Vej Naturals coming to 195 Elm St!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

To update the prior discussion on the subject, according to their web site, Vej Naturals will be moving to the currently-Joey's-Thai (and formerly a number of other places) at 195 Elm St. No opening date is set yet, but we can hope it's soon!

You can also follow them on Facebook.

Once they are open, I will call for a meet-up or two to check out the new digs because I already know the people and food are awesome.

[So what should the difference be between the "dining" and "restaurants" tags here?]

Comments

[ron_newman]

The tags really should be combined and then maybe split back out into more useful subcategories. Nobody has ever volunteered to do this (well, someone did, but she backed out). See also the comments here.

[ron_newman]

Restaurants that have been at that location in my memory: Joey's Thai Cafe, Benjapon's, Fusion Express. There were others before that -- anyone remember them?

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

I don't recall the name exactly but before Fusion there was a family run Italian eatery with sandwiches and low priced dinners. They were really nice and the food was good. It was a shame when they went out. I believe that it had a female name like "Lucy's" or "Jessica's" or something like that.

[ron_newman]

That rings a bell. I think the name was Gia's.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was it. Good memory!

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm sad to hear that Joey's is going away (I shall have to walk at least 2 blocks farther to get Thai! WOE), but I am intrigued by something going in that is Not Another Damn Burrito Joint.

[ron_newman]

"2 blocks further" -- meaning the Thai Kitchen on Mass. Ave at Day St?

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Probably Sugar & Spice in Porter.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Yup!

[ceo]

Argh, so much for my son's current favorite source of pad thai. (He really likes pad thai, and it's his special treat when he gets babysat.)

That location is almost as cursed as the Carberry's/O'Natural's/etc/etc/ spot nearby.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

this seems to be that they're buying the building, though, as opposed to the business failing. Possibly Joey's will reopen elsewhere?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I read it that they are buying the business.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Joey's has been doing fine, but these people are buying the building--it's not a "curse" here but its opposite.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Where did you read that they are buying the building? All I see is that they're buying the business.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I liked Joey Thai, it wasn't as good as sugar and spice but they delivered and it was pretty reasonably priced.

It sucks that Elm is such a dead zone, that area is the best place in the world to live.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

While I don't wish failure on them, I can't say that I'll be happy to see them. Looking at their menus, I'll remain happy that there are places I want to eat nearby, and I'll be sad about the loss of a pretty good, and very convenient, Thai place.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

Except for the fact that they serve vegan food I am not sure that you cannot perhaps get much of what they make elsewhere. I think that they need a more interesting menu if they hope to get the non-vegans to eat there, which I think will be essential for them to survive.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Agreed about needing business, but they were already getting lots of non-vegan and the reason they're opening here is that they had way more customers than they could handle at their tiny space in Oak Grove. So hopefully the additional income will balance what are no doubt much larger expenses.

Besides, if interesting food was needed to be successful, Blue Shirt wouldn't have lasted two months. I've been to VN a few times and I thought the food was excellent. I never did try their pizza, though, and look forward to the opportunity to do so locally.

[I was going to comment on the menu, but afaict, they don't any up on their site right now aside from the special events and catering, which do not really reflect the everyday menu. Are you seeing links that I'm missing?]

[808.livejournal.com]

FWIW, the new vegan restaurant in Watertown (Red Lentil) is doing really well. I drive by it daily on my way home and it is often close to full. On Fridays and Saturdays it always has people standing and waiting. The place has only been around a few months. So I'm wondering if there is untapped demand for vegan food around these parts.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

I am not anti-vegan or anything I was just wondering about their broader appeal. But they seem to be successful and folks here have nothing but good things to say, so I am optimistic.

We need some diversity in the Davis restaurant scene. It's pretty bland now.

And yeah, I am kind of amazed by Blue Shirt.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I am not sure that you cannot perhaps get much of what they make elsewhere

I was just wondering about this statement, because it doesn't fit my experience with them, and more to the point, if you saw their menus (except the catering one, which is oddly boring) and are telling me that you can get all that elsewhere, I wanna know where! :)

Totally agreed about diversity and I like that VN is more different from what we've already got than any eatery that has opened in the neighborhood in some time. Also, the veg restaurant scene in Boston has generally sucked until quite recently, so it's nice to see that changing.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

I did see their menu quite a while back but I admit that I used their catering menu to refresh my bad memory. So my comment was largely based on that, which I guess is not representative.

I am always amazed when I travel to the West coast how much more interesting and diverse the food is out there (except for the pizza). So I wonder, do we get what we deserve here (IE no market) or are restaurateurs simply misreading Boston's tastes? Geeze, even tiny little towns up in VT have places that have great bread (w&w/o gluten), vegetarian and vegan offerings. What gives? Hopefully this will change.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I've been there, I am not a vegan, and I enjoyed their food quite a bit (especially the sloppy joes and the strawberry soy ice cream shakes) though I hope they still provide a la carte options (hard to eat $25 worth of food in one sitting...)

[arrowintwolakes.livejournal.com]

I guess my friends and I are the only ones excited about this. Usually one has to go down to Union to get good vegan fare and though I'm not a vegan a number of my friends are. As for Thai food, Sweet Ginger is both incredible and they deliver to Davis Square. While I'd always meant to try Joey's, I don't have any attachment.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Nah, there are plenty of people who are excited about it, some of whom posted in the previous discussion. Other people just like to rain on parades. :)

[mihmo.livejournal.com]

I am sad to see Joey's go but I am EXTREMELY excited to hear Vej Naturals is coming to Davis so you are not alone!

Sad, but happy...

[sundaisy-summer.livejournal.com]

I'm sad to see Joey's go, any word on whether they are relocating somewhere else?

I'm happy to see Vej Naturals come to Davis though...

[ron_newman]

Before opening, they have changed their name from Vej Naturals to Pulse Café, (Further discussion should go here.)