VegChic: New England Vegan Dining Guide

Food @AS220

2010-04-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

Food@ AS220
103-105 Empire St
Providence, RI 02903
401-831-FOOD
website

Food is the reincarnation of Taqueria Pacifica. I'm pretty much in love with their philosophy of cooking from scratch and working with local farmers and vendors.

The setting is funky and the crowd is a random mix. AS220 is the non-profit community arts and performance space in the area, so that makes sense.

When you get there, pick up a menu and order at the counter. Once you pay, they'll give you a playing card that serves as your number to pick up your food. You have to love that they say, "We are an equal opportunity eatery. Please alert us of any food allergies or aversions and we will administer appropriate alchemy to accommodate you."

Just about everything on the menu has a vegan option. I've been there four times now and have enjoyed almost every dish. I'm not a huge fan of the vegan Spicy Portuguese open faced sandwich though. On the other hand the Herb Roasted Chicken Seitan with lentils and veggies is awesome. I also highly recommend the vegan Cauliflower Empanada and the Crispy Chickpeas side dish.

Cauliflower Empanada

Crunchy Chickpeas

There's plenty of on street parking available in Providence!

*Note about AS220: This performance space is unique. They have artists in residence and various shows throughout the week. There is almost always graphic art or photography in the gallery. Nights you find poetry readings, musicians, and film presentations. Thursday the Poetry Slam takes place and the show is a must see. Saturday afternoon in the cold months, AS200 hosts a winter farmer's market.

Peace o' Pie

2009-10-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Peace o' Pie

487 Cambridge St

Allston, MA 02134

617 787 9884

Website

Sunday, I headed into Boston to visit the SOWA (South End Open Market). Since I was already in the city, I decided to try one of the new vegan restaurants.

Peace o' Pie opened up in the old skeleton of TJ Scallywaggles, near Grasshopper in Allston. They did a great job cleaning up the store front. Seriously, it no longer looks like it was designed by elementary school kids. The counter is redone with with sustainable bamboo and the kitchen area is spotless. There are handful of nice tables and chairs for customers who stay to dine in.

The menu is definitely more upscale and gourmet than the old digs. They use Follow Your Heart cheese, though it can be upgraded to Daiya for a small fee. In addition, both Dandies vegan marshmallows and Daiya cheese is available for sale.

I checked out the menu and opted for "The EP" which is: Smoked tempeh, sundried tomatoes, sauteed spinach, and garlic. Based on what I'd heard from other folks, I also ordered a side of breadsticks. For my first visit, I chose to stick with FYH. Next time, I'll give Daiya a try. While waiting for my pizza, I got a feel for the atmosphere.

The new owners are really great folks. They checked in with any of the tables, cleared plates, and delivered orders to folks who were waiting. The vibe was a lot different than the self service attitude of TJ's.

When my pizza was done, I grabbed it to go and headed home. The car smelled wonderful and I ended up sampling one of the breadsticks on my way back. They were full of garlic and "buttery" flavor and the texture was just great. At home, I gave the pizza try. The crust is a far cry from the cardboard base that their predecessor used. The topping mix they came up with was wonderful and the sauce was just right. All in all, I was very impressed and can't wait to visit again the future.

They have daily specials on the board, so check those out. On the counter, they had some mighty fine looking desserts. One of the customers was gushing about how great the cinnamon peanut butter roll was. I'll have to snag one, next time.

Plenty of free on street parking available.

Below is a pic of my pizza. It doesn't really do the pie justice!

Prana Raw

2009-09-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Prana Raw Cafe
292 Centre St
Newton, MA
617 527 7726
Website

Prana is the newest raw restaurant to the Boston scene. I've enjoyed Organic Garden in Beverly, but the food is definitely a little on the "granola" side. Grezzo is amazing, but it is very high end. Prana falls right in the middle. This includes price as well as food.

The restaurant is very bright and cheery. There is a children's club house/seating area and a children's menu. Since the family that owns the restaurant has 3 young children, they definitely know how to cater to a more picky palate.

The staff was extremely friendly even though we showed up shortly before closing. We were never rushed at all. I had the burger with kale chips. It was very good! On the way out, I ordered the chocolate torte to go. When I dug into it later, I found a very creamy chocolatey pie.

Prana is great and I'm looking forward to when they are open in the evening too. For now, you can only stop in for breakfast or lunch!

Lots of on street parking is available. The closest public lot is on Pearl St.

United BBQ

2009-09-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

United BBQ
146 Ives St
Providence, RI
401 751 9000
Website

United BBQ is a chic new BBQ joint. They try to use local produce, recycle their cooking oil, and offer many vegetarian and vegan options on their menu. Plus, they deliver using a Smart Car!

The first time I tried their food, my office was placing an order for delivery. I got the Red Beans & Rice withe Vegan Sausage and Cole Slaw. This was a great meal. My more omnivorous co-workers also raved about the food.

The other night I stopped in at United with some friends. The restaurant is small, but there are picnic tables outside for nice summer nights. You can see the kitchen where they cook which is always a plus for me. This time I got a the Seitan Tamales which were absolutely amazing. If you are a fan of BBQ, stop by!

Plenty of on street parking is available.

Malachi's

2009-09-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

Malachi's
134 Ives St
Providence, RI 02906
401 861 2977
Website

We stumbled upon Malachi's after we stopped for dinner at United BBQ next door. This is a cool coffee bar with lots of vegan options. They serve organic fair trade coffee and offer either soy or hemp milk for those looking to avoid dairy.

The night we stopped in, there was a sign outside advertising vegan brownies and cookies. The brownies were very good. The menu listed vegan lentil soup, Tofurky sandwiches, hummus, Tofutti cream cheese, Earth Balance, and even soynut butter. They also have smoothies!

The owner was super nice and told me all about the vegan offerings and chatted with us for quite awhile before we headed out to the movies. As we left, he told us to stop by and tell him about the film on our next visit!

Fiore's Bakery

2008-08-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Fiore's Bakery
55 South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617 524 9200
Website

Fiore's is a standard bakery that happens to offer a large amount of vegan treats. You'll find cookies, tarts, truffles, pies, cup cakes and loads of other goodies to appease your vegan sweet tooth. They are located just a short way from the Arboreatum in Boston, so you can easily make a stop at Fiore's into a a day trip.

On our visit we tried an orange spice cookie and two of the tarts (gluten free, BTW) Both the peanut butter and the chocolate tarts were delicious. The cookie was mighty tasty as well.

Kafe Lila

2008-08-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

Kafe Lila
The Grant Building
250 Main Street
Pawtucket, RI
401 305 3050
Website

Kafe Lila is a funky little Italian coffee house in downtown Pawtucket. Honestly, it is a great place to just kick back for a few hours. Cool antiques adorn the walls and mismatched vintage sofas and chairs make up the lounging space.

They are veg*n friendly, offering soy milk in the beverages and at least one vegan sandwich. While there today, I noticed they had vegan zucchini chocolate bread available along with some other not so vegan pastries. Guess what else they serve? Vegan ice cream! Yes, the folks at Kafe Lila make their own small batch ice cream and generally offer 3-4 vegan flavors. This afternoon the vegan flavors included: Strawberry Ginger, Rhubarb, Coconut, and Vanilla Lemon Ice. We tried the Coconut and the Strawberry Ginger which were fabulous. If Lila's hours don't work for your schedule, you might find comfort in the fact the Nice Slice also sells KL's vegan ice cream until 2am.

The Otherside Cafe

2008-04-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

The Otherside Cafe
407 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02115
617 536 8437
Website

The Otherside is veg*n friendly and offers a few raw dishes as well as lots that will please the omni crowd. The music is loud, the beer list is long, and the Internet is free. Decor = grunge/funk. Tuesday TOC hosts a free movie night at 9pm.

Our waiter(s) were very friendly. We shared a pot of herbal tea. My friend tried the vegan stew. I had the raw plate called, Nature Boy Yuri's Salad. This consisted of mock chicken salad (sunflower seed base), spicy wrap filling (peanut and carrot base), and raw chips & dip (cashew based). I loved the beet and carrot chips with the cashew dip. The rest of trio was ok, but not something I'd likely order again. I tried a spoonful of the stew and thought it was tasty.

For dessert we shared the raw cacao mousse with fruit. This was absolutely delicious.

Otherside's prices are very reasonable. There is on street parking available and nearby pay lots if you fear Boston parking. The restaurant is also accessible via the subway.

Little Lad's Vegan Bakery

2008-03-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

Little Lad's
482 Congress St
Portland, ME 04101
207 871 1636
Website
*Also has an NYC location

Little Lad's is one of my favorite places to stop when I am in Maine. The have a $3.99 lunch buffet with loads of healthy and delicious vegan dishes. In addition the have a regular menu which consists mainly of sandwiches served on Lad's fresh whole grain bread. Each entree comes with their famous herbal corn. My favorite is the Stake Out sandwich, it is soooo good.

The store also has a small grocery area where you can purchase more of the popcorn including herbal, Snacker Jack (better than CrackJack), and BBQ flavors. You'll also find breads, crackers, granola, cookies, and hand pies. In the refrigerator case you'll find Not Cho' Cheeze (makes great mac and cheese or nachos), Buttah (made with no uddah) , ice cream and other items depending on what day you stop in.

Everyone in the store in incredibly friendly and helpful. In Maine, there is on street parking only. Garages are nearby if the town is busy.

If you are lucky enough to see cherry hand pies on your visit, gobble one up!

Cafe Noche

2008-03-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Cafe Noche
147 Main St
Conway, NH 03818
603 447 5050
Website (not operational at the time of this review)

I found Cafe Noche while I was in North Conway for two weeks of training related to work. Cafe N is not 100% vegetarian, but veg friendly. Honestly I didn't expect authentic Mexican fare in NH, but they surprised me. The restaurant is small, but cozy with funky decor. The wait staff were very attentive and answered any questions I had about which dishes I could eat. The food was wonderful

Parking is on street, but plentiful. Don't forget to pickup some of their delicious homemade sauces on your way out.

Taqueria Pacifica

2008-03-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

***Taqueris Pacific is now closed!*** Please check out my review of Food which is in the same location.

Taqueria Pacifica @ AS220
103-105 Empire St
Providence, RI 02903
401 621 8785
Website

Taqueria Pacifica is a funky little Mexican joint in downtown Providence. They are located right in the lobby of AS220 where RI Artists gather and promote the arts. The Taqueria is not 100% vegan, but they are very veg friendly.

The menu includes 3-4 veggie dishes, a daily tofu plate special, and sides of vegan sour cream. The also often have vegan desserts and cookies. (You're more likely to find these in the evening than during the day.) Portions are large and prices are inexpensive.

TPac is casual. You order at the counter. Usually they'll bring your food by if they noticed where you sat down. There's a chance you may be picking it up on your own when it is ready. There's a table in the back with loads of hot sauces and a water cooler.

On street parking only. There are plenty of pay lots nearby, but you can find an on street spot if you are willing to walk.

*Note about AS220: This performance space is unique. They have artists in residence and various shows throughout the week. There is almost always graphic art or photography in the gallery. Nights you find poetry readings, musicians, and film presentations. Thursday the Poetry Slam takes place and the show is a must see. Saturday afternoon in the cold months, AS200 hosts a winter farmer's market.

Elephant Walk

2007-10-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

Elephant Walk
663 Main Street
Waltham, MA 02451
781 899 2244
Website
(Additional locations in Cambridge and Boston, check their site for address and info.)

Elephant Walk is rather well known and has won awards for both the food and wine list. The fare is French Cambodian. Surprisingly, their have a separate vegan menu. My family and I visited EW for my 30th birthday after my skydiving adventure. I had a wonderful salad from the specials menu that consisted of endive, beets, almonds and a lemon vinaigrette. My meal was the Mee Siem. It was flavorful, but very salty. Last weekend, I was also at Elephant Walk with a larger group of vegan friends. After our food arrived, most everyone at the table also noted the saltiness.

A public parking lot is available at the Waltham location. There is a restaurant owned lot behind the Cambridge location. In Boston, you will only find on street parking.

While Elephant Walk is a great change of pace when looking to try something different, I can't recommend it as highly as other restaurants. The salty food and high prices are a turn off for me.

When Pigs Fly

2007-10-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

When Pigs Fly
447 Route 1
Kittery ME 03904
207 865 6006
Website
*Also has a Freeport, ME location.

When Pigs Fly bakery is not 100% vegan, but all of their breads are made sans dairy. You may find a few with a honey, so check the ingredients which are listed prominently on signs above each loaf.

As you walk inside the store, you'll be amused to find tables filled with baskets of bread and bags waiting for you to pack some up and take it home. There are wicker baskets by the door to carry with you. All the staff are smiling and helpful. A table towards the back of the store has one of each loaf available for sampling. They are more than happy to slice your bread for you, before leave. My favorite breads are the "Sicilian Green Olive with Hot and Sweet Cherry Peppers", "Cranberry Lemonade" and Chocolate. The garlic and sesame rolls are also mighty good.

They also carry Happy Bean vegan cookies. Unfortunately, I am not a huge fan of them. They are a little on the crunchy side for me. Tshirts, mugs, bread mixes, jams, jellies, and various other items are also available.

Check out their website to order bread to be delivered to your house.

A few photos from the store:

Cafe Indigo

2007-10-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

Cafe Indigo
128H Hall St
Concord, NH 03301
603 224 1770
Website

Ever since trying Cafe Indigo's awesome carrot cake a MyThai in Boston, I couldn't wait to visit their restaurant and bakery in New Hampshire. I headed up north for work last week, so I finally got the chance.

Getting to the address was easy, finding the cafe was a little difficult for me. It is a few blocks of industrial looking strip malls and they are in the back. Fortunately, once you step inside it is rather cozy.

They had a number of baked goods on display and all of the staff was very friendly. I placed an order to go and then wandered around a bit to look at the pastries and bread and read some of the signs. They have a small fridge with some take out foods which is where I was very excited to find some Sheese, the vegan cheese from Scotland. If you've been looking for a local place that carries it, Cafe Indigo is it!

The ToFishy sandwhich I had for lunch was delicious. The home made bread was incredibly good. Later after my long drive home, I tried the grilled seitan wrap. It was also very good. Of course, I had to try a slice of cake. My choice was lemon poppy seed as I hadn't had it before.

The cake itself was mighty tasty. I personally wasn't a huge fan of the frosting. Though lemon fans would love it.

Cafe Indigo also sells their baked goods online. I've tried quite a few of the cakes in Boston and they've always impressed. Even my non veg friends love them.

Plenty of parking is available in the lots around the restaurant.

"ToFishy Sandwich"

Crazy Burger

2007-10-02T21:24:00.000-07:00

Crazy Burger Cafe and Juice Bar
144 Boon St
Narragansett, RI 02882
401 783 1810
Website

Crazy Burger is a funky little place in RI near the beach. You can literally walk from the restaurant down to the ocean and then along the road to beaches. Inside there are lanterns, fun napkins, and bright colors. You can dine outside (no kids allowed) in the cozy gazebo behind the restaurant. It is decorated with strings of lanterns and lights, plants, and cool murals.

The restaurant is not exclusively vegan, but the menu is veg friendly and the wait staff are very knowledgeable. They offer 5 vegan burgers, a number of vegan side dishes, vegan breakfast, and yes...desserts. The carrot cake is noteworthy. Oh, did I mention they have sweet potato fries?

On street parking is available and there is a large lot around the corner behind the all the stores in that block.

A few pics from my last visit:

The "Wild and Crazy Mushroom Burger"

"Just Plain Nuts Burger"

Organic Garden Cafe

2007-09-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

Organic Garden Cafe
294 Cabot St.
Beverly, MA 01915
978 922 0004
Website

Organic Garden is the only raw food restaurant in Massachusetts. They have wide array of items on the menu from smoothies, to salads, to veggie burgers. The fresh lemonade with agave is a treat and unlike any lemonade you've tried before. My favorite entree is the sampler which contains sprouted rice, greens, pate, falafel, a thai dumpling, a mini veggie burger and dehydrated crackers. It is a lot of food, but also a little on the pricey side at $17. The offer a number of raw desserts as well. The brownie we tried was very good.

If you are adventurous and like veggies, this is a great place to try. It may not be a the best option if visiting with omni friends that are used to restaurant chain food.

The restaurant is cozy with just about a dozen small tables. They also have small raw foods store in the back. A few parking spots are available in the lot behind the restaurant. There is plenty of on street parking. Nearby is a cool little indie film movie house called the Cabot Street Theater.

Veggie Planet

2007-09-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Veggie Planet
47 Palmer St
Cambridge, MA 02138
617 661 1513
Website

Veggie Planet was started by Didi Emmons the author of the Veggie Planet cookbook.

VP claims to sell the best veggie pizza in Boston. While it is good, they serve more of a flatbread than a pizza. They have great salads and I'm told the vegan brownies rock. Though they never have any available for me to try when visiting. My favs include both The Odd Lot (tomatoes, spinach, basil tofu ricotta, calamata olives, and fried garlic) or the Peanut Curry. The curry is wonderful over coconut rice. Often times I order the double header, so I can try two menu items.

On Sundays they serve brunch. We've tried the waffles and the coffee cake. Both were great. The food at veggie planet is very reasonably priced. Unfortunately, parking is difficult. On street is available, but the area is very congested. There is a pay lot nearby, otherwise take the train to Harvard Square.

Byblos

2007-09-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

Byblos
678 Washington St.
Norwood, MA 02062
781 762 8998
Website

Closed Mondays. Byblos is by far, the best Middle Eastern food I've tried. The hummus, tabbouli, and falafel are spectacular. Though not exclusively vegan, their menu has a separate vegetarian section.

Byblos is family owned and the friendly staff can answer any questions about the menu or ingredients. The tahini sauce on the falafel is dairy free. Their fresh squeezed lemonade almost rivals my aunt's home made recipe.

Friday and Saturday nights there is music and belly dancing.

On street parking out front and plenty of space in the public lot behind the restaurant.

Garden Grille Cafe

2007-09-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Garden Grille Cafe
727 East Ave.
Pawtucket, RI 02860
401 726 2826
Website

Garden Grille has a varied menu. The restaurant is 100% vegetarian and most menu items are vegan or can be. On weekends they have a wonderful brunch. The pancakes are great as are the tofu scrambles. Many smoothies are available including the famous Crazy Weech which is chocolate soy milk, peanut butter, and bananas.

Dinner can be pricey, but the funky eclectic meals are worth it. Often times we order one of the specials as you may not see them again. The vegan nachos appetizer is great. They generally have a few mediocre desserts on the menu. Beer and mixed drinks were are a recent addition.

Plenty of parking available.

It's Only Natural (ION) Restaurant

2007-09-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

It's Only Natural (ION) Restaurant
386 Main St.
Middletown, CT 06457
860 346 9210
Website

ION is mostly vegetarian with one seafood entree on the menu. The majority of the menu is vegan or can be vegan. They have daily specials that are usually pricey, but worth it as they are creative dishes that you may not get to try again. One of the little things I love about ION is the freshly brewed iced teas they keep on hand like earl gray or bancha. Ion also has a veg wine/beer/dessert menu.

The restaurant itself is bright and decorated with local art that is for sale. They have take-out options and a cookbook for sale.

The sweet potato fries and cajun tempeh are my favorite items on the menu.

A public parking lot is available behind the restaurant and street parking is in the front. Ion is in the back of the Main Street Market. Toward the front of the Main Street Market is the It's Only Natural Market which is worth checking out if you are there. They sell locally made tofu and lots of other great stuff.

Cabot's Ice Cream

2007-09-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

Cabot's Ice Cream
743 Washington St
Newtonville, MA 02460
617 964 9200
Website

Cabot's is not vegan by any means. However, they do carry non dairy soft serve. I'm sure this is to accommodate people with dairy allergies, but it sure is convenient for us vegans. They have plain vanilla and it can be combined with any number of mix-ins. Be sure to check whether the additions you want are vegan. Flavors we've tried include coffee oreo, peach strawberry, and coconut cherry. (Butterscotch is not vegan, we asked.)

Nice Slice Pizza

2007-09-25T05:42:00.001-07:00

Nice Slice Pizza
267 Thayer St
Providence, RI 02906
401 453 6423
Open until 2 am every night.

Restaurant is not 100% vegan, but does offer most pizzas and calzones as vegan. Nice Slice uses a mix of Follow Your Heart and Venanrella mozzarella cheese. Vegan options include veggies and mock meats such as pepperoni, canadian bacon, sausage, meatball, and chicken.

Some pizzas from the menu: Hawaiian, BBQ Chicken, Buffalo Chicken, Bounty Hunter (hots, sausage, pepperoni, meatball), Earth Crisis (tomato, artichoke, spinach, olives).

They sell whole pies and by the slice. If they don't have a slice of what you want, they will generally cook up a whole pizza so you can buy just one piece.

On street parking only.

Rasoi

2007-09-25T05:33:00.001-07:00

Rasoi
727 East Ave.
Pawtucket, RI 02860
401 728 5500
Website

Rasoi is not exclusively vegan, but does offer both gluten free and vegan items. On Saturday afternoons they offer a vegan/gluten free buffet that includes dessert. The buffet always has a few staples like lentil donuts, rice, and idlis. The soup, salad, entrees, and dessert change. We've been surprised many times with new dishes we'd never tried before. Rasoi is delicious and the staff is very friendly.

Plenty of parking available.

My Thai Cafe Vegetarian and Bubble Tea Bistro

2007-09-25T05:33:00.000-07:00

My Thai Cafe Vegetarian and Bubble Tea Bistro
404 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02446
617 739 8830
Menu

My Thai has a menu of over 100 items. In addition they serve bubble teas and desserts from Indigo Cafe. I'm a fan of the coffee bubble tea which is a bit of an oddity. My favorite menu items include the Basil Chicken, Tamarind Duck, and Tom Yum Soup. My Thai desserts are amazing. The two I highly recommend are the carrot cake and turtle truffle torte. Friends have said the cheesecake is also incredible.

There is metered parking behind the restaurant. Parking is free after 6pm. On street parking is also available.