Website
I've been meaning to go to Eb & Bean, a frozen yogurt spot with vegan options, for quite a while, since seeing it pop up on Instagram now and then. We were going to go there while on the east side meeting up with friends for lunch (at Next Level Burger!), but one of them pointed out there was a similar option just down the street from where we were on Hawthorne - The Maple Parlor. So we all headed there instead for dessert, satisfying a couple of vegetarians and our omnivore friends.
The Maple Parlor tries to cater towards as many dietary needs as possible, with everything clearly labeled as vegan, gluten-free, paleo, or whatever.
Genre: Frozen yogurt
Price: I don't recall specifically and it's not on the website, but they're priced by dish size, rather than weight like conventional fro yo places. I think they were priced something like $2.50, $3.50, and $4.50, with the medium being a quite reasonable size.
Setting: Self-serving frozen yogurt and toppings.
What we tried: I tried two of the vegan flavors - almond cherry and cashew maple, with waffle cone pieces, chocolate chips, and a chocolate sauce. Abe liked the mango carrot, and our friends enjoyed the non-vegan yogurt flavors.
Overall impression: All very good! While I could definitely tell the yogurt I had wasn't dairy based, it was pretty good. Having a mix of bases - all clearly labeled - makes this a place with something for everyone.
Would I take my parents?*: Definitely!
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
Website
In the midst of the 22-day veg challenge, and trying and wanting to make more vegan choices (hmmm, I like that phrasing - to go all or nothing and "be vegan" can be daunting; to make vegan choices, moment by moment, choice by choice, is perhaps more doable), it seemed like the perfect time to explore a vegan alternative to something I love dearly, cheese.
Cheese. It's a big reason I haven't gone vegan before. Not only is it delicious and part of many comfort foods, but it's almost always a big part of the vegetarian options at mainstream restaurants. Finding a vegan alternative to cheese is a must. And processed vegan cheeses (like daiya) just really don't do it for me.
The shop is located on the edge of downtown Portland, just a couple blocks from the Goose Hollow MAX station (which we did take in - street parking looked like it's available, but not plentiful). I'd heard about it shortly after they opened this summer, and I can't believe I put it off and missed out on it for so long!
Genre: Artisan cheese, deli dishes including their cheeses
Price: Cheese plates: each for $5, 5 for $23, 6 for $27, or 7 for $31 (and they're quite generous servings of each!). $5.50 to $13.50 for other small dishes, entrees, and sandwiches. Wine, beer, and other drinks also available.
Setting: Home-y deli
What we tried:
Obviously we had to get a cheese platter and try a variety. I honesty can't completely recall which ones we got (other than than the feta which Abe really wanted to try, we just asked asked the waitress to include her favorites. This was in partbe cause they were out of a several - due to their recent move to a bigger manufacturing facility - but also just because why not.)
I think, from left to right:
Mediterranean feta, macadamia and cashew camembert, spicy white cheddar, roasted red pepper surrise, peppercorn brie.
My favorites, by far, were the camembert, followed by the one on the far right (which I think is brie, but is the one I'm least sure I'm remembering correctly). They were really amazing. Just like any fairly mild spreadable or cream cheese (the camembert seemed like Laughing Cow - yes, I have very low brow tastes in my cheese, I didn't even recognize half the names of the cheeses here). Really, really delicious! The only one I didn't like was the feta, but I'm not a fan of regular feta either.
The cheese plate came with some bread and crackers - surprisingly the cheese portions were very generous, but the carbs seemed a little stingy to go along with it! Fortunately they gave us a refill on that. We also got the beer cheese with sourdough bread - taste and texture were right on!
Abe had ordered one of the specials (to be joining the regular menu, I believe), a club sandwich. Sadly, we eventually got news that they were out of the cheese to make it (again, supply issues were due to the relocation of the manufacturing spot, but that's done now so shouldn't be an issue going forward). But, to make up for it, they gave us a couple bon bons. I'd say the cheese was better vegan cheese than the bon bons were vegan chocolates/candies, but that's not to say I'd turn them down!
Overall impression: Amazing! Abe has instructions to stop by sometime soon (it's reasonably on his way home from school) to pick up cheese to bring home.
Would I take my parents?*: Yes. While the concept "vegan cheese" is a bit outside of their comfort zone, I think they'd be willing to give it a shot for my sake, and I'd bet they'd find something to enjoy.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
Website
Departure isn't a wholly vegan restaurant, but it is extremely veg-friendly. In addition to the regular menu, there is an entirely separate vegan menu (as well as a separate gluten-free menu). It's not quite as long as the regular menu, but it is quite extensive!
Set on a high floor downtown, in the summer I'm told a table on the deck gives you a wonderful view of the city. We didn't really have that view indoors, but it's still an interesting vibe and good food.
Genre: Asian small plates
Price: $12 cocktails, $6 to $14 per plate on vegan menu (up to $33 on regular menu) - you'll probably want two plates per person as a full dinner
Setting: Boat-like architecture, music, upscale/sleek atmosphere
What we tried:
For drinks, Abe and I ordered the two mocktails, to see which we liked better - I loved the strawberry cooler, and he the Thai basil sipper (both were really good, though). My MIL got the indochine - which contains creme de cassis, which I've never heard of before but is a fruity (berry) liquor and the cocktail was delicious.
Food - from left to right, top to bottom:
- Shaved collards salad, Minzuna & apple salad, Edamame
- Green beans, Sweet potato tempura roll, Salt & pepper tempeh
- Hand cut rice noodles, Kimchee fried rice, Brussells sprouts
Our favorites:
Mine: Tempura rolls
Abe's: Shaved collards salad
MIL's: Brussell sprouts
I think we all like those top three a lot. Nothing was particularly bad, although the tempeh was may just so-so. To me, everything was more spicy than I'd like - unlike much spicy food, there actually was still flavor, the spicy didn't just cover up everything, but nonetheless my mouth was burning by the end of the meal! We definitely ordered too much, each dish is more than an appetizer, but definitely less than an entree. I'd recommend going with a group so you can try as many options as possible!
Overall impression: A fun place, I'd like to go back in the summer to see the view from the deck. I was surprised by how much I actually did like the food considering how far outside my norm it is, and so spicy. It's a good place to take a variety of tastes - with a full vegan menu, gluten-free menu, and normal menu, we suggested my MIL bring us back with my SIL and her boyfriend sometime to accommodate all of our needs.
Would I take my parents?*: Probably not. I actually think they might like the food (it's outside of their comfort zone a smidge, but not that much), but they would not be thrilled with the atmosphere. It's definitely a noisy, more "club" type of vibe.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
Website
After the Peacock Lane Run, Abe, Karey, and I headed to Papa G's for dinner. The guy serving us noticed Karey's race shirt (from last year's Holiday Half), and mentioned that he'd been thinking of doing some kind of race to keep up his running. I think we talked him into doing a half marathon some time soon!
Genre: Deli, comfort food
Price: $2.50 - $4.75 drinks, $7.95 - $10.95 entrees
Setting: Rustic-y, casual diner with counter service.
What we tried:
For drinks, I had the hibiscus cooler, Abe got the limeade, and Karey tried the kefir. I tried a sip of the kefir - it was interesting, a bit tangy like yogurt but not overly so. I don't think I'd want to drink a whole glass of it, but it wasn't that bad!
I got the chili with cornbread. Unlike many restaurants, the chili wasn't too spicy - just spicy enough. Abe got the country plate, and Karey got the nacho salad. Everyone enjoyed their meals!
Overall impression: A very Portland kind of place! Very crunchy vibe in both atmosphere and food. Food is good, but kind of out there in terms of using veg substitutes (lots of tempeh or tofu in dishes that would otherwise have meat - I think naturally-veg stuff is more accessible to non-vegetarians).
Would I take my parents?*: Maybe. I think they could find food they'd enjoy (though perhaps a bit out of their comfort zone), but the vibe is very Portland and perhaps not quite what they'd enjoy.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
Website
Genre: Bar, with some hippie bowl influence on the food menu
Price: $8 - $10 cocktails, $2 - $4 beers/cans $2 - $5 apps and sides, $7 - $9 entrees
Setting: Vintage-y, rustic-y bar
There are vintage-type posters and things. A dimly lit (so, apologies, the photos are even worse quality than usual!), definitely bar atmosphere.
There was a lamp on the counter where we sat that Abe thinks might legitimately have once been his dad's! It looks like one he had when he was a kid, and his dad got rid of it a couple years ago in a move.
What we tried:
To drink, I had the Pioneer (gin and blood orange soda), and Abe had a Cock-n-bull ginger beer. Both good!
For dinner, I got the caprese panini. It's made with Chao cheese, which I don't think I've ever had before - it melted well and had a nice texture! I'm always a bit wary of vegan cheese, I think Daiya is the most common in restaurants that have a vegan option and I've not been impressed with it, but I liked this one.
Abe tried the Eastern bowl when he was there with me, and the Thai bowl on a more recent visit with friends (plus the Blenheim's ginger beer on the second visit). He liked both. The Eastern bowl has nutritional yeast breaded tofu - a twist on more typical tofu preparation in bowls.
Overall impression: It was good! Fun drinks, but reasonably healthy (yet interesting) vegan food options.
Would I take my parents?*: Heck no. But primarily because of the bar aspect. Foodwise, while it wouldn't be their favorite, I think they could find something reasonably acceptable.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
On our way back from Multnomah Falls, we were planning to go to Vege Thai in SE near Belmont, but as we looked for it realized that it had closed since initially making the restaurant list. We quickly did a google search for vegan restaurants, and found Paradox Cafe nearby. They're not fully vegan, but definitely caters to it.
Website
Genre: Diner, comfort food
Price: $3 - 5 sides, $7 - 9 entrees
Setting: Quirky diner
The main restaurant area is a bit retro, and the bathrooms are more Portland-esque. The one I went into was an outerspace theme, and Abe thinks he remembers the other one being an under the sea theme.
What we tried:
Abe got the Firehouse (vegan) burger, with tots on the side, all of which he liked. I tried the Belmont combo (a breakfast platter) with pancakes for my carb, and breakfast potatoes and tofu for my sides. My plate ended up unintentionally very beige, but I enjoyed it.
Overall impression: If I recall correctly the service was a tad slow, but the food was good. It's a bit out of the way for us, but if in the neighborhood I'd definitely want to go again to try different things.
Would I take my parents?*: Eh, yeah. There's nothing too far out there that they couldn't find something to try (especially since there are beef burgers included). The vibe is definitely Portlandia, but again, not super far out there and too weird.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
August's restaurant (and our lunch after the Underground Tour) was actually a food cart, The Whole Bowl. They have multiple locations, but we went to the downtown spot, where it's part of a whole block of food carts, between 9th and 10th and Alder and Washington.
Website
Genre: Bowls
Price: $5.50 (small), $6.00 (large)
Setting: Food cart
What we tried: The only thing they have, of course! I got the small and Abe got the large.
The bowl is a rice/beans dish, along the lines of Cafe Yumm's main product. Though fully customizable, by default it contains rice, beans, avocado, salsa, olives, sour cream, cheddar, cilantro, and a special sauce. It's all vegetarian, and can be made vegan depending on what you leave off.
I got mine without avocado or sour cream, because those things are gross, but kept everything else (so I supposed I cheated for purposes of this project, it wasn't fully vegan - but you can get it vegan!). Abe got everything on his.
Overall impression:
It's fine. It's not really particularly unique - Cafe Yumm and plenty of other restaurants have a similar bowl, either as a primary or one of their options. The sauce is good, but also something along the same lines as other places have. But if you're looking for something at the food carts, it's certainly a healthy, tasty, and veganizable option.
For this particular location, the food cart block doesn't have much seating, so the best bet for eating is probably what we did, going kitty-corner to O'Bryant Square.
Would I take my parents?*: Probably not. My mom might like it, but I don't think my dad would care for it at all.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
Bonus: After lunch, since we'd taken the MAX into downtown, we realized we were walking near Blue Star Donuts, so decided to pop in to try a couple. If you're in downtown and wanting the Portland donut experience, I'd probably recommend this over Voodoo (while Voodoo donuts are very good, they're not worth the line that's at the main location 24/7 - I went there once as part of a bachelorette party, and we were in line for like an hour at 2 am; but I'd recommend over either, the NE Voodoo locations, as I think I like their donuts better but there's rarely a significant line there (from my experience and what I've heard)).
Blue Star is a more artisan vibe, while Voodoo is a more hipster vibe, and I think that's reflected in their taste, if that makes any sense. Voodoo tastes more like junk food than a treat, which is proper, I believe, in a donut.
Our visit to July's restaurant, The Sudra, was actually for my mother-in-law's birthday, her pick. (So no photos, since with family.) It's an all-vegan, Indian food in NE Portland, on Glisan.
Website
Genre: Indian
Price: Plates $9 lunch or $13 dinner, bowls $10, sides $3
Setting: Very urban. It's on a block with a few other restaurants, most of which (including the Sudra) have garage doors open (at least in the summer), with the seating being wooden tables on the sidewalk. I'm rather curious as to what their setup is during the winter, because there was extremely limited space indoors.
What we tried:
We all got one of the sharbats to drink - a flavored syrup in sparkling water. I believe I had strawberry. Really good.
I got the poori plate (poori = a type of bread, so obviously that was my choice); Abe got the pakora plate (I usually love pakora, but this one included pickled broccoli, which didn't sound like something even deep frying could make me like). The plates generally all come with a small serving of the main, something with beans, and something with greens.
I didn't mind any of my dish, but I think it was a little on the spicy side (for me, which isn't really that much). The pakoras weren't of a style that was my favorite (a more doughy than crispy style of breading - the kind I like is at Swagat, if you're familiar with it). Abe really liked all of the items. Though I didn't love all the components, I liked the plate/mezza style of options to be able to try a variety.
Overall impression: It had a very Portland vibe. I'm realizing I don't really love all Indian food, mostly I just love the Indian food at Swagat. So it wouldn't be at the top of my list, I'd nonetheless be willing to go there again.
Would I take my parents?*: No. The vibe and the menu might be intriguing, but I don't think they'd actually enjoy either.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
A.N.D. Cafe is in SE Portland, serving mostly-vegan all-vegetarian food (with plentiful gluten-free options). It's slightly rustic, cozy (slightly small, but also in vibe) space with artwork on the walls. I think we had a short wait, but not too long (even though it was for brunch on Memorial Day), though some larger groups had a bit more of a wait.
(Uh, yeah, this was in May. Slightly behind on these monthly posts...)
Website
Genre: Cafe, comfort food
Price: Entrees $7 - $11, sides $2 - $4, drinks $2.50 - $7
Setting: Classic cafe, with a little industrial rustic vibe
What we tried: I had a pomegranate "kimosa" (juice with kombucha), and Abe had "the remedy", a mix of coconut water, kombucha, vanilla, and orange juice. His sounded slightly strange to me, but we actually both preferred it of the two (though the other was good, too).
I got the blue corn waffle with banana. Good - hard to go wrong with a waffle!
Abe got the hashtastic (a skillet dish, basically), and a side of meatloaf. I was definitely not a fan of the textures of his items, but he enjoyed them.
Overall impression: Beyond the basic breakfast/cafe staples, there are a fair number of dishes that are either a bit hippy-er than I prefer, or just fake options that are very likely to not be good textures in my opinion. But I do enjoy the vibe of the place, if I was up for a waffle while Abe (as usual) wanted something more adventurous, it'd totally be an option.
Would I take my parents?*: Probably not. Beyond the waffles, not stuff that's necessarily "normal" to them. I think my mom might like some of the veggie-based dishes, but I don't think there's much my dad would go for.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
We didn't put a lot of planning into this trip to Bend (we had it scheduled for a while, but only tentatively until fairly close to the week of), but we intended to focus on three things, essentially the things that make Bend just a version of Portland: being outdoors, drinking beer, and eating vegan food.
The last actually proved the most challenging, simply because drinking beer requires eating some food at the beer establishments, so we basically spent a couple days totally stuffed and didn't go to everywhere we planned. But here's what we did manage to fit in.
Mother's Juice Cafe
This was our first stop after checking into the motel*, and though the food menu looked good (not all veg, but vegetarian options plentiful and clearly marked), we just wanted something to tide us over until the first brewery. Instead, we looked to the smoothies and juices.
Unlike many places which commonly use a yogurt base for smoothies, the majority here are dairy-free. I had a small Ida Red - cider, berries, apple, banana, mango sorbet. It must have been the sorbet that really made it creamy (especially considering it didn't have dairy). Really very good. I'm kind of picky about smoothies - I don't like "weird" combinations or ingredients, but there were several fruit focused smoothies that sounded good to choose from.
Abe had one of the juices, Fuel - beet, cucumber, spinach, ginger, lime. And wow could you taste the ginger! Even when set on the table, I felt like there were ginger fumes still wafting towards me.
The setting here is a converted house, with lots of cafe style seating options inside. We hung out for a little bit on a comfy couch to plan the rest of the day.
Next Level Burger
This is a 100% plant-based burger joint! (That's opening a Portland location soon!) The employees made sure we knew this when we walked in and started perusing the menu ("Did you know our menu is all plant-based?" "Yep, that's why we're here!")
I had the original Next Level burger, while Abe tried the Tangy Tempeh burger, along with sharing fries and a fountain drink. I really liked the NL burger - both texture and taste can really vary with veggie burgers, but this one hit the right spot on both counts. The tempeh burger, not so much for me - something weird about the texture - but Abe liked it.
They're all about sustainability here, with compostable and recycling products (I think there wasn't even a "trash" receptacle at all). The fountain drinks are Maine Root natural sodas, plus there are other options like kombucha and raw juices.
Sarah's Raw & Vegan Cafe
While primarily serving smoothies and juices, they had a selection of food, as well as selling other local products (e.g., lip balms, sun screen, etc.). Also in a converted house, it shares space with a chiropractor, and the entrance to both is in the back. We found parking in the somewhat limited space in front, but we then found there is a small parking lot behind the house (entrance on Staats St., I think).
They are beyond sustainable here, with the only disposable item needed a straw (and of course, if we were local we could have brought out own glass straws). They charge a deposit for the glass jars (though we ate in so didn't need to), and even had cloth napkins/towels for use instead of disposals.
We were helped by Sarah herself when we stopped by for breakfast on our way out of town; I had a strawberry banana (again, anything fruity is usually good with me), and Abe had the Athletic Endurance smoothie. Though I don't love all of the super-alternative health stuff (allegedly medicinal smoothie blends, juice cleanses, etc.), I can definitely support other aspects of their business model like smoothies in general and their dedication to eco-friendliness.
Kababa
Though not as hippie as our other non-brewery meals, I'll throw this in here so it's mentioned. This is a local middle eastern restaurant, with plenty of veg options. We did the mezze for two, choosing: hummous, babaganouj, curried tempeh salad, falafel, karnabeet, and spinach pie. So much food! All very good (I didn't love everything, but that's on my palate-of-a-12-year-old, not the restaurant).
*Side note: We stayed at the Day's Inn, as one of the cheaper options. I'm pretty sure I've stayed at locations of the franchise before without issue. But this one was a little iffy. Felt safe and clean enough if price is the biggest factor, but wouldn't return there myself.
La Vida Veggie is a cute little place in Beaverton (just south of Hwy 10, near the pool and high school), in a converted house. It's all at least vegetarian, and I think all items can be made vegan (it looks like cheese is actually the only non-vegan component, so they have regular and vegan options for that); plus some raw choices. It'd be a great place to take kids, with books and board games available to use. (We looked through a book there called "101 Places You Gotta See Before You're 12" that we're seriously considering buying to use as a checklist/scrapbook thing for our hypothetical kids.)
Website
Genre: Mexican-inspired, some raw
Price: Sides and smaller items $3.00 - $4.50, entrees and salads $7.50 - $9.50, juices and smoothies $5.00 - $8.50
Setting: Casual and homey, a little hippie
What we tried: We started with a pina colada smoothie for me, and a kombucha (on tap!) for Abe. I think I actually like the kombucha slightly better (and I don't definitely don't like all kombuchas), but they were both good.
For lunch I had the chipotle walnut chickpea burger, it was a little softer/crumblier than typical for veggie burgers, but good and I loved the (homemade?) bread it was served on. It appears everything is served with a salad, which had a nice light dressing.
Abe had the walnut meat tacos: I tried a bite and didn't completely love the sauce but the texture of the walnut filling was great - I don't think I've ever seen walnut-based meats before, but it definitely works and makes a lot of sense.
There were some desserts that looked really good though we didn't take the time to try them that day, we will definitely be back for them at some point!
Overall impression: Awesome! It's near where we live, reasonably priced, and some really great options.
Would I take my parents?*: Definitely! Even though it's all veg, it includes plenty of not-too-far-out-there options, and I think having the option for dairy cheese would help appeal to omnivores. They would definitely find it a darling place and like the books, games, and overall vibe.
Edited to add: We did end up taking my parents when they visited in July, and they loved it!
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
Van Hahn is a Vietnamese restaurant, all vegetarian (and mostly vegan, but not all, in my understanding), run as a nonprofit by a Buddhist temple. They have tofu options plus a variety of mock meats. It's in SE on Division, just a little west of 205, so we met up with a couple friends, L and J, who live in that part of town, for lunch on Sunday.
Website None, but Happy Cow has some menu photos.
Genre: Vietnamese
Price: Drinks/appetizers $1.99 - $3.99, entrees $7.99 - $8.50, desserts $2.99
Setting: It's a casual setup, in a former house; the eat-in area is fairly small, I think maybe 5 or 6 tables. There's also a deck that appears to offer outdoor seating in nice weather (unlike the day we were there, with a ridiculous windstorm!)
What we tried: J and I both got the broccoli, me with tofu, him the combo (all the mock meats). He also got the pickled lemonade. L got the green beans with tofu. Abe got the special noodles (banh hoi), and a taro smoothie.
The taro smoothie was amazing! I liked my entree too. Served with rice, it was just broccoli and tofu in a sweet-ish sauce, a simply but satisfying stir fry.
The mock meats were... interesting. Honestly, in my haven't-tasted-meat-in-15-years opinion, they are really quite similar in texture and appearance to the real thing. Not so much you couldn't readily tell the difference, but at a glance or first bite, a satisfactory substitute. If, that is, you want a substitute and to feel like you're eating meat. I do not. But if you're an omnivore that wants to cut back, or transitioning into a vegetarian diet, these are probably a very good option. They were close enough, for my senses, though, to be a bit freaky.
Overall impression:
The food was good. I don't know if I'd say it's spectacularly better than any other Asian restaurant, but it was good. The mock meats were of a high caliber, if that's something that appeals to you.
I really appreciate and want to support their mission, both the non-profit/temple connection and being exclusively vegetarian. And what I've read from multiple sources online is that the people working in the restaurant are volunteers from the temple. So to truly complain about their service seems extremely rude and disrespectful.
But, there were difficulties with the service. We had to flag someone down (or even go to the kitchen doorway) to get their attention to order, get boxes, and get the check. At no point did they refill our water, or check on how things were. The server didn't speak fluent English, so asking for additional information about anything was hard, and some of the descriptions on the menu weren't quite complete or consistent (for example, some items said "mock pork", others just said "pork" - we were fairly sure there wasn't any actual meat in the restaurant, but it'd have been nice for everything to be labeled as such).
I understand that running a successful business isn't their goal, so quality customer service might not seem crucial; but it seems to be that having better customer service would help them promote their mission, and still be worth investing in. I don't think I would ever eat in again, but would certainly be open to getting take-out if I were nearby.
Would I take my parents?*: No. Any Asian food genres aren't really their thing, combined with the service-related issues, it wouldn't be a comfortable place for them.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
My FIL offered to take us out to dinner last weekend to celebrate my birthday, and I thought about suggesting Swagat, as that's oddly becoming one of my favorites, but we were just there on my actual birthday. Instead, still in the mood for Indian food, we figured it would be a good chance to try the Indian restaurant on our list for the year: Curry Leaf. It's not all vegan - there are a fair number of cheese based items in this genre - but it is all vegetarian, and many that aren't inherently vegan have the option to be modified to be. (And since we were with my FIL, I felt too conspicuous to take pictures, but Indian food isn't all that photogenic, anyway.)
Website
Genre: Indian
Price: $4 (some appetizers and soups) to $13. Most entrees $10 to $11.
Setting: Casual dine-in, located on the edge of a shopping center in NW (Bethany area). Their website says it's a combo with a grocery store; I didn't see any grocery store goods (but the restaurant was to one side from a corner entrance, maybe if you went down the other side it was down there?), but it did have that combined store/restaurant, sort of deli-like atmosphere.
What we tried:
Sadly they were out of the onion pakora that I initially ordered, so instead tried gobi manchurian bites, which are battered and fried cauliflower, covered in a spicy sauce. Without the sauce, I think I would have liked these (then it would have essentially been pakora, which I love - deep fried foods while you'll also eating veggies, what's not to love?), but the sauce was too spicy for my tastes. We also had some masal vada, which were fine.
For entrees, I had the masala dosa, Abe had the spinach dosa, and FIL had the vegetable kurma. The dosas were huge! Like, maybe 2 feet across (at Swagat, I think they're closer to 18" wide). I tried both dosas, and like the dosa part, but the filling was also spicier than I'm used to.
Granted I have limited exposure to this type of food to compare it to, but I thought all of the foods here were spicier, which for some people might be good but isn't to me. Combined with the rest of the experience, not impressed.
Overall impression:
The food tasted fine (albeit spicy), but the service was not great. When not ready to order when first ask, the guy acted annoyed, and after that the service was really really slow. At one point we were clearly done eating and waiting for boxes and the check, and both the servers (owners?) were standing within eyesight chatting with someone (not a customer), paying no attention to us.
I presume it's a family business, which I would like to support, and I understand that means they might not have as consistent standards and policies as a larger place might. But a family business is still a business, and needs to be run as such! Chatting to friends or family members who stopped by doesn't excuse you from paying attention to paying customers.
If we lived in that part of town and it was the closest Indian restaurant, I might be willing to stop by for take-out, but when we have an Indian restaurant closer to home (Swagat) at which we've always had both great food and excellent service, I don't foresee coming back here, even for the sake of supporting a vegetarian restaurant or local family business.
Would I take my parents?*: Heck no. I've been trying to talk my parents into going to Swagat, and I think I will take them there next time they're in town, but Swagat provides a good enough overall experience to offset the potential discomfort that they might have with unfamiliar foods. A poor restaurant experience plus food they might not like simply isn't something I'll ask them to subject themselves to.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
After the stair climb race, we used a cool-down walk to head over to Petunia's Pies and Pastries for January's vegan restaurant, while we were already downtown. It's actually not only all vegan, but also gluten-free.
I had never heard of Petunia's until we got a gift card for there for our wedding, so we finally got around to using that. And fortunately we had a few dollars left on the gift card, so we'll have to come back.
Website
Genre: Bakery items and pastries, cafe and comfort food entrees
Price: $2.25 (many drinks)/$2.75 (cookies) to $9.50 (some entrees). Most treats $3.75 and most entrees $7 - $8.
Setting: Cutesy, vintagey bakery. Lots of pink and white, and the employees wear vintage-style smocks.
What we tried:
We started with a shared dessert, while our entrees were being prepared. Abe asked what their most popular item was, and they said the salted caramel cookie bar. I can see why this is popular, it's definitely rich and delicious! I'm not always a fan of salted caramel - the salted can be too strong, but not in this case. I'm also not always a fan of sharing a dessert, but this was sufficiently decadent to not mind too much that I only got half.
And then for actual lunch Abe had the Porky's veggie BBQ bowl and I got the Belgian waffle. The bowl was ok (though not my favorite kind of dish, personally), and also a little spicy. Even Abe found it spicy, so it really was. Waffles were great, as just about any waffles are, but really great in that I didn't notice any gluten-free tells. If anything, they seemed slightly like whole-wheat based waffles might be, but still nice and fluffy.
Overall impression: I'm pretty astonished at these items being vegan and gluten-free! Had I not known, I never would have guessed. They also did a nice job with presentation, fitting in with the overall vibe of the place. The entrees (well, his, and they clearly held off on mine to serve them together) took a little while, but I think they were worth it. I found it slightly odd that they served three fourths of a waffle, surely that's not the actual shape of the waffle iron? But I didn't even finish the three sections as it was, so oh well.
Absolutely not a question that we'll be going back! I especially want to try more of the baked goods.
Would I take my parents?*: Definitely! And in-laws, particularly Abe's dad and his girlfriend, as she's gluten-free. For being vegan, the entrees don't seem overly weird, as they sometimes can. I could see my parents enjoying lunch here, plus anyone would love the desserts.
*Scale: Heck no. No. Probably not. Maybe. Eh, yeah. Yes. Definitely.
