Vegetarians With Money Speak Out!
Nicole writes: “I'm a vegetarian with money to drop on a fancy dinner. I'm tired of these nicer restaurants with one or two vegetarian options on the menu or meals during which I’m constantly requesting modifications to other dishes. I want choices and I'm willing to spend. And if I may throw in two more desires: non-vegetarian friendly (maybe steak?) and located on a bus line (the last one is not as important).”
Nicole, do you know about the vegetarian tasting menus at La Belle Vie? Five or eight courses, and the preparations are just as elaborate and thrilling as the meat-centered cuisine. Heartland in St. Paul also runs a nightly vegetarian tasting menu, the “flora” one; I’m a confirmed carnivore and I even get it occasionally because it’s more appealing than the fauna one. Spoonriver is the natural vegetarian choice because of their true focus on plant-based foods, but they also have steak on the menu. In terms of transportation, La Belle Vie is on about half of the cities’ bus-lines, as it’s right across from the Walker. All those restaurants have lots of meaty options as well, in case you’ve got a meat-centric date. Other vegetarian strongholds? French Meadow, Broder’s Pasta Bar, Jasmine 26, and Café Brenda.
Those are my best ideas: Anybody got anything to add?
Posted on Friday, February 6, 2009 in Permalink
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Reader Comments:
What about 112 Eatery? Or Rice Paper?
112 Eatery is not vegetarian friendly - they simply remove the proteins from their main courses rather than create real vegetarian entrees.
Saffron is extremely vegetarian friendly - their Valentine's Menu even has a vegetarian tasting option.
Chambers Kitchen usually also always has a unique vegetarian tofu entree and is on the bus lines.
Heidi's has a nice vegetarian entree if you just want to go once... they have never changed it since opening so trips two+ are a bit boring...
I agree with Nicole. I keep reading and hearing about the virtues of the vegetarian diet, yet few restaurants or their patrons, are following suit.
Cafe 28 in Linden Hills has some really fabulous vegetarian dishes. They always do a vegetarian pizza and they have amazing tofu tacos. I highly recommend it. Pizza Luce is consistent and fun with lots of veggie options and variety.
I'd second some of these suggestions: Absolutely, Cafe 28 and Saffron and Rice Paper. I had no idea about Chambers, thanks for that one! Rice Paper, in addition to being vegetarian friendly, is vegan-friendly -- and if I knew more about macrobiotic I'd say they're even macrobiotic friendly.
In fact, I think there's some argument to be made for Rice Paper as the healthiest restaurant in the cities -- the last time I was at Rice Paper I think I was the only person in the joint who wasn't a Yoga teacher.
Another thought: Broder's Pasta Bar, they don't have steak, but do have great vegetarian options, especially if you eat cheese.
Cafe Barbette in Uptown is always big with the vegetarian crowd, but I can see how if you went there frequently it might get dull.
Thanks everyone for the thoughts so far!