O3: An oasis for organic food lovers

Are you one of those people who just wants to eat healthy? Someone who is forced to order from a menu that is built for the chicken wing crowd? Do you feel that everyone looks at you funny when you order a field greens salad with dressing on the side? Then when the salad comes it looks more like iceberg lettuce? Not to mention that there was no light dressing to choose from so you ended up with Ranch. Are you required to travel to multiple eateries during the same meal in search of a wrap, a smoothie and an organic cookie? If these situations sound familiar, you are not alone. Thankfully, there is an eatery on Elmwood that understands where you're coming from. It's called Organic 3 Café, or simply O3.

Let me start by saying that O3 looks amazing. Forget the food for a second and bathe in the glow of a sophisticated facade with a wrap around patio (railings coming soon). Gaze upon the simplicity of the design. So simple and well-built in fact that when you attempt to pull the door open you find yourself, for the first time, aware of the construction. The oversized door has a massive wooden bar upon which to tug, offering tangible contrast to the light, unassuming organic features throughout. Lighting is key at O3, and I'm not even talking about the light fixtures. The windows take full advantage of the afternoon sun, illuminating flashes of color that are as simple as the electric green O3 water bottles (please recycle). Notice the juice and coffee bar's simple seating arrangements as well as the industrial overhead trusses - everything is designed to avoid clutter and confinement. There's also a coffee and juice bar take-out window that fronts Elmwood for convenience of passersby.

O3 started serving food yesterday, and today we found ourselves walking through the door to not only examine the aforementioned design, but also to grab a quick, light lunch. At first we had considered sitting at street level (it is Elmwood after all), but we soon realized that the staircase led to an inviting upper floor bistro featuring "zen modern" music and ample seating for up to 35 people. We left the juice bar to the wheatgrass zealots.

As much as I appreciated the riverbed ceramic tile floor below foot, it was the brilliant modern ceiling fan that took top honors. I also liked the angled wall-length mirror that floated above the communal Noguchi-inspired couch. O3 is simple. And tasteful. Would it also be tasty? I ordered the hummus wrap (predictable, huh?), while my dad requested the house-roasted turkey grilled panini. My wrap was exactly how I imagined it would be. Lots of field greens atop cucumber, carrot, tomato and onion with a layer of hummus - just as the menu stated - wrapped up in an easy-to-manage size that managed to contain the ingredients without spillage. While my hummus wrap was not overly flavorful, the trick to enjoying this type of food is to allow your taste buds to get back to the basics. Oh, so that's what a carrot tastes like! Was that a hint of onion? These days everyone expects to have an explosion of taste in their mouths. Gone are the subtleties that Mother Nature has a way of showcasing so nicely. If you're eating at O3, then hopefully you're aware of what the word 'organic' means. If you're expecting a wrap from Tim Horton's, you're in the wrong place.

My dad enjoyed his turkey panini (I can tell when he doesn't like something), but did say that he missed his regular infusion of mayonnaise. As much as he felt that mayo would have been a nice touch, my sensibilities told me that O3 was probably a good change of pace for him, especially since he claims to be on a health kick these days (he calls it the hardly-any-cookies-diet). My dad and I thoroughly enjoyed conversing with our waitress, who was sweet, sharp and relatively unphased when the electric went out and she was forced to come back and ask whether we had any cash on us. She even unwittingly got my dad to purchase an organic cookie for dessert (he did try to say no).



Organic 3 currently has a scaled back menu while the staff gets accustomed to the new diggs. Customers can choose from a number of organic salads (ex. Omega 3 Salad), grilled wraps (ex. organic black bean and rice or wild albacore tuna) and cold sandwiches (ex. egg salad) - there is even an option to create your own salads, wraps and sandwiches (all for $5.25). The juice bar offers organic smoothies (mine was natural and refreshing without being overly sweet - it could have used a bit more flavor though). Energizers, skin tonics and immune builders are also available. Coffee nuts will appreciate the espresso bar and organic coffee offerings. The beer and wine license came in yesterday, meaning that the drinks will soon be flowing. The massive back patio will require a permit from the city as well as a blessing from the neighbors - I would think that Organic 3 would not have a problem obtaining a patio permit considering that it's a pretty chill atmosphere (not to mention cool AC on a sweltering day). In the meantime the large front patio (wraps along the side of the building and down the driveway) is a welcome addition to the already vibrant street.

(See history on O3)

Organic 3 Café
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5,
739 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo NY 14222
716-551-0136


^Click to enlarge