New London — Robert Bernardo took a different path to restaurant ownership, opening up his new place on State Street after two decades working at Home Depot.

But cooking food and keeping up with nutrition trends had always been a passion. And after a two-week internship at The Organic Garden in Beverly, Mass., he made the plunge to open Right Path Organic Cafe in a small space previously occupied by another health-food restaurant, Mangetout.

"I wanted to be the change, to make a difference," Bernardo said. "There's got to be some healthier choices. ... There's definitely a demand for it."

Bernardo said the restaurant, which opened last month and seats no more than 30, serves all plant-based, gluten-free foods. Right Path is vegan to the core, he added, but Bernardo decided to call it an organic cafe to avoid any "weird connotations."

Food is kept as close to its natural state as possible, meaning most of it is served raw. He does, however, offer soup as well as rice and beans and is considering an evening menu with cooked entrees, especially in the winter.

"The food is really fresh and healthy," he said. "We make everything here: all the sauces, all the dressings."

Many of the recipes Bernardo was able to borrow with permission from his internship mentor, Rawbert Reid. He manages to make all his dishes, including the sour cream and jack cheese on his rice-and-beans offering, from plant ingredients, mostly nuts, and everything he serves is free of genetically modified organisms.

"All dressings and sauces have proteins because they're nut-based," he said.

Bernardo, a Norwich resident, said people are often scared off by the vegan diet because they worry about not getting enough protein. But he said most Americans get about three times more protein than they need for good health.

"There's a huge misconception in western culture you need so much protein," he said. "As long as you get a balance of everything ... with some protein, you'll be fine."

Right Path serves no animal products, and Bernardo figures at least 97 percent of its offerings are organic. He estimates about 95 percent of his customers are women, but added that all age groups are represented.

Menu offerings generally range from $6.95 to $10.50, with organic fair trade coffee selling for $2.50. A variety of desserts complement the coffee, and juice blends and smoothies run about $8 to $9.

"Lunch is hands down the best time for me," Bernardo said.

Bernardo is getting the word out about his new restaurant mostly through social media, including Facebook and Instagram. Reviews on Yelp and Happy Cow have been positive, he added.

In addition, Bernardo has developed a mandala-themed logo with distinctive earth colors that  adorns menus, T-shirts and takeout items. Mandalas are spiritual symbols used mainly in eastern religions.

"I'm a labeling fiend," Bernardo said. "Nothing leaves here without my logo on it."

Bernardo said he has been looking for locally sourced food as much as possible, but "this time of year it's really hard." Instead, two of his main vendors are from New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Right Path also produces a lot of its own products, including veggie crackers, kale chips and thai cashews, some of which are for sale at the restaurant. Bernardo figures about 10 percent to 15 percent of his business is takeout.

Opening quietly during a slow time for restaurants, Right Path nevertheless has garnered more than 500 likes on Facebook, and Bernardo is looking forward to gearing up for the busy warm-weather months. He also expects to start tapping into New London's artistic community by hanging paintings on the wall in the near future.

"I really love it down here," he said.

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow