Saturn Cafe
The Saturn Cafe is a vegetarian diner in Oakland, California, with former locations in Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Santa Cruz. Its original Santa Cruz location was established in 1979 and closed in 2021; the Los Angeles restaurant opened in 2020. The Santa Cruz location has been variously owned by Don Lane, a husband and wife team, and former employees of the diner. The Berkeley location of Saturn Cafe was open from 2009 to 2018. The Saturn offers an entirely vegetarian menu, as well as vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free options. Its vegetarian take on classic American diner food also features local and organic ingredients. It has been critically acclaimed by numerous publications for its large menu, variety of vegan interpretations of dishes, and appeal to customers who regularly eat meat. The Saturn is also known for its progressivism, especially its commitments to environmental and social justice. History The Saturn Cafe was established in Santa Cruz, California, in 1979. It was founded by City Council candidate and future Mayor of Santa Cruz Don Lane on Mission Street. It moved to a larger building across the street in 1982, and in 1984 Lane was joined by the husband and wife team of Cary