NY Veg Eatery?
Posted by AmandaBrooke on Sep 18, 2007 · Member since Dec 2004 · 377 posts
Hello peoples!
My cousin, who is a recent vegetarian convert (yay me!) has a birthday coming up, and her friends want to take her to NYC for a special meal. They asked if I knew any vegetarian places there. Despite having been there loads, I've never been to a veggie restaurant there.
I could look up some places, but I would like first hand experiences. So, anyone got any suggestions?
Amanda
EDIT- Hey, nevermind folks! I have found that previous thread asking pretty much the same thing, but for all over, so just have to sift through it for NYC options.....
Hello peoples!
My cousin, who is a recent vegetarian convert (yay me!) has a birthday coming up, and her friends want to take her to NYC for a special meal. They asked if I knew any vegetarian places there. Despite having been there loads, I've never been to a veggie restaurant there.
I could look up some places, but I would like first hand experiences. So, anyone got any suggestions?
Amanda
EDIT- Hey, nevermind folks! I have found that previous thread asking pretty much the same thing, but for all over, so just have to sift through it for NYC options.....
Here are 2 of the best:
http://www.candlecafe.com/
http://www.blossomnyc.com/
I've been to both....but have to say that Blossom is my favorite. It's not cheap, but it's awesome.
And.....If your cousin ever heads up towards the Catskills....tell her to check out this place:
http://www.rosendalecafe.com/
I am also really looking forward to checking out the vegan place in Harlem that Cheezees told us about! :)
Thanks DaveDrum!
Here's a rundown, in case anyone ever is looking for the same thing...I just copied and pasted all the other answers, so sorry for the messiness, and sorry I didn't get everyone's names who submitted these!
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Zen Palate - Pan Asian and delicious
http://www.zenpalate.com/menu.php
teany - this is moby's tea place, and the club sandwich i ate there was great!
Vatan - Gujarati Indian food served thali style
http://www.vatanny.com/
Gobo - i didn't love this place, but i know people who do
http://www.goborestaurant.com/
Totally agree with the New York suggestions posted earlier. Here are a few more:
1) Pure Food and Wine is amaaaazing, though expensive. I went there with my parents for my delicious graduation celebration meal. Raw and delish.
2) Counter, on 2nd Avenue. Again, a little on the pricey side, but inventive and wonderful and elegant.
3) Caravan of Dreams. More casual and laidback, huge menu, tasty raw choices, delicious shakes.
4) Red Bamboo is super-amay. It's vegan "soul food," very comforting, reasonably priced (check out the lunch special!) and very appealing to meat-eaters if they're tagging along.
5) The delish vegan cart on Washington Square South by NYU. Out of control cheap Indian vegan lunch, and you can eat it in the park on hot summer afternoons. Wonderful.
Also worth noting:
Angelica Kitchen, Kate's Joint (not sure if it's totally vegan), falafel everywhere. Enjoy!
Souen
13th St between University and 5th Ave
This is one of the first macrobiotic restautants in New York and has lots of vegan items although they do also serve fish. Very good food and nice atmosphere (lots of plants!)
Ozu
Amsterdam Avenue between 86th and 87th
The Almost Perfect (fried tofu, hijiki, and a carrot sauce) is very good here.
Quantum Leap
A few blocks south of Washington Square, (not sure of the exact address).
This is more vegan/vegetarian diner style food although they serve a wide range of other things also. They have great veggie burgers with fries and soy milk shakes.
In NY our favorite vegetarian is Candle 79. It can be pricy but the food is excellent and service/presentation is impeccable. There are also high end Indian restaurants that aren't exclusively vegetarian but have many vegetarian offerings. My moderately priced favorite is Caravan of Dreams on 6th street off First Avenue which has been around forever and uses very fresh, very healthy ingredients. Specials are hit and miss but stuff off the menu is usually very good.
re: Candle 79, in NYC -- which is not only vegetarian, but 100% vegan and largely local and organic -- best vegan meal I've ever had, hands down. Their seitan piccata was seriously to die for. Friggin' divine.
NYC - Strictly Roots
I second the Candle 79 endorsement, which is the more upscale and pricier version of its sister restaurant, Candle Cafe. HOWEVER, the last time I was there I wasn't as impressed as I usually am and I was wondering if maybe the owner was on vacation. The restaurant is pretty expensive so it's fair to expect the meal to be amazing each time.
Another choice that is not on your list is Souen, which is on 13th off of University Place. It is an old time macrobiotic restaurant, with vegan options as well as fish. I think it is a good choice if not everyone in the group wants to eat veg.
I think the freshest and best prepared veg food in the city is at Caravan of Dreams. It doesn't have the fanciest of dishes, but you can't beat the quality of the produce. It can be uneven when it come to the specials and the service, but the last time I was there I noticed the wait staff is now dressed all in black and the service was a bit better. (Or maybe the service was really the same and the black unifrorms made me think the service was better.) My favorite dish there is the sauteed kale and seitan topped with polenta and mushroom gravy.