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Top 7 US Restaurants for Vegetarian Dates
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Vegetarian singles are thankfully becoming spoiled for options when it comes to dining in most major American cities. Top chefs around the country have made vegetarian dining a gourmet affair, going far beyond the basic ingredients like tofu and salad greens that have long been associated with vegetarianism.
Here is a list of EcoDater's favorite vegetarian restaurants around the country. Take your green date to one and prepare to have your taste buds enlightened.
Greens Restaurant, San Francisco
Chef Annie Somerville
The aptly named Greens could well be regarded as the flagship vegetarian restaurant of the entire nation. Opened in 1979 as an affiliate of the San Francisco Zen Center, Greens fulfilled several important missions: to elevate vegetarian cuisine to fine dining standards, and to provide an outlet for Zen students to engage in Buddhist practice in the workplace. On both counts, it has succeeded enormously.
Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
Much of the the restaurant's fresh produce comes from its sister facility, the Green Gulch Farm, so you can be assured of high quality ingredients. Try the Mesquite Grilled Brochettes, skewers of mushrooms, peppers, garnet yams, fennel, potatoes, cherry tomatoes and marinated tofu with charmoula and served on cherry-pistachio couscous. The Mung Dal Fritters are also mouth-watering.
Pure Food and Wine, New York
Chef Scott Winegard
This raw food eatery is showing New Yorkers with their typically high standards that even when foods are presented in their most natural state, they can still be delicious - in fact, even more so! You won't find anything refined or cooked anywhere in this restaurant. Nothing ever reaches a temperature higher than 118 degrees, which preserves the natural enzymes in the food that helps with digestion.
Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
Soups don't get much better than the Rosemary Infused Butternut Squash Soup with spiced pecans, medjoul dates and miso coulis. And for dessert, the coffee sake almond Tiramisu has been making waves in the hugely competitive pastry sector of the New York restaurant industry.
Watercourse Foods, Denver
Chef Daniel Landes
At the top of Denver's vegetarian dining pyramid is the perennial local's favorite Watercourse Foods. Not only does Watercourse serve delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes but the restaurant's owners take operations to the next level by recycling absolutely everything that can be recycled, including the fryer oil that is converted into bio-diesel, offering water only when asked and using biodegradable containers for to-go orders.
Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
Try the Tempeh Scallopini, with marinated tempeh dredged and fried in its own mushroom gravy and served with mashed potatoes and steamed chard. The Morelo Salad is outstanding, with green leaf lettuce mixed with black beans, tempeh chorizo, pico de gallo, avocado, crisp corn strips, jack/cheddar blend, and chipotle ranch.
Chaco Canyon Cafe, Seattle
Chef Lois Maykut
Offering both raw and vegan food as well as organic smoothies, fair trade coffee and tea, Chaco Canyon Cafe is where Seattle vegetarian singles go to meet and get to know each other. Located in the hip University District, the restaurant has a variety of yummy sandwiches that can be taken on the go.
Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
The Cilantro Pesto Pizza is a house favorite and is made with a dehydrated crust of sprouted buckwheat, sunflower seeds & flax, topped with classic oregano sun-dried tomato pizza sauce, housemade cilantro-walnut pesto, marinated red onions and herbed macadamia cheese. The Green Goddess smoothie with cucumber, celery, kale, fennel, and ginger tastes amazing and recharges your body for a walk around the very walkable neighborhood.
The Farm Cafe, Portland
With reviews as strong as "the epitome of an affordable romantic dining experience" and "as fresh as fresh gets," the Farm Cafe has built a loyal following and a sterling reputation as Portland's top vegetarian restuarant. Almost all ingredients come from the state of Oregon, right down to the New Deal Portland 88 Vodka.
Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
Locals rave about the Farmhouse Cheese Ball, a blend of 3 cheeses, chive, parsley, horseradish and spices, rolled in toasted hazelnuts and served with bread. The Farmhouse Veggie Burger is about the best in the business: a burger-style sandwich made with eggplant, bread crumbs, cheese and spices, served with caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, Dijon mustard and lettuce on a rustic bun with a mixed green salad.
Green Zebra, Chicago
Chef Shawn McClain
Green Zebra is an excellent example of the culinary heights that vegetarian dishes can reach. Dining at the restaurant is a self-described sensuous experience, with plenty of time between dishes to get to know your green date before the next exquisite creation comes out from the kitchen. The menu is constantly evolving as the seasons change and different ingredients become available in the local area.
Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
All the dishes at Green Zebra are small so the idea is to order a variety of styles to get the full experience. We love the Foraged Mushroom Dumplings, served with tofu, Thai basil, baby bok choy, and star anise broth, as well as the Olive Oil Confit Fingerlings with dijon mustard, parmesan, and truffle. For dessert, it's hard to beat the Vegan Chocolate Cake with crispy peanut butter, banana sorbet, and salted caramel.
Cru, Los Angeles
Chef Rachel Carr
With influences including Italian, Japanese, Tunisian, Thai and Indian, Cru has earned a reputation as one of the most authentic vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles. The restaurant, located in the hip and eco-friendly Silver Lake neighborhood, also offers classes including the very popular "Raw Around the World" class.
Favorite Dishes for Veggie Daters
The sushi-inspired Dream Roll is excellent, made with kim chee, spicy Portobello mushrooms, avocado, jicama rice and wakame seaweed wrapped in collard leaf. And the raw Pesto Wrap is our favorite entree, made with cashew cheese, pesto, cabbage, field greens, sweet onions, cucumber, caesar dressing and sprouts in a collard leaf.
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Posted on
Jun 9 2009
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