Eating Vegetarian in New York - Angelica Kitchen and Caravan of Dreams
Share
It figures that Manhattan’s funky Lower East Side would be New York's veggie haven; it's home to arty alternative types with high principles and creative cooks who know you don’t need animal products to create delicious fare. But two very different factions decamp into two famous vegan restaurants that are as different as chalk and the cheese they wouldn’t dream of passing between their lips.
Angelica Kitchen at 300 E.12th Street is where a clean-cut, middle-class crowd gathers, often laden down with plants and maple syrup from the nearby Union Square farmers’ market, to eat “organic plant-based cuisine”. The vegetarian restaurant's award-winning fare is made, it's claimed, from ingredients which may have been harvested less than 48 hours earlier.
The menu includes fabulous soups, interesting salads and the famous Angelica cornbread and other rather yummy baked items. You might find quince pie with toasted almond custard or home-made spelt fig rolls on the dessert menu, which you will peruse at a well-scrubbed table in a light and airy sub-chic atmosphere.
It’s a shame that a holier-than-thou spirit sometimes pervades the serving staff, making lunch less than the joyful experience it should be. Somehow you’re not surprised to discover that you can’t reserve a table, use a mobile phone or pay with a credit card in this too-right-on establishment.
Caravan of Dreams, a few blocks down at 405 E. 6th Street, is a totally different kettle of non-fish. Dark, grungy and semi-subterranean, this vegetarian restaurant is a friendly little dive which glories in its hippy-dippy East Village vibe and the unique and tasty dishes it fields without any animals being sacrificed.
Carrot polenta, ravioli in almond cream sauce and hummus sprinkled with zattar were all outstanding. Wonderful juices and smoothies are also notable amongst the sizeable raw food offering. Prices are a little higher than the decor and surroundings suggest, but there’s a touch of Harry Potter-ish magic about the whole dining experience here.
This would be a great place to segue to after a morning touring the nearby Tenement Museum (observant Jews will be interested to know it's kosher-certified), or to hang out for a surprisingly romantic evening, exploring the organic wine and beer list and with luck enjoying the occasional live music.
300 E.12th Street , New York City, USA
Useful links
Angelica Kitchen, vegan restaurant in New York City
Caravan of Dreams, vegan restaurant in New York City
Average customer rating
awaiting 5 vote(s)...
Email
Add to your Pocket Guide
Why Register?
