A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have a friend drag me out to Casa De Luz. I had never heard of it before and apparently that was unacceptable. As you know, Austin has a great selection of vegetarian restaurants. Casa De Luz is no exception, although technically it’s not a restaurant. Casa De Luz is a wellness center; it’s got a really warm feeling. The cafeteria setting you can eat at reminds me of the warmth you feel in a church’s. The walkway to get in is gorgeous enough for a visit alone. They have all sorts of seminars and things going on all the time. When I went for dinner I witnessed some “healing” going on in the main room, which was a little corky for my tastes, but this February weather is perfect for their outdoor area. Casa De Luz has a fixed price, fixed menu kind of thing going on. Once you’ve paid the piper, you can start yourself off with a selection of their hot or cold teas, soup, and salad. When I went the soup was amazing and had some sort of ginger wonderfulness. Unfortunately, you guys will never experience it– but from what I hear, their food is consistently good. Once you’ve sat, the kitchen ladies (or men?) will eventually bring you out a plate of a variety of different vegan dishes. Cooked greens, pickled beats, mashed sweet potatoes, and some crazy seaweed were just some of the things I had. Lunch and dinner are $12 and everything is included. Next time you’re hankering for a good meal that’s not too heavy, I’d absolutely recommend it!