If you’re vegetarian, you know it can be tough to find a restaurant dish that’s delicious and doesn’t cause you to cheat on your meat-free promise. Instead of taking a wild guess next time you go out, take a look at this list of the Triad’s ten best restaurants for vegetarian dining. All have been thoroughly tested by the author and found winners. Don’t worry, there are options for your carnivore friends too.
1. Hop's Burger Bar
A burger joint may not be the first place that comes to mind for hungry vegetarians, but Hop’s offers some of the most delicious fare around. Their nutty patty and mushroom-cauliflower patty win first place in the veggie burger category. Plus, their artisan French fries, crisp salads, and pages-worth of beer make great accompaniments. If you’re living that pescatarian life, The Mad Haddock sandwich will make your day.
2. Sticks and Stones Clay Oven Pizza
This Greensboro pizzeria utilizes locally-grown ingredients in their crafty pies and are given rave reviews by nearly all who come in. If pizza is what you crave, ask for their A Kiss Before You Go, Avalanche, or Magnolia Mountain pies. For something different, try their homemade veggie burger – The Evergreen.
3. Mary’s Gourmet Diner
Mary’s is a Winston-Salem favorite. This downtown brunch spot has walls covered with wild art and a full-blown Edenic mural, and their dishes are as unique as their aesthetic. For a fabulous breakfast, try their Gritz & Greens bowl, tofu burrito, or Apple Butter Baby sandwich (with the vegetarian sausage of course).
4. Sweet Potatoes
Just up the road from Mary’s the menu of this soul food restaurant lives up to its name. Aside from their mouthwatering yam dishes, Sweet Potatoes has the best friend green tomatoes in town. For dinner, try their dirty rice salad or Catfish Nola. And don’t leave without a slice of their famous sweet potato pie.
5. La Casa Lopez
This family-owned eatery features authentically-prepared Mexican food and plenty of margaritas. Check out their vegetarian combo plates or if you’re willing to incorporate some seafood into your diet, try the Quesadilla Lopez, camerones pelusa, or fish tacos.
6. Pho Hien Vuong
Possibly the best Vietnamese restaurant in North Carolina, Pho Hien Vuong offers much in the way of vegetarian options. Try the Vegetarian Street Noodles, tofu curry, or Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup. For an interesting drink, order the salted soda lemonade with your meal.
7. Iron Hen Café
Iron Hen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner without breaking your bank. This nifty Greensboro café focuses on locally-grown and organic ingredients. For breakfast, try their sweet potato pancakes or black bean cakes topped with fried eggs and tomatillo salsa. For lunch or dinner, go for the Holly Grove goat cheese salad or their whole grain hash.
8. Copolla’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant
If you’re in the mood for Italian, Copolla’s is the place to go. Judging on appearances alone, this restaurant might be easy to pass by, but their food is more than worth the venture in. The eggplant parmigiana and spinach calzone are the author’s favorites. For dessert, try their chocolate cannoli.
9. Willow’s Bistro
If you want to impress a date, take them to Willow’s Bistro on the outskirts of Old Salem. Although slightly pricier than the other options listed here, it’s still possible to have a delicious meal without burning a hole in your wallet. Go for the chipotle black bean cake, hickory-smoked shrimp risotto, or shrimp ceviche. Their Rustic Roasted Veggie salad makes a great lighter option.
10. The Porch Kitchen and Cantina
Located in a renovated mill in Winston-Salem’s historic West End, the Porch is something of a Tex-Mex paradise. The restaurant is typically crowded on weekend nights, so plan for lunch or a weekday supper. Try their sweet potato and black bean quesadilla or Fajita Fabulosa salad. Their margaritas are also worth fighting over.
