Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen - 130 St. Marks Place
A cute little vegan bakery and mini deli. The guy behind the counter is really nice (and always offers a taste of the smoothie currently being blended.) The foods a little pricey, but not unreasonably for the area. And hey - it's vegan, so that's nifty/neat. The vegan pizza's tasty - although don't expect regular pizza taste - rather, it's crunchy, chewy, with a taste all its own. Oh - and try the snowball sweets - deep, rich chocolate, unlike the snowballs found in the junkfood isle.

Quintessence

Quintessence - 263 E. 10th St (Raw Vegan)
I've been wanting to go here for awhile (yes, I know that it's not Asian, but I've been interested in the concept of raw food, and wanted to see what its was like at a good restaurant.) For the record, Quintessence is a small, elegant type nook, located between 1st Avenue and Avenue A on the eastside. I had a full three course meal, of a kamut crust pizzalet, yellow squash pasta, and a "live" pecan pie. I have to say, it was good - the pizzalet was rather small, but quite yummy, and the sauce for the "pasta" was scrumptious. (The pasta itself was pretty nifty.) Cost? Too much, for me to ever turn the place into a regular hangout. But I'm glad I went. Other nice thing? Because the food is raw, it only took 10 minutes for preparation!!

Curly's Vegetarian Lunch

Curly's Vegetarian Lunch - 328 East 14th Street (Vegetarian/Vegan and some Omni Stuff)
My new favorite comfort-food stop - an unassuming vegetarian/vegan joint offering lots o' tasty (but not necessarily gourmet) stuff...including Maryland crabfakes, soy mac and cheese, and all-day breakfast options like pancakes and scrambled tofu. With entrees ranging from burritos to sloppy joes, there's also stuff for the omnivores in your life. But for me, the vegan options are the highlight of the show - especially the dreamalicious deep fried banana-chocolate chimichanga (with soy ice cream, no less!) Other tempting desserts include sopapilla y nieve, with a fried tortilla, ice cream and maple syrup drizzle. All that, and it's easily accessible from the 14th street green line stop (and the service--while not sterling--is pleasant enough.) Kate's, eat your heart out!

3/26/07 Update - came back to try the sopapilla. No, it wasn't all that I 'd hoped for. But as long as they've got the chimichanga, Curly's dessert are still aces in my book.

Caravan of Dreams

Caravan of Dreams - 405 E. 6th Street (Between Avenue A and 1st) (Vegan)
One of the better known vegan restaurants, serving up a wide variety of salads, smoothies, sandwiches (and even "raw food" snacks ranging from soup to meatballs.) Balanced on the edge of Alphabet City, Caravan's decor is hip and cute - and somewhat classier than its weather-beaten exterior might lead one to think. The staff is nice, and the food is fair. During the Gaijin Girl trip, the pesto pizza proved tasty (though hardly worth the $15 price tag). A "live" brownie was also pleasant (though paling in comparison to Pure Food and Wine's Chocolate Ganache.) The unchicken nachos saved the day - offering great comfort food, buried under mounds of guacamole, salsa, blacks beans...and a shredded seitan that felt and tasted like really good chicken. Now those babies might be worth a second trip...if it weren't for the overblown prices!

Atlas Cafe

Atlas Cafe - 73 2nd Avenue (between 4th and 5th) (Vegetarian/Vegan)
A nifty east village sandwich shoppe with lots of vegan/vegetarian options. Other goodies (both veggie and omnivorous) include breakfast platters, crepes, smoothies, and a whole slew of tasty (yet animal-free) cakes and sweets. Not bad - and with the summer months a'comin', they've also got outdoor tables...!

Zenith

Zenith - 311 W. 48th Street (Vegetarian)
A well meaning restaurant - offering vegetarian/vegan cuisine in midtown west. Despite a menu full of colorful descriptions (from Green Pyramid to Fireworks Squid), the food is bland, unmemorable - and suspiciously similar to neighboring Zen Palate (straight down to the complimentary bottle of wine, delivered with each order.) The staff seems genial - and the presentation is nice. But ultimately, it's taste that counts - and Zenith just doesn't make the grade.

Lifethyme Natural Market

Lifethyme Natural Market - 410 Sixth Avenue (off 9th Street) (Health Food/Veggie)
Wow, this place is a vegan's dream come true! Tons of veggie pho meats, cheeses, raw snacks, a juice bar...and even a vegan bakery on premises! Reasonably priced (though not dirt cheap), Lifethyme even has tons of premade stuff, like vegan knishes, un-tuna sandwiches, etc. Already my choice shopping venue, it's enough to make me want to move to the West Village! (Though with the prevailing real estate prices, it ain't neva gonna happen...)

Health Nuts

Health Nut - 835 2nd Avenue (44th Street Cross) (General health food)
They've got amazake, acai drinks, kefir, and teff grain and flour. Wickedly narrow aisles though.
If you're into raw, you have to check out the Raw-E-O cookie, or the Temple Balls (made with sesame, dates, walnuts n' stuff.)

Lula's Sweet Apothecary

Lula's Sweet Apothecary - 516 E. 6th Street (Avenue A/B) (Vegan ice cream)
All I can say is...it's about freakin' time! Yes, now the East Village boasts a fun and tasty (albiet small) vegan ice creamery...offering all of your childhood favorites, from hot chocolate sundaes, to banana splits...complete with a bunch of "Cold Stone" type toppings...including coconut, sprinkles and even vegan gummy bears (YUM!). Made in-house, the ice cream's good, and reasonably priced for the Manhattan crowd (around $6 for a sundae.) The size is slightly small (at least compared to my memories of Friendly's), but it definitely satisfies an ice cream craving. A quick conversation with the proprietor revealed that there'll be even more options in the future...including raw ice cream and lots of other sweet stuff. So give Lula's a shot...especially if you're in a treat-yourself mood.

NYC Vegan Eat Up

NYC Vegan Eat-Up - 145 Stanton Street (Off Suffolk) - Last Sunday of every month. Recommended.
A meetup group, rather than a restaurant, NYC Vegan Eat Up is still quite worthy of praise. Put together by a few really friendly nice folks, Vegan Eat Up offers user friendly cooking classes, perfect for the culinary impaired among us (um, I'd raise my hand, but I think readers of Gaijin Girl probably already know that about me.) Located in the Junior High School at Stanton, the classes are a little hard to find first time around, but I *really* recommend the experience. Fun, good people...and useful stuff to learn. Between this and Vegan Dad, I'm gonna be an Iron Chef in no time!! :)

Cake Shoppe Cafe

Cake Shoppe Cafe - 152 Ludlow Street (Vegetarian/Vegan)
A little LES joint with alternative/college sensibilities - complete with a downstairs bar, a backstore record shoppe...and a snack counter upfront serving teas, soups, and a few vegan desserts (including cakes and cookies.) During my visit, I passed on the savories - choosing instead a prepackaged type of eskimo pie. Filled with peanut butter mousse, the choice proved tasty in a junk-foodie way (though not awe-inspiring.) Still, the sweets are relatively cheap - and convenient for a grab-n-go. Though not all vegetarian--and hardly gourmet--the soups looked promising, especially as options for any future visits.

Vegan's Delight

Vegan's Delight - 3565 Boston Road - Jamaican/Vegan
A small little Jamaican joint--possibly Ital--located on the far end of Boston Road. Though not large, the store offers some good veggie staples - including mock meat, vegannaise and nicely priced bulk items like beans, grains and dried fruit. (They also have containers from the "Just Veggie" company, priced at a reasonable $3.99 per container.) A counter in the back offers a limited selection of decent tasting entrees - ranging from patties to steamed veggies and various mock meat dishes... (Prices run a little steep, with small one dish entrees costing $5.75.) But the service is pleasant...and it's nice to have something in the neighborhood. (Why should Brooklyn have all the veggie fun?)

S'Nice

S'Nice - 45 8th Avenue (off W. 4th) (Vegetarian)
A hot new name in food, S'Nice is a comfy sandwich shop located in the West Village (a few doors down from the Chocolate Bar). Despite its liberal use of tempeh and tofu, it's hardly an Asian establishment - not even in the fusion sense of the word. As of late, my tastes have run astray...leading me on a temporary detour through American comfort foods and staples - from Pizza, to (veggie) dogs...and trendy sandwich shoppes like S'Nice.

Vegetarian themed, S'Nice offers a good selection of sandwichs, wraps and salads - from Tempeh Reubens, to a Thai Chicken Salad Wrap. The staff is casual, friendly...and the prices are good (at least for West Village wallets, at $7.00 a pop.) Geared to the sandwich gourmand, the fare may not be Banh Mi - but it is tasty, filling and perfect for the vegetarian palate. Full of panini, I left happy and satiated, thinking how nice it is when an establishment lives up to the hype. Or is that S'Nice...?

Lan Cafe

Lan Cafe - 342 E. 6th Street (1st and 2nd Avenue) (Vietnamese/Vegan) (Note: does not take credit cards)
Nestled on the culinary strip known as 6th street, Lan Cafe stands as the lone vietnamese restaurant - surrounded by a myriad of Indian establishments and diverse ethnic cuisines from Ethiopean to Cajun and Peruvian. Small and modest, Lan has found a niche, specializing in vegan versions of vietnamese standards (its menu filled with Banh Mi, shredded salads and Pho soups, all free from meat and the ubiquitous shrimp pastes and fish sauce.) Though they won't rock your world, the results are pleasantly tasty - especially the veggie ham salad - which was light with a complex mixture of sweet/sour tastes. A mixture of caramel stewed eggplant and tofu was also good, though not as spectacular as the Kho dishes found at New Pasteur. Yes, other outlets of vegan vietnamese do exist - most notably Saigon Banh Mi, which will prepare veggie hoagies and even Banh Uot upon request - but no other restaurant offers a full vegan menu. Worry free vietnamese, with a pleasantly light price tag? In my opinion, might be worth a visit (though honestly too bland for my taste!)

Jubbs Longetivity

Jubbs Longevity – 508 E. 12^th Street, NYC (between Avenue A and B) (Vegan/Raw Food)

Located in the far reaches of alphabet city, a small café/boutique serving up a variety of living (uncooked) foods – including soups, smoothies, desserts and surprisingly complex pates.

Though the vibe (and the prices) are strictly gourmet, the staff is wonderfully warm and accomodating – happy to answer questions and provide free tastes for the undecided. Newcomers to the cuisine may be surprised by the variety, and what can be accomplished without the use of heat – including re-imagined culinary staples such as wraps in lettuce leaf, dehydrated hamburger buns, and even live pasta (made with thin strips of veggies.)

Everything sampled on my trip lived up to expectation: including a complex, rich brazilian nut milk, pesto pizza on a dehydrated cracker-crust, and lemon cheesecake (a rich pastry, with a subtly sweet candy taste.) The only negative proved to be the price, running $9.00 and up even for the smaller bites. And that’s a shame, because the fare is vibrant, healthy…and really a breath of fresh air. I’d eat it on a regular basis – if only it were a bit more affordable!

Zen Burger

Zen Burger - 465 Lexington Avenue (between 45th and 46th) (Veggie)
While *some* people have knocked this place as just another fast food joint, I have to say that I like it for what it is - a decent spot in midtown that offers good ole junk food - vegan/veggie style. Yup, at Zen Burger you can get veggie burgers (of course), as well as "chicken fingers", fries, and soft serve vegan ice cream. If you feeling like going just a little more healthy, there are wraps too...with fillings such as thai veggie and faux tuna. Call me low brow, but I like the place. It's a fun change of pace, the idea is great...and it's a hell of alot closer during the week than Brooklyn or any of the usual veggie joints in the village. If there's any negative to the place, it's that there really aren't many vegan options...just the Thai Wrap, the ice cream, and one or two other items. But at least they're identified (with a little V on the menu), and that's a decent start right there...

Zen Burger, I like your style - even if I ending up indulging only occasionally!

Sukhadia

Sukhadia - 17 W. 45th Street (5th and 6th Avenue) (Indian) (Vegetarian)
Reading the menu at Sukhadia can be positively exciting, filled with items ranging far beyond americanized curry...or even the somewhat popularized southern staples of dosas and iddly. A treasure trove of the exotic, Sukhadia offers unfamiliar Indian snacks such as dhokla cakes, patra...and the many varieties of street food known as Chaat.

Though I've focused so far on appetizers, the entrees look enticing too...with lots of vegetarian options like Pav Bhaji (bread served with spicy veggie curry, lemon and onions.) Fortunately for me, I'm taking a class in the area. So further sampling of Sukhadia's wares is inevitable - at least for the next few weeks. And that's a good thing - because there's lots on the menu to try.

A word of caution regarding the service: Though the counter service has been good, a recent experience has led me to question the management over at Sukhadia. While waiting for an order, a superviser came over...and proceeded to argue with the server for a full five minutes. While it wasn't in English, the intention was clear. Right in front of the customer. Delayed my meal - and (more importantly) was embarrassing for the poor server. Not good for customer relations...which is a shame, 'cause I think Sukhadia has alot to offer.

Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop

Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop - 129 Rivington Street (off Norfolk) (Vegetarian-Friendly)
Located on the corner of Rivington and Norfolk - a cute little joint serving a variety of classic sandwiches, with alternative veggie versions. The menu range is impressive, offering competant omni/veggie versions of chicken parmesan, BLTs, ham and swiss, and even grilled chicken po' boy (vegetarian - but unfortunately not vegan.) The veggie burger--known as Big Mack Daddy-- is particularly noteworthy, offering real comfort food flavor and feel...with a solid tasty bun, and just a hint of smoky aroma. Like most veggie burgers, BMD does tend towards mushiness, with a general inability to hold together after the first few bites (an ailment that I like to call TMB - the Too Mushy Blues.) Prices are good - especially for the area - with half size sandwich options starting around $4.50. Is Tiny's worth a special trip? Maybe not - but the food is competant, and solidly tasty. So if you're in the neighborhood, give it a shot. Whether you're vegetarian or carnivorous, there's plenty to choose from.

Natural Tofu

Natural Tofu - 34 West 32nd Street (off 6th Avenue)

There is no sign for Natural Tofu. There isn't even a listing in Menupages. But the place had been recommended to me, and so I went - up the small flight of stairs to the spacious second floor.

Also known as Seoul Garden, NT is renowned for its Soon Tofu (soft tofu). So that's what I ordered. For only $10, you get quite alot of food. The Soon Tofu was nice, but even better were the banchan side dishes...one a sweet, lightly fried plate of tofu. The highlight of the evening was also banchan - a simple bowl of sweet black chewy beans - so good that I'll remember them long after the rest of the meal has faded into memory. (A wonderful side dish by the name of Kong JaBan)

Perhaps most striking is the pleasant atmosphere at NT. You feel right at home the minute you walk in. It's bright and spacious, with no feeling of "stuffiness" - just comfortable. And so, the evening was a success. If only Korean cuisine wasn't so expensive, I'd go regularly!

Gobo

Gobo - 1426 3rd Avenue (80th and 81st)/401 6th Avenue (Waverly Pl and 8th Street) (Vegan/Asian)
A graceful vegetarian haunt sucessful enough to have spawned 2 locations - one in the west village, the other on the upper east side. Decorated with clean lines and pristine bamboo, Gobo is clearly upscale - as are its prices (averaging from $8 - $18 per plate.)

For veterans of the veggie scene, the menu offers few surprises - plates of brown rice, dumplings, protein stir-fries and medlies. Sadly, the flavors skew towards bland - from the (understandably) subtle spinach dumplings to the Sesame Protein Nuggets (washed with the mildest of sweet and sour sauces.) At least the beverage options look promising - offering a full range of choices from smoothies to bubble tea.

But the overall effect has an empty feel - resulting in a restaurant which is elegant, streamlined - but lacking in flavor, or individual personality. Given its looks, it's really too bad. Because who needs another Zen Palate clone?