Ritual 518 serves plant-based food and drink to exercise enthusiasts
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Co-owner Sam Kubik, left, of Ritual 518 passes a Wednesday order of Ritual Toast to customer Graycen Dubin, a Guilderland High School basketball player.
GUILDERLAND — A new café, Ritual 518, opened in Westmere in December, offering smoothie bowls, pre- and post-workout shakes, and juice. Its food offerings include superfood power bowls, and varieties of toast loaded with combinations of spreads such as whipped avocado, hummus, or pesto and such toppings as fresh greens, roasted red peppers, and feta cheese.
Co-owner Sam Kubik told The Enterprise that Ritual 518 at 1800 Western Ave. is connected to a boutique gym, Freestyle Fitness, located just behind the café. Kubik owns the shop together with Gina Tralongo, a nutritionist who owns Freestyle Fitness.
“We get a lot of people from our gym and the surrounding gyms,” Kubik said.
Ritual 518 has its own blend of coffee created for it by Kru Coffee of Saratoga Springs, Kubik said, combining Colombian and Guatemalan beans.
The plant-based café also offers superfood lattes with, for instance, cacao powder or digestion-aiding ashwagandha powder.
Ritual 518 is not fully vegan — it serves cheese and eggs — but it is vegan-friendly and has many vegan and gluten-free options.
