Veg-Friendly Restaurants in NYC
IF YOU KNOW | NOV 11, 2020
Caroline Schiff
WHO
Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants
WHAT
New York City
WHERE
About
Caroline Schiff is the Head Chef and Recipe Developer at Slow Up. Widely known under the Instagram moniker @pastryschiff, she is a celebrated pastry chef, culinary consultant, and recipe writer and developer based in Brooklyn. She got her start in the restaurant industry over a decade ago and worked her way up through a number of acclaimed restaurants and bakeries before taking her current position as the Pastry Chef at Gage & Tollner, in Downtown Brooklyn, which she does in addition to her work with Slow Up. Caroline is also currently showcasing her baked goods at the Fort Defiance General Store in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Her signature gravity-defying hairdo is outsized only by her enormous heart; in her spare time you can find her either supporting charitable causes or running a marathon.
PHOTO BY ANDREW BEZEK
Lekka Burger is the fast-casual burger joint of my dreams by OG vegetable enthusiast Chef Amanda Cohen. Her burgers and fries are exactly what I want when everyone else is craving Shake Shack. There are five plant based burgers to choose from, each with their own condiments and sauces – my favorites are currently tied for the Peri Peri Burger and the Masala Burger. And the fries are a crinkle cut dream come true. Go for plain, curry or cheese topped, and don’t miss all her punchy sauces which are available to dip. Order one of each! For dessert, the oat-milk soft serve is a dairy-free miracle, and this is coming from a dairy evangelist who thinks whipped cream is a food group (me, it’s me). There’s always vanilla on tap to swirl with another creative rotating flavor, like carrot, mint, coffee or beet, plus fun, nostalgic toppings like sprinkles and brownie bits!
Kajitsu is one of the most unique, beautiful dining experiences in New York City. They serve Japanese Shojin cuisine, which is the vegetarian food of Zen Buddhisim, rooted in centuries of tradition. Kajitsu is a place to celebrate something special, offering a seasonal ten course vegetarian Omakase menu; a dining experience that those who avoid fish and meat generally don’t get to take part in. Each dish is executed with such care and artistry, they’re almost too gorgeous to eat. (Almost.) Flavors are clear, balanced and built up with a perfect crescendo throughout the meal in a serene, almost meditative dining room on the upper floors of an unassuming brownstone. It’s a special occasion place, where you’ll never have the same dish twice and is completely worth the splurge.
I’m obsessed with this little veggie burger joint by Chef Brooks Headley. The menu reads “everything is vegetarian, a lot is accidentally vegan, just ask.” And while the staples like the signature Superiority Burger are spot-on delicious, it’s the sides and specials I truly dream of. Weekly trips to the Union Square Greenmarket mean the veggie sides and salads are fresh, fleeting and SO. GOOD. And the TFT (tofu fried tofu) is quite possibly one of the best sandwiches. Ever. It’s only available once a week, and the menu (along with the specials and the opening hours) are usually in flux so check their instagram for updates. Oh, and do not sleep on the gelatti and sorbetti. They have ever-changing seasonal flavors that will totally blow your mind. Did I mention I’m obsessed with this place?
I’ve always gravitated towards Ethiopian food because it’s everything I want and need: hearty, veggie friendly, full of plant-based proteins and brimming with flavor and spice. Plus, I absolutely adore injera, the traditional fermented teff flatbread that is a staple and often the base of each meal. I’m lucky to live just a few blocks away from this lovely little spot in Fort Greene, Brooklyn that, over the years, has taught me so much about Ethiopian food and flavors. The menu at Bati does include traditional meat dishes, but the vegan ones are abundant, making up the bulk of the menu, and you can build your own feast by choosing your favorites to adorn their freshly made injera. I always order extra to-go.
Mediterranean cuisine always delivers when it comes to vegetarian friendly fare, and my favorite local spot is Miss Ada. It’s also one of the only places I’ll go for brunch because I think Chef Tomer Blechman's menu is so killer and unique. Israeli born, he delivers bright, fresh dishes like Malawach, a savory Yemeni pancake, and the Bedoin Narcissian Laffa with kale, goat cheese and a fried egg. For dinner, I like to build my meal from the abundant vegetarian small plates and just graze my way through. Definitely make a reservation. There’s always a wait!
Indian food is super vegetarian friendly, so it’s been a part of my diet and cravings for years, particularly Southern Indian food. I love the level of spice and heat, and could eat a dosa a day and be so happy. One of my favorite spots is the Temple Canteen in Flushing Queens, which is operated by the Hindu Temple Society of North America, right out of their community center. I have family that’s lived in Flushing, Queens for decades and they tipped me off to this gem that’s been operating and serving the community since the ‘90s. It’s cafeteria style and has a menu with all the staples I crave, plus so many more I’ve discovered. Beyond the dosas, I’ve fallen in love with the upma and the yogurt rice. This spot has rightfully gotten quite popular over the years (it’s one of Padma Lakshmi’s favorites) and it’s exciting to see so many people heading to Temple Canteen, but the community atmosphere remains. Since it’s attached to the Temple, you’ll often see families eating together, with multiple generations at the table. It’s just incredibly welcoming and delicious.
Fat Choy is a newcomer and I hope they stay forever and ever. It’s a concise, but very exciting menu of modern vegan Chinese dishes from chefs Justin Lee and Jared Moeller. If you go with a friend or two you can order and share the whole menu (everything is $10 or less), however, you’ll definitely want your own Mushroom Sloppy which is one of the most satisfying veggie sandwiches around. Mushroom ragu comes on a housemade sesame pancake with a bright slaw, and even meat lovers will fall head over heels. Also, don’t miss the rice rolls or the smashed cukes! I wish I lived closer so I could eat there everyday.
My mentor, Chef Sohui Kim, has taught me so much about Korean food, ingredients and cooking over the years, and now it’s something I crave deeply, intensely and often. Many of the Korean BBQ spots have great veggie options, but the menus lean meat heavy. When I discovered Hangawi, I did backflips for joy, knowing I could eat my way through the whole menu. This vegetarian Korean gem is not only tranquil and cozy, but offers vegetables that don’t often get the spotlight at the neighboring spots. Look out for sesame leaves, wild mountain greens, wild bracken shoots, and todok. They also have one of my favorite kimbap rolls around and a black sesame porridge that will feed your body and soul. I’m very thankful for this place.
If I’m feeling emotionally fragile, the first thing I do after a good therapy session is head to B&H Kosher Dairy for a cup of borscht and some Kasha Varniskas. It really helps, trust me. This little lunch counter has been a staple of the East Village since the 1940s and not much has changed over the decades. Kosher dairy means there’s fish on the menu, but it’s so veggie friendly you don’t need to worry, and you’ll leave feeling full, happy and ready for a big, fat nap, especially after some blintzes, a plate of matzo brei and a few slices of their famous, warm house-made challah. Go there for comfort and a little bit of Jewish New York nostalgia when you need it.
Chef Hillary Sterling proves that you don’t need to go to a vegetarian restaurant to have a knock-out vegetarian meal, and vegetable driven Italian food always delivers. Vic’s is hands down one of my favorite spots in NYC for this very reason, and it will make everyone you know happy, every single time. It’s often the first place I recommend if anyone asks me for a great Italian spot because of the stellar pizzas and handmade pastas, but Sterling’s veggies are truly outstanding and special. Her staff makes regular trips to the Greenmarket and updates the veggie offerings seasonally. A recent delicata squash appetizer of delicata squash with pine nuts, chilies, orange and thyme really knocked my socks off. My suggestion is order heavy on the seasonal salads and appetizers, and share a few pizzas and pastas with the table. You can’t go wrong at Vic’s.
I know it’s super weird to have a restaurant famous for its steaks on a list highlighting vegetarian and vegan restaurants, but hear me out. The vegetables at St. Anselm always blow me away. The kitchen gives the same care and thoughtfulness to their abundant vegetable sides and appetizers as they do their pricy prime cuts of meat, and it’s more than enough to build a meal. Some salads and small dishes come and go with the seasons, and others are staples I always order, like the grilled fennel with salsa verde and hazelnuts. It’s the stuff of veggie dreams and a perfect spot if your dining companion is a carnivore or someone who just can’t wrap their head around a meal without animal protein.
Prepare to wait in line for the veggie and vegan friendly breakfast burritos, stuffed sopaipillas, chile rellenos, and more from Chef Eric See at his new Prospect Heights spot named after his beyond fabulous Grandmother. From New Mexico, Eric is making the comforting, mouthwatering foods he grew up with, directly inspired by his mom’s cooking. There’s some meat on the menu, but it leans very veggie and vegan friendly. Plus, my friend, Pastry Chef Lani Halliday showcases her mostly vegan and always gluten free baked goods at Ursula. Don’t sleep on her vegan and gluten free miso chocolate chip cookies that are the perfect blend of salty and sweet chewy goodness. Note that breakfast burritos are not available past noon, but lucky for us, there’s a whole other menu to choose from.
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