Healthy on Lark

It’s always difficult to find a place that can serve healthy and compassionate food. In this place we not only got AMAZING FOOD… we got GREAT SERVICE!!! It smells amazing in there. The owner is just a pleasure. The chick pea burger is soooo good!!! The fresh juice was amazing as well. I feel good eating in this wonderful place. LOOK FOR THIS GEM!

After trying to go to Terra nearby and realizing they were closed (even though all their hours pointed to them being open) I decided to go to the closest fully vegetarian restaurant after reading some reviews. I realized I had made a good decision as soon as I opened the door and was greeted by Sharon. She was gauging my preferences and what I was hungry for right off the bat and it was unusual and charming compared to the usual place. It felt very personal and the food was delicious, unique, and homey and the restaurant itself was cute and unconventional in its seating and décor. After some contemplation of all the attractive options (burritos, chickpea burger, BLT, etc.) I had the beans and rice bowl with some mixed veggies and her homemade salsa with a juice containing cabbage, apples, ginger, and carrots. We wound up having a long conversation afterwards about our mutual dislike and fear of Donald Grump and agreed to talk again after the election and reevaluate our state of affairs. She also had many cute trinkets for sale, including tiny homemade baby farmed animals in baskets — I bought two! Would definitely recommend for anybody in Albany.

Had curry chickpea bowl and Blt sandwich — so good! Cozy warm and Sharon, who served us, is also the chef and owner — she is a certified health coach and you feel her love in the place and meal.
We were driving through on a road trip — and this place is a welcome reprieve from the grey skies!

This place is very cute /​cozy. Had a hip vibe with mis matched chairs, stools, pillows, live plants, etc. The food was excellent! We had the chickpea burger, BLT, vegan sausage and waffles and it was all excellent. Big selection of organic teas and coffee too. The woman running it was so nice and accommodating. Plenty of parking and in a cool area with other shops walking distance.

Adorable little place, however, the service was not as warm as the décor. It was way to expensive for very little portions with a heaping dollop of rude. Will not be going back. Great idea, it’s just too bad pleasant customer service is not a priority too.

Lovely little vegan place on Lark. Chickpea burger was just the right amount of spicy. Warm and friendly service. Will be back next time in Albany. Thanks!

In town for a health and nutrition workshop and found this great place. So many options for clean eating and Sharon was a pleasure. Tried the homemade guacamole veggie plate and chick pea burger and both were amazing. DH tried the rice and beans and vowed to start eating that more often. We will definitely be back. Try it you won’t be disappointed
Laura

I was from out of town and I invited several colleagues to have lunch with me at Healthy on Lark. What a mistake! Although we made our time frame of one hour clear when our order was taken and twice after that, we ended up having to take our lunches with us in order not to be late for a presentation. There were no other customers during that time. The staff needs to be honest about their capabilities.
In addition to service the food was disappointing. The chili was good but the chick pea burger, the cheese sandwiches and the bean bowl were pretty much tasteless. In addition one colleague asked to limit the rice to a quarter cup in favor of the beans. The result was that the rice plus beans was only a quarter cup.
Great concept and great location on Lark. Execution needs major improvement.

Today was my first time visiting Healthy on Lark. I came with my friend and we ordered omelets, chips with guacamole and hummus, chilli, and some tea. I have to say, everything was absolutely amazing. I had the local seitan sausage in my omelet, and I just couldn’t get enough. Quite possibly the best omelete I’ve ever had. Plus, the squash hummus was bright and delicious, a really welcomed take on plain hummus which I usually don’t like.
On top of the great food, the woman who works there was both gracious and helpful. There’s no better seasoning for food than good hospitality.
As a vegetarian who’s all about the local foods and healthy eats, I often have a hard time bringing my non-​vegetarian friends places I like. But I can guarantee you that Healthy on Lark will please anyone with their quality food and drinks.
This is a haven tucked away in Albany, and I’ll definitely be back soon.

Service is very slow even for the number of tables in the restaurant. Portion of food was disappointingly small. Food tasted good.

Healthy on Lark is a cozy oasis on Lark street. If you are looking for good farm fresh healthy veggie options, I recommend stopping in here. The vibes and energy are really positive here.

Dope spot!
In town for work from Houston, TX. Had some trouble finding healthy meal options and came across Healthy.
Service was great and awesome healthy options! I ordered the black bean and rice burrito and a quinoa salad! Was absolutely great tasting and well prepared!
Definitely will be my go to for lunch while I’m here and recommended if healthy options are wanted while in the Albany area!

Cozy, cute little place with relaxing music playing. There are a few smaller tables to eat in or there is take out. They owner was very friendly and food is made to order. i got the bean & rice bowl which I thought was delicious. If you are looking to eat a healthy lunch and not feel like rocks are sitting in your stomach all day this is the place to go!

While I suppose you could point to something on the menu and it would show up, my experience was quite different. My lunch mate and I selected items from the menu and then Sharon Lastique, the owner, asked questions so that she could customize our plates to our liking. Questions beyond which bread and side. Questions like do you want your bread dressed with coconut oil or vegan mayo. Do you like Bragg’s? Would you enjoy mushrooms? And so on.
The result was very much worth the process. I ended up with a sandwich no part of which is on the menu – sliced tofu sautéd with onions and garlic on hearty whole grain bread with vegan mayo and a side salad of baby greens dressed with balsamic. Delicious, attractive and very much to my liking. My lunch mate ordered a breakfast burrito and was also very happy.
Despite the small kitchen, two people working and substitutions galore, the food came out quickly. A nice pot of hibiscus tea kept us company in the small but clean and comfy dining room while we waited. The bill seemed low – the food is worth more – but if they can make it work at these prices, more customers to them.
Thanks to Healthy on Lark. I’ll be back.

My new Albany vegan nirvana Healthy on Lark (Healthy in a Hurry) moved into the charming space vacated by Lil Buddha Tea and filled a much needed void in vegan and vegetarian fare in the area. We tried it on a whim for lunch this week and both had the vegan BLT (TLT — tempeh, lettuce, tomato with avocado on GF bread) and the hummus with veggie plate. Enjoyed it so much that we went back the next day for the same thing. I added a green juice the second time and was very pleased with the «Green Zinger» a nice combo of kale, cucumber, ginger and fennel. The best part — the owner Sharon is wonderful to talk to. She is clearly an expert in healthy eating and the positive effects of food on your health and mindset. All of her ingredients are additive-​free — no caramel coloring or other weird stuff. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or just want to give your digestive system a break with some healthy food, definitely give this place a try! We will be back every time we’re in Albany! Last thing — parking is easy on Lark St.

What a GREAT new find on Lark!!! The food was AMAZING. Wonderful selection of food, great customer service, and the best Juices in Albany. This is a secret that won’t stay a secret for long.

Very friendly service! Lots of vegan and gluten free
Options. The burrito bowl
Was fabulous. It seemed simple on the menu /​and I added avocado yet it tasted divine and so much better than the ones I try making at home.
This is my new stop when I travel from western NY to my home in NYC and back again.
The owners really get it here and they’re new so they’ll keep getting better!
Oh and surprisingly enough the root beer with zero calories was amazing!

delicious! I’m not vegan or even vegetarian but I do appreciate healthy fresh food made from scratch, and it never hurts to take a break from meat now and then. The smoothies and black bean and chickpea burgers are all great, fresh greens from the garden, yum! Sometimes «vegan» can mean heavily processed soy or wheat proteins, manufactured to look and taste like meat, but not here. So glad there’s another healthy food option on Lark st.

Delicious food and wonderful people. I am vegan and a bit picky with my food. I insist on whole food plant based meals, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that in Healthy In A Hurry’s kitchen, meals are made from scratch – even the dressing on the salad! Healthy In A Hurry is a wonderful little gem. This restaurant is owned and operated by a wonderful women with an astonishing public service background, the lovely Sharon. Along with Ken, Sharon makes the modest square-​footage of this restaurant feel welcoming, comfortable and intimate. The aroma of delicious food emanates from the nearby kitchen to wet your appetite as soon as you walk in. And let me tell you, you’re in for a treat! I had the quinoa salad and the bean burger, which I absolutely recommend. Sharon added a touch of salsa on top, and fresh greens at the bottom, and I was in heaven. I will stop by every time I get a chance to enjoy the delicious food and the warmth of the wonderful people behind this place. Namaste :)

One kid wanted a salad, the other not sure and we wanted something yummy we wouldn’t regret and we all left happy! They have awesome smoothies but the food was amazing — we had a great quinoa salad and cole slaw that my 7 year old could not get enough of, we also had yogurt that she customized with berries of choice, walnuts and agave to make it a little more sweet than tart. The watermelon gaspacho with mint we all loved but the black bean and rice burger and the chickpea burger gave us the healthy that we wanted but the flavors that wow! All homemade and all yummy and after she showed my girls how to Zumba! We will be back!!!