Great Sage

Epazote Black Bean Chili Carrot Cake Skillet Cornbread

5809 Clarksville Square Dr.
Clarksville, MD 21029
443-535-9400
Great-Sage.com

Hours
Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Monday: Closed

Nestled in a nondescript strip mall in the tiny town of Clarksville, Maryland, is a surprising gem—an elegant and sophisticated restaurant called Great Sage, whose “Global Green Cuisine” has been winning the hearts of discerning diners near and far since 2004. Great Sage is located within driving distance of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and one restaurant critic noted that the restaurant’s creative, organic, all-vegetarian fare is worth the “fossil fuel” that it takes to make the 30- to 45-minute drive from either metropolitan area.

Great Sage is the brainchild of owners Jody Cutler and Jeff and Holly Kaufman, who jumped at the chance to take over a vacant restaurant space next to their thriving natural foods market, Roots. The restaurant and market, together with the socially conscious gift and clothing store NEST and the organic pet-supply store Bark, make up the “Conscious Corner”—a shopping center devoted to businesses that are Earth-, animal-, and people-friendly.

The lunch and dinner menus at Great Sage are “95-percent vegan,” according to Cutler, and most items that aren’t already vegan can easily be “veganized.” Executive Chef Melanie Thomas, who apprenticed at New York City’s Dean and DeLuca, prides herself on accommodating guests who have special dietary needs. Many dishes are gluten-, soy-, and peanut-free or can be made so upon request. Chef Melanie’s specialty is decadent vegan desserts, many of which are also gluten-free. A perennial favorite is her Hot Fudge Lava Cake, which oozes with vegan hot-fudge sauce (the secret ingredient of which is puréed cashews) and is cooled off with soy or rice ice cream.

But before you dig into dessert, you might want to start off your meal with the critically acclaimed Great Sage Sampler—a colorful selection of homemade spreads, including caramelized mushroom-walnut pâté, spiced-carrot purée, and Georgian roasted-beet pâté, which are served with crunchy crostini. Great Sage’s most-requested vegan entrée is The Americana—a “down-home” vegan version of the classic meatloaf that is a hearty blend of seasoned lentils, walnuts, and grains, baked with a spicy barbecue sauce and topped with a rich onion gravy. It comes with a heaping helping of “buttery” vegan mashed potatoes and sautéed lemon-garlic broccoli on the side. Also popular are the Indian Vegetable Cakes—crumb-coated vegetable-and-potato cakes that are topped with cashew cream and served over savory mango-cranberry chutney along with basmati rice, spiced red lentils, and creamy coconut spinach.

Great Sage’s relaxing, Zen-like atmosphere—featuring warm colors and tinkling wall fountains—makes diners want to linger over their meals. A centrally located bar boasts an all-organic coffee, tea, wine, beer, and smoothie menu.

“Many people say that they never thought that vegetarian food could taste so good and be so satisfying,” says Cutler. “Many realize that it is a better choice for their health, as well.”

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