaurant. Do NOT eat here, unless you want to pay too much money for food that is easily imitable at home. My dinner cost near $40 for two - a mistake I will never make again. So farewell New World. The only way you can make it is to depend on new customers eating there every time, as anyone with any sense of taste when it comes to vegetarian/vegan food will clearly eat there only once. Want something similar, but MUCH better? Go down a few blocks to Golden Lotus, on the corner of 13th and Franklin. I have also eaten there for years, and the food is vegetarian, and great every time. Pros: If you HAVE to eat vegetarian, and are stuck in this part of town, then eat there (I guess). Cons: Bad service, too long a wait for the food, too expensive, too bland. more

The food is very bland and I didn't feel like anything I've had there I couldn't have easily made myself with some Morningstar faux meat. The chicken burrito is $9 for a tasteless version of a taqueria burrito with a few tiny pieces of fake chicken. Golden Lotus is much tastier!\r \r I've been to New World about 6 or 7 times for lunch and the service is extremely slow. If you're on your lunch break, make sure you have plenty of time. more

I love New World for the reasons mentioned by other reviewers: the simple, healthy food, wide-ranging choices, and pleasant atmosphere. Finally, I can walk into a restaurant and order ANYTHING off the menu! The only things I wish NW would alter are (1) the spice level in the dishes (they are tasty, but largely bland) and (2) the decor. There is so much that could be done with that space! Just altering the lighting and painting the walls a color other than medium teal would be wonderful. Other than that, the service is excellent and I'm glad NW is hanging on. Pros: vegan food!, super service, cheap Cons: lacks ambiance, lacks spice more

I am glad that new world is still surviving. Good veggie restaurants are hard to find. We love the lotus salad the birds nest, the pepper tofu, and the veggie clay pot(you have to ask for it since they changed their menu). Go Forth and Eat your VEGGIES! more

Wonderful food in a very pleasant atmosphere. What a treat to have a full menu to select and not have to worry if there is any meat or fish in any part of the dishes. Our favorites are the fried spring rolls, fresh tofu rolls, Birds Nest (a potato nest filled with vegetables), veggie pancake and the soups and salads. Pros: Excellent food, friendly service, Pleasant sunny atmosp more