Vegetarian restaurants

pitu

Subject: YEAH!

PLEASE open a GREAT vegetarian restaurant!

Speaking as a a totally lapsed veg, I hope you go non-vegan. The ravioli idea is something I've pondered forever -- ditto on spinach pie and all the other great 'regular' food that happens to be non-meat. Plenty of Italian, Mexican, Indian cuisine is non-meat by nature. But I'm sure you know that already!

Tips you could borrow from Counter in the E.Village are DESIGN BEAUTY and GREAT WINE. Not just any old crappy organic wine -- and there's plenty of them out there.

On the subject of organics, my suggestion is to be open and flexible. Minimally treated is a good thing. There lots of conscious wonderful farmers who work in ways that are not Organic certified for a variety of reasons.

If it is delicious, they will come! Or at least I will . . . missing the sea cesaer salad that Angelika's used to make...

ALL THE BEST in your venture!

captain m

I have to say, last night I got dragged to Vegetarian Palace? on flatbush. I eat meat but I actually really like tofu and have had good vegan meals in the LES. Anyways I tried some imitation general tso chicken, it was edible but nasty and then I tried some "fried chicken" that was actually decent but then I tried some chicken wing thing with sugarcane for the bone and it was absolutely disgusting.

If you build it I will come try it though, I would suggest a section for things that meat eaters might appreciate when they show up with their vegan friends.

isa

Thanks for all the feedback guys and girls!

rhodamine

Subject: Re: Vegetarian restaurants

Isa wrote: I'm planning on opening a veggie restaurant in the next 6 months or so and I thought I'd do a little free focus group here. My plan is to have a seasonal menu, everything homemade (no store bought meat analog items - we will even make out own tofu and pasta) with a focus on fresh seasonal ingredients. I am wondering a few things:
1- For the omnivores: would you patronize a vegetarian restaurant? How about a vegan restaurant?
2- What are your favorite veg restaurants and why?

I feel secure that if our service is great and if the food is awesome we will be a success, just looking for a little input from the neighborhood.

i would eat at such a place daily. im so not kidding. especially if you had beer!

anonymous

Isa,

I would definitely eat in a vegan or vegetarian restaurant. I agree with Ben and DeeDee that strictly vegan would be a tougher sell than a restaurant that offers a wider range of items. I, for one, hope that you open in Prospect Heights, perhaps on Washington, as sje suggested. Park Slope has enough restaurants, Prospect Heights needs more of its own. Given that there currently are limited options for this style of cuisine, your restaurant would likely become a destination place.

My all-time favorite vegetarian restaurant in the five-boroughs is Oneness Fountain, in Queens (7 train to Main Street, followed by a bus ride). The atmosphere is so relaxing and the food is delicious! I also love the veggie Caribbean restaurants in Brooklyn. I second the pitch for Millenium, in San Francisco, as it offers vegan food in an upscale atmosphere. I've also tried vegan Vietnamese cuisine at Golden Era in SF - excellent!

Judging from the responses on this thread, I'd say that there is a solid market for veggie food. I think if you had a mix of offerings (like those on your web site) and take-out, I'm sure that you'd do well.

rhodamine

Jack Krohn wrote: I, for one, hope that you open in Prospect Heights, perhaps on Washington, as sje suggested.

i agree! fwiw, remember the old "carribbean soul food" place on washington and like st. johns? its up for rent now... and prolly will be for months

daveb

I live next door to it. The way I understand it, the spot has unreasonably high rent as well as the untenanted corner store on St. Johns and Washington. There was a shop being set up a while ago, they got halfway ready, then scratched the whole plan. When I first was shopping here with a broker, she was lamenting all about how she couldn't rent the places anymore.

rhodamine

daveb wrote: I live next door to it. The way I understand it, the spot has unreasonably high rent as well as the untenanted corner store on St. Johns and Washington. There was a shop being set up a while ago, they got halfway ready, then scratched the whole plan. When I first was shopping here with a broker, she was lamenting all about how she couldn't rent the places anymore.

i always wondered why people would let places sit vacant for years, holding out for higher rent... when the ycould rent em out for cheaper all along, and probably make the same... if not more... money.

yeah that "papo" place was looking full-steam-ahead, then just closed up one day before they could even open.

hmm, i suggested it cause i thought it was cheap... being as it looks how it looks

medusa

Can't people get some kind of tax break when they rent at a lossor something like that? Or maybe that's why they hold out, because there's a tax advantage...?

emily

Medusa wrote: Can't people get some kind of tax break when they rent at a lossor something like that? Or maybe that's why they hold out, because there's a tax advantage...?

Maybe they can claim that they "can't" rent it and write the entire year's desired amount of rent off as a loss?

daveb

What I was told by my realtor was that the rent or cost to buy is so high and compiled with the cost to renovate or bring places up to code, just isn't worth it. This is what was related to me, I don't profess any real knowledge concerning commercial real estate in these here parts.

dlw5

Subject: yes, yes, yes!!

Washington would be an ideal location!! (for me...)

I'm glad you're not down with the faux meat. In my experience it tends to turn people off.

Love the zucchini bread idea.

Crazy about the seasonal menu options.

Keep it "homey" and you'll draw a crowd.

Oh, this is very exciting!! All the best!!!

rhodamine

Subject: Re: yes, yes, yes!!

DLW5 wrote: Keep it "homey" and you'll draw a crowd.

yeah! Wuzzup, homey!

:idea: :idea: :idea:

jayce

Subject: that would make my move to PH a sure bet.

As a vegetarian myself, I would love to have a really nice vegetarian restaurant in my neighborhood (or soon to be neighborhood). I'd dine there constantly.

t-fal

Subject: Re: yes, yes, yes!!

rhodamine wrote: [quote=DLW5]Keep it "homey" and you'll draw a crowd.

yeah! Wuzzup, homey!

:idea: :idea: :idea:


oooh...sorry...just...can't resist!



homey don't play dat!

daniel

Subject: Vegetarian, but not a fan of veggie restaurants

I've been vegetarian for almost 15 years, but I rarely go to veggie-only restaurants. For a while, I was a fan of House of Vegetarian and Vegetarians Paradise, but I think I've outgrown them. Most veggie-only restaurants are quite dull - Angelica's Kitchen and Zen Palate come to mind. The Chinese-style mock-meat places are also dull, mostly because the cooking is barely above the level of a neighborhood Chinese take-out. The local Chinese mock-meat palce on Flatbush (I forget the name) focuses too much on fried stuff. I'd much rather have a choice of 1 or two well-made vegetarian entrees at a typical restaurant than a few dozen poorly cooked ones at an all veggie restaurant. However, I'd definately give any local veggie-friendly a fair chance.

bluedove

A lot of what I would input as an omnivore has been said (have some "normal" dishes that just happen to not have meat in them, and I'm there!) but I just wanted to add my voice to the "Prospect Heights!" location plea... specifically it seems that Washington Ave (while, okay, really close to me so yay!) gets a fair amount of restaurant business from the museum crowds...and there are certainly some available storefronts.

Also, whoever was lamenting about the closed carribbean soul food place: The Islands (right next to Key Food) is fantastic...I could eat their curry chicken every night if I didn't care at all about gaining a million pounds from it...;)

legoflambchop

Subject: veggie restaurants

moved to the neighborhood (ok - not really - i live in boerum hill - but come out your way all the time) 1.5 years ago and have been dying to have a good veggie place around here. my favorites from the city are in order of deliciousness:
1. candle cafe - hands down the best but also kinda pricey
2. angelica kitchen - this used to be my home away from home. great food - especially considering it was vegan.
3. red bamboo - not sure how healthy the food is over there but it's a tasty treat every once in a while.
4. vegetarian dim sum house - pell st.
tasty!
5. b and h dairy - veggie chopped liver just like grandma used to make!

can't wait to hear about your new business venture - we'll be the first in line when you open

rhodamine

Subject: Re: veggie restaurants

legoflambchop wrote: veggie chopped liver

ewwww! :shock:

though i gotta second veggie dim sum.

anonymous

One of my best friends is a vegetarian (non-vegan), and we've eaten countless meals in NYC together over the years.

One of her most favorite restaurants was the now-departed Max & Moritz on 7th Avenue. It wasn't a vegetarian restaurant -- I think it was New American -- but it always had three or four choices (pumpkin ravioli, root vegetable pot pie, lasagna, butternut squash soup) for her. There were candles, linens, and professional service. As a group, we could order regular old good wines,

Why did she love it? Because most of her friends aren't vegetarians, and they too enjoyed the restaurant. M&M had quality of cooking and the homey yet upscale atmosphere which made everyone in the group happy.

Sure, my friend could convince us to eat in any number of Thai, Indian, Japanese restaurants and we'd all get delicious options. But that choice gets old. Sure, she could wheedle us to join her in veggie-only restaurants, but too many of those places have either the funky-hippie vibe or the sleek, stark, condescending and unfriendly "pure vegetarian" vibe.

I think what's missing in the "vegetarian restaurant space" is a place in the spirt of M&M. A cozy, welcoming New-American restaurant that cooks familiar favorites using fresh ingredients. No pretense, no agenda.. just a regular place where vegetarians can eat well, and not worry about their non-veg friends. In fact, a place that doesn't feel like a vegetarian restaurant... where you wouldn't even know it was one unless you scrutinized the menu.

Just my 2 cents.

alafairnadia

I'd love a veggie restaurant. but only if you clearly articulated ALL ingredients in meals. why? I'm allergic to eggplant which is frequently used as a meat replacement in veggie restaurants and sneaks into food all the time (and that's very irritating b/c then I have to take two benadryl and pray). I also know people in the 'hood who are allergic to mushrooms and nuts, so... yeah. (this is my universal gripe with restaurants, and I'm just letting you know what I think a best practice would be)
good luck! can't wait to try your goods! (fyi, tho an omnivore, am totally addicted to the tofu meatballs at rice. they're SO GOOD!)