Fri 8 Aug 2008
Posted by Meg under American Cities , Food
Mmm, tofu...
I’ve been a vegetarian for sixteen years. When I was a kid, I was really self-righteous about it, but I’ve mellowed. I don’t like to be the reason people bend over backwards, so usually if a group I’m with wants to go out to eat, I just quietly order the soup and salad, or maybe a vegetable quesadilla, and I don’t bitch about it.
Honestly, I don’t mind ordering the same two or three things every time I go out, so as long as there’s at least one vegetarian item on the menu, I’ll make do. It’s actually easier than when I tell people I’m a vegetarian, and they all want to take me out to an Ethiopian restaurant, because all carnivores think that all vegetarians’ favorite food is Ethiopian.
Meh. Some vegetarians love Ethiopian food, and so do some meat-eaters, but for some reason, everyone who knows I’m a vegetarian always wants to take me out for Ethiopian. Or Thai. And I’ll tell you a secret: I’d rather have a soup and salad at your favorite steakhouse. I don’t like Ethiopian or Thai. For more on the plight of the modern vegetarian, I found this hilarious essay on Slate that pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter.
But now it’s time to turn our attention away from the complaining and onto the kudos. LocalEats is a website that identifies the 100 best restaurants in each of the 50 largest cities in the US — through careful criticism and thorough taste testing, not just polling the residents.
In addition to listing the best food by city, there are top ten lists by category, including the top ten vegetarian restaurants in America.
Five-Grain Croquettes with Carrot-Leek Glaze and Thyme at Angelica Kitchen
It’s no surprise that first on the list is located in New York City, where most of this nation’s finest food is found. Not only is the food at Angelica Kitchen green, the whole restaurant is — environmentally friendly, that is, “where sustainable agriculture and responsible business practices are the main ingredients,” according to the restaurant’s website. You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy this top restaurant — you’ll eat here for under $25.
The eastern half of the US dominates the vegetarian list, but I was surprised to find Texas with a restaurant in this top ten category. (When I visited Texas, my only gripe was the lack of vegetarian fare.) Spiral Diner & Bakery in Fort Worth made the list for its superior all-vegan menu.
Spiral was the 2007 VegNews Restaurant of the Year, and has recently opened a location in Dallas as well. The menu prices can’t be beat — expect a hearty vegan meal for under $10.
Looks like meat -- tastes much better; www.spiraldiner.com
The others in the top ten are Beans & Barley in Milwaukee, WI; Blue Sage in Southampton, PA; Cafe Brenda in Minneapolis, MN; Green Zebra in Chicago, IL; Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, CA; Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh, NC; Real Food Daily in Los Angeles, CA; and Tommy’s in Cleveland Heights, OH.
Most meat-eaters scoff at vegetarian eateries, certain they can never be satisfied with such rabbit food. But note that the above establishments are not called the best restaurants for vegetarians — they are the best vegetarian restaurants, for everyone. Try something off one of these menus — I bet you won’t even miss your meat.