Gold Lion Community Cafe

Gold Lion Cafe is one of my favorite spots not just in Manchester, but in all of Richmond. It's queer owned and you can tell because the vibes are immaculate. The food is great and affordable. I love the space, and they host events all the time. It's a great vegan menu and the drinks are some of my favorites in this area.

great vibe!! I love their pink chai, it's really unique, creamy and light. I didn't like the "house chai" as much. I wanted to try matcha, but they were out. I first tried dosa (kind of like a crepe) with egg and avocado, and it was simple but good! next I tried the (soy) bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, and there was no cheese which was a little disappointing. I came back the next day to try the short stack vegan pancakes topped with fruit, and the pancakes were divine, but it was not served with any fruit! So I hope they can straighten those inconsistencies out. i'll keep coming bc it's a cute spot and I really enjoy the pink chai.

Wanted to give this place 5 stars because their food is amazing, but, the barista at the front made me kind of uncomfortable. I placed a mobile order and went to go pick it up. I saw it sitting on the counter but there were people in front of me and the barista was working on a drink so i waited patiently. The barista then told me that there were menus if i needed, in a very passive aggressive tone, and I told her I had a pickup order and she completely ignored me so i said it again and she made me wait over 10 minutes before she gave me my order, it was cold by the time i got home. Very disappointed with the customer service.

Enjoyed an amazing birthday lunch here. Thankful for the huge number vegan/ vegan optional dishes. We had miso soup, Butter Chick'n, Seiten Supreme, Memphis Blues, and two mocktails. The staff was very friendly, and the atmosphere was safe for anyone wanting to grab a bite. Highly recommended!!

Gold Lion has been a special find since it was recommended to us. The food, drinks and the atmosphere are exceptional, and their many commitments to our community are seen and felt. If you’re looking for an authentic place with great food and people, start here.

Disappointed with my first visit to this place. After waiting 45 minutes for the food, I was served a cold bagel with barely any cream cheese, a dosa missing key ingredients, and a chai that tasted like plain water with no flavor. The quality of the food was mediocre, especially given the high prices. It felt like the person preparing the dishes lacked experience with authentic Indian cuisine. The cafe also had a strong smell of weed, which, along with the unclean atmosphere, gave off bad vibes. Service was lacking—no water was offered, and overall hospitality was poor. I was initially excited to try this spot, but unfortunately, I won’t be returning after such a poor experience.

I went to Gold Lion as part of a Drag Brunch and birthday experience as suggested by a friend, and I have to say it was wonderful. From the start, the staff were helpful and informative and worked well with the event staff. We easily found seats enough for myself and my wife as well as my friends with plenty of room and comfort even for bigger people such as myself. The menu was clear and easy to read, providing many wonderful vegetarian and vegan options. Personally, I am neither, however, everything the wife and I had was amazing. I had a Hot latte with a caramel flavor and Buddy's Dosa, while my wife had the Chick'n & waffles and the Mango Magic smoothie. Personally, I had not tried dosas before. However, this one was wonderful both from texture and flavoring to the Sambar and Chutney served with it. Every part was wonderful and worked well together. My wife also told me hers was delicious as well as her go-to is usually chicken and waffles, and the meat alternative for the chicken was pretty good in her opinion. Later on I had an iced latte with mocha which was just as good as the first one and my wife got the Pinapple Bliss smoothie and got some chocolate brownie samosas as a dessert as a nice birthday treat. Everything was delicious, and I truly commended the plating and service. The event itself went off wonderfully, and I hope to see Distant Echos and all the queens there again next year if not before. I will keep an eye out for any more events at the Gold Lion because all together from service to the general vibe of the Cafe it was amazing and I could not have asked for a friendlier more welcoming environment to spend my birthday at. I would recommend it if you like cafe spaces to check out the Gold Lion even if it's a quick stop for a drink.

Dude in the back knows how to cook an omelette. Best omelette I've had in a cafe. Iced lattes are also excellent. I love this place.

Always kind. Always delicious.

Delicious food, warm and friendly staff and all over wonderful place!