vegan and vegetarians' blog

vegetarian friendly restaurants

I don't eat out often anymore, but it is always nice to know where to find good veggie friendly restaurants.

WAY back in the day the Rathskeller in Raleigh used to be my favorite restaurant in the world.  I almost cried when I found out that they were closing down.  It was the perfect mix for a restaurant.  I could get grilled tofu and my non-veggie friends could get their steak or whatever.  And their lemon tahini dressing was to DIE for.

 Since then I haven't found a restaurant that inspires quite the same loyalty.  Mostly because there was a lot of variety for vegetarians at the Rat.  You could eat grilled tofu one time, then vegetarian nachos the next,  hummus salad the next and some funky daily special the next time.  And you always knew that there would be tasty veggie options. 

Some of the restaurants that I like to visit.

 NeoMonde (Raleigh)

Best hummus in the triangle.  However, for me the thing that cannot be skipped here is the lentils, rice and carmelized onions.  So simple but so darned tasty.

Udipi Cafe (Cary)

South Indian food.  I love this place because it is all vegetarian.  (though not all vegan, but they told me when I was vegan that they could make things without ghee for me)

Abyssinia (Raleigh)

This is really the only Ethiopian restaurant I've been to so I don't have a point of reference for whether it is good for Ethiopian.  I love their veggie platter.  Plus they have a great little appetizer that is like a samosa but filled with lentils.  Very yummy. 

It is very sparce decor-wise.  When I first went, I figured that they were still working on it but it has been like this for years so I'm guessing this is it.  The service is hit or miss.  Sometimes you get in and out fast and sometimes you are there for an hour or so. 

Dalat (Raleigh)

I like Dalat a lot.  The people that work there are really nice.  An ex-boyfriend and I used to eat there a lot.  Sometimes we'd order for pick up and we'd ask for some beer to drink with it.  The owner was very funny as she would put the 2 bottles in a brown bag and staple it multiple times.  Then everytime she would say, "You no drink in parking lot!"  

 Bright Palace (Cary)

I haven't eaten here yet.  It is an all vegetarian Asian restaurant though.  My friend raves about it and I am going to check it out soon.

Mellow Mushroom(several NC locations)

"We enjoy The Mellow Mushroom...it is a place where anyone can go to as their menu items fit anyone."-Headlong

Several locations in NC. 

The Raleigh Times(Raleigh)

"The selection isn't huge (for meat or vege), but the vege stuff at the Raleigh Times is very good. They also have a huge beer selection, and a very cool atmosphere. It's in the building where the Raleigh Times used to be printed when it still existed as a newspaper."-Hilikus 

Lilly's Pizza (Raleigh)

I forgot all about Lilly's until Headlong mentioned Mellow Mushroom.  Lilly's has a vegan pizza and a vegan stromboli.   They also have lots of vegetarian pasta dishes as well as pizzas.  The downside is that it can be very loud in there.  In the summer I like to sit on their patio outside, but in the winter it can be jarring with the music and all the people talking.  

Third Place Coffee(Raleigh)

Next to Lilly's Pizza.  They have a light menu that is mostly vegetarian.  It is not a large menu and for the most part sandwiches and soup.  I have tried a couple of their sandwiches and they are tasty.  But their desserts really shine!

Mitch's Tavern (Raleigh)

This is one of my BIL's favorite restaurant.   It is very much a bar, sports bar really. I'd say this would be a good place to go see a game.  (Actually part of Bull Durham was filmed in there if you are into such things lol)  But they have pretty hearty veggie chili which they will serve over pasta--seemed strange enough to me that I had to try it when the server offered it and it was actually really good.   Soaked up that beer nicely that I ordered.   Oh!  And the food is pretty inexpensive.

Irrregardless Cafe(Raleigh)

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Irregardless here. I believe it's one of the original vegetarian restaurants in the area. I know they serve meat, poultry & seafood now, but their emphasis is still vegetarian.-Animal Lover  (Crocus edit-they have a rockin' lemon tahini dressing too!)

Spotted Dog Cafe (Carrboro)

 (review stolen from Yelp.com)

Spotted Dog, I found you too LATE! I always walked by this place and for some reason, never looked at the menu. It looked sorta sports bar-ish and I assumed their menu wouldn't range beyond beer, wings and burgers. I was so wrong! They have an awesome selection of vegetarian food, including yummy fake meat junk food like faux buffalo wings and BBQ sandwich. Meat eaters will be happy too, as it's not a totally veg menu. I'll definitely return when I'm back in NC.

What veggie friendly restaurants do y'all like to eat at?  If you post them, I'll add them into this blog so we can get a nice list going.  :) 

Filed under: Lifestyle