This thread is in honor of l'etoile, as well as dedicated to the memory of letiole.

Although I tease her about it, l'etoile does not eat meat. For example, if you would like to see her in person, lettuce just say that it is probably not a good idea to say that you want to “meet” her.

Although I eat meat and meat products regularly, I enjoy salads, vegetables, fruit, pasta and grain dishes. I would usually rather have a salad before I would crave a dessert.

Anyway, I have heard l'etoile wonder about vegetarian meals in restaurants in different cities. Of course, I felt sorry for her when she found out we were going to a Brazilian rodizio, or all-you-can-eat meat restaurant, in Las Vegan — er...I mean Las Vegas. I sat next to her as she enjoyed a pasta dish, and I think she had a good time. The choice of restaurant was not my idea, by the way. I may tease her, but I am not mean or cruel.

One thought: I had the best mushroom ravioli in red pasta sauce ever on — of all places — a domestic flight on Continental Airlines in the First Class cabin nine years ago. It was in a large bowl and accompanied by a large Caesar salad. It was truly delicious!

Please post in this thread your favorite restaurants and meals worldwide that a vegetarian or vegan would enjoy.

Thank you!

Why thank you Canarsie. I am truly honored (as is the, uh, late letiole). :)

One question though: did you feel sorry for me because I was at an all-you-can-eat meat place, or because you served me up a huge helping of your puns all evening? ;)

Thanks for your thread and I will add my favorites soon...


btw ...most caesar salads have anchovies so not vegetarian, but ^ to the pasta ...

One question though: did you feel sorry for me because I was at an all-you-can-eat meat place, or because you served me up a huge helping of your puns all evening? ;)Both.btw ...most caesar salads have anchovies so not vegetarian, but ^ to the pasta ...I was really commenting on how delicious the mushroom ravioli was on that Continental Airlines flight.

The Caesar salad was in a separate bowl, and while it did not have anchovies, I am uncertain as to whether or not the actual dressing contained anchovies. It was still good, but I prefer Caesar salads with anchovies.

Nevertheless, if I remember correctly, I believe the dressing was served separately with the Caesar salad, so the salad could have been eaten by a vegetarian.

As this thread is already punned out, all I can add is that most Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese restaurants have some vegetarian dishes (or will make upon request), so it is pretty easy to find a good vegetarian restaurant anywhere in the world.

As for vegetarian restaurants worth seeking out, I know of 3 (as I am not vegetarian I don't go seeking them out). The last 2 have non-vegetarian dishes on the menu, but their best dishes happen to be vegetarian.

1. Greens in San Francisco. Pretty famous, so needs no introduction http://www.greensrestaurant.com/
2. Joel Palmer House in rural Oregon (50 miles from PDX) specializing in mushrooms and morels (many home foraged)http://www.joelpalmerhouse.com/Scripts/aboutus.asp
3. Shaan in Rockefeller Center NYC. Good indian food http://www.shaanofindia.com/aboutus.htm

As this thread is already punned out, all I can add is that most Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese restaurants have some vegetarian dishes (or will make upon request), so it is pretty easy to find a good vegetarian restaurant anywhere in the world.

As for vegetarian restaurants worth seeking out, I know of 3 (as I am not vegetarian I don't go seeking them out). The last 2 have non-vegetarian dishes on the menu, but their best dishes happen to be vegetarian.

1. Greens in San Francisco. Pretty famous, so needs no introduction http://www.greensrestaurant.com/
2. Joel Palmer House in rural Oregon (50 miles from PDX) specializing in mushrooms and morels (many home foraged)http://www.joelpalmerhouse.com/Scripts/aboutus.asp
3. Shaan in Rockefeller Center NYC. Good indian food http://www.shaanofindia.com/aboutus.htm


Greens is very, very good and a fantastic location on a pier in San Francisco Bay looking at the Golden Gate Bridge. I am not a vegetarian but frequently try to go there when I am in SFO because it is go good. And SFO is a city full of good restaurants.

I seldom can even tolerate vegan meals, but even though I must
watch my dairy intake carefully, I have had some exemplary meals
at vegetarian restaurants. Two that jump out were in Munich,
where a non-meatarian eatery has to be mighty good to be able
to compete. My favorite was at Prinz Myshkin, where a dish of
soy cutlets with chanterelles with numerous Hacker-Pschorr dunkels
was as satisfying a meal as I can imagine. And Cafe Ignaz (or Ignatz,
I forget), in a student-friendly area, was also excellent.

Mother's Cafe & Garden when in Austin, TX. I eat vegan half of the year and if I am going to eat out, it is here.

http://motherscafeaustin.com/

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Among plenty of vegetarian restaurants in Manhattan, here are my fav -

Gobo http://www.goborestaurant.com/
Owned by the sons of Zen Palate founder. Food is similiar to ZP, but hipper and younger. Plus they serve alcohol.

Candle 79 http://www.candlecafe.com/
They own both the upscaled Candle 79 on UES, and the casual restaurant Candle Cafe. I prefer 79 more. Good romantic place for dates.

Vegetarian Dim Sum House http://www.vegetariandshouse.com/
In Chinatown. Lots of mock meat dishes, very authentic. I can go vegan forever if I can eat their dishes everyday. Plus $5 get you enough food for lunch and dinner.

Vegetarian Paradise 2 http://www.vp2-nyc.com/
Cheap and tasty.

Natural Gourmet Institute http://www.naturalgourmetschool.com/html/friday-night-dinner-c.html
This one I haven't tried yet. Similiar to CIA, they have veggie cooking class and Friday night dinner.

Some of the veggie places I found overrated -
Hangawi (Korean) - small dish, tasteless, not authentic, more fluff than stuff. Go try any other Korean restaurants on that street and you'll have better meals.

Devi (Indian) - Again, you can get much better Indian food anywhere else in town. Not sure why this place gets rave review. I found the food so-so (esp veggie dish), poor services and overpriced.

Spring Street Natural Restaurant (American) - I like the diner concept. Food was alright. Slightly overpriced.

Good to see Gobo mentioned adamak ...I'm going to go there for the first time next week.

Some of my favorites and not so favs:

New York:

Pure Food and Wine - wonderful raw food - vegan, I believe (I so love raw, vegan cheeses)
Artisanal - not a vegetarian restaurant, but many good veg dishes
Chicago:

Tru's vegetarian tasting menu - a little more creative than
Charlie Trotter's vegetarian tasting menu but both excellent
Green Zebra

San Francisco:
Greens - good for more basic fare whereas the
all-vegan Millennium usually has some surprises on the menu
Fleur de Lys has a vegetarian tasting menu, but I didn't find it very inspired last I was there
Michael Mina also has a veg tasting menu
French Laundry in Yountville veg menu that's OK but not great

Las Vegas:

Cafe Ba Ba Reeba dmfriedman picked this and while it's certainly not all veg, they have some really good veg small plates. I stop there for lunch always now when I'm in Vegas.

Paris:

Pierre Gagnaire does a wonderful feast for vegetarians that is not on the menu. it's about 12 courses.

I'll add many more soon ...

Love this thread. I've been vegetarian since 1984. It came as a divine inspiration for which I am forever grateful.

Here are a few restaurant choices that come to mind. I'll definitely follow up later with more. Another very helpful addition coming to mind is places to source quality vegetarian/vegan food products.

Hong Kong (Lantau Island): Po Lin Monastary (vegan) - http://www.hong-kong-travel.org/PoLinMonastery.asp
Wonderful lunches next to giant Buddha. Suggest eating in lower cost restaurant where you eat with locals using paper plates and shared tables.

Kapaa (Kauai) also Portland: Blossoming Lotus (vegan) - blossominglotus.com
Vegan dinner spot on Kauai (haven't visited Portland location)

Orange County, CA: Mothers Market and Kitchen - mothersmarket.com
Good quality, reasonable priced vegan or vegetarian breakfasts and lunches.

There's a quirky little vegetarian/vegan restaurant in San Francisco by City Hall called Ananda-Fuara. It's run the by the members of a cult, so the atmosphere is a little bizarre, but the veggies I know swear by its neat-loaf for a good meal that won't break the bank.

Adding to the list for Chicago:

Chicago Diner (www.veggiediner.com) - One of Chicago's most well-known strictly vegetarian restaurant, they have a huge menu and always serve daily specials, including different soups and entrees. Located on Halsted in Boystown, near Wrigleyville.

Karyn's Raw and Karyn's Cooked (www.karynraw.com) - Two different locations, one in Old Town (Raw) and one in River North (Cooked). Karyn's Raw as the name suggests only serves a raw food menu, while the Karyn's Cooked location is a more traditional vegetarian restaurant with all kinds of dishes. I prefer Karyn's Cooked for the soups, salads, sandwiches and great entrees. Both locations have very modern decor and the staff are excellent.

Blind Faith Cafe (www.blindfaithcafe.com) - Not located in Chicago, but just north of the city up in Evanston. An Evanston institution, serving vegetarian only cuisine for many years, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also operate a bakery onsite and have great vegan desserts.

The Spot in Hermosa Beach, south of LAX. Good food and nice atmosphere. Been there forever it seems.
http://www.worldfamousspot.com/

Among plenty of vegetarian restaurants in Manhattan...
Some of the veggie places I found overrated -

Devi (Indian) - Again, you can get much better Indian food anywhere else in town. Not sure why this place gets rave review. I found the food so-so (esp veggie dish), poor services and overpriced.Have you tried Vatan (http://www.vatanny.com/index.htm) on 3rd Ave? I've always found it to be excellent.

I am vegan and a lot of the adventure of travel involves the search for suitable cuisine. I won't even eat tofu that was hauled to market on a horse drawn wagon. I am what the airlines call, "strict vegetarian". Still, I eat very well. My quest for vegan foods has taken me into neighborhoods I had not considered and certainly off the beaten track. I have had many memorable meals.

Pure Food and Wine - wonderful raw food - vegan, I believe (I so love raw, vegan cheeses)

Vegan cheese? What's it made out of? Tofu?

Vegan cheese? What's it made out of? Tofu?

There are the poor-tasting vegan "cheeses" that are out of soy and which you'd find in a supermarket, but the high-quality raw vegan ones that can very much resemble a nice feta or a parmesean have nuts - almonds or cashews usually - as the primary ingredient. There are a few recipes for various "cheeses" in "Raw" by Charlie Trotter and Roxanne Klein.

There are the poor-tasting vegan "cheeses" that are out of soy and which you'd find in a supermarket, but the high-quality raw vegan ones that can very much resemble a nice feta or a parmesean have nuts - almonds or cashews usually - as the primary ingredient. There are a few recipes for various "cheeses" in "Raw" by Charlie Trotter and Roxanne Klein.

Thanks for the explanation. Fascinating.

I rarely eat cheese because I do not like cheese.

Would someone who does not like cheese like vegan “cheese”?

I ask because of the following story:

In September of 2005, I traveled to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help someone clean out her house that was heavily damaged due to Hurricane Katrina. One evening, a group of people — one of whom was a relation to the homeowner — came to join us for dinner, which had to be grilled outside as there was no electricity. They searched for ground beef hamburger meat but could not find any. After all, whatever markets were opened were scarce. They returned with ground turkey meat and frozen vegetarian “hamburger” patties.

Although I was repulsed by the thought of eating vegetarian burgers, I was hungry from working all day and decided to try one. I liked it enough that I had another. It was actually tasty — and I ate both “burgers” without a bun and not covered in condiments.

I appreciated the fact that I did not have to worry about the “meat” being undercooked, nor did I have to worry about such annoyances as gristle.

While I still prefer a beef hamburger, I think the mistake people generally make is comparing vegetarian burgers to beef hamburgers. There should not be a comparison, as I believe that they are too different to compare. On its own, in my opinion, a vegetarian burger is actually quite good.

Based on this experience, it is logical for me to ask the “cheese” question, which is why I asked it.

I know it is subjective, but what is the answer?

Buy some cashew butter, taste it and if you like it, you probably will like vegan cheese (though they are a lot less sweet).

Their is a big difference in vegetarian burgers, and some are quite good. The Boca mushroom is particularly good (and much better than Gardenburger, which invented the market).

Stockholm:

Hermans - Fjallgatan 23 A
Many options on the buffet and a good selection of veg and some vegan desserts. It's casual and cheap by Stockholm standards - about $20 per person.

Chutney - Katarina Bangata 19
Very casual place in the edgier part of SoFo. Also about $20 per.

Primo Ciao Ciao
One in SoFo (generally packed) and another on Kungsholmen. Not a vegetarian restaurant, but lots of good veg pizzas and pastas. About $30 per.

F12 - Fredsgatan 12
Also not a vegetarian restaurant, but they do offer an 8-course (really 10) vegetarian tasting menu that's quite creative. They will also do blind wine pariings, which are quite fun. Expect to spend about $200 per person.

Pricey - but excellent (and very good for pairing food with wines)
http://www.roussillon.co.uk/ (near Sloane Square tube)
Isn't exclusively vegetarian but offers some exquisite vegetarian menus
(Lunch here is best for value - 3 courses and a half bottle of wine for 35GBP)

Near me there is
http://www.manna-veg.com/
(just North of Camden) not quite as refined (or expensive) as Roussillon but certainly recommended


Not nearly as good, but a decently priced, decent vegetarian option in Soho is
http://www.mildreds.co.uk/


But for one of London's real hidden gems, have lunch here:
http://www.museumgardenhistory.org/
(near Westminster, on the other side of the river - or walk there along the Thames from Waterloo)

I came for the Grand Prix once with a vegan friend and decided to have a 'ladies' evening out' (and ditched the mechanics;)). We made a booking here:

http://www.joia.it

Very small portions, hoity toity service, but actually rather nice. I still remember the ravioli...

Boston:

Grasshopper - Excellent food, low prices, 100% vegan.
Site: http://grasshoppervegan.com/

Cambridge:

Oleana - Slightly upscale restaurant, with an amazing 6-course vegetarian tasting menu for $40 a person - a total steal. The restaurant has a beautiful outdoor dining area - if you do choose to go there during the weekend and want to sit outside, make the earliest reservation (as of now, 5:30 PM), and get there around 5PM and wait in line. It's well worth it.
Site: http://www.oleanarestaurant.com/

If you are a hungry vegetarian/vegan, stay away from...

Radius - While considered one of the best restaurants in Boston, its "Vegetables 5 Ways" menu choice, while tasty, has remarkably tiny proportions. I appreciate fine dining, but to have a single piece of cauliflower constitute 1/5 of an already tiny meal - that's a little absurd. However, the service was amazing, and the non-veg people loved their food.
Site: http://www.radiusrestaurant.com/

I'm a strict vegetarian (but not vegan) and can't stand meat substitutes - for example, veggie nuggets that are designed to taste like chicken... ick! gag!

Have any of you tried the Amy's (http://www.amys.com/)brand? A bit high in sodium, but it's organic and tastes great. If you're a veggie burger person, then their California Burger (http://amys.com/products/category_view.php?prod_category=1)is not to be missed.

Although I was repulsed by the thought of eating vegetarian burgers, I was hungry from working all day and decided to try one. I liked it enough that I had another. It was actually tasty — and I ate both “burgers” without a bun and not covered in condiments.

I like the veggie patties as long as I'm in the mindset that they're veggie patties, not faux beef patties.

I love the veggie "sausage patties" from Costco, not because it tastes like sausage, but because they're tasty in their own right.

But yeah, I'm a carnivore.

Amy's burritos are very good and great for a quick meal when you don't want to go through the prep.

I find that when processed vegetarian food is molded and flavored to try to resemble it's meat counterpart, it's usually a bad mistake. Otherwise vegetarian food is no different than the regular stuff, except no meat, as I try to explain to my co-workers. THey still are disgusted by vegetarian chili although I really don't understand why. The only differences is lack of beef, no additional of some mystery ingredients that should repulse them.

Thanks so much soundgarden. My son goes to school in Cambridge and we've had a terrible time finding good restaurants with veg menus. We'll give those a try next time I'm out for a visit.

I'm a strict vegetarian (but not vegan) and can't stand meat substitutes - for example, veggie nuggets that are designed to taste like chicken... ick! gag!

completely agree. if i wanted the taste of meat, i'd eat meat. I do make one exception, however, the morningstar farms breakfast sausage links are great. i've introduced these to a lot of carnivores who now seem hooked as well ... even my dad - the one with the strange norwegian diet - reluctantly admits to liking them. available at trader joe's (other places too, but best price at tj's).

Have any of you tried the Amy's (http://www.amys.com/)brand? A bit high in sodium, but it's organic and tastes great. If you're a veggie burger person, then their California Burger (http://amys.com/products/category_view.php?prod_category=1)is not to be missed.

Unf, I haven't found any Amy's things that I've liked ... usually they seem too dry. I haven't tried their CA burger, but I don't eat many veggie burgers. Perhaps I'll give it a try. Thanks.

Thanks so much soundgarden. My son goes to school in Cambridge and we've had a terrible time finding good restaurants with veg menus. We'll give those a try next time I'm out for a visit.

Not a problem! Here are some others that I have enjoyed. Please feel free to ask me anything about these restaurants or any others in Boston/Cambridge. In the past few years, my b/f and I have slowly tried to eat at most of the veg-friendly places around here. :D

Cambridge:

Addis Red Sea - An Ethiopian restaurant. Their substantial vegetarian menu is entirely vegan, and they recently opened a new location in Cambridge.

Site: http://www.addisredsea.com/
Review: http://www.boston.com/dining/globe_review/1517

Border Cafe - Tex-Mex/Cajun, and a Harvard Sq. favorite. Loud, noisy, and always crowded (expect a substantial wait on the weekends), but the food is excellent, and the service is quick.

Site: http://www.bordercafe.com/

Veggie Plant: - Another Harvard Sq. restaurant. I think that it is only okay, but their purely vegetarian/vegan menu is extensive.

Site: http://www.veggieplanet.net/veggieplanet.htm

Oleana - In addition to what I mentioned in my earlier post, Oleana has a dedicated free parking lot (on the weekends for sure, not sure about weekdays) across the street from the restaurant.

Boston:

Bamboo - Consistently excellent Thai (and technically in Allston). Stop in there before dining and pick up a parking permit to park for free at the nearby Whole Foods!

Site: http://www.bamboothairestaurant.com/

Teatro - An upscale/trendy Italian restaurant. I am a fan of their vegetarian dishes, though they are only a few.

Site: http://www.teatroboston.com/

Ivy Restaurant - Similar in ambiance to Teatro, they specialize in American/French "small plates". I found the menu to be vegetarian (not vegan) friendly, and the food to be excellent. One of my favorite "nice night out" restaurants in Boston.

Site: http://www.ivyrestaurantgroup.com/

Indian food is by nature vegetarian friendly. Here are my favorites in Boston:

Kashmir - Good, if expensive, brunch.

Site: http://www.kashmirrestaurant.com/

Indian Delight - Not much to look at on the outside, but their food is fantastic. It's located in Kenmore Sq., and if there is no Red Sox game, parking is a breeze.

Site: None that I can find.

...I know...seems ironic.

But there are 2 really great places:
1) Woodlands. The best Indian food in Nashville, and it's completely vegetarian. No meat on the menu!

2) Grins (pronounced like the color green). On Vanderbilt's campus. It's Kosher and I think it's even Vegan.

Orange County, CA: Mothers Market and Kitchen - mothersmarket.com
Good quality, reasonable priced vegan or vegetarian breakfasts and lunches.

I discovered a new brand at Mothers (http://www.mothersmarket.com) the other day. Have anyone ever heard of Helen's Foods (http://www.helensfoods.com/index.shtml)? I had the Thai Yellow Curry with Tofu Steaks & Vegetables over Rice and it was surprisingly good (though the fresh avocado i added might have helped).

Some of the best veggie meals I've had were at Buddhist Temples.

Some of the best veggie meals I've had were at Buddhist Temples.

...and, I would add, Hare Krshna temples.

Reviving this to add a few more:

San Francisco and Berkeley
Cafe Gratitude ...casual Berkeley-sorta place, but good food.

Cambridge
Upstairs on the Square. Good vegetarian menu. Good food overall.

I also noticed that Boston now has a vegan raw foods restaurant (or maybe it's been there a while and I didn't realize). Grezzo. Anyone been? I didn't get there this time.

I discovered a new brand at Mothers (http://www.mothersmarket.com) the other day. Have anyone ever heard of Helen's Foods (http://www.helensfoods.com/index.shtml)? I

I buy Helen's occasionally and have liked what I've tried.

To add to the restaurant list, a great vegan place by me - a Fort Worth original that has won national awards.

Spiral Diner (http://www.spiraldiner.com/main/index.htm)

Ooh, a thread with which I can relate as a near-vegan (I eat goat cheese on occasion...).

Before I hit the road, I always check http://www.happycow.com, and it has done me well. I even found vegan grub in Pensacola, FL. My personal favourites are:

DC:

Asylum- A mainly vegan biker bar with an amazing brunch.
Sticky Fingers- A fully vegan bakery with killer brownies and cookies.

NYC:

Red Bamboo- I am only familiar with the Manhattan location, but I always eat enough to make myself sick, as everything is good.

In Milwaukee I can recommend Palomino's (http://www.myspace.com/palominobar). It's actually a bar with a corner bar/hipster rockabilly vibe to it, but the food is the best bar food I've had!

The food is basic bar food, wings, burgers, anything fried (tator tots, fired pickles, hushpuppies, etc), but they actually have a vegan version of everything on the menu. I eat meat (was vegatarian for 12 years) and actually prefer their vegan riblet sandwich to the non-vegan one I usually order that with an order of tator tots, asian slaw and the vegan pinky horseradish sauce to dip the tots in and wash it all down with a couple pints of Guiness The wife gets the wings (spicy, not sissy style) with fried pickles.

The recently converted the dining area to smoke-free, have patio seating in the summer and is only 5 minutes from MKE (as you can tell I'm a really big fan of this joint, it's my favorite bar in Milwaukee).