Baagan

I am amazed by the lack of excuses I have had in my life, living in the San Ramon Valley, to go to that little shopping center high on the hill off of Alcosta Blvd. You know the one that sits higher than the rest and the only thing you see is the McDonalds. I believe I went to that McDonalds once out of desperation, and that’s it. Until a couple of weeks ago, there for a million dollars, I couldn’t tell you any other businesses in the center. That has invariably changed now, forever.

My wife, bless her healthy soul, was the first to hear about Baagan. Our parallel quest and frustration for healthy dining out has led to a “no stone unturned” mentality in our house. Most stones overthrown reveal worms, but this time yielded an absolute gem.

Strip malls are not my most favorite places to visit, and Baagan kept the typical lighting (overhead and fluorescent) that came with the property, and that is the last negative thing I will say. The rest of the atmosphere is unique, almost clubby? The dining room floor made me feel like “vegan” was a verb and I was doing it in a nightclub. The manageable menu was broadcast on three mounted flat screen TV’s and medium level Indian dance music (think Bollywood) came in from above the vast open glass shelving hanging from the ceiling by metal wire dotting the floor space.

These shelves are methodically lined with various take-home health foods, like Cheesy Kale Chips, Gluten free health powders and teas. In the front of the restaurant was a squat white leather bound sofa ensemble around a glass table. It was just screaming for a red velvet rope. Here is where I sat and waited for my wife to arrive and was promptly served a hot cup of tea, which never found the bill. I don’t think it was preferential, simply policy and politeness. All around the squat table in the center were the non-descript white tables and black leather and metal chairs-simple and clean. The bright orange walls (coupled with the music) brought me right back to my days in the streets of Hyderabad. Every employee I interacted with acted as if they were the owner! This is exactly what breed’s success.

Now the food—Incredible!
I had the veggie burger with a house made bun while my wife had the quinoa wrap with avocado and a peanut butter cup smoothie (no peanuts). You order at the front, pick up at the window when called and bus your own dishes…awesome! Granted everything is ala-carte, but still, not a crumb was to be found afterwards. Next came the vegan cheesecake to split…. seriously…you wouldn’t know it’s vegan.

Angelique and Rajbir founded Baagan in Roseville on the basis that there just weren’t enough places serving what we should be eating over a counter. They quickly shot to the top of “the best of” everything lists and garnished quite a bit of media attention.

Things that set them apart (directly from their website):

• Healthy “fast food”
• We use mostly raw and organic ingredients and buy from local farmers.
• Our products are free from artificial colors and flavorings.
• Almost everything is gluten free.
• All of our products are dairy-free, casein-free, GMO-free and allergy friendly.
• We do not use refined sugar or high-glycemic index sweeteners.
• We soak and sprout our raw almonds, making them easier to digest and more health beneficial.
• We specialize in ayurvedic and Indian/East Asian spices, teas and ingredients.
• Their whole families eat this food daily!

The feel is India and Asian hawker food comes indoors to a subtle club atmosphere. The food is that clean, nourishing and good-for-your-soul feel.

You will know you’re in the right place when you see the huge metal slogan above the register: “Eat the Way Nature Intended.”

21001 San Ramon Valley Blvd
925-361-5470