With people heading back to the office and coronavirus pandemic rules on dining out relaxing, this is the perfect moment to check out the best eateries in town. Plant-forward is a way of life for more and more people, and some are all the way to fully plant-based nutrition. So whether you’re hosting a business lunch or meeting friends for dinner, knowing which chefs can really deliver on the promise of fresh, healthy and delicious plant-based meals is key. Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has curated a list of 10 of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants right now in locations all over New York City (NYC) for fine plant-based cuisine.
what are the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in NYC?
New York City has a new, high-profile vegan celebrity. Our new mayor, Eric Adams, was once a connoisseur of the fast-food dollar menu until temporary blindness and a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes inspired him to adopt a plant-based diet.
10 of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants right now in locations all over New York City (NYC) for fine plant-based cuisine.
Since Adams took office, healthy eating remains one of his missions. In addition to “Meatless Mondays” at the city’s public schools, the cafeterias will now be serving up vegan dishes every Friday. Fringe diet fad no more! Vegetarianism and veganism have firm roots in the city and in terms of dining establishments, they are growing like wildflowers.
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Last year, Eleven Madison Park boldly pivoted to becoming a vegetarian restaurant. But, if you can’t secure a reservation there, we have a list of the best places to eat vegetarian and vegan food in New York City.
10 of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants right now in locations all over New York City (NYC) for fine plant-based cuisine.
Whether you’re seeking out plant-based food for health like Mayor Adams or simply want to expand your palate and try some of the most inventive food on the scene right now. Here are our top 10 recommended vegetarian and vegan restaurant picks serving American, Caribbean, Chinese, French, Mexican cuisine and more.
The 10 vegetarian and vegan restaurants best now in new york city
1. abcV (Flatiron: 38 East 19th St)
Serving up artisanal plant-based American fare sourced from both local and global family farms, abcV is Jean-Georges’ third restaurant inside of the ethereal ABC Carpet & Home furniture store. Vegetables are center stage and never trying to masquerade as meat. Share a whole head of roasted cauliflower with turmeric tahini or dig into a nourishing bowl of mushroom walnut bolognese. And don’t overlook the popular breakfast menu of “high vibration foods” like sweet and savory dosas, hearty fruit/protein bowls, as well as egg-based favorites.
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2. Aunts et Uncles (Flatbush/Little Caribbean: 1407 Nostrand Ave)
In Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood, Aunts et Uncles is bringing island flair to vegan fare. The stylish café is the joint venture between husband and wife team Michael and Nicole Nicholas who wanted to create lighter, healthier versions of the Caribbean food they’d grown up with. Aside from plant-based burgers, the hearts of palm-based “lobster” roll and bake and “saltfish” are neighborhood favorites. In addition to food, the space which was designed for lingering, sells a curated selection of books and magazines on photography, design, travel, film and food, as well as apparel and totes.
3. Cadence (Alphabet City: 122 East 7th St)
As Pete Wells wrote for this Critics Pick for the New York Times: “In the increasingly crowded world of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, Cadence occupies a niche of its own.” Chef Shenarri Freeman creates vegan versions of Black Southern dishes from her childhood in Virginia. Dishes like Black Eyed Pea Garlic Pancake, Southern Fried Lasagna and Maple Buttermilk Cornbread have been lauded as particular standouts. The space itself is stylish and intimate, an undeniable hot spot for plant-based soul food.
4. Champ’s Diner (Williamsburg: 197 Meserole)
Is vegan junk food a thing? Very much so at Champ’s Diner where you don’t have to compromise between being vegan and indulging in heartwarming Americana comfort food: Philly Cheesesteak, Mac & Cheese, Chik’n & Waffles, and Poutine Fries. Wash it all down with a variety of milkshakes amidst the cushy booths and black-and-white checkered floors of a charming, nostalgic diner.
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5. Delice & Sarrasin (West Village: 20 Christopher St)
Christophe Caron and his parents (his mother, Yvette is the head chef) make it possible to have delicious vegan French cuisine at Delice & Sarrasin. On the menu are all the favorites from French onion soup to sweet and savory crepes and even escargot (made from thinly sliced oyster mushrooms). The restaurant is far from stuffy. It feels like sitting down to home cooking albeit in a cozy and elegant cafe.
6. Dirt Candy (Lower East Side: 86 Allen St)
“Anyone can cook meat. Leave the vegetables to the professionals.” We have to agree given our track record of turning Brussels sprout into a mushy mess despite the simple instructions. Since its opening in 2008, Dirt Candy has been on the cutting edge of vegetarian restaurants. Essentially a laboratory for award-winning chef, Amanda Cohen, it serves a single 5-course tasting menu that changes seasonally. Currently, there’s Caviar and Potato Pie, Hand-Pulled Kale Noodles, Buche de Mushroom Mousse, Delicate Five Spice Riblets, and for dessert, Black Garlic Sticky Toffee Pudding with Fennel Sour Cream Sherbet.
7. Eleven Madison Park (Flatiron: 11 Madison Ave)
Chef Daniel Humm announced last year, amidst the pandemic, that our current food system is “not sustainable,” and that he wanted to “redefine luxury as an experience that serves a higher purpose and maintains a real connection to the community.” The Michelin destination now serves an ambitious tasting menu consisting of entirely plant-based courses. As expected, there are no lab meats here — vegetables do all the work. And it’s a lot of work as per Humm’s style of precision and nuance. One cucumber dish, as reported in Bloomberg, consists of “minutely chopped, compressed cucumbers layered in a gradient with equally tiny bites of sweet, crisp melon over a base of avocado cream – all punctuated with threads of silky, smoky daikon. Powdered cucumber skin is sprinkled on top. It takes two cooks all day, every day to chop and prep…” A tasting menu of 8-10 courses is $335 per person.
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8. Fat Choy (Soho: 250 Broome St)
Justin Lee, chef-owner of Fat Choy in NYC, describes his plant-based cuisine as a love letter to Chinese American takeout. It is combined with a desire to lessen the environmental impact of the restaurant industry. His restaurant is tiny — the pastel-green-tiled dining room can fit roughly 12 people but the flavors are big and exciting. Must order plates include Salt & Pepper Cauliflower Bites, Mushroom Sloppy Joes, and Sticky Rice Dumplings.
9. JaJaJa (numerous locations)
All your favorite Latin and Mexican foods are here. This includes tacos, gorditas, plantain chips, nachos, chile relleno, churros, flan, and more. And, it’s all vegan-friendly. It is owned and operated by old friends and business partners Koorosh Bakhtiar and Nima Garos. The vibe here is trendy, tropical, and laid-back. There’s also a playfully curated Tequila and Mezcal program, Mexican beers on tap, Mexican-style lagers and pilsners from local microbreweries, and fresh pressed juices.
Vegetarian and vegan restaurants in New York City. Courtesy Photo.
10. P.S. Kitchen (Hell’s Kitchen:246 West 48th Street)
Featuring a sophisticated plant-based menu inspired by the season and global flavors, P.S Kitchen stands out — but not only for its fine food. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty by employing people from marginalized communities in New York. They donate 100% of profits to sustainable charitable work. Their comfort food-inspired menu items deserve a place in your dining out rotation. Entrees like Orzo Alfredo with Creamy Cashew Alfredo, Broccolini, and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Homemade Lasagna with Herbed Tofu Ricotta taste better than the “real” thing.
Vegetarian and vegan restaurants in New York City. Courtesy Photo.
The best 10 places to eat vegetarian and vegan food in New York City
As the city emerges from the Great Lockdown and two years of coronavirus restrictions, that’s our take on some of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants right now in locations all over New York City (NYC) for plant-based cuisine.
For vegetarians, vegans and the vegetal-curious, the city’s plant-based restaurant scene is looking greener than ever. Your only dilemma now is having too many places to try. Bon appetit!
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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, and fitness. Julie lives in New York where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing. And spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.
