Vegetarians can easily find a great meal from a wide range of cuisines. by Nicholas Gill
From fine dining to South Indian to market deli’s, options without meat are plentiful if you just know where to look.
Whole World Vegetarian Restaurant 3269 N. High Street Columbus, Ohio 43202 (614) 268-5751
Whole World has been a staple for Clintonville and area vegetarians for more than a decade. It was the first restaurant to really go solely vegetarian in the area and has many loyal customers. The food isn’t exotic or even original, but hearty and made with love. Vegetarian soups, Veggie burgers, Whole wheat pizzas made with sugarless dough, hummus, sandwiches, salads, pancakes, stir frys, and a number of desserts. They have a Sunday brunch as well with scrambled tofu and Veggie hash. They use local, organic produce whenever possible.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Benevolence Cafe 41 W Swan St Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 221-9330
Known as a sanctuary in the city, Benevolence is Vegan friendly and one of the few stops right downtown for Vegetarians. Seating is in long communal tables where you can meet other environmentally friendly patrons over homemade soups, hummus sandwiches, and fresh squeezed lemonades. Try Tofu Stroganoff, “Not” Chicken strips, or the Veggie Lasagna for something more creative. Has a gift shop selling natural soaps, handmade jewelry, pottery, and books.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $10
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Northstar Cafe 951 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43201 Short North 614-298-9999
Northstar isn’t completely veggie, but there are many veggie options and the restaurant does its best to use locally grown and Organic ingredients. The technique is definitely working with its dishes. The Buddha Combo mixes tofu and peanut sauce. mushrooms such as Portobellos and Shittakes are used in many dishes and sometimes the main ingredient such as with their frittatas. There’s also a nice selection of Veggie burgers, burritos, and pizzas.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Dosa Corner 1077 Old Henderson Road Columbus, Ohio 43220 614-459-5515
The Dosa Corner makes its dues by creating a menu based around one South Indian dish, the Dosa, as many restaurants in Southern India do. The dosa is similar to a large thin, unsweetened pancake that’s filled with rice or lentils or potatoes or curry. The small, simple restaurant has many options of dosas, as well as rice dishes, curries, and utthapams.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Aladdin's Eatery 2931 N. High St. (Other locations) Columbus, Ohio 43202 (614) 262-2414
Aladdin’s has cornered the Middle Eastern market over the past decades and has opened up restaurants all over town. They all have a number of excellent vegetarian options such as hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, baba ghanouj, smoothies, pita sandwiches/pockets, salads, and mujadara (rice with lentils).
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Customers come from all over the city to the northeast side for the Southern Indian fare at Udipi. Baigan Burtha (eggplant curry), Dosas, rice and lentil patties, and Potato Bonda are all worth a taste. A number of vegan options are available as well.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Pattycake Vegan Bakery 3009 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43202 614-784-CAKE Clintonville
This vegan bakery that began by friends while sitting at a Cup of Joe coffee shop offers a number of cookies and pastries made with organic ingredients, no hydrogenated oils, no animal products, and less refined sugars. The banana walnut muffins are legendary and the Hemp Flax granola cake pulls itself off without over doing it.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Dragonfly Neo-V Cuisine 247 King Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43201 Victorian Village 614-298-9986
Dragonfly is 100% Vegan and nearly 100% Organic, yet it still manages to be in every restaurant critic’s Top Ten list and has been considered one of the best vegetarian restaurants in America by several publications. Chef/owner Magdiale Wolmark is out to prove that Organic food and meat can be just as and even more delicious as any other. The menu changes seasonally, and specials arise daily based on what’s available and what can be grown in their incredible kitchen garden behind the restaurant. Most ingredients are found locally. Sashimi Styled Matsutake and Portobello Leak Tarts are among the highly creative entrees, along with the highly popular pizzas of the day. There is a nice list of juices that combine many exotic ingredients and are made fresh.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $25 - $35
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Annapurna Indian Restaurant 5657 Emporium Square Columbus, Ohio (614) 523-3640
Annapurna is another South Indian Vegetarian restaurant. They offer a lunch and dinner buffet, maybe the best Indian buffet in town. Many vegan appetizers make an appearance on the menu as well. The puri bhaji is great, as are the samosas, chhole-puri, and biryanis.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
The Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant 2361 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43202 614-421-2323 Clintonville
The Blue Nile isn’t pure Veg either, but the majority of the dishes are. Injera, a soft, tangy, sponge like bread is the center of most meals here. It’s balled in the hand and used to scoop out and soak up entrees served from a communal bowl or from a traditional dish. Kik Alcha (yellow split peas), Yatakilt Wat (carrots, string beans, potatoes, and peppers spiced with tumeric), and Debinja (eggplant with tomatoes and peppers) are good choices for vegetarians.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
The Top List of Veggie Restaurants - Columbus, OH