your favourite vegetarian options

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

I'm a little frustrated with vegetarian food options at the 'regular' restaurants we normally go to in the area (aside from most all of the ethnic restaurants, which usually have great options). Do you guys have a favourite restaurant with creative vegetarian options? I'm tired of the same veg options over and over again, no matter where we go. (I'm not a fan of pasta or mushrooms). I understand this puts me in the 'finicky' category, but I'm trying to circumvent my growing food apathy by asking for suggestions. Thanks for any help.

Comments

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

The Diesel.

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

laugh...fair enough. I've eaten enough diesel sandwiches over the years though that i guess it's not doing it for me anymore. i made *myself* a cheese and avocado sandwich today, so i want somewhere that offers things i wouldn't normally be able to make myself.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

I figgered.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Sorry...I couldn't imagine being a vegetarian. But hey, more power to you...

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

heh.. likewise, there are some animals I can't imagine eating. And I'd be very unhappy without cheese, so somewhere a vegan is shaking their head at both of us.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

*giggle*

[inthatoneway.livejournal.com]

I just ate at Sauces, and about half the options were veggie, not to mention very, very good. Za's on Mass Ave in Arlington has good gourmet veggie pizza. Johnny D's or Renne's are good for brunch. And of course pretty much all of the Asian and Indian restaraunts have lots of veggie options.

And you're not finicky, you just want food that tastes good!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/]

If you're looking for the "fancy" experience, I've had decent and creative vegetarian food at both Gargoyle's and Sabur (up Holland near Teele; might or might not be covered by your "ethnic food" disclaimer, but worth mentioning).

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

Another "fancy" place with good options is Dali, at the corner of Washington and Beacon, near the S'ville/Cambridge border. It's tapas, and there aren't a ton of veggie options, but there's more than enough to make a good meal and then come back and get different stuff next time.

Other upscale places include Oleana, Harvest, and EVOO. They all do the "organic, locally-grown" thing to varying degrees, too. (I can't remember if most of the veg options are pasta, but if they are, at least they're creative pasta. Also, the menus change regularly, so it's not like every time you go you have to get the same dish.)

Can you tell I have the same problem? :)

[roblem.livejournal.com]

I'll second for Sabur. I was just there last night and they said that they would make a veggie verson of any of their items. Good stuff. While not being a real veg, I don't don't eat other Mammals. Where is your cutoff?

[seaweedgirle.livejournal.com]

Davis is such a great place for veg*ns. My regular "not the same" faves are House of Tibet and Namaskar. The Elephant Walk has great dishes if you're in the mood to pay a bit more. I also concur with the others on how great Gargoyle's can be.

Another idea: consider taking the bus to Lechmere and enjoy Helmand. [There's another Afghan place in Porter, but I prefer Helmand.]

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

mmm, House of Tibet is an excellent choice for vegetarian options.

[bds.livejournal.com]

The Davis/Porter area is amazing for veg*ns! fidgetmonster, you were looking for "non-ethnic" but I'll list a few anyway because they're so good. I'm sure you'd enjoy the veg*n dishes at Cafe Barada on Mass. Ave. The mujedarra was a plain-looking rice and lentil porridge with great flavor.

Both Oleana and Gargoyle's made vegan dishes that weren't on the menu, and they compete for the best dishes I've had in Boston. Oleana's involved fennel, but it changes with the season. The Elephant Walk has a whole vegan section on the menu you can't go wrong with.

I wasn't elated by the Blue Collar Cafe listing all-vegan ingredients, then adding cheese, but that won't be a problem for you. Try the pumpkin curry at Martsa On Elm.

Johnny D's vegetable dish is a must-try. Christopher's chilli is very meat-like (TVP or soy? Not sure), in case you're sick of the tried vegetarian bean-based chilli everywhere else. Skip the stir fry and get the veggie burger instead.

For quick-foods, the Indian-run corner store near Diva has samosas to-go, and Star Market now carries refridgerated veg*n sandwiches including tempeh reubens.

Anyway, sorry for the repeats but consider them to be double-thumbs ups. Boston.com restaurant section has customer reviews with plenty more dishes to try. Enjoy!

[cheerjess.livejournal.com]

Try the Italian sandwich at Blue Shirt with tofu added. mmmmm

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Christopher's in Porter has a decent selection--they've even won a few "best vegetarian restaurant" awards even though they offer lotsa meat too.

It's not overly fancy, but it's good and a good selection

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

Yup, for sandwiches around Davis I second Blue Shirt - they've got all kinds of good veg options. Also try O'Natural's, the new place where Carberry's used to be. Really good sandwiches.

[jadelennox]

if you're willing to range a little far afield, I adore Asiana Grill. There's also the Olive Branch in East Arlington, a 20-30 min. walk from Davis Square, on the 87 bus (excellent Middle Eastern). I'm not a big Christopher's fan, even though they keep winning awards for their vegetarian fare; I find it boring. The Tibetan place is interesting, up towards Teele.

Indian is always good, although I prefer India Palace in union to any of the Davis options. If you like sushi, Bluefin in Porter Exchange is cheap and good.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I think Boston is surely the most un-veg-friendly city (of some size) and I've spent any real time in. Granted, comparisons to NYC and the Bay Area may feel unfair, but even Atlanta had more veg places that I noticed *in passing* than I know of in this area, period. Including non-"ethnic" ones.

That said, I manage. I can recommend some nice places, but ow, I cutmy finger and I can't type anymore. The one that's French for tomorrow (or is it yesterday?) has a veg tasting menu and will do a vegan one on request. It was excellent!

Will you be coming by SOS?