We make sacrifices for the ones we love, which is how I wound up eating brunch at Sage Organic Vegan Bistro last weekend.  Situated at the corner of Sepulveda and Washington Blvd., Sage is a vegan oasis in a neighborhood filled with decidedly non-vegan restaurants like Tito’s Tacos, Johnnie’s Pastrami, Holy Cow BBQ and Maple Block Meat.

One of the best features of Sage is their patio. Looking at the mini mall from the street, you would never guess that a patio this lovely would be hiding behind it.

On the weekends, Sage only offers their brunch menu from 9am to 4pm. My husband, who likes vegan restaurants, chose the Tempeh Sausage Florentine. This dish was a like a healthy take on Eggs Benedict  – a gluten-free biscuit, topped with a green heirloom tomato, spinach,  avocado, tempeh sausage, and vegan hollandaise sauce. It was a beautiful dish, vibrantly colored, and looked like a typical egg dish.

The roasted potatoes that came with it were seasoned, but not salty, and delicious. The Tempeh Sausage Florentine would be a solid choice except for the gluten-free biscuit. The biscuit was an odd color, like a damp shoe insole, and didn’t taste much better.

I went with the Chilaquiles, made with organic yellow corn chips, tofu eggs, kale, and salsa verde, and vegan Daiya cheese. The chilaquiles were way too soupy though and came in a big pool of, well, I’m not sure what. That said, the condiments were my favorite part of the dish.  The guacamole, pico de gallo and salsa verde, which are typically vegan, were tasty.

As far as chilaquiles go, these felt much healthier than the norm. Plus, there was kale in the dish, so it’s practically health food, right?

Sometimes less is more, and the couple of dishes we tried could have been stronger if they had less ingredients.  If you’re vegan, gluten-free or both, you will love Sage.  For those of you who aren’t, like me, you can find happiness eating there too.

Location: 4130 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City  90230. Additional locations in Echo Park and Pasadena.
Website – http://www.sageveganbistro.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Pesco-Vegetarian Friendly – Yes.
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly – YES! This is a vegan’s paradise.
Gluten-Free Options – YES!