Sometimes it feels like you can get a grass fed beef burger
just about anywhere, but if you happen to be a grass fed person yourself,
you're SOL. But vegetarian options in Boston
abound...if you know where to look. From an elegant bistro in Somerville
to a chromed-out retro diner in Cambridge,
vedgeheads can delight in anything on the menus from the following nominees for
Best Vegetarian Restaurant.
GRASSHOPPER | ALLSTON
Grasshopper is an all-veggie Asian restaurant nestled in
between like-minded eateries FoMu (vegan ice cream) and Peace o' Pie (vegan
pizza) in Allston. Their menu encompasses all varieties of Asian food,
including Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai food. With dishes that involve
(tofu) "steak" and hearty Portobello mushrooms as their stars, vegetarians may
even hope to fool their carnivorous friends. For those who prefer to keep it
simple, though, there are plenty of classic mixed vegetable dishes, always made
with fresh ingredients.
LIFE ALIVE | CAMBRIDGE
With a tagline like "Urban Oasis & Organic Café," it's
hard to keep the crunchy granola person inside you from smiling. Life Alive
caters to every imaginable alternative diet - vegan, gluten-free, and raw among
them. But their offerings are delicious as well as nutritious, so omnivores need
not be discouraged. Their smoothies are exotic and satisfying, with ingredients
like avocado and kale on the savory side and mango and dates on the sweet side.
Life Alive also offers an array of wraps, salads and hot dishes.
RED LENTIL | WATERTOWN
Red Lentil boasts what they call a "globally inspired" menu,
with entrees ranging from gluten-free nachos, to butternut squash polenta, to
beet-potato latkes. Even better, they recently added vegan wine and beer
options to their menu. For the grand finale, they offer an array of gluten-free
and/or vegan dessert options. Though it's a bit out of the way for those of us
in the hub, the highly diverse menu is worth the trip.
TRUE BISTRO | SOMERVILLE
If it seems unfair to you that those of us who wouldn't touch
an expensive steak with a 10-foot pole don't get to enjoy as many upscale dining
experiences as our meat-gnawing friends, you should check out Teele Square's True Bistro. The
atmosphere, while friendly, is extremely elegant, with artwork from local
artists on display inside. Their menu includes classics like spaghetti and
French fries with fancy twists, and complex delicacies like a Vietnamese crepe.
For dessert, it's tough to beat their vegan pumpkin cheesecake.
VEE VEE | JAMAICA
PLAIN
Unlike the other nominees, Vee Vee is not exclusively vegetarian - the restaurant
offers an impressive variety of fresh seafood and local meats as well...if
you're into that sort of thing. But if you're not, don't let that discourage
you. Vegetarian treasures include stuffed squash (over Peruvian lima bean puree,
served with a mushroom Bolognese) and Manchego potato croquettes.
VEGGIE GALAXY | CAMBRIDGE
Veggie Galaxy is a vegan/vegetarian diner and bakery that
can best be summed up as a mecca for herbivores. They have a vegetarian
equivalent of every classic diner dish, including meat loaf, club sandwiches,
and fish and chips. They serve their delicious breakfast all day and you can
even watch them cook it - the friendly restaurant's grill is located just on
the other side of the bar. Of course, that's all assuming you don't just stop
right at the dessert case and fill up on vegan cakes, puddings, pies and
milkshakes.
Eat your vegetables, and then get voting! And don't forget that if you don't see your fave veggie joint repped here, you can write it in!
Latest Slideshows
