Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > August > 05 > Entry
Atlanta’s vegetarian surprises.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today’s Newcomer guest post comes from intern Lindsey Peacock, who’s returning to Atlanta after four years away in Athens, being all collegiate. She found a few offbeat choices for vegetarians, but would love to hear your suggestions down in the comments. Jamie will be back next week, and probably hungry.
So here’s the scoop: I just moved back to Atlanta after roughing it for four years in Athens at the University of Georgia. Normally this wouldn’t pose such a dining dilemma. I’m originally from the Atlanta area, so I’m somewhat familiar with the town and its offerings. However, there’s a new stipulation that significantly reduces my choices — I’m now a vegetarian.
In the spirit of discovery, I thought I’d do research of the yummy kind and find the three top-notch, wallet- and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the Atlanta area. I’ve also tried my best to steer away from the more well-known veggie restaurants in town, just so I can provide little-known international options to newbies such as myself. And the latter two of these restaurants are off-the-beaten-track kinds of places. But don’t be afraid. Be intrepid! Discover new tastes, smells and textures to satisfy your diverse palette! And I’d love to hear about more places any readers think is worth a trip. Be it near or far, I’m always willing to make a drive for great veggie cuisine!
In no particular order of deliciousness:
Fogo de Chao — I know what you’re thinking. A Brazilian steakhouse? Veggie-friendly? Yes, it is! Well, if you don’t mind the parachute pants-wearing gaucho waiters walking around with giant spits of meat in their hands. If those sights and smells don’t bother you, then try out the salad bar — it’s to DIE for. Literally. The expansive bar not only offers the typical lettuce, croutons and fresh veggie what-nots, but also artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, portabello mushrooms and smoked salmon for you pesco-vegetarians. And for those of us ovo-lactos, they also offer numerous varieties of fresh cheese, from swisses to cheddars and everything in between. On top of all this deliciousness, the price is significantly reduced for salad bar-eaters — from $49.50 per person at dinner to $19.50 per person. How do you say “brilliant” in Portuguese? 3101 Piedmont Road, Atlanta. Phone: (404) 266-9988.
The Mughals — Indian food at its best! If you’re like me, and the thought of basmati rice and curry make your mouth water, then this is the place for you. Indian food is generally a great stand-by cuisine because many Indians are vegetarian, and Mughals, in my humble opinion, is the best Indo-Pak place in the area. The naan, or flat bread eaten with most dishes, is made fresh every day in their special tandoori oven, and is quite fluffy and delightful. I have been known to make a meal out of that alone. One of my other favorites is the vegetable biryani (basmati rice with various veggies tossed in). The best way to try everything is to take a group of friends who share your Indian love and each of you order something different to share. And for dessert, try a gulab jamin (a fried dough ball soaked in a syrup sweet enough to turn you diabetic on the spot) or a mango lussi, a mango-flavored, milkshake-type drink. 5265 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross. Phone: (770) 446-6941.
Hot CafĂ© — A hole-in-the-wall Thai/Laos place off Riverdale Road, close to the airport. This place is completely authentic, which is one of my main requirements when I search for international options. And while the location is not ideal (it sits in a rough-looking plaza next to a run down convenience store), the food is delectable. This place has the best pho around (a common Vietnamese stew with rice noodles, bean sprouts and other veggies of choice), with large portions and a cheap price tag. Just make sure to request the veggie pho — often they’ll include tripe in the mix when they cook it. The soup is accompanied with a side order of a couple of types of lettuces, bean sprouts, lemons and other greenery. Accessorize that dish with an order of sticky rice and some Thai tea. 5286 Riverdale Road, Atlanta. Phone: (770) 996-6544.
For more veggie options, check out lists from AccessAtlanta and Happy Cow.
What are your favorite affordable, offbeat veggie choices for dining out?
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Yum!
Comments
By Nina
August 6, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
Green Sprout on 1529 Piedmont has amazing Chinese Vegetarian food.
By mona
August 6, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
try “world peace cafe ” in Smyrna. www. Worldpeacecafeofatlanta.com. Very nice food n ambience.
By Martha Stewart
August 6, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
The best vegetarian food is that which I cook at home in my own kitchen (with vegetables harvested from my backyard garden that I lovingly tended since early spring) and serve to my perfect family. Bleccccchhhhhh!
By Citizen of the World
August 6, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Mezza, a Lebanese “bistro” at LaVista and Oak Grove has a whole section of its menu devoted to vegetarian dishes — very delicious — and it has meat dishes, too. There’s a vegetarian Indian restaurant at the corner of Lawrenceville Hwy and N. Druid Hills — can’t remember the name of it — that also has really good food. Raging Burrito has a lot of vegetarian options. I could go on …
I don’t often go to a purely “vegetarian” restaurant — fortunately, more and more regular restaurants have good vegetarian food on the menu.
By Paris Hilton
August 6, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
I like my vegetables HOT, really HOT. And fresh, not old and wrinkly like that guy in the political ads. I like the same things over and over again, I’m like really not into change, you know? Did I mention that I like my vegetables really, really HOT? I’m Paris Hilton, and I approve these vegetables.
By Jo
August 6, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Veggieland, Soul Vegetarian (both locations), Harmony Chinese, Udipi..
By Tyrone Biggums
August 6, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
Hot Wok on Peachtree Industrial is an awesome place for veggie Indo-Chinese food.
By zeke
August 6, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Vegetarian? YUK!
By Jackie
August 6, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Yeah, that was really funny, Paris.
By David Sprouts
August 6, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
When I saw the title of the blog “Have a taste for vegetarian” I was reminded of a wonderful bumper sticker I saw outside a vegetarian restaurant once. It said “Vegetarians taste better” It takes a while but you’ll get it.
Be careful with the Pho at Vietnamese restaurants. I have yet to find any restaurant that doesn’t use beef broth as the soup base. They may leave out the tripe, but you’re still getting the beef. Take along a vietnamese friend or have them call for you and get to the detail in the home language. That’s what I eventually had to do. What a shame too, since they make great soup.
All of the suggestions have been great. Don’t pass up R. Thomas Grill. Give the raw dinner a try.
The entire Decatur area is crawling with Indo-Pak restaurants. Biggest difference seems to be the heat. Udipi is outstanding as a purely vegetarian spot. They have a new location on Peachtree Industrial in Duluth. Duluth is also an Indian hot-spot.
What we really need to see are Smart Dogs or an equivalent being served at Turner Field.
By Becky
August 6, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
mona, where is the world peace cafe in Smyrna?
By Amy
August 6, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
David Sprouts: They do have veggie dogs — and veggie burgers! — at Turner Field now. I was thrilled to discover that this year. You just have to look for them, because not all of the vendors have them. The veggie dogs are a little harder to find, but the veggie burger, at least, is available right in the plaza.
It’s not strictly a vegetarian restaurant, but I highly recommend Doc Chey’s. I can’t even order veggie lo mein anywhere else now, because Doc Chey’s has spoiled me completely!
By BZ
August 6, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
I agree about the steakhouse salad bars—Sal Grosso on Powers Ferry has an excellent one! MGR Palace on 78 in the Wal-Mart shopping center is wonderful South Indian; Olive Bistro on Ponce across from City Hall East treats their veggies right (try the lentils and rice); Bamboo Garden (I think that is the name) on Church St. in Decatur has spicy Indo-Chinese food with veg options. Great, now I’m hungry.
By RJ
August 6, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
World Peace Cafe’s website is actually www.worldpeacecafeatlanta.com
By duh
August 6, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
try posting the right link http://www.worldpeacecafeatlanta.com/
By tease
August 6, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
sandy springs, smyrna….
same place, right?
By Lindsey Peacock
August 6, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions! mona, I’ve heard great things about World Peace Cafe, I’ll definitely check it out. And R. Thomas has some of the best food I’ve ever had. Ever. I eat there about once a week. I also adore the Midtown veggie staple, Flying Biscuit. I’m notorious for visiting almost every Sunday for brunch. I live around the Brookhaven area, does anyone know of any great places in that area?
By Heather
August 7, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Some of you may find http://www.VegCooking.com helpful too. The site has a list of regional and chain restaurants that offer vegetarian options, links to other sites (like Happy Cow) that list vegetarian-friendly restaurants, as well as tons of recipes and vegan product suggestions.
By Hassan
August 7, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
Great list, I agree Mughals is a great place for some Indo/pak dining…
I also love to eat vegetarian at Chipotle!!