I have been to Essence several times in the past, but it wasn't until the other day, when I came here for lunch with friends, that I decided to review it. Overall, the food here is very good. Dishes are made with fresh ingredients, you often get a nice side of greens with your meal, and the environment is both classy and cozy. Their macaroons make for an excellent dessert. The other day, I ordered the spanakopita and it was great. The phyllo dough was crisp and flaky, and the spinach and feta cheese came together beautifully. I loved the salad of chopped bell pepper, onion, tomato, and cucumber in oil that came with it, as it offered a nice vegetable counterpoint to the entree. A traditional green salad with this spinach pastry would have been too redundant. My only complaints are minor ones. The other day when I visited, seeing that avocado is offered as an extra, I requested to have it as part of my side for the spanakopita, only to find out that they only serve avocado with the burger. Huh? I never got a full, reasonable explanation for this. Was ordering a side of avocado an inflammatory request, was it a subversive act? I thought the request was a reasonable one and I was willing to pay extra for it. The only other complaint concerns the size and set-up of the place. This is a very popular lunch destination, and people often end up in a line that extends well into the seating area. However, given the size and shape of the actual facility, I don't think much can be done about this, except that you get there early for lunch and practice patience. The food at Essence is definitely worth it.