The Plant Cafe ~ San Francisco

There's something magical happening along the Embarcadero in San Francisco. The re-development is redesigning the city landscape and the vegan accouterments as well. The newly constructed Plant Cafe is a modern marvel along the Embarcadero that provides organic vegetarian and vegan cuisine in a beautiful setting overlooking the San Francisco Bay. But if you're not at the Embarcadero, don't worry, there are several other locations throughout the city and all are sustainably sensational. This is not a strictly vegetarian restaurant, but about half of the entrees on the menu are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Moderately priced.
Omnivore, Gluten-free, Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly

Border Grill ~ Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV

Drop everything and run for the border, The Border Grill that is. This Mexican inspired food is fresh and delicious!  As soon as you get seated you are served a basket of crisp chips and a selection of very authentic salsas.  This grill has swag, not to mention a mission of sustainability and can make many dishes sans meat and a few sans dairy.  If you’re vegan and still not convinced, just ask your server if they have any other dishes that can be prepared vegan and then get ready to sit back and listen to her spew of a variety of mouth watering options. I’m not kidding, you won’t believe your ears. Three of the vegetarians in my party ordered off the menu. I could have ordered off the menu but opted for one of their vegan specialty dishes, Portobello mushroom and greens layered with roasted red peppers and black bean puree, served with a fire roasted tomato sauce and a side of red, white, and green rice. You gotta try it, and just for kicks pair your meal with their signature blood orange margarita (alcoholic) or a white peach-ade (non-alcoholic). I swear the food melted in my mouth. We ate at their Las Vegas restaurant located in the Mandalay Bay hotel but there are several other Southern California locations as well.  Oh, and your omnivore friends will love it too….Enjoy!

Small Plates, Dinner Plates
Moderately priced

Omnivore, Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly

Loving Hut ~ Several United States Locations

Absolutely decadent and delicious, vegan faire. Loving Hut prides itself on being healthy neighborhood cuisine and they get two thumbs up for taste, variety, presentation, and the overall loving nature and customer service of the entire staff. Certainly not your ordinary strip mall experience, and yet an experience that no vegan will forget. This food is mouth watering good.  There are great selections of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts Gourmet, asian influenced international cuisine. Nice, casual atmosphere. Click the link above for the list of several US locations. We actually ate at the Glendale, Arizona location and are eager to try Loving Hut in San Francisco.
Moderately Priced.
Vegan

Saturn Cafe

Good ole' out of this world, American, Vegetarian dining.
Quantity, quality, and variety are yours for the enjoying at this Vegetarian Space Age/Diner style restaurant. Both vegetarian and vegan entree's are plentiful and delicious.  This is a great place to take the family and some place that even your Omnivore loved ones will enjoy.  My omnivore friend and I enjoyed the Vegan Sampler appetizer that included: taquitos, sweet potato fries, garlic fries and chips and salsa with vegan ranch dressing and spicy chipotle dipping sauce. We followed the appetizer with the 'Chicken' Avocado Club and the Guacamole Burger.  Talk about yummy! Talk about filling!
Prices Range from $5.50 - $9.50
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly

Slice of Life ~ Sebastopol, CA

Located in the heart of Sebastopol right next door to the Whole Foods Market. This little restaurant has big ideas for vegetarian faire. Specializing in wholesome American, Italian and Mexican cuisine where the food is both nutritious and delicious. The variety of pizzas feature five different cheese options (and three of those options are vegan!).  Other plentiful entrees include salads, vegetable plates, nachos, tostadas, tofu rancheros, lasagna, and a fabulous selection of vegan desserts. Drinks range from smoothies, milkshakes, protein shakes, fresh squeezed juices, sparkling everything and they even a offer a selection of beer and organic wine.  Located right on Hwy 116. A convenient stop on the way to Guerneville or Jenner. Very casual and moderately priced.
Drinks and Sides $3 - $7
Entrees $7 - $11
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly

Fellini's Coffee Bar ~ Berkeley, CA

By far one of the most vegan/vegetarian friendly quick stop cafes around.  I first discovered this coffee bar by accident and was delighted to find vegan pastries to go with my organic grounds. Vegan choices often include cookies, donuts, and scones. At this drive up or walk up window cafe any bar drink can be made with soy or rice milk.
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly

Flacos ~ Berkeley, CA

Finally a conveniently located quick fix Taqueria with style, sense and sustainability! Delicious home cooked, authentic, Mexican food that will satisfy your palate, keep you healthy, and keep you coming back for more. 100% Vegan and GMO Free.  This tiny taqueria is located on Adeline in Berkeley, not too far from Berkeley Bowl.  I love the Taquitos with rice, beans and avosalsa paired with a fresh fruit drink.You can dine in or take out. They even have parking, compostable utensils, and biodegradable take-out bags! Catering available. Modestly priced.
Open Tues. - Sat., Noon - 9pm
Vegan

Souley Vegan ~ Oakland, CA

Located on Broadway in the Jack London District of Oakland, this vegan restaurant gets it right with down home, hearty, soul food with a conscious! The fun, casual atmosphere even features live blues music on Friday nights. One of my favorite dishes is the Mac-n-cheese with Greens and Southern Fried Tofu, however you can't go wrong with the Red Beans-n-Rice or the BBQ Tofu and fried Okra. The food is well spiced so if you're dining with children, just ask them to hold the spice on the fries and other items. Desserts feature items such as Sweet Potato Pie, Cheese cake, and Peach Cobbler. This is truly a vegan soul food paradise. Very casual and modestly priced. Non-alcoholic juices and drinks. When you walk in, order your food at the counter, get a number and find a seat. Great for families and casual gatherings. Open Tuesday - Saturday from 11am - 9pm.
Prices range from $3 - $13
Vegan

Encuentro Cafe and Wine Bar ~ Oakland, CA

Quaint, chic new vegetarian restaurant located near the train station in the bustling neighborhood of Jack London Square amidst posh condos and trendy lofts. Encuentro offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan cuisine from their Little Gem Salad, to their Quinoa with kale, pickled vegetables, cilantro, seasoned pepitas in an Amarillo chilli vinaigrette with smoked goat cheddar (vegetarian) or tempeh bacon bits (vegan). They even have several Bruschetta options including: White Bean/Cauliflower with sundried tomatoes and green olive tapenade; and Avocado, olive oil and cilantro with chile jam and black salt.
Small plates from $3 - $8, Larger plates from $6 - $14
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly

Gather ~ Berkeley, CA

This food was so delicious and superbly prepared that I have to take a moment to "gather" my thoughts to review it. OUTSTANDING! Located on Oxford St. directly across from UC Berkeley's campus, this is a place that every vegetarian must try at least once. The food, the service and the ambiance were all inviting and impeccable. While not a vegetarian restaurant, they have several vegan/vegetarian options and even indicate which items can be prepared vegetarian, vegan or gluten free upon request. Serving seasonal faire with a "farm to table" philosophy this is the place for an organic, sustainable and simply delicious dining experience. I ordered the Red Russian kale salad and the Vegan "charcuterie" Artisanal Plate and my kids loved their pizzas and desserts. Other vegan options include the Grilled Crookneck Squash, Eggplant Pizza, and more. Reservations are highly recommended as this place fills up quickly. It's warm, inviting, comfortable, and there are options for indoor or outdoor dining. Several of the vegetarian sauces contain nuts so alert your server if you have a nut allergy in your party and they will make sure to prepare your food, nut-free. This is a great place for a date or for a special group celebration.
Small plates range from $9 - $13, larger plates are $13 - $19
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly

Grand Tavern ~ Oakland, CA

Just up the street from the historical Grand Lake Theater, the Grand Tavern is a great dining experience for vegetarians, vegans, and their omnivore friends. The avant-garde ambiance combines traditional and contemporary decor in a unique and very romantic environment. Open for dinner with a full bar, the service is outstanding and the food is equally delicious and bursting with flavor! With fresh and mostly organic ingredients, they have several vegetarian items and vegans can simply ask the server to have meals prepared dairy free. The sweet carrot mash is cooked with walnuts so if you have a nut-allergic person in your party, alert your server right away. Who knew roasted squash with chile and onion could taste like this?! This is truly one of the best vegetarian dining experiences in the Bay Area and a place you'll want to frequent. It's also a perfect place for a date, or for a group celebration. Don't forget to pair your meal with the perfect wine or bar drink.
Small bites range from $6 - $10 while grand bites go from $12 - $19.
Vegan/Vegetarian Friendly (also a great place for omnivores)

SPROUTS ~ South Lake Tahoe

This cute, country, natural food cafe serves wholesome and delicious food. Located right next to a lakeside park this cafe is great for dining in or carrying out to one of the park picnic tables for a grand view of Lake Tahoe. Enjoy soups, salads, smoothies, fresh squeezed juices, teas, latte's with your choice of milk (whole, low-fat, rice, or soy), hot cider, cocoa, natural sodas. Main course menu items include rice bowls (brown rice), burritos (black beans), tempeh burgers, lasagna, nachos, sandwiches. One of my favorite is the Cous Cous Hummus Burro (a large spinach tortilla stuffed with couscous, homemade hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, black olives and tahini) and my kid's favorites are the Quesadilla Jr. (whole wheat tortilla with brown rice, black beans and jack cheese) and the A.T.O.M Bagel (Avocado, Tomato, Onion, Melted Cheese). The soups are always vegan and always delicious. Sprouts is truly a family favorite for delicious and nutritious food. They even have a good selection of baked goods (some vegan). This cafe is not entirely vegetarian (some turkey and tuna), but definitely a great place for vegan and vegetarian friendly dining. Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner from 8am - 9pm daily. Cash Only.
3124 Harrison Avenue (the main drag) in South Lake Tahoe.
Main Courses range from $5 - $8. Sides, smoothies and cafe' drinks range from $3 - $5. Enjoy!
Vegan/Vegetarian Friendly

Vegan Recipes from the Heart: Delicious eating for a meat-free, egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free family

This book, by Edy Henderson, contains a collection of recipes adapted for a healthy nut-free vegan diet. These recipes were developed by and for our family over the years. We have vegans and we have nut allergies in the family. The recipes are healthy and delicious and have been tested on vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike who rave about the beautiful and delicious dishes.
To purchase your copy of this book go to: www.veganrecipesfromtheheart.com

Pizzaria Paradiso ~ Washington, D.C.

Located in the highly desirable neighborhood of Dupont Circle, Pizzaria Paradiso was voted one of the best pizzeria's in the city. It's great for carnivores, omnivores, vegetarians and vegans. Any pizza on the menu can be substituted with a whole wheat crust and/or soy mozzarella cheese. Pizza's come in small individual sizes or family sizes. They also have a great selection of salads, desserts, and drinks. Nice intimate decor with indoor or outdoor seating. Moderately priced, and centrally located.
$10 - $12 for a small pizza and $15 - $19 for a large.
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly

NY Dosas ~ NYC

This Indian Vegan food cart is located on Washington Square Park right across from New York University (NYU). It's great for vegan fast food. The samosas are delicious and they have a few other lunch options as well. They are known for their vegetarian crepes. If you're in the vicinity and looking for a quick, inexpensive bite to eat, this is the place. Grab a nearby park bench for a fine outdoor dining experience.
Very Inexpensive
Vegan

Advice for Pre-Dining Vegans, Vegetarians and Nut-Allergic Peoples

If you have any type of special dietary needs or allergies this information is for you. Trust me, it will help set the tone for making your dining experience a more pleasant one.

If you're making a reservation at a restaurant, be sure to ask the server if they can accommodate your dietary needs. This is also a good time to alert the reservations staff of any allergies that you or those in your party may have. If you have nut allergies in your party, this is a good time to ask if any of the foods are prepared with nut oils.

If you don't have a reservation and are just walking in to be seated, make sure to tell the host about your dietary needs or restrictions. S/he may be able to give you some good advice and/or alert your server.

When you are seated and your waiter comes to greet you, let them know right away (before they start spouting off the specials) that you have vegetarians, vegans, nut-allergies, or other dietary restrictions in your party. It will alert them right away and they may be able to offer some suggestions or avoid giving you the long list of specials that you can't eat anyway.

If you don't see anything on the menu that you can order as is, ask the waiter if the chef can prepare something for you. I don't eat dairy so I often ask if my food can be prepared in olive oil instead of butter. I also have a nut allergic child so I make sure to let them know that we have a serious nut allergic person in our party and to please refrain from preparing any of our food with nuts or nut oils.

These simple requests can help set the tone for a great dining experience because everyone knows up front what the issues are. If you are dining at a vegetarian/vegan restaurant with nut allergic people, it's always a good idea to let the waiter/chef know because some restaurants do prepare foods with nuts and nut oils and don't mention that on the menu.

Now you are fully equipped to start your dining experience off just right.

Peacefood Cafe ~ NYC

Peacefood Cafe is an organic vegan restaurant/cafe/bakery also located in the Upper West Side of New York City on Amsterdam Avenue at 82nd Street. It's a casual cafe style eatery where you order your food at the counter then find a table and the wait staff brings it to you according to your number. It's very clean and hip with chic decor and trendy music. They have a variety of raw, cooked and baked goods. I sampled the Tahini Sprouts Sandwich, the Vegetable Tempura and the Chocolate Brownies paired with a Soy Latte for dessert. Other dessert items include strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, coconut cream pie, tiramisu, key lime pie and many more. It was all super fresh and scrumptious. I highly recommend this place. They are open for lunch and dinner. Peacefood cafe also has a sign requesting that you tell your waitperson if you have a nut allergy so that they can make sure to prepare your meal nut-free. Easily accessible by subway.
Sides and Entree's $6 - $11.
Vegan

Blossom ~ New York City Veggie Hotspot

Blossom Restaurant located on Colombus Avenue in the Upper West Side was a real treat. It's a vegan restaurant ready to stand up to the most discriminating omnivores. The food was tasty and the proportions plenty. Not to mention the posh ambiance, a perfect fit for Upper Westside dining. Everything that I tasted was delicious and impeccably prepared. The food was both pleasing to the eyes and to the palate. From the Black Eyed Pea Cake, to the hearty Lentil Soup, to the Tofu Tempura, the Autumn Sweet Potato Rolls or the Seitan Skewers. You can't go wrong at this restaurant. It's great for the whole family. I think your meat loving friends will thoroughly enjoy it too. And it's certainly a great place to treat your vegetarian/vegan beloved. It's also equipped with a bar and has nice selections of wines to pair with your meal.

We dined at the Upper Westside location. The neighborhood is known for it's boutique retail shops and the restaurant is only a couple blocks from Central Park. It's upscale and easily accessible by subway or taxi. There is also a Blossom restaurant located in the Chelsea district.

Vegan

Intro to Veggie Hot Spots

First of all, let me tell you that Vegan, is not a bad word. Nor are vegans scary or bad or weird or crazy, at least not anymore so than the rest of the world's population. In fact, as the world persuades it's peoples to go green, I found out that one of the best green friendly lifestyles is the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. But enough about that because I want you to continue reading, even if you do eat meat. This post is not just essentially for vegetarians and vegans, it's also a great guide for those of you who happen to be in love with vegetarians or vegans and living with or traveling with them.

Fortunately vegetarians and vegans are starting to come out of the closet in droves and there are some really hip/cool celebrity types that are helping to normalize the veggie lifestyle in this country. Gone are the days of "oh honey, if you don't eat meat you won't grow", or "you'll waste away", or "but dear, how will you get enough protein?" Let me just say that I'm a very tall woman. Healthy. A former star athlete collegiately and professionally, and...I'm not wasting away.

Gone are the days when all I could order on any given menu was a salad or a baked potato. I'm a mother now and fortunately my children have a lot more options than I ever did. Bookstores are filled with vegetarian and vegan cookbooks which tells me that people are actually cooking that way and living that way. The raw foodies are even gaining popularity and receiving tremendous health benefits from that lifestyle.

But what about traveling and eating out at restaurants? I sill find that vegetarian options are few in most restaurants and vegan options rarely exist. I usually have to ask the hostess before being seated if the cook can make anything vegan. Sometimes they can, and sometimes they can't. Which would be fine if I was going out to eat all by myself and could just traipse up and down the avenues with my inquiries, but generally when I go out, it's with a group, or a friend, or my family and that's just not cool. Let me tell you, if all restaurants offered at least one vegetarian option and one vegan option, I would be half way to heaven. But...I'm not there yet.

However there are great options out there and it helps if someone else has reviewed them ahead of time, so you don't have to and you can take your beloved vegetarians or vegans out for a bite to eat without them squirming in their seats the whole time.

In this blog I'm reviewing vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurants during my travels and in my local area. I hope this helps. Good luck!