Mary Be Kitchen
Mary Be Kitchen bills itself as “whole food for the soul,” catering to the lunchtime crowd in the Yonge and St. Clair area with DIY plates of grilled tofu and chicken accompanied by equally healthy sides.
Mary Be aims to provide the kind of brunches, lunches and dinners you’d make for yourself given the time, with combo options like “Be Cozy,” “Be Square,” “Be Green,” or “Be Together.” Owner Sarah Huggins came up with all scratch-made recipes, and all chicken, beef and bacon is hormone- and antibiotic-free from Beretta farms.
Order, grab any drinks, take a number, be seated, and your food is brought out to you at one of many nooks in the spacious and comfy space accented by Candice Kaye wallpaper (a repeating pattern of cabbages).
A “Be Square” meal ($14.95) pairs a protein with two sides. Grilled chicken breast is marinated and brined so it’s lean but never dry. The salsa verde topping brightens the dish up and gives it a little kick.
We opt for roasted beets with a mint yogurt topping and toasted hazelnuts as well as a filling kale and red cabbage Caesar with smoky sunflower seeds and Greek yogurt dressing out of a range of gluten-free cool sides.
Grilled scallion-ginger organic tofu is a substantial vegetarian protein, and we pair it with two warm sides. Sweet potatoes with cinnamon, coconut oil have a hit of orange, and grilled broccoli is given a zing with chili garlic oil.
The “Be Cozy” option ($10.95) is a choice of seasonal stew, and today we go for a vegan red lentil dahl served over turmeric rice.
A classic combination of warm Indian spices, tomato and coconut milk both zips and comforts.
A gluten-free double chocolate tahini seed cookie is decadent but secretly healthy, using tahini in place of flour for a sweet dessert or treat to go along with coffee.
The La Marzocco espresso machine decked out in breezy white and pink pulls Pilot coffee.
Genuine tea is available as well.
House maple ginger lemonade or cucumber lime agua fresca ($3.95) is available on tap.
So is Niagara wine and Sweetgrass Golden Ale.
You don’t have to sit to grab a wholesome snack, though: treats like vegan and gluten-free Mary Be Bars with almonds, seeds, oats and coconut, banana oat muffins, and salted chocolate chunk cookies are available for grab and go.
The active kitchen can be seen at the back through a large open pass area.
Reflect Architecture is responsible for the airy interior, the same people behind Quantum Coffee and Wilbur Mexicana.
A cozy couch and armchair area near the front makes the restaurant feel like you’ve walked into a stylish home, bringing the whole concept together.
Hector Vasquez