Sunshiner Sandwich*
Shambala Ancient Grain Bakery Bistro

Shambala Ancient Grain Bakery Bistro

614 S 1st St, 98273, Mount Vernon, United States

Cafés • Bistro • Seafood • American


"Really cool place! They are not only gluten-free, but also free from many common allergens AND extremely vegan friendly. There is a health-conscious topic here with the grain mix they use, and also a whole range of adaptive drinks. But the vibe is not health food bar, it has a very warm and intimate, and feel a little quirky, cafe. The staff was very friendly and helpful in all the questions I had. Order at the counter, and they bring the food to you when you eat. Not inevitable slow, but they seem to take their time with food, so this is not the place to order a meal when you're in a hurry. The drinks come out much faster and if you order a baked goods, they will pick it up for you on site. I had a Red Pepper Reuben with Coleslaw, Carrot Cupcake and Chaga Latte. I went with the vegan option for the reubs if the vegan cheese option was just a generic, I would have gone 'for the regular version so I could get the Swiss for my reubs, but they had actually different flavors of vegan cheese (the worker mentioned cheddar, swiss and provolone) so you can actually get a suitable replacement for the standard recipe if you veganize here! Anyway, this sandwich was delicious! A little creepy to eat because the roasted pepper and sauerkraut made it very juicy, and I think vegan cheese does not keep things together and genuine cheese, but the chaos was worth it. The Gf-Back was pretty good, not as delicate as traditional bread, but the healthy taste was very nice. Her Koleslaw was also very interesting, it tasted like it might have been Tahini in the dressage and I was in it. The cupcake was inconspicuous by a not gf carrot cake and the coconut frosting was really good. Finally, the latte I got with hemp milk was also very nice. I'm not sure how much of the subtle nutty taste came from the chaga and how much the hemp was, but it was a nice change from the usual hot drinks I get. The only thing I have to criticize is why they don't have any home cups for drinks when you dive in? The whole food was served on ceramic plates, but my drink came into a cup that was very disappointing. Otherwise, this was a great experience, I doubt that I have the chance to stop again in Mt. Vernon, but I must make a beeline for this place when I do."