Nestled in the heart of Santa Monica, Juliano’s Raw is a popular hot spot where the food is anything but. Everything on the menu is certifiably organic, vegan, and cooked under 118 degrees. Vegetarians, health-nuts and the occasional celebrity flock to this restaurant for organic drinks and meals. However, if you’re not used to raw or health-food restaurants, Juliano’s Raw can be an intimidating culinary adventure. Eating raw takes some getting used to, and there are a few things you should know and expect.

1. The fries aren’t going to taste like fries and the pizza isn’t going to taste (or look) like it came from Pizza Hut.

My dining companion and I skimmed through the menu handed to us by our lovely waitress who smelled of hemp and looked as if she’d neglected to shower for three days. With all the of food items considered contraband in Juliano’s Raw, I was surprised to see how much the menu had to offer. Lasagna, tortilla soup, and even jalapeno poppers were choices here. We decided in order to have a complete raw experience we needed to order an appetizer, entrées and a dessert, so we began with an order of zucchini fries. The fries were good for what they were, but if I had wanted salty, crispy, real french fries I would have been disappointed. Juliano’s version were more chewy, thin and brownish-green as shown below.

At this point I was skeptical when the waitress brought the pizza to the table. I honestly thought she had made a mistake. How could this thin, flat pile of tomatoes be confused for the deep-dish pesto pizza? The waitress smiled as she explained there was no mistake, and this was indeed the pizza I had ordered. I was reluctant to try it, but was pleasantly surprised to see that it was actually good. It certainly wasn’t pizza in a traditional sense, and was a far cry from anything I’d call “deep dish,” but it tasted like pesto, tomatoes and cheese. Pretty standard.

2. You might leave hungry.

The small entrée-sized portions were served on large dishes adorned with colorful beets and slices of fruit. A heavy emphasis is placed on the presentation of the meal, which is something I definitely appreciate. However, you could fit my friend’s order of “Tijuana Tacos” into a lettuce cup. In fact, it was actually served in one.

I left Juliano’s Raw feeling satisfied, but not satiated by any means. It’s now a rarity to go to a restaurant that doesn’t present you with large plates full with mountains of food. This is certainly not Juliano’s goal for his clientele. However, if you frequent the typical American restaurant, the small sizes may throw you off-guard. Here you can see a typical, colorfully decorated Juliano’s masterpiece.

3. Keep an open mind.

If you’re not used to grazing on carrot sticks and alfalfa sprouts, eating raw might be a bit of a shock for you. However, the positive aspects of a raw meal definitely outweigh the negatives, and who doesn’t like a new experience? So if you’re looking for a healthy meal, trying a new diet or even if you’re simply searching for a new dining adventure, I’d give Juliano’s Raw a five star rating!