Change Your Eating Habits at Shift on Sheffield

By John DiGilio in Food on May 2, 2011 7:00PM

One of the biggest issues for people on the go is finding delicious, healthy fare that is fast enough to fit their hectic schedules. This is especially true for vegetarians. Luckily, purveyors of health foods are stepping up their game and healthy fast food joints are popping up everywhere. One of the latest to open is Lincoln Park’s Shift on Sheffield. A cafe and natural goods store rolled into one, it is a welcome addition to the city’s health food scene.

Shift on Sheffield is so new that you can almost smell the fresh paint on its vibrantly-colored walls. In fact, there are still parts of the store that are under a bit of construction. But the staff is friendly and eager to introduce patrons to a menu of fresh, healthy fare, as well as a large selection of natural products for body and home. From smoothies to salt scrubs, paraffin-free candles to panini, there is a lot to tickle the senses at Shift on Sheffield. The menu items are all made from fresh, natural ingredients and include both vegetarian and meat options.

We stopped by in a rush on a busy weekday evening. The pace looked so new we were afraid they were not ready for business. The enthusiastic greeting we received from the folks behind the food bar soon put those fears to rest. It was the window advertisments of fresh, healthy sandwiches and pizzas that had initially caught our eyes. The full breadth of the menu inside made choosing difficult. Since we were in a hurry, we chose the Naked Eggplant Panini and a Kashmiri Chai. The sandwich was a tasty layering of thinly sliced eggplant, marinara, and cheese on multi-grain bread, hearty and satisfying. The red cabbage slaw that came on the side was lightly marinated, crisp and refreshing. The chai was boiled and brewed from scratch while we waited - as good chai should be. When all was said and done, we enjoyed a healthy, delicious meal and were off to our appointment in no time.

Shift on Sheffield is still a bit of a work in progress as they fill their shelves and experiment with their menu offerings. While the shop continues to grow, the food bar is open for business and eager to please the health-hungry palate. On our next visit, we plan to sample the pizzas; they sound delicious. They say that the first impressions are the most crucial. We are please to report that as far as first impressions go, Shift on Sheffield made a good one.

Shift on Sheffield is located at 2825 North Sheffield Avenue.