Mehmet Ak may have been the one to change his life, but you're the lucky dog. After losing an impressive amount of weight and achieving overall well-being through a raw foods diet, Ak transformed his Turkish restaurant into an energy mecca.

Invigoration kicks in from the get-go: Sit amid chocolate-tone walls and lush plants, sipping coconut water from a freshly cracked coconut ($2), or choose from the juice bar's menu of elixirs, rumored to uplift the spirit and increase alertness.

But when you're ready to order, don't expect a steaming plate fresh from the oven. Cousin's serves "live" food. Not raw or undercooked, but live, meaning that the vegan dishes aren't heated above a specific temperature to retain vitamins and energy lost during the cooking process.

It may be different, but you'll still find the familiar, like lasagna. Don't miss the marinated kale salad ($4), which Ak massages for 30 minutes to keep the veggie's life forces intact, or the stuffed mushrooms, which lack the heaviness of your average cooked version. And do take a bite of Ak's raspberry cheesecake, made with cashew butter, date sugar and a walnut crust with wild berry topping; the name Eli will slowly fade into memory, guaranteed.

In addition to the eatery, Cousin's is an epicenter that focuses on transformation living and healing through foods, workshops, specified programs and services.

Centerstage Reviewer: Emily Fiffer