Restaurant Week: Where to go if you're a Vegan

Regarding the lack of update, Spring Break combined with Midterms was a crazy time. But now it's Restaurant Week in Boston & if you're still looking for a place to go if you're a vegan or vegetarian, here are some of my suggestions:

1. Toro
617-536-4300 South End
Serving: Lunch & Dinner
Description: This is where I choose to go for Restaurant Week this year because they have such a wide variety of options. As a tapas bar, they offer everything from hummus to fried potatoes in tomato sauce; for only $15 you get three tapas from their lunch selection!

2. T.W. Food
617-864-4745 Cambridge
Serving: Dinner
Description: Not only are there plenty of vegetarian options (which can be made vegan if you ask for it without the cheese), but you can feel better about giving money to this place because of the restaurants emphasis on "finding people who raise animals correctly and humanely, who forage our woods for mushrooms and who grow herbs, flowers and vegetables for local consumption using old-fashioned methods." Still, don't feel shy to tell them your opinion of the Foie Gras they serve (as they put it, the liver is "enlarged by a process you don't want to read about if you're going to eat this dish").

3. Fireplace
617-975-1900 Brookline
Serving: lunch & dinner
Description: While their options are not completely vegan, there are tons of vegetarian options. If you are a vegan, just opt for the salad without blue cheese and the veggie sandwich without cheese & mayo.

4. Masa
617-338-8884 South End
Serving: Dinner
Description: One of the few dinner only places serving a vegan dessert (selection of ice cream or *sorbet*), Masa also offers vegetarian options which can easily be made vegan (sans the cheese). Call ahead of time to ask about dietary restrictions. There's also a location in Woburn.

5. OM
617-576-2800 Cambridge
Serving: Lunch & Dinner
Description: Craving some Japanese fine-dining and looking for a vegan option? OM's lunch & dinner offers vegan options including parsnip soup and tofu entree.

6. Miel Brasserie
617-217-5151 Waterfront
Serving: Lunch & Dinner
Description: While your options may be limited, the vegan gnocchi sounds to die for. Located on the beautiful waterfront, this is the perfection location for a Restaurant Week date.

Just another cafe?

Other Side Cafe is anything but just your average cafe. With loud grunge music, perhaps dangerously dim lighting, and almost 20 different selections of beer, this eccentric restaurant (and perhaps--I may--say Vegan haven), defies convention.

As a vegan, it's often hard to find a restaurant that serves up a large amount of veggie friendly food while still being a desierable spot for your omnivore friends. That, plus the fact that I had one (well, two) of the best restaurant cookies of my life (vegan and non-vegan) there, makes the Other Side Cafe a place that warrants a visit.

Be warned, while it's not the hippie sanctuary of most vegan-friendly restaurant, there is certainly a welcoming and anarchic vibe to this joint. The lack of pretension makes for the perfect late-night excursion, if not the best date spot.

If you've ever doubted the deliciousness of vegan food, just try the vegan BLT (my omnivore dining partner swears they used real mayonnaise and the fake bacon melded just like the real thing without all the fat!). Their deserts are all vegan as well: but don't let that dissuade you because, again, second best cookie I've ever had that was not homemade! Not to mention the chili is a must have (go for the half chili, half sandwich deal).

If you're not feeling the fake meat, try the tuna melt (perfectly crispy and warm on the outside but soft and juicy on the inside without all the grease common of this cheese-laden sandwich).

Whether you're looking for an excuse to go into Boston, or simply a cool and laid-back place to get a beer on tap (or some vegan wine), the Other Side Cafe is a must try.

Other Side Cafe $$
407 Newbury St.
Boston, MA
Monday - Wednesday 11:30 AM - 1:00 AM
Thursday & Friday 11:30 AM - 2:00 AM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM

Valentine's Day Dinner for Vegetarians and the Health Conscious!

It's February and love is in the air as Valentine's Day fast approaches. But for many, the quest for the perfect, romantic restaurant can be frustrating with prix fixe menus often limiting our options. Never fear though, there are still great options for those looking for a meatless dinner or simply a healthier alternative:

1. The Pulse Cafe $$
195 Elm St.
Somerville, MA 02140
Tuesday - Thursday: 5pm - 9pm
Friday - Saturday: 5pm - 10pm
Sunday, February 14, 2010 serving 5pm to 9pm

An all vegan, organic restaurant focused on natural cuisine, The Pulse Cafe is offering a five-course special Valentine's Day event for $30 per person. Plus, the cafe focuses their efforts on sustainability through supporting wind energy (by using NSTAR Green) and working with Save that Stuff to meet recycling an compost needs.

2. The Elephant Walk $$$
2067 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140
Dinner Hours:
Monday-Friday 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday and Sunday 5:00pm - 10:00pm

Though this restaurant has many meat-options, there are just as many vegan and gluten-free options (dedicating almost half their menu to such). A fusion of Cambodian and French cuisine, The Elephant Walk offers up everything from curries to flash-fried tofu satay. They also teach year-round cooking classes in vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine. Call ahead to check on the Valentine's Day menu offerings. (There are also locations in Boston and Waltham).

3. Oleana Restaurant $$$
134 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

For those looking for a classy with a large focus on vegetarian fare for V-Day, look no further than Oleana's Restaurant. Serving up fresh vegetables harvested daily from Siena Farms (who has a CSA membership program by the way), their Turkish inspired menu changes seasonally to reflect the local product. Though meat is offered at their restaurant, there is a wide variety of both vegan and vegetarian options (including a vegetarian tasting menu for $36). Call ahead to check on Valentine's Day menu offerings.

4. T.W. Food $$$$
377 Walden Street
Cambridge MA 02138
5 – 10pm, 7 days a week

Interested in humanely raised meat products but don't know where to go for a night out? Looking for a restaurant that cares about getting locally? T.W. Food is your place then, serving humanely raised meat (such as grass-fed beef), picking wild mushrooms, and teaming with farmers who product herbs and vegetables for local consumption. For Valentine's Day, they are offering two sittings (at $59 and $85) with extensive vegetarian fare in a classy setting.

Out-of-this-World Vegetarian Fare

Located in bustling Harvard Square, Veggie Planet offers up delicious vegetarian fare made from organic vegetables and pizza dough from Boston Organic.

This eatery is a local favorite for college students looking for a healthy alternative. Located next door to Club Passim, you can experience your meal with music on most nights (but check in advanced because they usually charge in advanced for tickets!).

At Veggie Planet, you can get your meal of their organic pizza dough, sticky coconut rice, or brown rice; go for the pizza dough on your first try though, it's their specialty. I had their soup (cauliflower soup) and salad (Greek salad) combo--the soup was so-so but the salad was amazingly fresh and crisp. Also, try their daily dessert also (it's usually vegan!).

PLUS! This Saturday the Harvard Vegetarian Society (VEGITAS) and Harvard Law School's Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) are having a meeting at Veggie Planet at 11:00am. We'd love you to join!

Veggie Planet
47 Palmer Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
11:30 A.M. to 10:30 P.M., 7 days a week.

love<3