Tucked away and worth the find! This little gem was near an errand I was running and glad I found…read moreit. The team members are all great! They take pride in their restaurant's offerings, as they should. My server was wonderful, offering suggestions to this first-timer. I started with a Volcano Roll - hearts of palm substituting for fish. Well balanced and delicious. Next was broccoli "beef" - fresh broccoli and shitake "steak" with mushrooms really balanced the dish. I ended with something so unnecessary and so wonderful, I'm glad I did it: The sticky toffee pudding. Just pure delight. It was relatively quiet when I was there. I could see how it could get a bit noisy if it were crowded. But even so, the people who visit are friendly and I ended up having a great conversation with the table next to me. I'll be back. I'm not exactly local, but it's definitely worth the trip! Planta is on my faves list now!

I am not vegan. If it weren't for our friends who are, and having eaten already at the kopino fest,…read morewe probably would not have gone. Funny enough, we met our only other vegan friend there. So, from the vegan perspective, this is a popular and tasty place. We started with drinks, being lunchtime, we opted for non alcoholic drinks, the matcha colada and the salty maple macchiato. The matcha colada had a nice color but tasted mostly like coconut and pineapple which was still yummy. Friends ordered 3 different kinds of sushi and dan dan noodles with tofu. I was confused with the sushi as I thought vegans didn't eat fish...so yes I asked and was told that they probably made the "fish" with tapioca. I did try a bite of each roll (I was still full from the fest) and I was surprised that it tasted pretty good. They did a nice job with the roll and presentation. The matcha cheesecake was nice and creamy. I would not have known it was vegan. I don't normally like food that pretends to be something else because it usually doesn't live up to the real thing. The idea is that it is not pretending to be something but rather substituting with vegan options, I do think from a health perspective, I am more open to trying more vegan foods. Ambiance felt upscale and wait staff were helpful and congenial. I hear dinner time gets packed here. I may have to try again when I have not eaten already.

YUM. This place was so good. I came in after a long day of working (and it was only 2pm) and this…read moreplace revived me in so many ways. It is so cozy inside. It feels like you're entering a library. It is really beautiful and chic. The staff were friendly and I ordered the Tibetan Mama ($15.93) Coconut Curry and it was delicious. It was so flavorful and fresh. Genuinely my only complaint is that they didn't give me more. I also ordered a lemonade (~$4) that had a nice sweetness to it, but didn't taste too artificial. It was a great addition to the hearty curry.

I had lunch from Le Botaniste last Saturday and enjoyed the meal. I say from Le Botaniste rather…read morethan at Le Botaniste, because - even though the cafe is beautiful and huge (I saw a sign pointing to more seating in another room) - it was a gorgeous day and I took my lunch across the street to enjoy in Bryant Park. And that's really one of the best things about this location of Le Botaniste (there around 7 locations in the city) - being right across from Bryant Park, you can enjoy a healthy lunch while enjoying the park! So what is Le Botaniste? It's an organic, plant-based, and carbon-neutral cafe with locations in NYC and a couple in Europe. So everything is vegan. Everything is organic. The calories and other dietary information are listed on the menu. I had their Chef Priyanka Samosa Bowl (a seasonal offering), which includes brown rice, saag, samosa balls, crispy chickpeas, turmeric onions, tamarind and green chutneys, and yogurt raita. It is 433 calories and 12 grams of protein. I thought it was good - although I thought the samosa balls were quite dry (the chutneys, saag, and raita helped), and I liked that it was light and healthy and wouldn't slow me down for the rest of my busy day. I also grabbed a water and a quinoa peanut butter cookie that I saved in my bag for later. (I noticed that they had some wines that I would have been happy to try - if you eat in, you can have a full experience with a drink.) I showed up right at 11 when they opened, and there was only one other customer. My bowl was ready in seconds and I was out the door and across the street seated in Bryant Park within a minute or two. If you're looking for a healthy vegan lunch in the neighborhood, Le Botaniste is a good option!

Had the most magical Valentine's Day dinner at Avant Garden in NYC. They offered a beautifully…read morecurated menu for the evening and every dish felt thoughtful, creative, and incredibly satisfying. We were honestly surprised by how filling everything was -- so many generous, flavorful courses. The pizza ended up being our favorite dish of the night -- absolutely delicious and such a standout. And the sweetest touch at the end: cookies to take home! Such a small detail but it made the whole experience feel even more special. If you're looking for a plant-based spot that still feels like a true night-out experience, Avant Garden really delivers.

I had been looking forward to trying Avant Garden for a long time and chose it for a birthday…read moredinner, so this was especially disappointing. We had a 9:30 reservation on May 9. The reservation email said they would hold the table for 15 minutes, and we arrived at about 9:43 after getting stuck in traffic. We were still within that window, but as soon as we checked in, the host immediately told us the kitchen was closing in one minute and that the bar would close in about 20 minutes, so we needed to place our food order right away. It made the meal feel rushed from the moment we arrived. The restaurant was virtually empty, but we were seated directly next to the bathroom. There were clearly plenty of other seating options available, which made that choice even more frustrating. Unfortunately, there was a noticeable bathroom odor from our table, which was really unpleasant and not what I would expect from a restaurant at this price point. Servers were also constantly going back and forth between the dining room and what seemed to be either a storage or cleaning area near the bathroom, so in addition to the odor, there was steady foot traffic throughout the meal. There were also papers or sugar packets underneath the table next to us, which added to the feeling that the dining room was not being carefully maintained. We ordered the paella, fig toast, and Calabrian flatbread. The food itself was fine in terms of flavor, but the rest of the experience made it feel understated and much less enjoyable than it should have been. The paella and toast came out quickly, and then we waited about 45 minutes for the flatbread. During that time, no one checked in, explained the delay, or asked how anything was. We honestly thought the flatbread had been forgotten. Then, after that long wait, the flatbread and dessert were brought out almost at the same time. The server explained that the kitchen was telling them to bring everything out at once. We had also ordered a bottle of Lambrusco, but it was not available, so we were given a different wine instead. Overall, the pacing and service felt very disorganized. We were rushed to order immediately, then largely ignored for the rest of the meal. No one asked how the food was, no one checked on the delay, and the timing of the final dishes made the meal feel chaotic rather than enjoyable. Even though the food was fine, the experience around it really took away from the meal. I also think there is a practical issue with the reservation timing. If the kitchen closes 15 minutes after the last available reservation, it does not make sense to offer a 15-minute grace period. Either the final seating should be earlier, or the kitchen should remain open long enough to properly serve guests who arrive within the stated reservation window. For a restaurant with Avant Garden's reputation and price point, I expected a much more thoughtful and polished experience. I wanted this to be a special birthday dinner, but we left feeling disappointed. I don't feel eager to return, and based on this visit, I would have a hard time recommending it to vegan friends.

All the food was vegan. Super cute restaurant that's pretty small…read more The dumplings were my favorite. Thought the skin was kind of thick but I loved the curry sauce. The general Tso dish was also pretty good. The arancini and mac were ok in my opinion. Service was pretty good. Wouldn't say it's the best vegan food I've had but I did enjoy it overall.

Vegan Tapas?? Wooooow!!…read more This place is amazing great food, great vibe, wonderful people. and I don't have to feel like I've given anything up in terms of one of my favorite ways of eating before I became vegan. Lady Bird's Tapas is simply out of this world!

A vegan dim sum restaurant! Of course my sister was the one that found this, and my my was it a…read morefeast! It was a perfect addition to Mother's Day weekend festivities. Their square tables comfortably seated six of us, and the staff was consistently on top of things. For the first 10 minutes or so, they walked by several times and noticed that we were nose is deep in our menus trying to figure out what to get. When we were ready to order, everything was super efficient from then on. We had too much to name, but some highlights were all of the dumplings, the vegan chicken and pepper on tray, turn up cakes, sesame balls... There was just so many amazing items that we had. For Saturday afternoon, no surprise that the place was full, so well done for managing everything so well. I would definitely return to try all of the things that I didn't have. And all of it is vegan, how cool is that?!

Amazing service and everything is delicious! Came at 6 on a weekend and we were seated before a…read morehuge rush of people. The General Tso dish was the standout. I am not vegan and I prefer it to the chicken version! Service was above and beyond. We had soup dumplings and they prepared and served each dumpling to us in spoons for us individually, putting the sauces on for us even. Definitely try this out for great vegan Chinese!

This is the place to go for vegetarians and meat eaters. The restaurant is fully vegetarian (and…read morekosher). They manipulate the food (tofu or soy product) to resemble meat. My favorite is the BBQ roasted meat that resembles roasted pork. I find that it always is moist and packed with pork flavor. This time there was a seafood special that arrived in a sizzling pot. The sauce was a typical brown sauce with some seafood broth added for flavor. The scallop by the texture, look and taste did resemble the real thing. Mushroom e-fu noodles is another favorite dish that I always get. Noodles are sauced just right to carry the umami from the mushrooms and not be soggy. They usually have a subtle plumpness to them but last time they seemed to be a bit on the flatter side. They renovated since the last time I visited. Most of the circular tables have been removed replaced with rectangular ones. Bench seating is now along the perimeter. I think they can accommodate more people this way. Another plus is they now accept credit cards and participate in several dining cash back programs (Seated, Upside and Franki).

I hadn't been to Buddha Bodhi in years and finally decided it was time to revisit. I brought my…read morenon-vegetarian partner and he was thoroughly impressed. We ordered the dim sum sampler and the BBQ vegetarian meat with cabbage and rice. The BBQ vegetarian meat was the standout. Most pieces were tender with some crispy edges, and the sauce was sweet and aromatic. The cabbage gave it a nice earthy balance that kept the dish from feeling too sweet. The dim sum sampler was also a great choice. It had a good variety, including a watercress dumpling, sticky rice shumai, a steamed BBQ bun, and a couple of others. It's a perfect way to try multiple items without going overboard. Service was fast and friendly, and the restaurant was clean. The only thing keeping this from being a perfect experience was the way the wait list was handled. The person at the front was giving estimated wait times but wasn't taking names, which caused a larger party ahead of me to be bumped when a later group arrived and was seated first. By the time I left, it looked like they had started taking names, so hopefully it was just a temporary hiccup. Overall, still a fantastic meal and worth the visit.

The missus and I stopped here on a Thursday evening, 5ish, for a drink and small nosh…read more Really nice happy hour options. Got two cocktails - the smoky Hedgehog Maize and the jalapeñoy De Vacaciones - at 50% off (so cost us $8.50 and $9.50, respectively). Service was great, the drinks were really nice. The Sentir Guac was quite tasty, lots of really fresh avocado. If in the neighborhood, try the happy hour.

So I gotta do repeats on my favorite spots, so for my 3rd time visiting I had the tomato tortilla…read moresoup, the grilled Caesar salad, and my favorite mushroom tacos. Happy to report it is still good, especially the tacos (though by the time I got there, I was full and could only eat the filling of my second taco). Went with the Living & Dreaming mocktail that gives pina colada vibes and skipped dessert cuz I had Venchi chocolates waiting at home. Not sure if my bartender/waiter was the very same Alex from last time, but he remains kind and attentive (and let's be honest cute). I'll be back, but now I've remembered mention of sister restaurants that I need to tag and locate.

Three of us had a very nice after-theater meal here this evening…read more We started with two appetizers and a soup. The crabby cakes (three in the serving) were delicious. Somehow, they were able to approximate the flavor and texture of crab with a combination of chickpeas, artichokes, hearts of palm and panko. Very well prepared and tasty. The roasted brussel sprouts were "fine". The menu says they are prepared with a citrus balsamic reduction. No one was very impressed with these. The Colombian potato soup was flavorful and we all enjoyed that. The broth was not very hot (temperature-wise), which was a disappointment. We ordered soup because it was a very cold day and were looking forward to a hot soup. Of the appetizers we shared, we agreed that the crabby cakes were the strongest of the three. The brussel sprouts none of us would get again. They were essentially a small bowl of brussel sprouts with no special characteristic flavor. The entrees were all a big success. I loved my PS Lasagna. It tasted like a meat lasagna in a very flavorful and very nicely seasoned marinara. It was outstanding. And a very nice portion. The Chicken Pot Pie was delicious also. The crust was flaky, with lots of pieces of "chicken". Could have used more peas and carrots. But a very flavorful dish that is an excellent example of how comfort food can be made in vegan style. The chicken Caesar wrap was enormous and delicious. The service here was excellent. We were well-attended to, especially with respect to filling of water glasses. We had a reservation and arrived over a half hour early, but they were able to take us right away. When we were done, we did notice a long line of people waiting to get in, so we couldn't linger. The restaurant has a nice, comfortable atmosphere. It's a bit dark, though. Staff were attentive.

I tried this vegan restaurant with a friend for dinner. The interior was super adorable, clean, and…read moremodern, featuring exposed brick on the wall, cool lights over the bar, pink lighting, and plenty of space for seating. There was a cozy atmosphere to the place. We decided to share the Steak Marsala, Chicken Pot Pie, and Truffle Fries. The Steak Marsala truly resembled steak, and my friend actually thought it was real steak meat. I could definitely discern the difference though. It was tender, well seasoned, covered in a savory, tasty mushroomy Marsala sauce, with plenty of mashed potatoes topped with mushroom and garlic spinach on the side. Truffle Fries were perfectly crispy with strong truffle flavor, dusted with herby spices. The Chicken Pot Pie looked pretty good with spices and rosemary on top. The crust was satisfyingly crisp, flaky, buttery, while the inside was a mixture of chicken substitute, peas, carrots. However, the filling wasn't thick enough for me, and I think the addition of potatoes would have made it much better. Service was lovely. Our waiter was welcoming and knowledgeable about the offerings. Prices were decent for the area. Menu was creative, especially given that it is all plant based. We enjoyed our time here! I probably won't be back for a while, as I like meat too much, but a solid choice for vegans and vegetarians!

Obao has delicious food. If you're in Hells Kitchen and happen to stumble by Obao, it is worth…read morecoming in. Obao is has both Thai and Viet food. It does well with doing the whole "fusion" schtick without losing the essence and flavor of the dishes. Pad Krapoa Moo Krob, the meat on the pork belly was so juicy - the pork skin was crunchy and chewy at the same time, flavors of Thai spice, basil, and bell peppers harmoniously working together to bring a balanced meal. The shrimp basil fried rice was delicious, a great alternative if you're not feeling the crab fried rice. The service at Obao is always prompt and helpful, whether it's questions about the menu or recommendations, anyone is willing to help. Inside Oboa is dimly lit, a moody vibe that is fun and invites playful conversations.

While walking down the street in Hell's Kitchen, Obao caught my family's and my eyes. We looked at…read morethe menu and noticed that there were many gluten-free options, so we decided to try them out. The hostess stated how she had a long reservation list, but was able to get us right in! Once we sat down, our server, Spaghetti, came over to us. He was extremely friendly and took our drink orders right away. I ordered an Espresso Martini, and it was delicious. My father ordered a Vietnamese Iced Coffee, which was extremely tasty. For our entrees, my mother ordered the Pad Thai, and my father and I ordered the Pho Bó. My mom absolutely loved the Pad Thai! The Pho Bó was incredible. The broth was so delectable, and it was honestly the best broth that I have ever had. The portions were also incredible, especially for the price and being in the city! Once we received the check, we noticed that next to the Pho Bó, it stated that it is Michelin Recommended, and we completely understand why! We are looking forward to going back!

Super consistent, healthy, and fast. I love the options to add sauces to everything as well. Great…read morefor dine-in and takeout. Pricey, but the price is worth it. I'm very interested to try their selection of wines next time! A New York Gem.

I have been to Le Botaniste a many times and it never disappoints…read more An airy, fresh and greenery ensconced environment that caters to plant based food. Plant based bowls with make your own or they have variety of pre-selected options. Food is flavorful and quite delicious. They also offer a variety of drinks and desserts. Always have had good customer service experiences. You leave full and satisfied. Highly recommended.