ananimalfriendlylife.com
Reviews written by ananimalfriendlylife.com
I credit this place with turning me on to Indian food, and wondering what made me wait so long. The mostly-vegan weekend buffet, while more expensive than I expected, was an incredible way to just jump in and try a little bit of everything.
Thanks to Udupi, I'm eating Indian food a few times a month now!
When I saw yet another Thai vegetarian restaurant go up, I couldn't help but wish for something different (and it wasn't even all vegan). However, I finally got around to trying the place and I have to say, despite a few similar dishes, Bulan has a somewhat different feel... Classier even. Despite the extra attention to creative dishes and presentation, the prices actually seem a tad bit lower than the slew of thai vegan restaurants that have sprung up in L.A. these past 2-3 years.
I enjoyed the glass noodle salad with soy shrimp and peppersteak with asparagus and mushroom, and I'll be going back to try some items I didn't have room for the first time around.
Thanks, Bulan, for adding a new twist to a new concept that was already getting tired!
I enjoyed a soy vanilla latte here today. Be aware that the chocolate powder is not dairy-free. The vegan wrap was quite good. It's nice to see a vegan pesto, though I would have liked more of it spread on the wrap. The wrap ($9.95) came with a mixed green salad with vinaigrette, and it was solidly standard. Caffe Etc. also sells the large sized Uncle Eddie's Vegan cookies, which are yummilicious, so that's another plus for this place.
I live less than a block away from this restaurant, so I'm there all the time. That said, I miss seeing Toon and some of the earlier waitstaff around. The current waitstaff is really nice, too, but not as personable, and still kinda green.
The menu is not as eclectic or good as sister restaurant Vegan Glory, but I do think it's better than Vegan Express, and the atmosphere is somewhere in between.
Prices are relatively reasonable, though I can't help wishing a few of the $8.95 and up items were about a dollar less.
My standbys are the Spicy Chicken Salad, the Cowboy Burger, and the Chicken Wrap (add avocado). They do have numerous non-mockmeat dishes as well, but I can get those at just about any Thai restaurant, and that marks another complaint of mine. There's not enough on this menu that distinguishes this restaurant in the way you are spoiled to expect at Real Food Daily, Native Foods, or the vegan selections at The Newsroom.
Still, for those in Hollywood that have a hard time finding enough vegan restaurants to sustain a regular dining out habit, this is a very solid choice.
UPDATED 5/6/05:
Recently stopped in for some take-out and saw that they had recently redone their menu to include some items that you can find at Vegan Glory, and more staff than ever. Based on their new menu, I'm bumping CA Vegan up to an 8.
I'm mixed on this place. The restaurant certainly does have vegan options, which is handy if you're in Venice and want to actually sit down to a meal (nearby Good Karma is counter service only). But I did not like my dish all that much. I tried my friend's selection (I believe it was one of the fried rice and faux meat plates) and liked it quite a bit. I guess this is one of those hit or miss places, so be aware of that going into it. Also, the atmosphere leaves something to be desired.
I'll say it right up front:
The decor is hideous, like they don't want you to eat in. It seriously has not been cared for since the 70s. The lighting is incredibly dim in a vain effort to compensate.
Considering how expensive the menu is, it's kind of shocking that they haven't spent a few bucks to clean the place up.
The speakers playing JACK FM (basically jukebox rock) are tinny and obnoxious, but I found it kind of funny while waiting for our pizza to listen to all the different 80s songs JACK's programming dept. likes to throw together.
The service is wildly uneven, but they generally seem to try. I've had at least one experience where my vegan cheese was not well-applied and so cooked into a soup, and the manager was very rude when I tried to address the problem.
Those are the obvious issues anyone may notice when dining at Damiano's Mr. Pizza, and they are the main reason my rating is so low.
Looking at the menu, vegans will find that a few items have "vegan" printed in parentheses next to them. There's not a lot, but it's nice to know the marinara pasta is, indeed, vegan. It's nice to be told that some noodles do contain egg in them. These are great notices that every restaurant ought to provide as a service to their guests.
That said, there's obviously a lot of non-veg items on the menu, and I'm talking about some standard Italian items you don't see often on menus that could be upsetting to some vegetarians. But I'm more than happy to spend my money on vegan products and stoke that demand, even if they sell those other types of products. One day, if we all keep buying vegan items, they will take up more of the menu, and hopefully the other selections won't be worth the price it costs to carry them anymore.
Ultimately, the real reason I put up with all the B.S. at Damiano's is that I can order a vegan pizza with Follow Your Heart "mozzarella," artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and vegan "pepperoni," served with a nice, cool Samuel Smith Organic Ale or Oatmeal Stout. I love the beer, and the pizza is quite good, too. That Follow Your Heart "cheese" really is the only way to make a good vegan pizza. Well, that I know of, anyway.
Of course, I can't do this very often. One 12" pie made to order as described above, and one beer -- plus tax and tip -- set me back about $30 on a recent trip. But, considering how shockingly difficult it is to find a classically made vegan pizza in Los Angeles, sometimes I just have to stop in and order one to share, especially since they're open 'til 6am!!
I've learned of another restaurant (through vegguide.org!) that serves vegan pizza now... look up Stone Fire on La Cienega. It looks a LOT cheaper!
Kind of expensive and cramped, just like the attached store, but a nice assortment of unique dishes I can't get anywhere else. I just have to drive a long ways to get them!
My wife and I shared the Vegan Stew Chicken, which as not bad. It wasn't scintillating, either. In other words, I'm probably not going to order that one again. The sauce was kinda bland. The fake meat was fine; nothing special. The side "salad" was mainly cabbage, which I don't eat (mainly due to allergies, but also because I've never liked it), and that left only some rice (which was my favorite part of the meal, and included beans in the scoop for good measure), as well as a couple of slices of fried plaintains, which were just fine.
Nice to know we have another vegan option when we're in Studio City, but at these prices (and with having to share the menu with so much meat), I'm more inclined to visit Vegan Plate probably no more than a mile away.
Had lunch here on August 22nd with my wife and a friend of ours. The food's quite good, though we had blender issues when I went, so the shakes were probably not up to par.
But the lack of seating is a real problem. I didn't really enjoy eating messy food out in the hot sun while sitting on a bench and watching guys work out at Muscle Beach.
The food itself worked out much better, though. I've had fast vegan food before, at Pasadena's Orean, which has a more extensive menu but is perhaps a little less reliably vegan (at least they have seating). I ordered a bacon cheeseburger, which used tempeh bacon, so that was scoring pretty huge for me. The burger also included a white vegan cheese (FYH?) that was fairly tasteless, but added some nice gooiness to the Vegenaise, lettuce and tomato. I held the pickles and ketchup, but added avocado (they were out of guacamole, offered to make some, but apparently forget and just sliced up the avocado). I think there was onion, too, though I'm blanking on that now. The patty itself was one of the meatier types of veg substitutes, probably an all-soy protein isolate, which is not my favorite for frequent meals, but made for a hearty burger I feel pretty safe recommending to non-veg friends. In fact, my omni friend got the same burger, and he seemed to like it quite a bit, along with the regular french fries.
My wife seemed to like her mushroom burger well enough, though I forgot she had ketchup on hers, so I did not enjoy my bite. Mushrooms looked canned, though, not fresh. We shared the sweet potato fries, which were excellent, and a killer deal at $1.95. We were wishing for an apple-type compote like they serve with the sweet potato fries at Tacone, but ketchup was okay for her, and plain was fine for me. As a testament to value, we couldn't even finish the large order.
Our peanut butter chocolate shake with vanilla rice protein was okay, but clumpy and a bit runny. Again, I think they were having issues with the blender or something. The person behind the counter (Layla) was very friendly from the get-go, including her handling of that issue. Because it took 'til after we'd finished our food for the shakes to be corrected (improved, but not quite up to standard, really), she was kind enough to toss in some coupons. I'm looking forward to some 1/2 off vegan soft serve. Gotta love that.
While the prices all seemed reasonable enough individually, three sandwiches, two shakes, an order of regular fries, and an order of sweet potato fries came out to about $34, which is a lot for fast food with no seating. Also, their credit card machine does not print out a tip line, BTW, so be prepared to tip with cash, if you're so inclined.
I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area, but I might take chances with a to-go order next time, and I'll probably skip the shakes, which were $5 each.
Neat little hole-in-the-wall finally responds to my frequent question, "Why isn't there an Indian fast food restaurant?"
Of course, Indian is pretty fast to begin with, and the prices here aren't really significantly lower than prices at family-run Indian restaurants all over town, which is a disappointment. With the quick-serve atmosphere--everything from styrofoam dishes to retrieving your completed meal at the counter and clearing your own table... no bathroom, even--you expect the prices to be noticeably lower than restaurants that offer sit-down service on real plates, say $5 or $6 for a dish of Channa instead of $6.95. Sure, there are many Indian restaurants that serve similar dishes for $8 or $9, so this is relatively reasonable. Just be aware that this isn't the Indian Baja Fresh, if you will, and that's what I had hoped for when I drove by and saw the sign.
Then again, Holy Cow has many more menu options for vegans, and they are mouth-watering. It's great to enter a restaurant that is ghee-free, has a clearly delineated vegetarian menu (practically vegan), and will even offer a vegan whole wheat paratha after 1/1/07.
The lunch specials are also veg-friendly, all priced at $6.95, including the vegetable of the day, rice and nan. That's a serious meal. And you get 8 options to choose from, an identical number to the non-vegetarian options, all of which are $1 or $2 more.
For dinner, I tried the Channa, which was pretty good, and the Dal Sag, which was excellent. I was kind of thrown by the occasional kidney bean in that second dish at first, but they worked fine with the dish, and gave it an extra dose of protein to go with the lentils. All vegetarian options are $6.95 at dinner, but they are sold a la carte, so rice is an extra $2.50, and the vegan paratha will set you back $1.50 (sure to be worth it).
I didn't have room to try any appetizers ("snacks" on their menu), but I took a look. The veggie options range from $3.50 - $6.95.
Bottom line, this place is worth a try for dinner if, like me, you're used to paying closer to $8 or $9 for good Indian food, but you'll want to consider the environmental impact of all the styrofoam you'll be responsible for, and you'll want to keep in mind all the self service before you get too generous on the tip line of the cash register receipt.
The best deal Holy Cow offers, if you are veg*n and live or work in the area, is that lunch special. It's an inexpensive way to satisfy your craving for Indian food quickly.
Located in a mini-mall anchored by a Washington Mutual Bank... or maybe it's the McDonald's... Who anchors whom isn't so important as the fact that Mickey & Sams (Ice Cream Plus) provides you with the kind of small-town ownership and service that's rare in L.A.
Even though there's very little seating, since much of the patrons seem to order their food to go, I usually like hanging out and ordering the fantastic red lentil soup, along with vegan items that include a falafel wrap or salad, a veggie chicken wrap or salad, and a tofu rice wrap or salad.
Then, if I still have room, I top it off with a peanut butter and chocolate shake made with their PB&C sorbet and soymilk. It's worth every penny, and one of those things that reminds you that veganism can be as decadent and delicious as carnism or even vegetarianism, when you know where to go and what to ask for... if only there were more places like this.
Even some of their snacks are vegan, such as some of the Kettle Chips, and 2 or 3 of the variety of snack bars they carry, though all that stuff is a little more expensive than getting them at the grocery store, so I don't buy them unless it's simply more convenient at the time.
Closed on Sunday evenings and Mondays... I think. They're usually open 'til about 11p, but they don't post hours in order to give them some flexibility with those times.
Not as many vegan options as I wanted, but this was a lovely location and one of the few spots away from the city that seemed to offer seating and dining for a party of about 10 when I was looking for a place to hold my after-wedding dinner. It proved to be an enchanting setting, and I'm sure the people that choose to have their weddings at Inn of the Seventh Ray enjoy its bucolic setting.
What I would have liked were more vegan options. Now, I haven't been to the restaurant in the two and a half years since I got married, so I don't want to unfairly malign the place, which I rather enjoyed, but I do want to make sure vegans check the menu at the website before making a reservation, so that you are not surprised by the options. The raw menu is about 95% vegan, so that's a good choice, too. I sampled some of their raw food, and it was delicious.
Two words: Rip. Off. I've been once, and never returned. It's not that I didn't like my ravioli; it's that I only got five for some exorbitant price my brain seems to have blocked me from remembering. I prefer raw restaurants like A.J. and Sunshine's Food Without Fire in Miami Beach. Real people, real food, and reasonable prices.
I have to retract anything positive I've ever said about this place after an experience I had with the owner earlier this evening.
My wife and I stopped in for a meal before shopping for groceries next door. The owner showed us to a table. We asked for a table in the corner where we could stow our shopping cart (we walk to and from the grocery store and bring our own "granny cart"), but he insisted on seating us at one of four empty tables in the middle room since they are about 2 square feet smaller and he wanted to keep the slightly larger table open. We requested the other table because we always sat there, and we wanted a place for our cart, but he made a big deal out of it, so I told him we'd eat somewhere else instead.
On the way out the door, the owner flipped me off. I kid you not. At that point, it got heated. Suffice it to say that I left the place after making a bit of a scene (there were three cops there I asked to back me up, but they couldn't have cared less), and the owner followed me out and flipped me off again, called me all sorts of names, and taunted me as if to get me to engage him in a fight, presumably so as to have me arrested by the cops inside. I may have been upset at his ridiculous behavior, but I wasn't stupid. He could call me whatever he wanted, but I have the last laugh: He'll never see another dime from me and my wife, and hopefully from anyone who reads this review. I have never been so insulted by a business owner in my life. That guy deserves for his business to fold permanently.
Most of the criticisms against the other Leonor's restaurants are fair, and this one seems to share some things in common, like really bland refried beans (which, despite myself, I seem to be growing to like).
They seem to have the same basic products, like cheese with casein, and pizza crusts with honey. What I only just recently found out is that their flax tea has honey in it, too. So vegans should be mindful of that as well.
Remember, this is a vegetarian restaurant. Some of their foods are naturally vegan, but don't expect anything processed to fall into that category.
Unlike one of the other Leonor's I've been to twice, this one is quiet and very clean.
Finally, it bears noting that Leonor's is very, very inexpensive. Two people can easily fill up for the price of one with many of their menu items.
I was pretty enamored when I first started eating here, but the price-to-product ratio is too L.A. for me. I don't mind the L.A.-ness of the patrons -- the scene is more comfortable than showy -- but when I pay $11-13 for an entree and get less than I do for $8-9 at Native Foods (and better there), then I feel like I'm getting ripped off. That said, the vegan desserts at M Cafe are the best I've had in this town, and I like the breakfast menu quite a bit. I just may not go there for dinner much, unless I'm meeting someone else in the "industry" that eats vegan or macro.
I just finished eating one of the finest vegan meals of my life at Madeleine Bistro in Tarzana (of all places). While there are many delicious animal-friendly restaurants, there haven't been any on par with Manhattan's many fine veg restaurants, or even San Francisco's Millennium. I haven't been to many of those, since I'm not that well-traveled or well-heeled, but I certainly have rued that L.A. was lacking in an establishment that could at least be the peer of those restaurants.
Proprietors David and Molly Anderson opened the Bistro with an eye toward letting the ingredients dictate the menu, rather than getting locked into some sort of box. David's experience as an executive chef at Real Food Daily has clearly served him well (you have taste what he can do with seitan), but being out on his own has allowed him to draw on influences like Wolfgang Puck, whose various restaurants serve disparate cuisine unified by adventure, quality, and attention to detail, and have been host to many a fine chef. This is the start of what I hope will become a trend in L.A., particularly as veganism finds its way out of its niche.
It's nice to finally have an animal-friendly restaurant of this ilk in L.A. For those that can afford its relatively high (but by no means Juliano-style outrageous) prices, it is well worth the trek to find this nearly invisible restaurant on Ventura Blvd. The tacky neon strips seem a holdover from a previous tenant, and many of them don't work. They certainly do not hint at the warm, tasteful, but not ostentatious interior makeover you'll find after parking on the street nearby and heading in. No valet parking - at least, not yet - saves you about $5 over dining out for a similarly upscale experience, which is good news for my humble means. I found a spot on the street right out front, and used the valet money at dessert time to splurge on cannoli, which I haven't had since well before going vegan over five years ago. The cannoli was served with a sprinkling of berries, which were organic, as is I believe everything they serve, making their prices seem all the more reasonable.
While I had a $2 green tea, a variety of wines were also available by the glass from around $8. Two entrees - including their most expensive, a $16 portobella mushroom filet mignon - along with two teas and the cannoli ran only $42. While this firmly establishes Madeleine Bistro as a special occasion restaurant on my budget, it easily supplants all my previous choices for anniversaries and the like, and makes me excited about dining out at a vegan restaurant again.
And don't get the idea that this place is posh or pretentious. David and Molly are as nice and personal as can be, and the overall dining experience tonight was made very comfortable by their presence in the dining room. Our server, Hop, was attentive and helpful, certainly a far cry from the burn 'em and turn 'em atmosphere of RFD. Hop, if I remember correctly, was vegetarian 20 years, and has been vegan for 6, so it's nice to have him there to attend the needs of guests, especially people who might be less familiar with vegan cuisine and what veganism is all about. For us vegans, it's nice to go to a restaurant where the menu and the service is all oriented to your philosophy, and that is yet another great reason to pay a visit.
To explain my 9 rating, I only docked it a notch due to location, which may not be distant for everyone, obviously, and for the lack of finish on the exterior, the interior ceiling, etc. Some of this is clearly fixable. Also, the portobella mushroom filet mignon was somewhat short of superlative, especially as the most expensive item on the menu, though it wasn't bad. Everything else about my experience was near-rhapsodic.
One of my favorite LA vegan restaurants. Service and food quality were falling off for a little while, but my last couple of visits have revealed some hard work behind the scenes. Food is back to near-perfection, and the service was much more friendly and attentive.
Would faint if they opened one near me in Hollywood or West Hollywood.
I haven't tried this restaurant yet, but I wanted to list it as another veg option in Westwood. Jamba Juice is cheap, but a liquid lunch. Dr. J's is okay, but I've never been entirely thrilled with their food. Native Foods, while one of my all-time favorite (and all-vegan) restaurants, can get a little pricey. Nature's Way is a bit more affordable. But, unlike those other restaurants, this one does sell meat products, which means I'm less likely to go there before the other options. If I had to choose between a veggie burrito from Baja Fresh across the street (removing the cheese and sour cream and adding guac) or trying out a veg dish at Nature's Way, I'd check out Nature's Way. Otherwise, I'd suck it up and spend the extra money to go to Native Foods, because nothing within 5 miles compares.
Love their spinadilla appetizer, but I've started finding it kinda greasy. Great take-out selection, including vegan cookies, vegan soy "meat" sticks (kinda like slim jims, only huge and vegan).
Pretty darn expensive, though, including their yummy, refreshing, fresh smoothies and coffees, available with soymilk for a steep upgrade.
But, hey, you get to eat next to Woody Harrelson.
I wish this place wasn't so far from where I live (Hollywood). I'd go there all the time. The Philly Cheesesteak has to be tasted to be believed. I LOVE Native Foods, but Orean blows their version away, and for far less money. You must go check it out.
ETA: Um, it's come to my attention that rather a lot of their options have casein or whey in them and are not vegan. Another reviewer also had a great point: This is not a health food restaurant, despite the name. That said, greasy vegan food is better for you than greasy animal-derived food.
I've eaten vegan at the other Ethiopian restaurants in Little Ethiopia, but wading through the menus can be daunting. At Rahel's, it's only a matter of deciding what looks good. No worries about compromised food.
The picture I uploaded from their site is slightly flattering, but it's pleasant enough, clean, and cheerful.
Rahel's injera is delicious, just the right amount of tanginess, and all the stews make me glad I finally got around to trying Ethiopian food last year.
FYI, no alcohol, in case you're interested in drinking with your meal. But they have some delicious-looking smoothies. I've only tried one, and it was pretty good. I'm not sure I want to spend that kind of money to have a smoothie with a filling dinner, but it's a great way to get fruit with your veggies!
This is my favorite of the three RFD locations. The management seems more involved and personable, making for a more enjoyable experience all around, though it is probably a little noisier than the West Hollywood location.
Service is hit-or-miss. I've had bad, forgetful service (like forgetting I'm sitting outside), and I've had attentive service. Get to know your server options is all I can recommend. As for the food, RFD has one of the better vegan club sandwiches in town, and I will often drop in just for the nacho appetizer, though I tried the added "meat" option and was not impressed. Better to just order it as is. Taco-o-the-Town is pretty great, too, and some of the salads, like the Farm Chop are quite refreshing.
Prices are high-ish, but not outrageous, considering the location, decor, and the creative organic selection, though the menu could use updating. Over-priced so-so specials don't really inspire me, and I'm getting tired of ordering the same handful of items off the menu.
Now when I want to spend some money on vegan food, I start thinking about what traffic's going to be like on the 101 to Encino for Madeleine Bistro instead. If it's rush hour, RFD wins, but that's got to be some kind of hollow victory.
The portions have become smaller with their recent makeover, which seems to be ongoing as of now. I usually get the vegan risottos and pastas, and I'm usually pretty happy with those. My favorite meal, though, is the blue corn pancakes. Those are a steal. You can even get 'em at night, if you're willing to pay something like a $2 fee. Sometimes it's worth it. Not a fan of the desserts and the remodel, but we keep coming back for the entrees and the pancakes.
Not vegan, but looks quite vegan-friendly, with options throughout the menu, and the restaurant is otherwise eco-minded. Check out their site for more info on construction materials used in the restaurant.
Yes, the vegan pizza is fairly good, and yes, it's kind of small pie, and expensive for what you get. I would order it again if this was where a bunch of friends wanted to go for dinner, but otherwise I'm sticking with the vegan pizza from Damiano's, despite the fact that Damiano's is a pit compared to the uberslick, modern design of Stone Fire. Either way, you're spending a fair amount of money. If you need a tie-breaker, Damiano's has a better beer selection.
Just had a smoothie from Taste of the Goddess, and it was quite good. I'm looking forward to trying another some time soon, along with some of their other menu items.
Visited again on 6/11/05. This time I am sad to say how disappointed I was. This time I had a Monkey Mambo Smoothie/Shake, which was quite runny and bland compared to what I was expecting from the ingredients and my previous smoothie. The raw pizza I had wasn't anywhere near being in the same league as the pizza I had a AJ & Sunshine's Food Without Fire in South Beach, Miami.
Not happy about spending $18 (including tip) on all this. I had to run down the street to Whole Foods to fill myself up afterward. I probably won't be coming back.
Love the pad see ew (or however they spell it), without egg for this vegan, and the brown rice is unparalled, but ask for a thai iced tea with soymilk, and it's all ice, and very little thai tea. In a tiny glass. For a lot of money.
To top it off, the service at the tables (and even at the door) is EXTREMELY rude. I will only get takeout from Toi anymore.
Not my favorite area of town, but still close enough to home to merit frequent enough visits. I've enjoyed the vast majority of my dishes, including the mushroom tofu burger, pancakes, lentil loaf (Loafin' About dinner), but the bacon bits in the tofu scramble tasted like they belonged on a salad instead. Decor leaves much to be desired, and the service is anywhere from inattentive to rude, but it's super-cheap and they do take-out.
Park at the gas station on the opposite corner, over by the phone. Thats the recommended spot on a sign by the counter inside the restaurant.
My last couple of experiences witih Vegan Express have been better than earlier experiences. It's still a tiny place with difficult parking, but it has more personality than some of the newer Vegan X restaurants, and I have come to prefer the tahini dressing in my wraps to the vegenaise used at the other restaurants. Plus, it's cheap, and convenient to Warner Brothers and Universal Studios, or just when you're crossing over the hill on Cahuenga or the 101.
Of the various vegan restaurants this sweet Thai family has been opening all over L.A., the setting here is one of their nicest, though I haven't been to the new California Vegan location to compare. It also attracts their hippest crowd, including Spider-Man Tobey Maguire. It's still not the fanciest of vegan restaurants, in the spirit of Real Food Daily for instance, but it's pleasant and clean, with counter-service, and a very friendly staff.
Prices are somewhat reasonable for frequent dining in or take-out, and the menu is solid, including the only vegan tempura I've found. At only a couple of bucks, the Banana Spring Roll dessert is worth your money as well.
Vegan Plate is basically another California Vegan or Vegan Glory. You've been to one, you've basically been to them all, since only a small handful of items change from menu to menu. Otherwise they're mainly Thai-influenced vegan cuisine, with an emphasis on tofu and mock meats.
I find these places to be a good standby, though they're rarely #1 on my list. However, Vegan Plate is relatively new, so I wanted to check it out, especially since it's located near a friend of mine and his wife. She wanted to go, too, and has been influencing my friend to eat less meat, which is something I was never able to do.
Vegan Plate is one of the better-looking locations of these Thai vegan places, but I was nervous when it turned out the service was as bad as I've become accustomed to at most of the various restaurants I'm referring to. According to our waitress, there was supposed to be another person working, but she was sick and at the hospital, evidently. But she was all alone now, and the restaurant was only half full, but it was all she could do to hold it together. I worry that these places aren't ready for "prime time." You know, weak service can really turn people off of coming back unless the patron is vegan and doesn't have a lot of options.
The experience wasn't entirely bad, but it took a long time to get our water glasses refilled, and to catch our waitress when we needed her. Fortunately, the food was still quite good. I got an old standby of mine, the soy chicken wrap (w/avocado for $1 extra), my wife got the glass noodles for the first time ever and we both liked those, and my friend went nuts over his yellow curry with soy chicken. I love the yellow curry at these places, so I'm glad to hear this seconded by an avowed "carnist" and especially to hear he had just eaten one of his favorite meals in LA, when balancing out cost, convenience, taste, etcetera.
So, ultimately my fears were eased a bit. If a non-vegan makes that leap despite my reservations, these places (again, California Vegan, Vegan Express, Vegan Glory, et al) will do okay as long as the competition from other vegan restaurants remains light. Once L.A. catches up with New York in terms of variety and quality of vegan restaurants, they might find themselves unable to compete if they haven't pulled themselves together better.
BTW, valet parking sucks, so park around the corner on Radford at a meter. I believe the meters are free after 6pm.
I've had a small sampling of Veggie Era (Veggie Panda Wok) at The Worldfest and Artivst Film Festival (both 2005), and let's just say that after having their food at Worldfest, I was very excited to see them at Artivist. The food was reasonably priced, and addictive, so watch out!
If only L.A. wasn't such a sprawling place! Upland is not nearly convenient enough to Hollywood. I have yet to actually see their restaurant...
If I'm ever in the neighborhood around dinner time, I might visit Veggie Life again, but I won't go out of my way to return.
The cafeteria-like decor and harsh lighting stood out as soon as I stepped out of my car and saw the restaurant. The B rating didn't concern me at first, but when I found bugs crawling on our table, and one that ended up in my cup of water, I decided that L.A. County hadn't visited in a while. The bugs probably had something to do with the front door being wide open, and lots of food left out on tables in the process of being prepared (though they just sat there unattended for the 2 hours I was there).
The food itself was just fine, though I'm not big on mint, so that spoiled a couple of items for me. But the faux meats were just fine, and I liked the fried mushrooms A LOT. My strawberry shake was pretty good, but nothing to compare to what I experienced at Red Bamboo Brooklyn. That said, this shake was literally half the price. In fact, the prices on everything are very reasonable, as long as you stay away from the specials. I even kinda liked being surrounded by loud Vietnamese people while eating at a Vietnamese restaurant, but I just can't see going back there when so many restaurants with better ambiance, better hygiene, and better service are located so much closer to where I live.
But if you live closer to S. El Monte and all you care about is interesting vegan food prepared cheaply, and you're not worried about bugs also crawling around in the kitchen, then maybe you'll want to try some take-out from Veggie Life.
Discovered by accident that Zen Zoo is vegan-friendly.
Not only do they offer a smattering of vegan food options, but they do not charge extra for soy milk or soy creamer for their teas and expressos, unlike most places. I've enjoyed both the Rabbit ZenFusion, and the more Boba Tea-like Monkey ZenFusion.
I've also tried the vegetable bao, which was good, and is reasonably priced at $3.51 for 3 pieces. The miso soup with spinach, shiitake & oyster mushrooms was all right. A little too crowded in the cup for me, though, and I wasn't thrilled with the ginger they add to it. The restaurant serves a Tofu Salad ("Perfect for the vegetarian or vegan diner," according to the menu), but I opted for the Tofu Delight with brown rice substituted for $ .72. That was pretty good. Nothing special, but plenty satisfying for a hard-to-find vegan meal at a real sit-down restaurant before a movie at the ArcLight. There's only so many veganized options at Baja Fresh that I'm willing to suffer through.
In addition to the items I tried, vegan options include a Mixed Organic Green Salad, Edamame, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Vegetable Dumplings, and the Miso Soup & Half Salad Combo. And it's all reasonably priced. Well, except for a dessert we decided to pass on. They had a cake-type-thing for $5.80 that looked good enough, but I couldn't see spending that much money on empty calories. I filled up on dinner instead.
The decor at Zen Zoo is nice. The outdoor seating was attractive and inviting, including a large sofa area around a coffee table on one end and a giant table on the other end for big parties. As relaxing as that environment was as the sun set, I was asked once for change by a roaming homeless-looking guy, which wasn't the most zen experience in the world. Still, he was innocuous enough and left us alone after that. I'll definitely be back.
Native Foods is in my "holy trinity" of vegan restaurants in Los Angeles and, of the three, they're the least expensive and most casual, which is nice when you don't want to have to fuss. I feel like I can eat healthy and satisfy my junk food cravings with one of Tanya Petrovna's great bowls, which combine healthy veggies and a bit of fruit with grains and sometimes a faux meat, like crispy soy chicken, along with a some kind of topping, like the BBQ sauce, or the best vegan ranch dressing I've ever dreamed of.
I also loved that Tanya prepared a Thanksgiving buffet at the Costa Mesa restaurant. Not only was it convenient for a vegan not to have to worry about prepping an "okay" home-cooked 2-hour meal, or to deal with a non-veg family, but it was really, really, really good, too. Her Native Wellington is worth every penny, if you can afford to order one frozen to heat up at home for the holiday.
I just wish there was a location closer to Hollywood than Westwood so I could go more often!
I liked the attitude of this place, and the apps and desserts were pretty good, though my pumpkin cheesecake took too long to defrost so I could eat it.
The entree was so-so. Mock beef with broccoli. My dining partner enjoyed his pad thai enormously.
(Originally written for bostonvegan.org)
First off, it took me over 20 minutes to park, and we still ended up walking four blocks. Easy walk from the Porter Square T stop, though.
But let's get to the restaurant. The decor was pretty plain, the service was okay, friendly, but they really need to serve water in bigger glasses and with less ice, because I was asking for refills constantly, and often had to wait for someone to come by so I could ask for one. This sucks for the customer and for the waitstaff. The restaurant was very crowded, with a large group occupying the restaurant, so this may have had something to do with it, and the fact that I found napkins on the floor (and a wine menu!).
The food itself was average. I wanted a little more kick to my greens, though the split peas delivered in that department. I was disappointed that tef injera was an alternate and not the main injera. It's generally superior, in my opinion. Unfortunately, they didn't have enough by the time I'd arrived, so I had to accept a mix of tef and the regularly served injera. It worked out okay, I suppose, since the tef injera was not in the league I'm used to from other Ethiopian restaurants. Pretty bland, which might suit other tastebuds, but I like to taste the more sourdough-like fermentation tang in my injera.
Selections were fairly standard, really, and the vegetarian section of the menu was clearly identified so I didn't have to scan past meat dishes to find what I wanted. It would be nice if there more than the 6-7 options, but this is really par for the course.
I'd be willing to go back if in the area or someone nearby really wanted to go, but I wouldn't go out of my way for this. Surely there's better Ethiopian in Boston.
I'm going to be a bit biased here, because this place is 5 blocks from my apartment, and it offers free Wi-Fi, which is a killer feature in my book.
That said, the prices are reasonable, the bagels are excellent, and the tofu spreads taste great (they also offer hummus and PB). If only every bagel store offered tofu schmears.
I'm partial to the garlic bagels with vegetable tofu spread, but I've tried others, and they were good, too. The Jim's Organic Coffee they sell tastes good to me, but I load mine with soy milk and sugar, so I may not be the best judge. I really liked the mini banana nut loaves I've had, but I didn't see them there the day of this review.
The cooler in the store offers water, Vitamin Water, V8, juices and so on.
I went into this restaurant not expecting much. I've been rather tired of vegan burrito options lately, since my one choice usually amounts to rice, beans and maybe some fajita-style vegetables. That gets really boring after a while.
So imagine my pleasure to try a whole wheat teriyaki "burrito" (it's obvious why this chain used to be called The Wrap). While it could have used more teriyaki sauce, it was definitely good. The organic tofu was relatively bland (and came as a huge slab), but the texture was just right, and the fresh vegetables made this wrap complete.
I complemented it with a fruit smoothie to balance out the meal. While the two items didn't necessarily "go" together, it was a very satisfying and healthy combination.
My wife and I joined a friend of mine here, mainly because I'd heard about the Buffalo Tofu, which I was looking forward to trying. Now, I've never had buffalo "wings" in my life, so I had no idea what to expect, other than a sort of hot sauce (be sure to request they hold the bleu cheese dressing). Anyway, I wasn't disappointed. I did order the large instead of the small, which was a mistake, since that left me little room for the delicious fresh veggie pizza, sans cheese, of course.
At about 12", the pizzas are easily enough for two. I wasn't in love with the crust, but it was grilled, which gave the whole affair a more interesting spin.
The veggie burgers are not vegan, FYI.
Darwins is a sandwich shop/market adjoining a coffee shop. The sandwich shop was nuts when I went there for lunch, with lots of people crammed in to order all kinds of deli-style sandwiches on a variety of bread.
The vegan options are fairly limited, but I did enjoy the Lakeview on rosemary-garlic bread. The veggies were fresh and crisp, and the vinaigrette dressing had just the right zing. No seating, though, so I went next door to get a soy latte with chocolate syrup, and a vegan chocolate chocolate chip muffin.
I hadn't had a muffin in a while, so I was eager to try such a rich sounding option, but it needed more chocolate chips. Don't get me wrong; I finished it, but I would have liked some soy milk to wash it down! The latte was fine, but on the smallish side, and in need of sweetening. I obviously have a sweet tooth!
My impression of this place is that it's a bit too far off Harvard Square to make a trip instead of something nearer to the T, but it's nice to know the option's there if I want it.
My wife and I joined another couple for this relatively expensive restaurant, having read about its vegan/vegetarian menu.
I was instantly comfortable with the atmosphere, though the service wasn't very personable. I'm new to the Boston area, and our dining companions told me I'd get used to this, but I don't really want to. I like friendly servers!
I ended up trying the Amrit curry, which was very good, probably even worth the money. It was filling enough. Otherwise, the veg portion of the menu wasn't all that inspiring, though, honestly. I'm just glad the choice I made was so good. There's one other item there that I was considering, so I may try that the next time I go, but I would like to see more enticing vegan options, and that applies to dessert as well, which was a wash.
I hadn't had a toasted bagel with vegan cream cheese in so long that this or Bagel Rising (where Espresso Royale Caffe gets their bagels and cream cheese) was a must-visit on my recent trip to Boston.
I was not disappointed. The spinach bagel with garlic and herb cream cheese was delicious, and the soy hazelnut latte I ordered was pretty good, too. I also had a machiatto (my first). It wasn't for me (until I added some liquid sugar), but I loved the preparation -- great foam job! We ended up sticking around at ERC for a while, so I also had a vegan chocolate chip cookie that, despite looking overbaked, ended up being terrific.
The cafe has a comfy, sprawling layout, a funky vibe and a goofy obsession with having fun at singer Michael Bolton's expense. I loved it. Will definitely return, though it would be nice if they had free WiFi. (apparently this location doesn't have it; I asked)
I arranged a large meetup at Grasshopper and was pleased to find plenty of room in the restaurant for the 16 people that made it. It turned out to be a busy Friday night, but we'd made a reservation, and everything went quickly and smoothly, with minimal "auctioning" of orders once they came out. It should be noted that the woman who took our order (I'm sure I'll get to know her name as I return again and again) was able to take and memorize orders for the entire table like a machine! It was pretty wild.
Of course, six of us ordered the Sweet and Sour Sensation (mostly delicious, except for a couple of pieces that were not properly cooked) and about four of us ordered the No Name, which is basically the same dish, but with seitan instead of tofu or soy protein. I think I preferred the No Name, which comes in thinner strips. Both entrees came with broccoli, which gave the fried dish some semblance of healthfulness!
It was kind of strange sitting next to a fish tank while eating vegan food...
Herrell's has quite the queue, presumably for the hotter, busier days. The line was actually a little long when I pass through in June, when the temperatures were low-to-mid 80s. Perhaps the old, converted bank vault provides a little shelter from the summer heat, as well. It certainly was a novelty.
I had come for some no-moo ice cream I'd read about, but saw the sign for a soy shake, which instantly changed my mind. Though the shake is on the expensive side, at $6.04 including tax, it's pretty large at about 20-22 oz., which makes it good for sharing, if you can bring yourself to sacrifice any of this delicious drink.
The two available flavors the day I was there were chocolate and peanut butter. Of course, I combined the two for my shake, and it was excellent. Unlike some other vegan shakes I've had, this one was rich and creamy, making me wonder how good the no-moo ice creams are on their own, so I'll definitely return to try those out.
Sure it would be nice if Herrell's was totally vegan, but they are very vegan-aware and cater well to our kind, with all the numerous options described above, and then some. It's icing on the cake that they provide their vegan goodies to other establishments around town, so they get bonus points for helping us veganize menus in Boston!
Antaris, Amanda and I met Paige during the Allston Bicentennial celebration, and she was very cool, taking the time to chat with us, allow us to set out our BVA brochures and even sending us off with a vegan mini carrot cake and mini banana nut bread loaf. I'm already a big fan of the banana bread, which I've had several times at Bagel Rising, as well as twice before at Herrell's, and the carrot cake was pretty good, too, though a little overdone.
I haven't seen vegan cookies the last two times I was there, but the first time I visited they had chocolate chip cookies, and the one I had was excellent, though a little floppy. It was big, so it kind of buckled when I held it up to eat it! It was so good, though.
I haven't tried anything else yet, nor have I hung out to work on my computer. Bagel Rising is about half the distance to my apartment, so I end up going there most times instead, but I would like to give the overall experience a try soon, especially since they are open far later.
Cool place. Big thumbs up.
This narrow storefront was backed up to the entrance when I arrived to try some Tofutti ice cream served by the scoop, but the smooth, sweet coffee flavor was worth the wait. In fact, I kind of wished I had done a double-scoop to include the chocolate flavor, but servings are rather generous, so that probably wouldn't have been a good idea.
I've heard others, including my wife, say that the coffee flavor was too sweet, which I can understand (it was sweet), but I have a sweet tooth, so I devoured it.
Mt. Everest is a surprisingly nice hole in the wall just West of Harvard Ave. on Brighton, right next to an Indian restaurant (Coincidence? Nepal is right next to India, and the food is generally similar).
I felt a tad underdressed for the decor, but we were warmly greeted and served. It was very quiet at this new restaurant, so hopefully the traffic picks up. I want to make sure this place sticks around so I can enjoy delicious entrees like the pharsiko tarkari, which is pumpkin sauteed in vegetable oil, ginger, garlic and spices, and coriander. It reminded me of baby food, but baby was it ever good. I wish I had saved some sukha rooti (whole wheat flat bread, the only vegan rooti from what I understood, as the others have dairy in them). I had finished that all up with the appetizer, which was pretty good, too. We ordered the Alu-dam, which are potatoes slowly cooked with a house tomato sauce, herbs and spices into what they called a "gravy," but don't be fooled - it's not a meat gravy!
I was less enamored with the aloo-taamaa entree, which consisted of bamboo shoots and potatoes cooked with Himalayan spices. I like bamboo, but these were longish strips of bamboo cut along the "grain," so that the stringiness comes through, which I've never noticed with bamboo cut into "coins."
In the middle--good, but not exciting--was the tofuko tarkari, a tofu dish cooked with mixed vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce. A solid entry, but I kept going back for more pharsiko tarkari. With so few options, I'm not sure I'll be back real soon. But, as we head into Fall here, that pumpkin curry is going to tempt me back out, and then I'll try the other 2 or 3 vegan options on the menu.
It's definitely worth your time to check this out if you're going to be in the area and want to try something a little different.
This is among the best vegan Thai food I've ever had, though I'd prefer brown rice instead of white. The service is hard to gauge, because my first experience was with a group of 16, and so the food came out in drips and drabs, but it tasted excellent, and I can't wait to go back again, especially for the desserts, which are shipped in from an outside bakery. We had the Turtle Truffle Torte and the Peppermint Chocolate Ganache Cake, which were both outstanding. We brought them home with us, so we were able to enjoy them with some soy milk, which really made it a perfect finish. The dessert case is in the next storefront over (they are connected), but the second storefront is ostensibly the boba tea side of the restaurant, and I enjoyed an unusual bubble tea that was basically a pineapple banana smoothie with boba, as opposed to a tea, and that was just fine with me. As it is, I think I overdid it on food. While writing this review, I am acutely aware of my stomach. It is content, but really stuffed!
I might change my rating to a 10 later, when I have had a chance to evaluate service from a more standard dining situation. That atmosphere is fine, but nothing noteworthy.
This is some of the best Indian food I've had in Boston so far.
I tried the Tarka Dal and the Vegetable Jalfrezi, which both come with rice. I'd order either one again and again, so I will have to make an effort to try other stuff on the menu, too.
I knew of Q'doba, but wasn't really going out of my way to try its 100% vegetarian options, being a fairly generic Mexican fast food chain. However, I was near Downtown Crossing for a movie, and it was the only nearby option I knew of, so I gave it a shot.
The burrito my wife and I ordered (basically rice and beans, minus the cheese and sour cream) was pretty plain, so I paid the extra bump to add fajita-style vegetables. The final combo--rice, black beans, fajita-style veggies, ranchero sauce, mild salsa, and guacamole--was relatively bland, but seemed very fresh and went down easy. I certainly preferred it to the same basic burrito I'm used to at the Baja Fresh chain in Los Angeles.
My one gripe was with the burrito assemblers. The assembly line works pretty much like Subway, which is fine, but the two people preparing my burrito didn't understand English well enough to ask them questions and make special requests. Plus, when one of employees asked whether I wanted sour cream or cheese, I initially could not understand the "sour cream" part. When I asked what she had said besides "cheese," she didn't understand my question.
Fortunately a manager was nearby, and she jumped in to finish the order after a couple of failed attempts at getting my question answered. She cleared things up and was extremely friendly and helpful, offering to cut the burrito in half for us, and generally displaying excellent customer service.
Certainly doesn't win any points for atmosphere (you expect either more of that for the money, or less expensive food to match the decor), but the falafel pitas here *are* among the best I've ever had, featuring more ingredients, including houmos (hummus), tahini, really good falafel, tomato, red cabbage and lettuce... I think I covered it all. It's a big mess to eat, and I suppose it's a fairly good deal for the money. After also drinking a fruit nectar drink from Israel at the beginning of my meal to quench my thirst from the heat, I could not actually finish my falafel pita, even though I wanted to, so I guess that is a sign that I will come back when I am in the mood for a pita that doesn't skimp on the fillings. I'll probably skip the sugary 40% fruit drink next time, though.
There were a surprising number of vegan options on the separate vegetarian/vegan menu, though not all the veganized vegetarian options were as tasty as the vegetarian options. Take the non-vegan garlic aioli that comes with the fries, for example. We accepted the alternate of peanut chili dressing for our fries, but ended up just using ketchup. Still, the fries, ranked best in Boston in 2006, do deserve distinction. Big and crispy, it was all we could do to stop eating them when we were full, though it would have been nice if they came out as an appetizer, as requested. Instead our dinner was served and we had to remind the server that we ordered fries.
I ordered a vegan pizzeta with the pesto base, with garlic, mushrooms and spinach. It was very dry, and part of that was the total lack of pesto. The spinach could have used some oil, too. I also wasn't keen on the full cloves of garlic, instead of having it chopped and sprinkled around. The crust was so-so, though not bad. TJ Scallywaggle's crust is far better. I had a pesto vegetables skewer, too, and though it was good, I couldn't taste any pesto flavor at all. That said, it had a nice grilled flavor.
My wife had the God Salad, which she liked quite a bit, so points to her for being healthier and getting an entree she really liked.
We went with a couple of friends, one of whom tried the pizza and had the same basic opinion. But the other friend liked his vegan burger, so I tried a piece of the patty, which I liked quite a bit. It's encrusted with herbs, which give the whole thing a breaded, crispy texture that's a nice change of pace, and perfect for eating with beer. It was served with a sad piece of lettuce, though, a slice of tomato and that was it. I think it would be terrific with some spicy brown mustard, but they don't have that, so I'm not sure I would ever order the burger myself. It does come with fries, though...
Anyway, overall, it was slightly better than average, a bit of a positive surprise to find a decent bar make a meaningful attempt to provide creative and filling vegan fare. While it falls a bit short of excellence (I probably won't go too far out of my way to return), it's solid enough to meet your needs if you live in the area or happen to be near there and want to go out for a good drink and some awesome fries.
So, I've had both calzones and pizza now, and I was really impressed with the pizza. It was only a plain "cheese" pizza, but the thin crust is excellent, and I really liked the sauce. The cheese was perfectly melted.
I like the calzones well enough, but I don't like that the Follow Your Heart cheese doesn't come melted. Not sure how to get around that, since it melts best when it's open and on top of a pizza, especially when you put it under a broiler for a minute or so.
I also had dessert there the other day. I can't remember exactly what is was called - jungle something or other. It's a "blondie" w/choc chips, macadamia nuts, etc. A bit pricey at $3.99, it was a pretty good size, and went down well with some Very Vanilla Silk soymilk.
I love how dedicated this place is to veganism, and they have been very welcoming of the Boston Vegan Association, allowing the organization to hold its first meeting there, so that's cool.
Though a little on the expensive side, Tanjore is a nice enough restaurant to justify the dollar or more per dish compared with Indian restaurants that don't have half as much ambience.
Service was generally attentive, presentation as better than average, and there were enough vegan and veganizable options on the menu to make my eyes bigger than my stomach. Plus, the veg options are generally cheaper than the non-veg selections. But vegan items are not identified on the menu, so you'll want to make sure dairy is not included in certain dishes before ordering.
My wife and I opted for a potato-heavy meal that skipped around the country a bit, including samosas ($3.95), masala dosas ($8.95) and saag aloo (saagwala aloo, $11.95). In hindsight, we probably could have skipped the samosas. With all that food, we couldn't finish the entree, and that was the best part.
The samosas tasted fine, but were a bit bland or mild. The dosas were pretty good, with just the right amount of crispness. Those could have been spicier, too, and I say that as a person who generally prefers my food more mild. But the saag aloo, also mild, was quite good. Along with a dry, cracker-like roti (hey, it was vegan, unlike the naan), this was the highlight of the meal.
I'm looking forward to trying some of the other entrees the next time I visit.
Small, funky, and informal, Veggie Planet doesn't inspire much confidence in the food if you've never been there before, but the vegan pizza options did look intriguing, so my wife and I dropped in for a Vegan Oddlot.
We were told that both sizes of pizzas were meant for individuals, but I'm here to tell you that a large pizza, with its flatbread crust and fresh toppings, satisfied us just fine. We ended up taking a vegan brownie with us to go instead of eating it after our meal, which gave us time to make room for this rich, fudgy treat. We're definitely going back!
I like the feel of this place, overall (open kitchen, community-style seating), but the menu could have been clearer about what was vegan, which it is on the web. As it is, you have to look for a V (which indicates vegetarian), then read ingredients for eggs or dairy). Even then, our server ran back to the kitchen to check on the dishes we were thinking of ordering.
Still, I quite liked the tofu in both the Yasai Chili Men and the Moyashi Soba. The Soba was a little on the subtle side, but a nice, warm treat on a cool day. Messy, though. The Chili Men was spicier than expected (I don't think I looked closely enough at the menu), but a good blend of veggies, protein and noodles.
Didn't love the service there, though it suffered more from inexperience and lack of genuine concern for the clientele than any specific problem. I knocked a point off atmosphere because you can smell animal flesh on the grill when you sit too close to the kitchen.
Be sure to take the vegan-friendly list with you to the restaurant so that you don't end up with unvegan noodles!
I was bummed that they no longer carried the vegan curry option, but pleased nonetheless to find this place after learning that the Govinda's a half-block down was closed. I had a beans over rice "superbowl" with veggies, which was surprisingly good, especially with a dollop of hummus from the sauce/salsa bar. I would have liked more broccoli and less cabbage, but that's a personal preference. Next time I'm passing through St. Louis, I'll probably be stopping at CBW for a vegan meal. Gotta love that they clearly mark the vegan options on their menu. That's really cool.
I wasn't really sure what to expect, because my experiences with Indian food in Los Angeles have been limited in their vegan-friendliness. But House of Dosas was very vegan-friendly, going so far as to ensure no ghee was added to my roti. I hadn't asked for that specifically, but I had mentioned I was vegan, and the waiter knew to indicate no butter on the order ticket.
Looking around the website, it's clear the restaurant's owners are vegetarian for ethical reasons, so it's comforting to be in that environment when dining out.
The dosas were quite good, and so were the vada and chana masala with roti. The atmosphere was almost too lively. It truly is a family experience, with no less than 7 children under the age of five when I was there, as well as a group of over 12 people. Despite that large group, our order came out fast.
I definitely recommend this place. It only gets a 9 because of overly plain, unattractive atmosphere and that it can be slightly intimidating for a vegan unfamiliar with Indian food to safely navigate the menu. But, if all you care about is food, and you don't mind having to wait a few minutes to get a table during peak seating times, then by all means get thee to the House of Dosas.
It's so hard to find vegan-oriented food in the vast area of Long Island, that Zen Palate is an oasis. While it is not entirely vegan, it is entirely possible to eat very well here as a vegan, and they are keen to help you with the menu. They make their own tofu, which is quite good, though their soy chicken (like that in the sweet and sour chicken) is not as good as their seitan (like that found in the popular General's Sesame Medallions, which I've had twice now). The veggies are fresh and vibrant, and the preparations are all very creative. All in all, it's like a bit of glamorous veg NYC dining in Westbury, Long Island.
I'd had my expectations trimmed back before finally visiting Moosewood during a cross-country trip, and I'm glad. This was a very disappointing visit. The food is overpriced, the service inattentive, and the vegan options mediocre. While the lasagna I tried was okay, it certainly was worth no more than 8 or 9 dollars anywhere else (presumably a vegan restaurant without cookbooks on the market). The other vegan dish, a curry, was not good, and I could not finish it. When I tried to order one of the two vegan desserts, a chocolate banana cake, I was informed that they were out. I don't imagine I'll be back.
I was warned that Foodswings is not as good as its reputation, and I'd have to agree after visiting today.
I liked the atmosphere. Very punk and fun, yet down to business. The lack of bathroom is a bit of a pain. While they may be wasteful, moist towelettes might go a long way toward alleviating that issue.
The food was the greasy stuff you'll expect from every review you read about this place. But what we did sample was not something I'd go out of my way to eat again. It wasn't bad, mind you, but I just couldn't see myself gorging on this stuff unless I had a serious craving for what basically amounts to junk food. I had to find ways to make up for my lack of fruits and vegetables at this meal.
We tried the "beef" quesadillas, which were okay while still hot, but not as good after detouring into the sample Pu-Pu platter for a while. We left about 1/3 of the 10" quesadilla uneaten. The sampler was a mixed bag. The fish sticks were only so-so, too, but the chicken nuggets were much tastier, especially in the excellent BBQ dipping sauce. The various drumsticks were good, too. I think I've had variations on these at other restaurants in Los Angeles, and these were simply decked out differently. I can't remember which was best, but they were all good enough. Ultimately, it's a pretty cheap way to try different items Foodswings sells, and you can see for yourself.
The shakes were all right, and would have been a real treat if I had not already had the best I've ever experienced at Red Bamboo Brooklyn so recently. I did find it hard to drink all the chunks of cookie and chocolate (or carob?) through the thin straws, so I ended up having to take off the lid, scooping out the whole cookie and bigger chunks, then drinking the rest right out of the cup. We tried The Tank and The Hurricane, both of which tasted pretty good, but still fell well short of the best vegan shakes I've ever had.
The service was friendly but could have been more informative. I asked enough questions to make it obvious I'd never been before, but I was not told what any of the dipping sauces were for the sampler basket, so I did not know which went to what item. That said, it was fun to experiment. It was kinda like eating kids' finger food.
I found myself liking Brooklyn Heights, the area where this restaurant is based. Not necessarily all the shops and such, but the tree-lined streets and housing were attractive, and put me at ease as I came and left the area to eat at The Green's.
I tried a few things on my first visit there, and they were all pretty good. The best by far was the Yin-Yang, which consisted of partly shredded mushrooms in a delicious brown sauce with sesame seeds that was surrounded by broccoli. I only wish I hadn't spoiled my appetite on some appetizers.
The zucchini pancakes would have been one of my favorite items, too, if they hadn't been over-cooked. They were a bit too crispy in parts. Soaking the bites in the accompanying soy sauce helped.
The miso soup was so-so. I liked the price, and the seaweed was the best, least slippery I've ever had. The broth was a bit bland, though.
I also sampled the soy "cod" from the Heavenly Vegetable Cod, which was basically bean curd with one side covered with the same seaweed as that in the miso, which did give it a bizarrely fishlike quality, especially due to the meatier texture. From the look of it, I was expecting something more like tofu, but it was denser and chewier.
The chocolate fortune cookie had egg in it, but the plain fortune cookies were vegan. When I asked about the egg, I was told that the egg was the only item that was like that, but I'd have to wonder about other items.
Cons include rather clipped and inattentive service. I kinda felt like we were imposing, honestly. The setting is rather plain as well, but not unattractive, per se. Then again, all four occupied tables, including ours, overlooked the street, and that was a pleasant view indeed.
All in all, I'm looking forward to going back some day to try more of the inventive menu items.
Let me start with the item that had me weeping with joy (only a slight exaggeration) both times I visited this past week: The mint chocolate chip shake. Cold. Vegan. Thick. Minty. Incredible.
I've also tried three other unique and delicious menu items, with the seitan BBQ kabobs probably making my favorites list. I've never had seitan like that, but I'd like to have it again.
The other two I tried were soy chicken items, which were fine, and served with beautifully-prepared veggies, but I don't think I'd try them again until I've had a chance to try more of the menu. You can see how creative and delicious the food all looks at RBBK's Flickr stream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/redbamboobrooklyn/
There's also some pictures there to give you a sense of the scene and the decor. Great place. Too bad I don't live anywhere near it.
I was anticipating something special when I first went to Angelica Kitchen. It's reputation precedes it. But I was rather underwhelmed. I like the atmosphere quite a bit, but the food was pretty boring. I'd probably give it another try, but I ate at numerous vegan-friendly restaurants while in Manhattan, and Angelica Kitchen did not approach the top of my favorites list.
It's been a while since I ate at Josie's with my non-veg family, but it made a strong impression on me. As much as I dislike sharing a restaurant with meat-eaters, my family wasn't about to eat veg all week. They seemed to enjoy their meal, and I was impressed with my own. The decor was fun, and the atmosphere vibrant. I could see myself actually coming back.
Of course, the best part of this meal was that my parents picked up the tab. Not a cheap place to eat.
Kate's Joint, how do I love thee?
If I lived in the area, I'd go to Kate's Joint at least once a week, possibly even more. Their un-turkey club (I forget the actual menu name) is not as good as Teany's, but still tasty, but breakfast is the real catch here, anyway.
My wife and I had intended to eat at VP2, which was full, so we walked over to Red Bamboo. Boy, are we glad we did that.
This place is awesome. The Soul Chicken is insane, i.e., too good to be true.
Next time I visit Manhattan, this restaurant is at the top of my list of places to return.
I'm not a big tea person, but my wife is, and she loved hers. I loved the chocolate peanut butter bomb dessert, and I've never had a better unturkey club sandwich anywhere.
I haven't been back since the restaurant shifted hands and the menu simplified, but I understand the unturkey hasn't changed, nor has the focus on teas.
I liked the atmosphere quite a bit. Our late lunch there was quite relaxing.
Wild Ginger seems to be trying to transition from Wild Ginger Vegetarian Restaurant to Wild Ginger Vegan Cafe, but it's not really a cafe vibe, at least at dinner, and I still felt like I had to be clear about making sure soymilk was coming in my Thai iced tea, and not cow's milk, because both options are still available. Other than that, though, I felt fairly confident in assurances that even the items on the menu originally marked "(not vegan)" had been veganized, my party and I ordered three appetizers: Taro and yam tempura, Mu-Shu rolls, Soy chicken nuggets.
These were a pretty good start. I didn't have any of the rolls, what with there being only two, and me not knowing how to easily share a roll with a chopstick. I was mainly keen on the tempura and the nuggets, both of which were very satisfying, except perhaps for the taro tempura, which did not provide the immediate pleasure of the yam tempura. The taro wasn't exactly bad, but I didn't really respond to it, if that makes any sense.
I did respond to my dinner, though. Described as plainly as possible as Teriyaki Wheat Gluten, you may be able to see from the photo that it was basically mock duck. I didn't know that until I realized that the crispier exterior was supposed to be mock skin. That was kind of disturbing until I got over it, since fake is fake. The moist interior and crispy, tangy teriyaki exterior made for a flavorful combination, and the snap peas were nice and crispy.
I liked the Singapore-style Mei-Fun, too. It was pretty subtle for a dish described as containing curry. While it had a slight curry flavor that I liked, it wasn't exactly what we were expecting from previous curry experiences. The vegetable "fish" was okay. Not bad, but not delectable, either. Mainly just an easy form of protein for a dish that is mainly noodles and a smattering of bright, colorful veggies.
I tried a bite of some other items around the table, and that was a mixed bag. Writing this so late, I can't remember what the items were called, but one other more obviously curry dish was only okay, while another guest seemed to like his pineapple fried rice quite a bit (though I didn't have a chance to try any), and I remember trying and liking one other dish, but I can't remember for the life of me what he had. So, all in all, it was a pretty good experience. Original for the most part and quite good overall. I'd go back and try some other items.
I've noticed this place get hammered for some items that may not be entirely vegan, but overall this place rules. I brought my non-veg family here twice when visiting a couple years back, and even they loved it. I'll be back.
I wasn't too bothered by having to pass the sushi bar. It's like everything else in vegan living: you're always passing by some sort of animal death to get to a vegan oasis. Of course, Zenith isn't totally vegan, but most of their entrees are.
I was a bit surprised to see how much the prices had gone up recently, so it skewed my opinion of the food, I fear. The Fragrant Chicken was a bad idea. It looked like half a dead bird, the way it was texturized (please slice it or shred it, people!), and the plain steamed veggies were cold. I did like the sauce, though. And, once you get past the rubberiness of the "chicken", it had a decent flavor.
More successful was the Pumpkin Stuffed Ravioli. If it wasn't $16.95, I'd have it again.
Bottom line: This place priced itself out of my range. Maybe it's the location or the recent remodel, or both, but I can't justify paying these prices for reasonably good food when better food can be had elsewhere for the same price, or even similarly good food can be found for several dollars less per entree.
Aug 25 07
For a non-vegan restaurant in Flagstaff, I think Mountain Oasis has a fairly good selection, and my wife and I really enjoyed the veggie burger (they have vegan mayo as a substitute, though I got dijon mustard) and the Mountain Oasis Thai Dish, the leftovers of which I will be having for lunch tomorrow. I wish the TBLT (tempeh bacon, lettuce, tomato) had been available at dinner, though, instead of only at lunch. The server, Heather, seemed to be on her vegan game, and made sure things were vegan before bringing them out. I'm docking them a point because the salad was one of the saddest things I've seen in a long while.
I also enjoyed the decor and the live music, which was a single, instrumental guitarist. I'm pretty sure I overheard some people at the next table saying something about vegan offerings as well, so I suppose this restaurant is one of the better destinations in town for vegans looking for dinner (the kitchen at Macy's closes at 4pm, sadly).