I consider myself to be a casual vegetarian/pescatarian, so whenever I go out to eat, I can usually find something to eat. Most places have a decent variety of meatless dishes, and I’m not particularly picky, so I honestly can’t complain about going out. My sister, however, is a different story. She is a vegan, and while she loves the lifestyle and how it makes her body feel, going out to eat presents a challenge. Most restaurants have only two or three vegan options that truly satisfy, and since she came up to New York to visit me this weekend, I thought I’d treat her to a place where the options would be unlimited.

At the recommendation of both the internet, and a friend, I decided to take her to Angelica Kitchen, in the East Village. They are renowned (since 1976) for supporting sustainable agriculture and sustainable business practices, along with serving meals that leave you satisfied, but not overly full or uncomfortable. The place was easy to find, and as we arrived rather early (around 5:30), the place was nearly empty, though within 30 minutes, it had filled up completely. We were seated immediately, and the server was very attentive throughout the entire meal. The atmosphere was really nice, earthy, and cosy, and I really appreciated the “no cell phones please” signs around.

We decided to each get the soup of the day, and to split the Pantry Plate. The soup was a Black-Eyed Pea Vegetable Soup, and it was delicious. I’d never had any sort of black-eyed pea before, and it was definitely a good introduction to the pea. The soup was hearty, but didn’t feel overbearingly so; it was the perfect appetizer.

The Pantry Plate was a ‘make your own’ taster dish. We decided upon the Kinpira Salad, Hummus, Baked Marinated Tempeh, and the Vegetable of the Day, which was Sweet Potato. It arrived at the table, a bit skimpy, at first glance, but after eating, it was just the right amount. The Kinpira Salad was crunchy and tasty, and it was great for a first time try. The Hummus came with two triangles of pita, a carrot, a celery, and a parsnip slice. Skimpy. However, it was plenty of hummus, and it went well with all the other things on the plate. Tempeh has never been my favorite, but this one actually wasn’t too bad. The Sweet Potato was really good, it was cooked perfectly and had a really great flavor. Splitting this with my sister was a great decision, as we both ate enough and didn’t have to pay too much.

For dessert, we had the Vanilla Bean Arborio Rice Pudding, which had candied hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, and a raspberry compote, along with peppermint rooibos tea. The rice pudding was literally one of the best things I’ve eaten in my life, and the tea was a really nice way to end the meal.

All in all, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates and enjoys healthy foods, or is vegan/vegetarian. Definitely worth it.

http://www.angelicakitchen.com/