condekedar
Reviews written by condekedar
Dolma's buffet is simple, but tasty, with a few vegan options. Their salads are fresh, and their rice and cabbage dishes are wonderful. I just wish they had at least one main-course vegan dish; most of them seemed to be lacto-vegetarian. Also, there were no vegan desserts. Service is friendly and our waiter spoke English, which helped. The decor is quiet and cute. Lunch buffet is 15 euros (US$21), and for dinner it's 18 euros (US$25), both of which seem extremely high, given the simplicity of the food and that it's a buffet. But pure vegetarian and vegan options are limited in Brussels, so they can afford to charge that much.
La Tsampa is a cute little place located at the back of a health store. Service was friendly, though I'm not sure my waitress understood the word vegan. My Indian curry dish was tasty, but extremely small in size, and maybe added up to ten bites of food, not including the boiled carrots and green beans on the side. It was tasty, but super-expensive at 12 euros (US$17). Vegan and vegetarian options are limited in Brussels, so this is one of the best you'll get.
This is a great restaurant with the best soy chicken I've ever tasted (lemongrass chicken). The food is fresh, healthy and nicely-seasoned with a tasty side salad, too. The service is amazingly friendly and they also have superb vegan cakes. Really low prices, too, considering the value of the food. Highly recommended.
Sipz has a large menu featuring hearty, simple Asian dishes (and some non-Asian dishes). All their entrees are under $8 and they come in portion sizes that are perfect for a single meal (though not big enough for me to have leftovers!). The food was tasty, but not superb by any means; sometimes it seemed a bit too greasy or sweet, but on a whole it was good. The service was a bit slow, especially when trying to get the check.
This is a cute little place within walking distance of the beach. Extremely friendly service with a wide array of items, including multiple delicious fruit pastries, muffins and drinks (from coffee to Mexican hot chocolate to chai latte). The prices are reasonable and the location is great. Only wish they had some outdoor seating!
The food here was quite tasty, if a bit heavy. Prices are extremely high, but the quality of the food and its presentation justify the prices. I highly recommend trying their desserts, especially the vegan cheesecake, which is one of the best I've tried in the world.
Bambu is one of few restaurants in San Pedro Sula that offers unabashedly vegetarian options. Their daily breakfast buffet is loaded with all types of fruits and juices and salads. I highly enjoyed their pasta dishes, which are drenched in olive oil, covered in herbs and spices, and feature delicious, fresh vegetables and sun-dried tomatoes. The biggest problem is price---Bambu is expensive ($15 for the breakfast buffet, $10 a dish for the pasta); these are American-style prices in a place where ordinary meals on the street cost less than $2. But good luck trying to find vegan or vegetarian options outside of fancy places; Honduran restaurants are not veg-friendly at all, and even seemingly-vegetarian or vegan dishes are probably cooked in animal fat or god knows what.
Bonsai has edamame, which is a great snack and quite filling and cheap. It also has a vegetarian sushi roll, which can be made vegan if you ask them to leave out the mayo. While nothing spectacular, it's more than passable and at par with vegan sushi in the US. The chef can also prepare something special if you can speak Spanish and explain your needs; but don't expect anything great, as it will most probably be noodles with some vegetables covered in ketchup.
The ambience here is somewhat lacking, but the menu features eclectic options and eco-conscious choices. The food was tasty, but sat a bit heavy for me. Large portions and decent prices make this a worthwhile place, but with room for improvement.
Borrowed Earth does a wonderful job with the presentation of their delicious food, as well as with the large selection, from comfort foods to more unusual fare. This is gourmet food with an edge; best of all, it's in the suburbs, rather than in downtown Chicago. Conveniently located in front of the Downers Grove train station, it makes it easy for city-dwellers to visit, as well as outgoing suburbanites. The service is super-friendly and the atmosphere of the restaurant is more like an upscale cafe. Prices are on the higher side ($11-14 for main dishes), but given the quality and novelty of the food, they could be charging even more. Try the delicious cheesecake or the elegant, zesty tacos. Highly recommended.
This is a landmark restaurant for vegetarians in Chicago. While the food (for me) has been hit or miss, its wide array of choices, great staff and cool atmosphere make it a great place to visit. The cheesecake here is probably the best I've ever had, vegan or otherwise. Also try the hot chocolate! Anything that sounds bland probably IS bland on their menu; on the other hand, anything that sounds exotic or and tasty is probably exotic and spicy and tasty. Portion sizes are huge, so expect to take home plenty of leftovers. Prices are high, but the portion sizes more than make up for that.
I've been to Karyn's Cooked three times and had superb food every single visit. Try the lasagne or the green enchiladas or the cheesecake. However, the service has been mediocre at best. Waiters are slow and inattentive and occasionally rude or curt. One time I waited over 45 minutes for my food without anyone telling me that the oven was malfunctioning. And the restaurant had only two customers in it! They did compensate me with a free dessert, but the service should be much better, considering the higher prices and food quality of the place.
I loved Soul Vegetarian. The service was friendly and fast, the atmosphere was charming and worldly, and the food was delicious and perfectly priced and portioned. I haven't had soul food in a long time and found their cream of broccoli soup, cornbread, mashed potatoes, collard greens and country mock steak to all be wonderfully filling and tasty. My only gripe is with the location, which is hard to get to via public transportation. Otherwise, it's highly recommended.
I loved the atmosphere and location of this restaurant. It fits perfectly with the old part of town in Fells Point. Our service was friendly, but slow on a whole (it seemed like they had only two people working five or six tables). The food, which falls on the sandwich side, was wonderful; my BLT was crispy, fresh and light and my friend's tofu reuben was also good. Our drinks were tasty, especially my apple-lemonade. Prices are low, with most of the menu under $10. My only gripes would be lack of parking in the area and that they're cash-only.
I liked the atmosphere, concept and location of this restaurant. Service was friendly and prompt. But the food didn't stand out in my mind. My tomato tofu curry was a poor approximation of an Asian dish (though it was called a "fusion" dish) and makes me wonder if I shouldn't have ordered the meatloaf instead. My friend's penne-basil dish was much tastier, which gives me a hint that this place does European/American food better than any other genre on its menu. Our Earth Day-special "dirt cake" was minty, moist and delicious; our carrot cake, however, was mediocre and its frosting was overpowering. On a whole, I think Great Sage can improve, but they seem to be on the right track and I appreciate that they opened up in a difficult, remote, suburban area.
This place definitely has room to improve as far as vegan selections are concerned. While I appreciate that they serve vegan items at all (many other greasy-spoon brunch places aren't vegan-friendly), I felt they were underserving the community, especially in a diverse and punker place like Nicollet, near MCAD. They offer tofu scrambles, tempeh scrambles, vegan sausage, and a mushroom burger or a veggie burger (which I'm not sure is vegan). However, they don't have soy cheese, or vegan analogs of egg sandwiches, though other places like Hard Times and Seward Cafe, do. Also, they don't even have a vegan pancake option, though just a few streets down, you can get an awesome one at French Meadow Cafe. I had their tempeh scramble, which was decent, but over-priced considering the taste and portions. It's a super-busy place on Saturday and Sundays, so make reservations or come early if you have a big group. All in all, the Bad Waitress has room to improve in terms of its vegan offerings and in terms of its prices. That said, it's still better than most diners and greasy-spoon joints in the area in terms of vegan options. Their website is sophisticated, fun and cool, too.
Ban Thai has some of the best Thai food I've had in the Twin Cities area. The dishes here have the taste and look of home-cooked Thai food with fresh, colorful ingredients and simple preparation. Prices are reasonable and portion sizes are good. I appreciate that they have mock duck and mock chicken as options, which is rare outside of Vietnamese or Chinese restaurants. Be careful of the spice level---anything more than "2 peppers" on their scale will scald your mouth. The service is super-friendly and attentive; the cook even went out of her way to make a new, vegan batch of green curry paste especially for my dish, because the existing batch had fish sauce already mixed into it. NOTE: you have to request for them to leave out the fish/oyster/shrimp sauce, but they're very accommodating about this. All in all, it's a great restaurant, but I wish they were in Minneapolis or St. Paul, rather than remote White Bear Lake.
This is a great little joint with simple, honest Indian snacks (samosas, vada pav, masala tea, chaat) and comfort food dishes like lentil curry, chickpea curry and Indian breads. The tastes are good and the prices are extremely low (mostly under $5) and the service is friendly and fast. Seating is limited and it can get crowded easily.
Bravo is a cute little bakery/cafe with an assortment of vegan Chinese-entrees and some vegan cakes and sweets. Their vegan spongecake is super-moist and subtly sweet and one of the best I've had. Their dishes are all light, tasty and simple. Prices are extremely low ($5 a dish for entrees, $3 or less for desserts) and the service is fast and friendly. This cafe only holds about a dozen people, so space might be an issue for larger parties. Otherwise, highly recommended.
Brenda's offers some interesting, tasty food, but nothing spectacular. Prices are a bit high at $12-16 per dish. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is classy; this is a good place to take a date. Vegan options are limited, but they do have some dishes and also vegan desserts.
I like the atmosphere and clientele in this cafe, but lately their vegan desserts have been lacking. They usually have the same three vegan baked goods from Hard Times Cafe (an espresso muffin, a chocolate-covered shortbread cookie, and a peanut butter cookie), and I'm a bit tired of them now. They're also not very good---they tend to be too sweet or dry. I like however, that they've started accepting credit cards finally. If they could just start offering a better array of vegan desserts (maybe some vegan pies or cakes from The Wedge Co-op across the street?), I'd give them a higher rating.
I really like that Camdi has an all-vegan menu with numerous (and unusual) soups, appetizers and pan-Asian entrees. They also cook all the vegan dishes in separate woks and fryers, which is much appreciated. The service was friendly and prompt. That said, I wasn't amazed by the food. It's much better than your average strip-mall Chinese joint, but not as light, fresh or tasty as Evergreen on Nicollet or Jasmine Deli, also on Nicollet (two of the best Asian restaurants in the Twin Cities). Their tofu vegetable curry was solid, but nothing special and reminded me heavily of Lotus To-Go restaurants and also E Noodle Cafe in Roseville. Their mushroom stir-fry with mock pork was a bit too salty, oily and sticky for my likes; the mock pork, too, had a horrible texture, like fried tofu that has gone soggy and chewy after soaking in water. The vegan cream cheese wontons were definitely good, though, with just the right balance of savory flavor and crispiness. If the quality of the food here improves, I would definitely give it another star. At present, it's a distant third when it comes to Asian food in the Twin Cities.
At first I was not impressed with Common Roots, but their service and menu have both become more vegan-friendly in the last few months. First and foremost, they use fresh, local, organic produce which makes their food taste better, period. The flavors burst, because they're natural and earthy.
Their tempeh sandwich with vegan rosemary bread is light, fresh and delicious; they also seem to have a new, interesting vegan dessert every day (one day it's a chocolate tort, the next it's apple or raspberry with perfectly flaky crusts), in addition to more standard offerings like vegan cookies and cupcakes. They usually have at least one or two vegan cold pasta salads, and a couple of vegan soups. Common Roots is also famous for their home-made bagels and wonderful hummus (try their beet hummus, which is also great!). The bagels do contain honey, so they're not technically vegan, though the honey is "humanely extracted" for people on the fence.
I am impressed with their social dedication---they compost everything, use recycled products and biodegradable utensils and plastics. They also host various social events and speakers, as well as "meet your farmer" sessions. Finally, they also have a few local beers on tap, with an outside garden area open during the summer; their happy hour is a pleasant respite after a long day at the office. If they added two or three more vegan entrees to the menu, they'd warrant an extra star for their rating.
E Noodle has a large selection of vegetarian (all vegan) items, from the standard mock duck stiry frys to more unusual dishes such as curry tofu and also Korean and Japanese dishes. This is not your average strip-mall Chinese take-out joint.
I was particularly impressed with their pearl tofu tender, which is a high grade tofu baked and served with colorful vegetables. I chose black pepper garlic sauce to go with it and what a dish it was. The service is prompt and friendly and the owner went out of her way to emphasize that all the vegetarian dishes are vegan at E Noodle. Prices are low ($6 for a lunch plate, $10 for a take-out quart) and portion sizes are large. I would definitely go back. My only gripe is that they're far away in an isolated area of the Twin Cities and that they still serve meat. Otherwise, E Noodle stands out for its taste, quality and unusual dishes.
Ecopolitan is the only pure vegan (and raw) restaurant in Minneapolis, but it's a bit of a let-down. The food is interesting and fairly tasty from what I can tell (I'm not too experienced with raw cuisine), but I found many of the dishes to be indistinguishable from each other. They have a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner items with healthy desserts which creates a varied experience. Prices are slightly high ($10-14 range), but reasonable for the novelty value of the food. The service, while mostly friendly, is inattentive, slow and limited. You have to seat yourself and usually there is only one waiter for the whole room. Seating is limited. On a whole, I'm glad Ecopolitan is here, but it has room to improve.
I eat Evergreen (take-out or dine-in) at least twice a week, if not more. Evergreen offers excellent vegetarian and vegan dishes, from the spicy, colorful mixed vegetables with fried tofu, to the tender mock beef with broccoli or the mock chicken with blackbean sauce. My favorite dishes (and I've basically tried the entire menu) are most definitely: three-cup tofu (herbal and aromatic!); house-style eggplant with basil (deliciously smooth, fragrant and subtle); five-spice dried tofu with bell peppers (unusual and savory); and mock beef or mock pork with garlic sauce (great array of textures and flavors).
The owners and servers are always friendly and the menu is diverse for meat and non-meat eaters alike. It's rarely ever crowded and they have good hours. The quality, variety and reasonable prices of the dishes make this the best Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant in Minneapolis, and one of my favorites of all time. Highly recommended.
The fact that the Twin Cities has a vegan clothing store at all is amazing. It's definitely "gutsy" as another reviewer commented and I commend and appreciate the owner for his dedication and courage. Their new location on Franklin Avenue is chic and modern and full of space. I bought a pair of shoes there for a good price (they were on sale), but I do wish they had a larger selection of shoes. In fact, I think they should dedicate less space to bags/purses/belts/wallets, and focus most of their energies on shoes for men and women. As it stands, they have a decent collection and the sale-price shoes are affordable, but most of the rest seem to hover in the $120 range, which is way too high. Also, many pairs had limited sizes in-stock (the "bell curve" sizes from men's 8-10 were usually out of stock). So, the store has some room to improve, but as it stands, I will be shopping their again in the future.
I love this place. The decor and atmosphere are sophisticated and European in feel. The service is super-friendly and attentive and knowledgeable. The food is spectacular for the most part, but take a pass on their attempts at Asian-style dishes. Their vegan stromboli was succulent, subtle and filling. Their vegan turtle cake was the best cake I've ever had, vegan or otherwise. It was moist, not overly sweet, and well balanced with cake, sugar, caramel and nuts. The prices of the food are extremely low given the high class atmosphere and the high quality of the food. The vegan dishes max out at $12 and most are closer to $9; their desserts are $3.95, though in other places, they'd be twice that price, with half the taste. Highly recommended.
Pros: Quality * Prices * Service
Galactic Pizza makes a good pizza with great topping choices and tasty vegan soy cheese. They also get a killer vegan cheesecake from a famous local Minneapolis cheesecake maker. The service is friendly. The only downside is the prices, which are a bit high.
Hard Times is the ultimate punk-rock all-night vegetarian cafe and restaurant. At any given moment expect to see intellectual punkers, hobos with coffee, and everyday folks playing chess. The atmosphere is pure 1970s grunge, with a kick. The music is a bit too loud, but tolerable; the food is well-priced and tasty, with various comfort-foods, gyros, tacos, burgers, hummus and desserts. They can make pretty much anything vegan and everything is vegetarian. Waits for food are long and the service isn't the friendliest, but it's crisp and mostly efficient. Come to Hard Times for the food and the vibe. It's a Minneapolis institution.
The food here is tasty and comes in large, well-priced portions. Service is friendly. The atmosphere is lacking and a bit depressing. Also, the menu heavily features meat; otherwise, I'd give it a higher rating. Considering Harry himself is of Indian origins, I was hoping he'd have more of a focus on vegetarian and vegan options.
Huong Sen has a large menu featuring at least a dozen or more vegan dishes, but the quality of the food is terrible. The curried tofu was bland, mucky and overcooked; the black mushrooms with broccoli was greasy, bland and heavy. The food reminded me of two-day old cafeteria buffet items---all mush and awful. Worse yet, the place is expensive at around $9-12 per dish; most Vietnamese restaurants in the area are not only cheaper, but give better food and larger portions. Even their tea had gone stale and was one of those 2-cent varieties you find in the discount bins of Asian stores. While the service was friendly, the atmosphere of the restaurant was dull and dark and they keep the heat low, so I had to wear my jacket while inside there! Huong Sen is not to be recommended, especially when the Twin Cities have so many other great Vietnamese restaurants.
Jasmine 26 is a great, urban-chic and modern restaurant whose food quality and prices are excellent. Given the atmosphere of the restaurant, they could easily charge 50% more per dish, but most of their vegetarian/vegan items max out at $12. This is a great place to take a date or to just relax with a cocktail. The vegetarian crepe and the veggie spring rolls are both wonderful; the crepe is especially unusual and portion sizes are huge. This restaurant is a great value, to say the least, and not that much more expensive than their sister restaurant around the corner, Jasmine Deli. The menus are definitely not the same---if anything, this place could use a couple of the veggie dishes served at Jasmine Deli. Service is always friendly and they have a nice bar and drink menu. The hours are great for nighthawks looking for a meal or drink after the 10 p.m. close of most other restaurants. My only gripe is that they don't offer enough vegan dishes; they could use at least two or three more on the menu and I'd give them another star. But as it stands, this is a wonderful addition to the city and a far worthier, tastier and cheaper competitor to Azia next door. Jasmine 26 is not to be missed.
Jasmine Deli is the in-the-know spot for people looking for authentic, light, tasty and home-cooked Vietnamese food. The service is always friendly and fast and there are numerous vegan items, including mock duck curries, cold salads, huge bowls of noodle soup with tofu, stir-fry rice plates and my favorite for quick-eats, the mock duck baguette sandwich (if vegan, specify no butter). All of their prices are under $9 and the sandwiches cost only $3 and make a great meal. Two issues, though: they don't accept credit cards and they have highly limited seating. Otherwise, this is the gem of the many Vietnamese restaurants in Minneapolis.
As of December 24, 2007, Muddy Paws' has closed their cafe. They are now focusing on their cheesecake business and have moved to St. Louis Park, but there is no cafe.
Mysore offers a good dosa and a marginal South Indian buffet, with vegan options clearly marked, but I was disappointed that it recently added chicken to the menu and to the buffet. This is a huge disappointment not only because meat has no traditional place in South Indian food (it seems to have been jammed in at Mysore for business reasons), but also because it alienates the vegetarian community, Indian or otherwise. Given the unspectacular food, and that Minneapolis has three much better and pure vegetarian Indian restaurants, I wouldn't recommend Mysore. Try The Vegetarian or Nalapak or Bombay 2 Deli instead.
I hadn't had South Indian food in a long time and was pleased to find Nalapak, a fabulous joint with friendly service and great food. Their dosa (sometimes spelled dosai) was crisp, huge, light and fresh; their Jalfrezi curry was creamy and spicy and went well with airy, un-oily chapati. Their samosas were also light and crispy with well-seasoned filling. The service was extremely friendly and the menu clearly listed what was vegan and what was lacto-vegetarian; they even have tofu as an option to paneer, which is not a common option in Indian restaurants. Highly recommended.
Namaste Cafe makes great chai and has excellent ambience, as well as a focus on local and organic foods (though it's not 100% vegetarian), but the service is lacking---our food took forty minutes to arrive and the waiters weren't very attentive. The food was light but seemed a bit flat in terms of spices and overall flavor. Prices were high, too, considering the quantity of food they give. I'll give it another shot, but was not totally impressed. I'd definitely take a vegetarian Indian restaurant over this place.
I loved this place. Their Lil Gracie pizza with soy cheese and veggies and fake sausage and pepperoni was tasty and light; their garlic-cheese toast with rinotta vegan cheese was also delicious and unusual. This is a great option to have for vegans who miss pizza and are also looking to have a beer with some good music in the background.
T's place has great atmosphere with lots of space and a bar and live music on some nights. Also, their food is tasty and unusual, particularly the vegan dishes like "yesawir wot," which feature wonderfully-spiced and flavored lentils, alongside a big, fluffy, spongy rice pancake. It reminded me of South Indian food, but had distinctly different flavors and a hearty, home-cooked feel. It's not often that one gets to eat Ethiopian food. The food here is not oily or greasy or heavy; it fills lightly and you feel satisfied. Their spicy tofu was also delicious. My only complaints are with the service and the menu---the online menu features only some of the vegan dishes they offer (they're labeled online), but their actual, in-restaurant menu doesn't label what's vegan and what's not (many of the dishes are lacto-vegetarian). So unless you've memorized the online menu, you're out of luck if you're vegan. Similarly, when I asked the waitress about ingredients, she didn't seem to know. The food comes out quickly, but service is otherwise slow and inattentive. Also, the first time I went, the main cook was unavailable, so I couldn't order half the menu. The next time I went, the cook was available, but the restaurant was mysteriously "half-open" and they kept the door locked, forcing people to knock on the window to gain entrance. All in all, the service and menu have much room to improve, but the food is unusual, tasty and lovingly-prepared.
Tanpopo is a wonderful restaurant. It looks and feels like a home and, indeed, the food is cooked "home-style" and is simple and tasty. There is ample parking nearby and the service is friendly and fast. I appreciated that they have a beer and sake menu, which makes for an even better occasion. Finally, the food is simple but delicious; they substitute vegan mushroom broth for their noodle-soup dishes, whcih are ample, fresh, healthy and well-seasoned. I loved their tofu soba noodle bowl (kitsune) and will try their wild mushroom bowl next time. Highly recommended. My only gripe is that they don't have more vegan options, other than the kitsune and mushroom bowls; other than that, they only have one or two vegan appetizers.
Tao is a wonderful, cozy little corner joint with the feel of an old-time diner. The staff is on a first-name basis with most of the customers and the food is amply vegan. The wait for the food can be long, but that's only because each dish is lovingly prepared and hand-made; no short-cuts here. Try their delicious multigrain waffle or their simple, macrobiotic rice plates (which pack more of a kick than you might guess). The food is extremely healthy and low-priced, too; there's nothing on the menu that costs over $8 or $9. They also feature at least two innovative vegan desserts. Highly recommended. Tao also has a large selection of health food and body-care items, as well as a small book section, in case you need more than just food.
Triple Rock is a punk-rock bar with lots of beer, music, atmosphere and a large menu featuring numerous vegan comfort foods. On the weekends they have breakfast items like tofu scramblers and pancakes with vegan sausage; in the evenings they have various sandwiches, nachos, fries and other greasy-spoon vegan options. The service is super-friendly and fast. Prices are all under $10 for most items. Seating might get limited if you have a big group, especially at night. All in all this is a great place with an appreciated focus on accommodating vegans.
True Thai has some of the best Thai I've had in the Twin Cities, with a caveat for vegans and vegetarians listed below. Having lived in Thailand, and having been to at least 100 or more Thai restaurants around the world, I know what Thai food should taste like, and this place is awfully close to the real deal. Ingredients are fresh and light, well-spiced, colorful and fragrant. Prices are reasonable (in the $8-10 range) and they offer unusual options, such as curry puffs (similar to Indian samosas) and a tamarind stir-fry.
My only gripe is this: the menu doesn't clearly list what is and isn't vegan and I'm always suspicious of places when I have to tell them "no fish or oyster sauce or shrimp/anchovy paste." The waiters should tell us outright that some dishes use fish sauce, lest many innocent veg*ns make a false assumption and end up eating fish bladder. True Thai's curries can be made vegan, though if they're using pre-made curry pastes, it might have some sort of fish already mashed into it---the waiters seemed to be on top of this when I asked, but given the hustle and bustle of the place, I'm worried "no fish/oyster/shrimp sauce" specifications might get lost in the frantic kitchen somewhere. So that's my caveat: the food is good, but as a vegan, I'm skeptical of their commitment to me.
I've been to True Thai twice, on a Monday and Wednesday, and both times the place was packed (mostly with university students and professors). That said, we only had to wait five or ten minutes for a table. Service is prompt and friendly, if also hurried. Street parking isn't difficult to find in the area.
The Vegetarian has extremely friendly service and a simple menu of basic, honest Indian food. Its specialty is South Indian cooking, but they also have some North Indian standards. Everything that is vegan is clearly marked on the menu and the kitchen is more than willing to modify some dishes to make them vegan, should you wish. The prices are reasonable, too. Overall, a recommended restaurant.
The Wedge is a happening place with a great selection of frozen and unfrozen vegan foods, along with eco-conscious products for the home. They also have a cafe and food bar with numerous vegan sandwiches, hot entrees, desserts and drinks. Prices on the prepared food were reasonable, though not dirt cheap. My only grip is that the food area is not 100% vegetarian. In the end, though, this is a great community gathering spot with great foods and products for conscientious consumers.
Atlas has a huge selection of vegan desserts, pastries and donuts (though the donuts sell out almost immediately when they arrive on Tuesdays, so go early, as I learned the hard way). Their chocolate cake was decent, but a bit bland. Service is friendly and the location is nice, though, with outside seating.
This is a cute little bakery with a great selection of muffins, cakes, brownies and cookies. Our chocolate cake and pumpkin cake were both rich, creamy and delicious. Service was super-friendly. My only complaint is that the place gets crowded awfully easily and there's only space for about six people to sit (and even then you'll be bumping elbows and brushing up against other patrons). This is a perfect place for take-out vegan sweets, but not as good as a cafe---that said, they bake wonderful desserts and you'll be tempted to take home a variety of different treats.
Blossom is my favorite vegan restaurant in New York. The food was amazing (try their BLT sandwich or their chocolate ganache), the service was friendly and prompt, and the location and ambience were both superb. The prices are high, but the quality of the food made up for it. Definitely recommended.
Buddha Bodai has a huge menu with many innovative vegan dishes and some traditional Chinese dishes using mockmeats. I found their garlic-pepper chicken to be filling and tasty, without being oily or heavy. Their walnut shrimp was good, but a bit too sweet for me. Their cheesecake was simple, but great tasting, but their ice cream was too icy, dry and flavorless. On a whole, this is a great restaurant, though.
Cafe Blossom, like its sister restaurant in Chelsea, is a gem. The ambience is chic and modern, but the service is friendly, prompt, and exceedingly helpful. My pecan-crusted seitan had a complex array of tastes and textures, and my friend's chipotle aioli sandwich was spicy and fresh. Portion sizes are generous. I also greatly enjoyed my mimosa, which is an unusual drink option at a vegan joint. To make things even better, Cafe Blossom fills the great need for a quality vegan restaurant on the Upper West Side. Highly recommended.
I went to Candle 79 with high expectations. Ultimately, I found most of my meal to be bland and uninspired, especially considering the price of the place. The avocado-black bean salsa appetizer was heavy and dull; the main dish, a fava bean puree with tempeh and morel mushrooms, was bland and unsubtle. Finally, the ice cream sampler, while tasty, came in a tiny portion (and cost $8). The service, while friendly, was slow and inattentive. Decor and ambience don't make up for bland food, high prices and poor service. Go to their sister joint, The Candle Cafe, instead.
Candle Cafe has great ambience, though it's a small place. The service was attentive and friendly. Their chocolate peanut butter smoothie was too liquidy for my tastes, but their Tuscan lasagna was layered, tasty and filling. Prices are high, sadly.
Caravan has nice atmosphere (with live music) and seems to have an innovative menu. That said, the service was a bit confused (they forgot at least one item we ordered, but still charged us for it), and many of the dishes seemed indistinguishable from one another. This was particularly true of their "live" dishes, which just seemed like glorified salads, more than anything else. I think their cooked dishes would be superior, based upon my experience with their paella (which was light and tasty). Their desserts were lacking, however; none of them, raw or cooked, grabbed my attention or seemed extraordinary. It might be better to go for lunch, at an odd hour, when the service will be less hurried and the food better prepared, perhaps.
Counter is decent at best, but this rating rests heavily on its location, atmosphere and generous portions. The service was friendly. But for the most part, I found the food to be bland and uninspiring, especially considering the hefty price tag. My paella was large, but had no zing to it; it seemed more like a mishmash of fresh vegetables, with little thought to seasoning or taste. Similarly the "tornadoes of seitan" was something more akin to a cloudy day; there was no "pop" to the dish. In the end, I found Counter to be an imitation of other upscale NYC joints like Blossom or Candle 79; though it charges in the same price range as those two, Counter fails to bring the accompanying expectation of taste and novelty.
This is a nicely decorated, quiet place to meet for tea and snacks. I didn't try any entrees, but the dumplings were decent (if a bit bland) and the tofu cheesecake was tasty, but not the best I've ever had. I did like their extensive options for tea and the great ambience and decor inside.
For ambience and novelty-value alone, Hangawi stands apart. It's a completely different dining experience, with submerged seating (sans shoes). I found the prices to be low considering the atmosphere and the unusual nature of the food (vegan Korean joints aren't exactly common). All of the dishes were delicious, from the mushroom pancakes to the tofu stone pot. Their vegan cheesecake was also delectable. This is a great place to take a date or to simply eat healthy, tasty food in large portions.
Lan Cafe offers friendly service and excellent prices for unusual, tasty dishes. Their coconut-potato soup was simple and good; I loved their tofu curry and green papaya salad. The tastes were spicy, but subtle, and completely different from Thai or Chinese cooking styles. If you're looking for a delicious change of pace in a great environment, I strongly recommend Lan Cafe.
Pukk has the best mockmeats I've ever had, be it the supple duck or the tender chicken. If you're looking to fool someone, this is the place to take them. Their Prik King Duck was delectable, and their green curry chicken, while tasty, was a bit sweet. Make sure to try their chocolate mousse pie, which was heavenly, or their sesame cheesecake, which was unusual and distinctly Asian. Prices are low and the food is excellent. Pukk is highly recommended.
Red Bamboo has a huge, diverse menu with great, inspired and unusual dishes. I had their mango-pepper "chicken" which was spicy and sweet. Excellent mixing of tastes and the portion was huge, enough for two meals. The service was fast, friendly and attentive. I didn't like their lemon cheesecake, though, which was too hard, too sweet, and also dried-out. Prices are excellent, especially compared to other veg. places in NYC.
Strictly Roots fills the need for a vegan soul food restaurant in Harlem. The service was friendly, but a bit slow. I was impressed with the taste of their buffet items, especially the tvp pasta and the fried tofu filets. Their vegan mac and cheese wasn't so great, however, and tasted more like bell peppers and water than anything else. Prices are extremely low (most items are under $4-5) and portion sizes are good.
Teany offers an extensive tea and juice menu with light snacks and foods. They were out of their desserts when we went, so we settled for light, smooth ice tea and an absolutely delectable drink, teanychino, which we had with almond milk. It was light years ahead of every day chai lattes in terms of taste and refinement. Their chai latte was extremely understated and good, but paled in comparison to the teanychino. This is, in the end, a great place to get a late afternoon snack or drink.
I found Vegetarian's Paradise to be less tasty or eclectic compared to its neighbor Red Bamboo. My stir-fry was sticky and heavy and they don't have any standard desserts like tofu cheesecake or pies. The service was slow and inattentive, too. There was nothing special or unusual about this place and I'd probably skip it on the next trip. Red Bamboo has a bigger, better menu with more desserts and better service.
I really liked this place. Our seitan skewer appetizer was a perfect blend of sweet and spicy; the basil soy protein was spicy, fresh and crispy, with an array of colorful vegetables; the shredded tofu was light and well-seasoned, though could have used a bit more spice. Our desserts were both spectacular, from the chocolate vegan cheesecake to the peanut butter bomb, which was rich and decadent. Service was friendly, if a bit slow. Prices are reasonable and the portions are just right.
Peking offers a large vegetarian/vegan menu with traditional Chinese dishes with faux meat substitutes, as well as innovative vegetarian dishes that don't rely on fake meat. Portion sizes were good, service was friendly and prices were reasonable. Decor and tables are in a state of decay, but the food is still good. I had the garlic "chicken" with vegetables, which was spicy and filling, though not heavy or oily at all. The tofu cheesecake was decent, but a bit dry and bland.
While the location of this joint is out-of-the-way, it's a nice, cozy place to dine in. As a vegan, I appreciated their extensive, well-highlighted options. Their tofurkey de la sol sandwich was delectable---tasty, healthy, light and inspired. All of their breads are made on the premises. This is a great place, but I just wish they were in a better location like Harrisburg or State College.
Some of the best vegan food I've ever had in any part of the US. Everything was artfully prepared and presented with top-quality service. The golden beet tapas were succulent and its accompanying edamame puree just amazed me. The portobella carpaccio was delicate and tender. The Bourbon BBQ tempeh was filling and tasty, but I found that the Pacific Rim Tofu was tastier and had better side dishes (ponzu brocolini, edamame mash). For dessert, make sure to try their cheesecake or their chocolate peanut butter ice cream brownie, both of which were top-notch. Prices are high, but the quality of the food is five-star gourmet.
I found the food here to be quite disappointing. I had the Beef Chow Fun and a Chicken Hot Pepper with Broccoli, both of which were bland, oily, and generally uninspired. The mockmeats were both gooey and had the texture of steak fat. While I appreciated the quantity and variety of vegetables they offered in each dish, the flat tastes and the low-quality mockmeats made this place a major disappointment. I also tried their mango vegan cheesecake, and it tasted all right, but was clearly not fresh.
This place does much better food than its sister joint Lemon Grass Cafe. The food here comes in large portions and is distinct from Thai food (it seems more Cambodian, which is a nice touch). The waiter was knowledgeable and made sure everything was completely vegan.
The food here was greasy, uninspired and bland. The mockmeat was too chewy and I have the sneaking suspicion that it was cooked in chicken fat. Not to be recommended.
This place does decent Thai food, but is nothing special. Service was decent.
Cozy Thai has great ambience, and is a good place to take a date, but their food is generall mediocre. Their curries and stir-frys are either too salty, greasy or sweet and portion sizes are small. Prices are reasonable, the service is slow, and the place gets jam-packed at peak hours (12-1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.), so make reservations ahead of time, especially on Friday or Saturday. Their main competition, Viet-Thai, has much better food but is lacking in terms of decor. Vegans and vegetarians make sure to specify no fish or oyster sauce.
This is a simple and fairly cheap buffet-style place which cooks your food fresh for you. I like being able to select what veggies and sauces I want to have. The multiple options, however, make it difficult to get a good combo---often times you mix the wrong sauce with certain vegetables and the taste is bland at best. They should have more recommendations for what sauces to use with certain veggies. Vegans and vegetarians: ask the cook to cook your food in a separate wok, off the main grill. Given that it's all-you-can-eat, don't load up on vegetables in your first bowl, because the bowls are small and you'll generally end up being full after one dish. Better to make multiple small bowls, that way you can get a better range of the sauces and veggies.
Kaarma has some great vegetarian dishes which they will happily make vegan for you (just specify "no cream or dairy"). If you want bread, order "roti" which is completely vegan; "naan" uses dairy products. Kaarma uses fresh ingredients and the dishes are not as oily and heavy as other North Indian restaurants. Try the 'mushroom muttar (peas)' or the "Bombay aloo (potatoes)" or 'channa' (chickpeas) dish. They also have Indo-Chinese dishes, which is unusual and nice to see. Sadly, they don't have any south Indian food.
Portions are large and prices are low. The only complaint that I have is if you're vegan, you can only go for dinner, because for lunch Kaarma only serves buffet, and all the dishes have cream pre-mixed. They only have the buffet on weekends, so vegans are out-of-luck.
Mad Mex is a decent place. Its vegetarian and vegan options are good, particularly the burritos and mushroom burger. I'm impresed that they do easy substitutions with soy cheese and vegan sour cream. Their chips and salsa, while costing extra, are excellent and freshly-made. Their vegan burritos are filling, relatively tasty, but a bit on the pricier side. Portion sizes are huge, so expect to take home leftovers. This place isn't authentic, but it's the closest thing to Mexican food you'll find in central Pennsylvania.
Viet-Thai has the best Thai food in town. Their green and red curries are delectable with high-grade baked tofu and fresh vegetables. Also try the sauteed Chinese broccoli or the chili stir-fry, both of which can be made with tofu. The lemongrass chili tofu is also excellent with hints of Indian flavors. In general, their food is unusual and extremely tasty. Service is prompt and friendly and the place is never crowded. Their hours are a bit troublesome, as they close early in the evening and also shut down in the middle of the day. Decor and ambience are sorely lacking, but the quality of their food makes up for that. Highly recommended.
Webster's has great, fresh bagels and homemade hummus and sunflower dip. They also have vegan soups and loose-leaf teas. This is a great place to sit and talk or read, with light snacks and drinks. Service is slow, though, as the bagels take a long time to toast and the lines get long because of cash register and coffee machine delays.
This is a great, grungy place with low prices and excellent food. Their vegan lasagna was delectable---just as good as anything I've tasted at fancy vegan places in New York or Chicago. Their nachos were also excellent, with a good mix of veggies and tangy cashew cream vegan cheese. The only drawback is that they don't accept credit cards. Also, it's not the best place for dates, but it's good for a quick, cheap, tasty bite.
What an excellent joint, right in the center of DC. The menu is extensive, with wonderful sandwich, soup and salad options, along with some traditional entrees. Their grilled "chicken" sandwich was fresh and light, while their California gimbob sushi tray was delicious, subtle and complex. Their desserts are tasty but not mind-blowing; I found their blueberry cheesecake a bit dry and flat, but their vegan brownie was super-soft and smooth. Prices are reasonable, especially for its downtown location. Overall, a superb cafe that needs more outlets around the country!
Nirvana has a good-sized menu with all of their numerous vegan options marked, which I greatly appreciated. They also have numerous vegan wines. The atmosphere is nice and fairly romantic. We were pleased by all of our food, including the Undhio (a Gujarati soulfood dish that you don't see in restaurants often). I was surprised that they don't substitute tofu for paneer in some of their dishes; instead they just drop the protein portion all together. While the food was good on a whole, the portion sizes were really small, so you might want to order appetizers to fill yourself up. The menu says they have daily vegan desserts, but our waiter said they were out. What bothered me most was that the waiter hurried us out of the restaurant after we paid the bill; it was still 15 minutes to closing time, and he told us to move along. So, they lose a star for service, though their food is solid.
Soul Veg.'s DC branch is not so impressive. For one thing, it's not clean; the floors and counter are dingy, and the kitchen didn't look much better. There's limited seating. The service was extremely slow and confused; I placed an order and then waited twenty minutes before it was ready, and this was in the middle of the afternoon, with few customers. If you're going for the buffet items, it would be fast, but if you're ordering off the menu, be prepared to wait. That said, the food was quite good (particularly the tacos) and reasonably-priced, which is why I give the place two stars.
Sticky Fingers shows a lot of promise. I tried a few of their offerings, including a strawberry shortcake cupcake, a chocolate cheesecake, a cranberry scone, and a chai latte. The shortcake had a great fluffy texture, but was slightly too sweet; the cheesecake was good, but would have been better if fresh; the scone was excellent; and the chai was bland and flat. I'll definitely visit again, just to see how much better they get, but for the moment, they're off to a good start.
Sunflower offers a pleasing array of options, from standard Asian dishes to more unusual fusion-style pan-Asian entrees and appetizers. Our Japanese-style BBQ kabobs were excellent and well-presented. For the main course, I found our Sunflower Forest to be an intriguing and tasty Asian version of a taco. Sunflower Satisfaction (soy protein with veggies in an orange-chili sauce) was also tempered well and not too spicy or too sweet. It also had a colorful range of vegetables. Service was friendly and prompt. Recommended.
The food here is excellent. It's light, freshly prepared and full of vegetables and well-spiced sauces. The mockmeats are light and tasty and have excellent texture---not too firm, not too soft. Prices are extremely reasonable and portions are large enough for leftovers. I liked the orange beef, hunan beef and chicken kung pao.
I found the service and atmosphere to be fabulous. Vegetate has a good drink menu and great atmosphere for dates. It's urban-chic in a neighborhood that needs some business. The food was also good, though perhaps not worth the high prices (which range from $10-17 per dish). The grilled seitan was a bit chewy, but tasty on a whole. I thought their desserts were distinctive and understated, with unusual tastes (chocolate ganache with balsamic vinegar) that you don't expect.
Yuan Fu is a nice little place with extensive vegan dishes and options. Their service is super-friendly and their food is tasty, light and healthy. I found their orange beef to be a tad dry, but their chicken with mixed vegetables was robust and diverse in its flavors. Their prices are good and portion sizes are large. I'd say Yuan Fu and its down-the-road competitor, The Vegetable Garden, are on equal footing.
Ratings Without Reviews
- Udupi Palace
in Chicago, Illinois:
- Vera's Cafe
in Twin Cities, Minnesota:
Mar 12
What a pleasant surprise to see French Meadow in the airport. I travel a lot and, as a vegan, I've never been well-accommodated at airports; but thanks to Minneapolis' progressive attitude, I can get vegan cookies, muffins, and hot, fresh, organic cooked dishes before catching a flight. They also feature a bar. My vegan burger was tasty and fresh, as was my side dish of Minnesota wild rice. Service was slow if you sit in the dining area, but otherwise you can do self-service and it's a bit faster. Prices are reasonable, especially considering the freshness, selection and unusual items offered.