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Alchemy Juice Bar Cafe
The Top List of Veggie Restaurants - Hartford, CT
by Geoff Elterich
If you have ever considered becoming a vegetarian, now may be the time. An abundance of restaurants focusing on healthy foods and cooking have sprouted up in the Hartford area. If you are still worried that healthy food can not be tasty, these restaurants will squash those concerns. Although the focus is on natural, healthy food, the reason for their success lies in the tantalizing flavors. These restaurants offer some of the most delicious, inventive meals that will make you forget just how healthy they are!
The Alchemy Juice Bar Cafe
203 New Britain Ave
Hartford, CT 95195
860-246-5700
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am-8pm; Sat 12pm-8pm; Sun 12pm-6pm
Along with all-organic, vegetarian and vegan-friendly breakfast, lunch and dinner cuisine, at the Alchemy Juice Bar Café you will find an organic oxygen bar. For those unfamiliar with oxygen bars, it’s as simple as it sounds: customers spend 1-20 minutes breathing in pure oxygen. As far as the food goes, the quaint eatery maintains a 99% margin of organic over conventional products. Organic means no pesticides, hormones, steroids, antibiotics or genetically altered foods. It truly makes a difference: the food is remarkable. Try a freshly-squeezed, organic juice or smoothie while you enjoy a vast selection of wraps, sandwiches, soups, and salads. The Himalayan Goji Juice and the organic wheatgrass are popular drinks that will make you see the beauty of organic. Save room for some of their delicious desserts, as well: organic vegan chocolates, organic dairy and vegan ice creams. Fresh, local produce is delivered weekly and baked goods are made fresh daily on the premises. Whether you stop in for an organic smoothie, a delicious wrap, or just a breath of fresh air, The Alchemy is truly a unique experience.
Udupi Bhavan
749 Saybrook Rd
Middletown, CT 06457
860-346-3355
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11:30 to 3 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
After a visit to Udupi Bhavan, you'd think there would be south Indian restaurants all over the state. The flavors are thrilling and all the food is healthy: most of the cooking is vegetarian, with an emphasis on tomatoes, ginger, rice, chili peppers, and bold seasoning. Start with the medhu vada, fried lentil doughnuts; these savory treats beg to be dipped in rasam—a sour and spicy south Indian soup—or the creamy parsley-flecked yogurt spread. Another spectacular dish is the baigan bartha, fresh baked eggplant that has been mixed with tomatoes, onions and spices. They also serve two of south India’s most popular items: samosas and pakoras. The distinctively tricorne-shaped vegetable samosas are stuffed with a smooth puree of potatoes, onions and peas. The pakoras are vegetable fritters deep-fried within a crunchy batter. Uthappams are another south Indian favorite. These pizza-sized pancakes are imbedded with whatever flavorings you order. At this charming restaurant, you’ll always find delicious, healthful meals that satisfy without leaving you feeling overstuffed.
East-West Grille
526 New Park Avenue
860-236-3287
West Hartford, Connecticut 06110
Hours: Tue-Sat 7: am-10 pm
Sun 8 am-2 pm, 4 pm-9 pm
True to the name, this tiny restaurant’s atmosphere is a wonderful mix of East and West, with gleaming, chrome dining-car settings bordered by elaborate Thai textiles, graceful bamboo plants, and jazz on the stereo. The cuisine is a similar combination. They serve an all-American breakfast, but lunch and dinner are a culinary trip to Southeast Asia with Lao-Thai fare and some Japanese touches. The menu is obviously extensive, with Japanese appetizers, such as edamame, gyoza and tempura, as well as the Thai satay and Lao egg rolls. All entrees can be prepared vegetarian upon request. They also serve many “mock-meat” dishes for those who want to cut the beef out of their diet but can’t seem to do without that meaty flavor. The menu includes numerous soup and noodle dishes that can be made with beef, chicken, seafood, or bean curd. Enjoy healthy, soy milkshakes, coconut milk, and smoothies, then move on to some exotic desserts, including Lao sweet coconut soup and triple gelatin with sweet beans and coconut ice. Of course, there is always the American diner specialty: New York cheesecake. No matter which hemisphere the food hails from, you’re sure to be satisfied.
Pho Boston
144 Shield Street
West Hartford 06110
860-953-8678
Hours: 10-10, 7 days a week
Pho Boston is an excellent, casual and affordable Vietnamese restaurant with a simple décor and a menu that’s anything but simple. An extraordinary vegetarian menu accompanies their extensive conventional offerings. Pho Boston has all of the popular Pho noodle soups but they also offer some more unusual Vietnamese entrees, like sweet hot pot stews and curries. Customary Vietnamese cuisine offers plenty of noodle dishes, pleasantly salty sauces, hot and sour tastes and touches of fruity sweetness. The essential elements of Vietnamese cooking seem to be mung bean sprouts; the crunchy and nutty bean sprouts show up in everything. They are airily light, yet have rich flavor and substance. Aromatic basil, lime juice, fiery peppers and cilantro all show up in the cuisine frequently as well. The vegetarian menu is heavy on tofu offerings, each with their own individual, mesmerizing flavor—sure to satisfy even those who have been hesitant to try tofu dishes in the past. The fresh mint-loaded spring rolls are also worth a try, and with the extensive arsenal of spicy condiments on each table—rooster sauce, Sembal Olek, fish sauce and more—nothing is uninteresting at Pho Boston.
Average cost pp is $15
It's Only Natural Restaurant
Main Street Market
386 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
860-346-9210
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11:30 am to 9 pm
Friday & Saturday 11:30 am to 10 pm
Sunday Bunch 11 am to 3 pm
This small restaurant—located next to the large health food store of the same name—may be primarily vegetarian, but even meat eaters sing its praises for imaginative, tasty food. Upon entering, you'll find a quiet atmosphere, bright colors, funky metal sculptures and delightful artwork on the walls, giving the place a light, airy feeling. There is live music on the weekends, and in the summer there is an outdoor patio for dining. Then there’s the menu: an awesome assortment of International gourmet, with vegetarian, vegan, and macrobiotic options containing no refined sugar or dairy products. Choose from the delicious Vegan Crab Cakes, Mediterranean Pasta, soups, Pierogis (potato spinach dumpling with brown rice) or a number of other creative items—all for a reasonable price. The sweet potato fries are simply incredible. They also offer freshly squeezed juices and organic breads and pies. You are sure to leave with a full stomach, delighted taste-buds, and a guilt-free conscience.
Kebra Nagast
248 Sisson Ave
West Hartford, CT 06105
860-523-1122
Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 am to 9 pm
Sunday 11:30 am to 6:30 pm
If you’ve never tried Rastafarian cuisine—or never even heard of it—you’re probably not alone. After a visit to Kebra Negast, you’ll probably start spreading the word. This is without a doubt the most aromatic restaurant you will ever visit. The scent of ginger, thyme, curry and a host of other spices will set your stomach growling. Charming servers will walk you through vast selection of vegetarian and vegan-friendly cuisine. Choose from the Mafe, a Senegalese stew of peanuts, onion, tomato and chili pepper; Gomen, a recipe of collard greens, okra and coconut milk that hails from Ethiopia; or an exceptional curried tofu scrambled with green onions and tomato. These dishes are all served around a bed of rice and beans. Make sure to try the ackee, Jamaica’s national fruit, and the banana bread, perfect for dessert or tomorrow’s breakfast. Rastafarian cuisine adheres to the doctrine of "I-tal'': a belief that what enters your body should be as natural as possible. With flavors this good, it’s hard to argue.
Garden of Light
2836 Main St
Glastonbury, Connecticut 06073
860-657-9131
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Lunch buffet Monday - Friday 11:30AM-3:00PM
The lunch buffet at Garden of Light should get any veggie fan excited, and it might just turn a few meat lovers onto the joys of vegetarian cooking. Everything is prepared with your health in mind; all products are gluten free, dairy free, and wheat free. Don’t fret, though, your taste buds are sure to be pleased as well. Start with the vegetable bisque or the corn chowder and move on to the vast salad bar with innumerable fixin’s. The delicious, fresh bread is always available and made from scratch using organic ingredients. There is an assortment of wonderful sandwiches and wraps, but for something more filling, be sure to try one of the terrific entrees. The oven-roasted tofu with black bean ranchero sauce is always popular and the vegan chicken-less parmesan will have you coming back for more. You won't find anything artificial in their breads, cookies, pies, cakes, and pastry, and after a trip to Garden of Light, you may not want to eat anything artificial again.
Lemon Grass Restaurant
7 South Main Street
West Hartford, CT
860-233-4405
Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30 am to 10 pm
Saturday & Sunday 4 pm to 10 pm
The dining room of the Lemon Grass Restaurant is relaxed but elegant, a perfect setting for the refined, sophisticated Thai cuisine they serve there. It is not purely vegetarian, but like most Thai cuisine, there is an emphasis on vegetables and healthy cooking. The menu is extremely extensive; in fact, any Thai dish you could possibly request is available. One of the mainstays of Thai cuisine is Pad Thai—Thai Rice Noodles (with or without Chicken, Shrimp or Beef), vegetables, Tofu, Scrambled Egg, Chili paste, Bean Sprouts and ground peanuts. Many Thai foods utilize peanuts, especially in sauces, and they lend a remarkable flavor to any dish. The service is always great—it has to be to make it in the West Hartford Center—and they are happy to accommodate any request. Lemon Grass is the perfect place for the novice Thai eater, or for those simply looking for quality, healthy food.
Lion's Den Vegetarian Restaurant
403 Woodland St
Hartford, CT 06112
(860) 241-0512
Hours: Daily 11:30 am to 9 pm (call ahead for times)
At the Lion’s Den Vegetarian Restaurant in the heart of Hartford, it’s all about the food.
The restaurant is a small, basic, no-frills operation offering vegetarian and vegan Caribbean cooking. The staff is always friendly, expedient and helpful, especially if you’re not familiar with the cuisine. The veggie burgers are self-explanatory—the same goes for the rice and beans—but these simple options are done to perfection. Although the name says “vegetarian,” they do have some good options for meat lovers. The curry chunks are particularly good—flavorful chunks of lamb or fish in a delicious sauce. Of course, the curry sauce can be put on almost anything and taste good. The most popular item on the menu is the Ackee Stew—a succulent stew utilizing Jamaica’s delicious national fruit—and with one taste, you’ll see why. The small location may be nothing special, but the food is sure to make a lasting impression.
Tapas
1150 New Britain Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-521-4609
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 am to 9 pm; Fri & Sat 11 am to 10 pm; Sun 12 noon to 9 pm
Tapas has been a fixture in West Hartford since 1985, serving Mediterranean cuisine in an intimate, comfortable setting. The diverse items on the menu—Greek, Israeli, Spanish, French and Middle Eastern dishes—are prepared from market-fresh products purchased every day. Consistently recognized as one of central Connecticut's best Greek restaurants and as a vegetarian-friendly dining option, Tapas caters to an eclectic clientele, including those in search of a bargain. Be sure to try the Famous Greek Salad, “The Salad That Put Us On The Map.” With an abundance of feta cheese, onions, kalamata olives, diced tomato, pepperoncini, & chopped parsley over mixed greens and dressed with Tapas "Almost Famous" salad dressing, you may not have room for any of the other delicious items. If you do, try the spectacular hummus or the baked baguette, stuffed with gobs of garlic, parmesan & pecorino cheese, roasted red peppers, extra virgin olive oil and Italian parsley. With tasteful dishes, great service, and wonderful atmosphere, it’s no wonder Tapas has been so popular for over 20 years.
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