Wildebeest: We will miss you
From 2013 till it closed in May 2017, Wildebeest offered its tasty and visually beautiful vegan food to delighted customers. This was the restaurant's website during those years.
Content is from the site's 2013 -2017 archived pages as well as from other outside sources.
The new owners of the domain want to give tribute to these two wonderful people by keeping the memory of Wildebeest alive. Thank you Rose & Josh for sharing your cooking with all of us.
Wildebeest is permanently closed to the dismay of its many satisfied, but now sad customers.
Wildebeest
13 Arwenack St,
Falmouth TR11 3JD
United Kingdom
About
Wildebeest was founded at the end of 2013 by Josh and Rose (that’s us!), with the aim to celebrate vegan cuisine and provide a welcoming place to eat and drink. Our story started in Brighton, where we met in 2008 and promptly decided to travel and work together abroad. After spending some time in Australia, Bali and France, we returned to Brighton and set up a vegan sushi company, Yumtum Sushi. The response was astounding, from both vegans and non-vegans, and so we thought; ‘Why not expand and open a vegan café?’ We both had strong links with Cornwall, a love of being near the sea, and the desire for a more relaxed lifestyle, so Falmouth is where we’ve ended up.
We are strongly influenced by culinary styles and flavours from all over the globe, particularly Japan and Mexico, so we enjoy creating menus that are diverse and exciting. We like to experiment with different ingredients, flavour combinations and cooking techniques, using fresh produce which is often local and organic. A keen interest in vegan baking and desserts also means we offer delicious sweet treats, with homemade raw cheesecakes, fudgy brownies and creamy ice creams all making regular appearances on the menu.
Sustainability and environmental awareness are incredibly important to us (just some of the main reasons we choose to be vegan), and so we always endeavour to do our bit for the planet. We try to compost lots of our food waste and recycle everything we possibly can, plus we use biodegradable food packaging and eco-friendly cleaning products. We also use carbon-neutral webhosting, and try to minimise our carbon footprint by using a number of local suppliers.
The café itself is a relaxed, informal space, perfect for spending time with friends and enjoying a delicious meal. We’re open four evenings a week (see opening hours for info) and we welcome bookings via telephone or email. We hope to see you soon!
FACEBOOK POSTS
So, lovely people... The time has come! As many of you will know, we've been up for sale for a wee while following the arrival of our mini beest Luna, and as the sale is now going through it's almost time for us to close the doors... So if you want one last chance to eat at Wildebeest, there's just one week to do it. Email info@wildebeestcafe.com to make a booking, we're open tonight, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Mon, tables from 5.30-9pm!
Thank you all so much! xx
~~~
May 9, 2017
Aaaand that's it! We are now officially closed. It's been a seriously emotional, jam-packed week, thank you so much everyone who came to dine with us one last time, and for all the hugs and kind words! We're ending on an absolute high, it's been such a pleasure cooking for you all for the last three and a bit years, but the time has come to move on to the next chapter! We've met so many wonderful, positive people since opening, and the way our vegan food has been so wholeheartedly embraced in Falmouth has made all the hard work so worthwhile We look forward to seeing you all around, lots of love and thank you for being such lovely customers! xxx
CLOSED: Wildebeest
www.happycow.net/;
Opened Mar 2014, this is a small vegan cafe and bar in the harbor town of Falmouth. The kitchen draws inspiration from around the world makes a diverse range of vegan food from noodle soups and tostada to cupcakes and cocktails. Seating is limited so book ahead. Confirmed closed May 2017. Message from the owner: "We’ve been up for sale for a while following the arrival of our daughter, and we’re now finally in the process of selling the premises. We’ve had an emotional, jam-packed last few weeks, thank you so much everyone who came to dine with us one last time, and for all the hugs and kind words! We’re ending on an absolute high, it’s been such a pleasure cooking for you all for the last three and a bit years, but the time has come to move on to the next chapter! We’ve met so many wonderful, positive people since opening, and the way our vegan food has been so wholeheartedly embraced in Falmouth has made all the hard work so worthwhile. We look forward to seeing you all around, lots of love and thank you for being such lovely customers! Rose, Josh and Luna xxx" .
REVIEWS
15 Mar 2017
ImogenB
Almost Perfect Vegan Restaurant
I have been to Wildebeest several times, and mostly had amazing experiences there. The mains and starters are always great, and changed often so it's not a problem at all that the menu is quite limited. The service is also great, and the food comes out relatively quickly, even when you're in a big group. The desserts are good too, but if you're on a budget stick to the starters and mains - there are better places to get a vegan cake in Falmouth, and at a lower price too.
The one negative experience I had was the first time I went, when (to be fair) I didn't know it was almost essential to book. However we were ignored by the staff for a long while before we were rudly told they were full, and left standing in the middle of the restaurant with everyone staring at us. I wouldn't have returned if it hadn't been the only fully vegan restaurant in town. The occasions I've been since then have been fine though, so I'm happy to put that occasion down to it being busy, or the staff member having a bad day.
On one occasion when I took my mother there we met David Baddiel with his family, which I'm pretty sure made her week.
Pros: Interesting food, Great atmosphere, Student discount
Cons: Booking is essential, Bad experience
~~~
05 Nov 2016
JamesPorter
great place
Great food, easily accessible in Falmouth. Nice atmosphere, if you love food then go and enjoy, if your vegan this might just be a little place of heaven!
My cousin from the US just loved it. New York City where he is located has a number of vegan restaurants. However, that is not true of many places. It was during our meal that I learned, much to my surprise, New York State does not allow online gambling. I was astounded. I asked "You mean that even slots for US players is not allowed?" Apparently that is true. He told me that if he lived in New Jersey which is 20 minutes away from his place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan he would be able to gamble online. Other states in the US also allow online gambling.
Well, here in the UK that's not an issue. However, I told him that you have to check the licenses of the bookmaker you wish to use. If it has a license issued by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission which regulates online gambling. The Gambling Commission was set up as a result of the Gambling Act of 2005. There are a myriad of games that fall under its jurisdiction including poker, bingo, sports bettings, and other popular casino games, like slots.
Needless to say, my cousin and I spent some of our evenings enjoying playing online slots at several of my favorite online casinos, Wild Casino and Ducky Luck. He wasn't familar with the online casino names, but he was with the slot games they offered.
Well, I digresses a bit there. Do visit Wildebeest if you are in the area. You don't even have to be vegan to enjoy their truly delicious food. Oh, their desserts are to die for!!
~~~
TrudiH
20 Jun 2016
The best restaurant in Cornwall (oh and it happens to be vegan..)
The food at Wildebeest is far by far the tastiest, most inventive and beautifully presented food you will taste in Cornwall, even if you're not vegan! The chefs manage to balance the presentation of high end restaurants but with great sized portions and fresh, local ingredients. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the world!
Pros: Raw desserts , Portion sizes, Inventive menu
Cons: Limited seating
~~~
MacKenzie.trav
02 Jan 2016
actual restaurant food!
It was great to feel like we were in a completely normal restaurant but that happened to be vegan!
Great food and atmosphere!
Try the beetroot butter on toast
~~~
Steffi Giraffe
26 Sep 2015
Food doesn't get much better than this...
Food doesn't get much better than this... and it happens to be vegan. This restaurant attracts and pleases vegans and meat eaters alike. The food is beautifully presented and prepared to a high standard.
It is also a great place to visit just for a drink. The hot chocolate is the best ever (someone who isn't vegan even said so). The decor is fun and inviting.
I've visited several times now and have never been disappointed!
Pros: Good value for money, Healthy yet full of flavour, Wonderful sweet treats
Cons: If only it could be open all the time...
~~~
VeganFoodEnthusiast
09 Sep 2015
Lovely Find in Falmouth!
Came here for lunch earlier in the summer.
The place is not too big, but with high ceilings and bright colours, it never felt cramped. The huge blackboard on the wall is a cute idea and was quite amusing to read while we waited for our food.
There was a range of wines/ciders/beers on offer but it still felt more like a cafe- definitely family friendly, judging by the little ones who were dining there. The waitress was very pleasant.
I ordered the mushroom har gor (crystal skin dumpling) from the 'light bites' menu, which was small (as the waitress warned me)but surprisingly filling. Very enjoyable, with strong umami flavours but some sweetness too (perhaps from the sticky garlic sauce). Perhaps a little expensive for what it was but overall very satisfying.
My friend chose the butternut squash tacos with cashew cheese, refried beans, and corn on the cob served with guac and salsa. The guacamole was sprinkled with pumpkin seeds, which I really liked. The whole thing was quite healthy but delicious.
For dessert she the chocolate espresso torte with roasted hazelnuts, which came with 3 raspberries & coconut cream on the side. I had a cherry & vanilla bean cheesecake, which also came with a dollop of coconut cream, plus drizzled chocolate sauce and dried rose petals. Both were entirely raw and very prettily presented. My friend was crazy about her torte and was impressed by the aeration- very whipped and light, almost mousse-y. It's not something either of us have managed to do at home. Mine was great too, the cheesecake bit was silky smooth and melt-in-the-mouth, while the base was very nutty and moreish. Despite being so light, both were VERY filling, so make sure you leave enough room!
The only thing that was slightly annoying was the abundance of salads on the relatively small (3 options for light bites/main meals etc) menu. Very nice-sounding salads, but still salads. I don't think it does much to change peceptions of vegan food, which they say is their aim. I'm pretty sure the menu changes often though, so this is a very minor qualm.
Overall a really lovely little place and I'd definitely go again.
Pros: quality globally-inspired menu, delicious, light, bright space
Cons: A touch expensive, emphasis on health (salads), that's just me though
~~~
Welcome to Wildebeest, a 100% vegan restaurant situated in the bustling harbour town of Falmouth, Cornwall. You’ll find a warm and friendly environment, an exciting menu using the freshest ingredients, delicious drinks and sweet treats. Our vibrant, diverse dishes draw inspiration from around the world – we want to share the food and drink that we love, so at Wildebeest you can enjoy everything from noodle soups and quesadillas to ice cream and cocktails. Everything we serve is vegan, but our aim is to delight herbivores and carnivores alike!
Opening Hours
WINTER OPENING HOURS!
(Food served 5.30-9pm)
Mon 5 - 11pm
Tues CLOSED
Weds CLOSED
Thu 5 – 11pm
Fri 5 - 11pm
Sat 5 - 11pm
Sun CLOSED
~~~
Menu
At Wildebeest, we prefer to focus on quality rather than quantity… So our menu is small but it changes regularly, written on the cafe’s blackboard every day. All of our food is suitable for vegans and we always try to offer several gluten-free options, however if you have any other dietary requirements please let us know.
Food served 5.30-9pm
Sample dishes
Soup
- Leek and butterbean with toasted hazelnuts, chives and homemade bread – £4.95
Starters
- Hoisin seitan cucumber rolls – £4.95
- Roast garlic houmous with homemade dukkah-coated bread and mixed leaves – £4.95
- Vietnamese sweet potato and smoked tofu rice paper rolls with peanut sauce and nuoc cham (GF on request) – £4.95
- Miso soup and seaweed salad (GF) – £4.20
Mains
- Raw Pad Thai with toasted peanuts, pea tendrils, a tamarind dressing and lime (GF) – £8.95
- Homemade gnocchi with glazed fennel, beetroot two ways, tarragon, toasted walnuts, almond cream, griddled baby gem and lemon dressing – £10.25
- Butternut squash laksa with flat rice noodles, shitake mushrooms, tofu and micro herbs (GF) – £9.95
- Mex Mix – salsa, guacamole, refried beans, cashew cheese, corn-on-the-cob and handmade tortillas (GF) – £10.50
Sweet treats
- Lemon and blueberry raw cheesecake with coconut whipped cream (GF) – £4.95
- Warm chocolate and almond brownie with an almond butter drizzle, Cornish sea salt and soya cream – £4.50
- Chocolate espresso torte with toasted hazelnuts, fresh raspberries, cacao nibs and coconut whipped cream – £4.75
Ice creams and sorbets (GF)
- Peanut butter and chocolate fudge swirl
Matcha green tea - Pear and cardamom
- BBQ pineapple and black pepper
- Lucuma
- All £2.00 per scoop
Drinks
We have a wide range of drinks available (many of which are organic), including fresh juices and smoothies, tea and coffee, cocktails, beer and wine.
Fresh juices
Carrot, apple and ginger
Spinach, pear, apple, cucumber and lime
£4.20
Fresh smoothies
Banana, mango, coconut and maple syrup
Blueberry, spinach, banana, lemon and chia
£4.20
Chia fresca £2.75
Folkingtons juices
Orange
Apple
Pear
Mango
Cranberry
Elderflower
250ml bottle £2.75
Frobishers juices
Tomato
250ml bottle £2.75
Fentimans
Curiosity cola
Ginger beer
Victorian lemonade
250ml bottle £2.75
Cornish spring water
Still
Sparkling
250ml bottle £1.30
Teapigs tea
Everyday brew
Darjeeling earl grey
Chai
Rooibos
Lemon and ginger
Chamomile flowers
Peppermint leaves
Mao Feng green tea
Jasmine pearls
Super fruit
Pot for one £1.90
Pot for two £2.80
Teapigs chai latte £2.95
Origin coffee
(Double shots as standard)
Espresso £1.90
Americano £2.10
Cappuccino £2.50
Latte £2.50
Flat White £2.50
Organic decaf instant coffee £2.10
Real hot chocolate £2.95
Please note:
All of our coffees are made with Oatly oat milk, if you would prefer another non-dairy milk
just let us know!
Beers and ales
Bittburger Drive 330ml (0.05%) £2.80
Heineken 330ml (5%) £3.10
Organic German lager 500ml (5%) £4.50
Hoegaarden 330ml (4.9%) £3.40
Hollows alcoholic ginger beer 500ml (4%) £4.50
Big Cat Stroud Brewery organic stout 500ml (4.5%) £4.50
Harbour Brewing Co IPA 500ml (5.2%) £4.50
Harbour Brewing Co amber ale 500ml (4.4%) £4.50
Harbour Brewing Co pilsner 330ml £3.40
Cornish Orchards cider
Farmhouse 500ml (5%)
Heritage 500ml (5%)
Vintage 500ml (7.2%)
Pear 500ml (5%)
500ml bottle £4.50
Wine (all organic)
White
Dragora Blanco, 2016 (Spain) £4.25 / £5.25 / £14.95
Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay blend. Crisp citrus, limey green acidity and tropical fruits
Domaine de Pajot Les Quatre Cépages, 2015 (France) £4.40 / £5.45 / £15.75
A delicious, easy-drinking blend of four grapes (Colombard, Ugni-Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Gros-Manseng). Grassy and refreshing
IGP Pays d’Oc Chardonnay/Roussanne 2015 (France) £16.45 (bottle only)
An elegant Chardonnay & Rousanne blend, fresh with melon, elderflower and zesty lemon fruits
Pievalta Verdiccio Superiore, 2015 (Italy) £18.95 (bottle only)
A fresh, award-winning Verdiccio. Striking citrus fruits and the subtle aromas of ripe pear, with the attractive nutty flavours for which this grape is rightly popular
Rosé
IGP Les Alpilles Rosé, 2015 (France) £4.50 / £5.65 / £15.95
Charming, pale French rosé. Refined and dry with refreshing acidity
Red
Dragora Tinto, 2016 (Spain) £4.25 / £5.25 / £14.95
Easy-going Tempranillo with a fruity aroma, notes of red berries and a mineral touch
Hoopoe IGT Sicilia Nero d’Avola, 2015 (Italy) £4.40 / £5.45 / £15.75
Nero d’Avola is a hearty and warm grape, and this wine is deliciously soft and approachable with flavoursome black-fruited character
Vin de Pays Bouches du Rhone, 2015 (France) £15.95 (bottle only)
A striking blend of Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault with mellow fruits and deep, rounded tannins
Domaine Bousquet Malbec, 2015 (Argentina) £18.95 (bottle only)
A smooth, quality red offering vibrant notes of blackberry, cassis and a pleasant, light vanilla spice. Silky tannins and gentle acidity
Sparkling
IGT Veneto Prosecco Frizzante, (Italy) £18.95 (bottle only)
Easy-going fizz reminiscent of ripe pears. Softly sparkling and not too dry
Please note:
Our wines by the glass also come in a 125ml measure, just let us know if you would prefer this size
Cocktails (using organic spirits) £5.95
Bloody Mary
Cosmopolitan
Gin Garden
Light ‘n’ Stormy
Mojito
Espresso Martini
Organic spirit and mixer
Single £4.25
Double £5.25
SOME POSTS from 2013 - 2017
Month: May 2017
**We are now officially closed!** /h3>
Posted on May 8, 2017 by rosec
For those who don’t know, we’ve been up for sale for a while following the arrival of our daughter, and we’re now finally in the process of selling the premises… We’ve had an emotional, jam-packed last few weeks, thank you so much everyone who came to dine with us one last time, and for all the hugs and kind words! We’re ending on an absolute high, it’s been such a pleasure cooking for you all for the last three and a bit years, but the time has come to move on to the next chapter! We’ve met so many wonderful, positive people since opening, and the way our vegan food has been so wholeheartedly embraced in Falmouth has made all the hard work so worthwhile. We look forward to seeing you all around, lots of love and thank you for being such lovely customers!
~~~
Month: January 2017
Take a peek at our new menu…
Posted onJanuary 27, 2017by rosec
At Wildebeest, we prefer to focus on quality rather than quantity… So our menu is small but it changes regularly, written on the cafe’s blackboard every day. All of our food is suitable for vegans and we always try to offer several gluten-free options, however if you have any other dietary requirements please let us know.
Food served 5.30-9pm
Sample dishes
Soup
- Leek and butterbean with toasted hazelnuts, chives and homemade bread – £4.95
Starters
- Hoisin seitan cucumber rolls – £4.95
- Roast garlic houmous with homemade dukkah-coated bread and mixed leaves – £4.95
- Vietnamese sweet potato and smoked tofu rice paper rolls with peanut sauce and nuoc cham (GF on request) – £4.95
- Miso soup and seaweed salad (GF) – £4.20
Mains
- Raw Pad Thai with toasted peanuts, pea tendrils, a tamarind dressing and lime (GF) – £8.95
- Homemade gnocchi with glazed fennel, beetroot two ways, tarragon, toasted walnuts, almond cream, griddled baby gem and lemon dressing – £10.25
- Butternut squash laksa with flat rice noodles, shitake mushrooms, tofu and micro herbs (GF) – £9.95
- Mex Mix – salsa, guacamole, refried beans, cashew cheese, corn-on-the-cob and handmade tortillas (GF) – £10.50
Sweet treats
- Lemon and blueberry raw cheesecake with coconut whipped cream (GF) – £4.95
- Warm chocolate and almond brownie with an almond butter drizzle, Cornish sea salt and soya cream – £4.50
- Chocolate espresso torte with toasted hazelnuts, fresh raspberries, cacao nibs and coconut whipped cream – £4.75
Ice creams and sorbets (GF)
- Peanut butter and chocolate fudge swirl
Matcha green tea - Pear and cardamom
- BBQ pineapple and black pepper
- Lucuma
- All £2.00 per scoop
~~~
Month: November 2016
Lovely review!
Posted on November 7, 2016 by rosec
Thanks very much to Hef’s Kitchen for an excellent review, check it out here! We’re loving the snaps, all credit goes to Heather of Hef’s Kitchen for this great shot of our ‘Smoked Tofu and Avocado Quinoa Sushi with Soy Sauce, Pickled Ginger and Wasabi
~~~
Month: August 2016
Nomination for ‘Best Vegan Restaurant’ in the VegfestUK Awards 2016!
Posted on August 1, 2016 by rosec
We’re so excited to announce that for the third year running we’ve been nominated ‘Best Vegan Restaurant’ in the VegfestUK Awards! www.vegfest.co.ukIt’s always gonna be tough for us to compete with them big ol’ city folk in terms of votes, but if you’d like to support us just go to http://london.vegfest.co.uk/vote Thank you!x
~~~
Month: January 2014
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Posted on January 1, 2014 by rosec
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas, we certainly did. So many vegan treats enjoyed, we definitely over-indulged! A few of the things we prepared to enjoy over the festive period included: raw raspberry cheesecake (so tasty, devoured by all the non-vegans in the family!), seriously chocolatey brownies, three new flavours of raw crackers, four different types of cookies(!), a hazelnut and chestnut roast… Wheew, time to get back on the salads perhaps.
We spent the very last day of 2013 sanding the café bathrooms and painting doors black, then enjoyed NYE at The Front pub in Falmouth – hopefully next year we’ll be able to hold celebrations in Wildebeest! 2014 is going to be a big year for us, hopefully a very good and prosperous one, so we are eager to get the doors open! We were straight back in the café this morning (no rest for the wicked), so things are progressing fairly quickly. We’ve decided we’re going to do some decoupage in the Wildebeest bathrooms, which should be fun. Better get raiding the Falmouth charity shops for some cool old books and magazines…
Anyway, more news soon hopefully. What we’d really, really like is for Wildebeest to be open by the end of January - so it’s back to work we go!
~~~
Month: November 2013
Welcome to Wildebeest!
Posted on November 20, 2013 by rosec
We will be holding monthly sushi and other themed nights at Wildebeest, which will be available for pre-booking. We’ll announce these events here, in the cafe and on our social media sites, so watch this space!
~~~