Ever thought about going vegan? Already vegan, but need a new place to binge? These 10 spots are excellent choices for a quality vegan meal in the NYC/LI area.
1. 3 Brothers Pizza Cafe
Have you ever hesitated to go vegan because "you'd just miss cheese too much?" 3 Brothers is a magical safe place that supplies vegans with all the Italian-style foods they thought they'd miss when they made the switch. Personal pizzas, mac n cheese, baked ziti, lasagna, eggplant rollatini, faux meat-parm heroes: this place has got it all. If all your friends are willing to eat vegan, you can check out their all-vegan cafe in Copiague. Otherwise, 3 Brothers in Farmingdale has a "regular menu" of Italian-style foods that makes it the ideal location for a group of friends with different lifestyles.
Address: 75 Merritts Rd, Farmingdale, NY 11735
Favorite Dishes:
- Fried Chix'n Drumsticks ($10)
- Eggplant Rollantini ($9)
- Tempeh Parmesan Hero ($10)
2. Two Boots Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
Two Boots is a pizzeria chain with locations that are often easily accessible. The Hell's Kitchen location is close to the A & C lines, as well as the 1. While there aren't a variety of vegan options, the warm ambience and accessibility still make it a fantastic spot.
3. Champs Diner
Address: 197 Meserole St, New York, NY 11206
Favorite Dishes:
- Chik’n Parmesan Sandwich ($12)
- Mozzarella Sticks ($10)
- S’Mores Milkshake ($9)
Champs is the perfect place to go for all the 2 A.M. greasy diner foods that you thought you’d never see again when you contemplated/decided to go vegan. Junk food vegans living in the NYC area should make sure they hit this place at least once. French toast, pancakes, scrambled “eggs,” chicken wings, milkshakes, burritos, BLT’s, and more. It’s a great place for anyone, vegan or not, to go and taste a large variety of vegan alternatives.
4. Blossom Bakery
Address: 174 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Favorite Dishes:
- Carrot Cake Slice ($6.50)
- Peanut Butter Cookie ($3.00)
- Apple Crumb Pie ($6.00)
When I first went to this little downtown nook, I thought that the prices were a bit high. I realized later on that while you pay a higher price, you get a higher portion. There are two or three small tables to sit down for a few minutes, but it’s otherwise perfectly fine to just grab food and go.
5. Blossom Du Jour
Address: 617 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Favorite Dishes:
- The Little Italy Sandwich ($8.95)
- Mac n Cheese ($6.95)
- Benedict Wrap ($6.95)
With 5 locations in Manhattan, Blossom Du Jour resembles one of the closest things we currently have to a vegan fast food chain. The chain was created by Pamela Elizabeth in 2010, and everything is 100% vegan.
6. Witches Brew
Address: 311 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead NY 11552
Favorite Dishes:
- Vegan Focaccia
- Vegan Cheesecake (changes, but options can be: brownie, strawberry, cherry, plain, PB)
- Vegan Grilled Cheese
- Vegan Mac n Cheese
Witches Brew is a staple of the Long Island hipster adolescent’s hang-out spots. While “meal” options exist, much of menu centers around either teas, coffees, snacks, or desserts. You can absolutely satiate yourself here, but keep that in mind when you go. Cash only, but they’ve had an ATM for a few months now in case you’re the kind of person who carries cards because they’re too lazy (me).
7. Candle 79
Address: 154 E 79th St, New York NY 10075
Favorite Dishes:
- Seitan Wheatballs, Tomato Basil-Truffle Sauce, Garlic Bread ($10)
- Herb-Grilled Cauliflower ($23)
- Black Bean Pumpkin Seed Burger ($15)
We walk into somewhat expensive territory with Candle 79, so like Blossom on Carmine, better to save this outing for a special occasion. Nonetheless, the warm atmosphere and the wide variety of flavorful dinner dishes make this spot a treasure.
8. Blossom on Carmine
Address: 43 Carmine Street, New York NY 10014
Favorite dishes:
- Tofu BLT ($14)
- Lasagna ($20)
- Truffle Mashed Potatoes ($7)
This was the first vegan restaurant I ever went to. Blossom’s prices tend to be high, so best to visit for a holiday or birthday celebration. Blossom is actually a chain of vegan food places, with several restaurants and bakeries scattered in the Manhattan area. They change their menus up, which encourages customers to leave their comfort zone every now and then. Most entrees and main dishes range from $13-$22.
9. Za Pizzeria
Address(es): 3601 Merrick Rd, Seaford NY 11783.
2 N Park Avenue, Rockville Centre NY 11570
Za Pizzeria is an extremely valuable chain to Long Island. The service makes vegan pizza (and some vegan wraps as well) much more accessible to residents of Nassau County. The chain locations are strategically placed a few towns apart on Merrick Road, and the hours are generally from 4 p.m. – 4 a.m. Perfect for late night, cruelty-free cravings. Like 3 Brothers, they also have a wide variety of “regular” foods for non-vegan buddies to choose from (see: Nutella pizza).
10. Sweetgrass Grill
Address: 24 Main St, Tarrytown NY 10591
Favorite Dishes:
- Butternut Squash Soup ($7)
- Buffalo Tempeh “Wings’ ($7)
- Vegan Philly Cheese “Steak” Sandwich ($16)
- Lemon Chia Pudding
About a 20 minute drive from the Bronx, Sweetgrass can be pretty out of the way. However, if you’re ever headed upstate, this sit-down spot is absolutely worth your time. With a friendly, well-lit atmosphere and decent prices, you can’t go wrong.
