Borough Vegetarian

Gramercy Tavern - Adding to the Chorus

Gramercy Tavern is a NYC dining institution, known for its seasonal fare in a beautifully decorated historic building.  I visited Gramercy Tavern for the first time this spring, and my friends who had raved to me about the restaurant were certainly not exaggerating.  Gramercy Tavern is a great restaurant for special occasions, and in a city with a plethora of vegetarian-friendly options, it remains a special treat for vegetarians as well.

The first thing I noticed upon entering the restaurant was their gorgeous flower arrangements throughout the restaurant.  I can confidently say that this experience led me to ask, for the first time in my life, "Who does their flowers?"  Stunning - I wish I had taken a picture!  

I started my meal (a lunch) with a beet salad, topped with a few light garnishes - great way to start my lunch as the beets were perfectly balanced between firm and soft, and the sweetness of the beets was nicely offset by the herbs and popcorn on the dish.

I then ordered the Emmer Pappardelle with radicchio as my main course, which also was relatively light and fresh for a pasta dish, particularly one comprised of a stronger wheat base.  The staff also expertly handled my nut allergy and omitted the walnuts that would otherwise come with the dish.

While dessert would have been a little much for lunch, I definitely look forward to returning to Gramercy Tavern for either a heavier lunch or dinner in the coming months.  Just to look at the great flowers again seems like reason enough to return!

Gramercy Tavern

42 E. 20th Street (btwn. Park and Broadway)

Flatiron, Manhattan

A short walk from the N/R at 23rd Street, or a slightly longer 7 - 10 minute walk from the 4/5/6/N/Q/R/L trains at 14th Street-Union Square, or a 10 minute walk from the M/F trains at 23rd Street.

Tamarind Tribeca - Best Upscale Indian Restaurant in the City?

Tamarind Tribeca is a fantastic Indian restaurant in downtown Manhattan, despite (or because) of its high price tag.  I've never had a bad or subpar meal at Tamarind, and like many Indian restaurants, it is incredibly vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

The large interior of Tamarind is modern with clean finishes throughout the bar and restaurant space - very Tribeca, one could say.  I almost always get one of their cocktails, which are generally pretty good and many feature Indian flavors or spices.

(Jalapeno Cucumber Cocktail)

 

 

(Tamarind Margarita)

My favorite food options include the Paneer Lababdar, Pudine Wala Paneer, and the Bhindi Do Piaza.  They also are generally flexible to make dishes off-menu, depending on your interests and tastes.  

What really sets Tamarind apart - besides the above-standard service, large, sun-filled space, and modern decor - is the quality of the ingredients and preparation of the food.  My husband raves about the quality of the meat and how it is cooked, far above his other experiences in Indian restaurants in the U.S., and I echo those statements for the preparation of the vegetarian dishes.  Tamarind's dishes do not include too much oil or butter that otherwise can overwhelm the other ingredients, and unlike far too many Indian restaurants, they do not over-spice their dishes (by over-spice, I do not mean chile/hot spice, rather just using too much cumin, coriander, cardamon, etc.).

I would probably eat at Tamarind weekly if I could afford it!

Tamarind Tribeca

99 Hudson Street (at corner of Franklin)

TriBeCa, Manhattan

One block from the 1 train at Franklin Street, or 5 minute walk from the A/C/E at Canal Street

Brooklyn Bagel - Oddly Enough, a Queens-Based Mini-Chain

Brooklyn Bagel has become a hot bagel store, with three locations in Astoria, Queens and one Manhattan location in Chelsea.  I've sampled Brooklyn Bagels two or three times (the Broadway location in Astoria), and while it doesn't quite rival Brooklyn and the city's best - the Bagel Hole - it is a great bagel option.

The cream cheeses are wonderfully light and they have unique flavors that they rotate weekly.  The bagels also have that nice crunchy exterior.

The only slight critiques I have about these bagels are that they are a little too large for my taste and the interiors are more fluffy than chewy.  In addition, I don't know why I ordered a whole wheat everything bagel the last time (the bagel pictured throughout this post), which was a little too dry for my taste as well.  But despite these minor concerns, Brooklyn Bagel is absolutely worth is a trip!

Brooklyn Bagel

35-05 Broadway, 36-14 30th Avenue, and 35-9 Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria, Queens

286 8th Avenue in Chelsea, Manhattan

All of the Astoria locations are 4-5 blocks from stops along the N/Q line, and the Chelsea location is closest to the C/E trains at 23rd Street.

Venturo Osteria - Surprisingly Strong Neighborhood Restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

Venturo Osteria is one of the few restaurants in Sunnyside, Queens to have "broken out" from local attention and received recognition from citywide/national sources like the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand list.  While some restaurants are certainly befitting of such recognition, others can too often underwhelm despite the reviews.  Thankfully, Venturo fits in the former category and is a great choice, particularly for vegetarians, in western Queens.

Venturo's seasonally based menu often has a number of vegetarian appetizers, pastas and pizzas, and their brunch is a vegetarian delight with a range of sweet and savory options.  While I have sampled their dinner options a few times over the past year, what I really get drawn to over and over again is Venturo's brunch.

Their chocolate french toast is better than most I have had, as is their rich buttermilk pancake (served in a griddle), farro bowl, and brunch pizzas.  

And another great feature of Venturo's brunch or dinner experiences is that there is rarely a wait for a table, with a back patio adding space to the wood dining room during the warmer months.

Venturo Osteria and Wine Bar

44-07 Queens Blvd.

Sunnyside, Queens

A block or two away from the 7 train at 46th Street, and accessible from the Q32 and Q60 bus lines.

Telepan - Great Seasonal Restaurant for Special Occasions

Earlier this spring, I made my way with some friends to Telepan, a popular local, seasonal restaurant on the Upper West Side.  While I usually don't spend a lot of time in this neighborhood, our great weekend meal at Telepan may be reason enough to head uptown more often.

True to their marketing, the dishes I had perfectly fit the late winter/early spring eating season.  I started my meal with the seasonal homemade mozzarella dish, served on top of lentils with some delicate mushrooms:

Slightly salty and sweet - yum!  My next course was the beet gnocchi, which I was slightly skeptical of when ordering, but turned out to be great.  Light, fluffy and another great balance between savory and sweet.  

The service at Telepan was also excellent, with the waitstaff easily accommodating all of our various food allergies and preferences.  We also sampled some of their cocktails, which also featured seasonal ingredients and were really tasty.  I definitely look forward to a return visit - likely for a special occasion given how tough it can be to get a reservation during peak dining hours and the high quality of the food and service.

Telepan

72 W. 69th Street

Upper West Side, Manhattan

Easily accessible from the B/C trains at 72nd Street or the 1/2/3 trains at 72nd Street.