Posts Tagged ‘vegetarian’

Little Lad’s, Big Flavor

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

little-lads

When I come to work the thing I really look forward to is lunchtime because I know I will be going to my favorite place. That place is Little Lad’s Vegan Restaurant.  I have been going to eat there since it opened in 2006.  Before discovering this place I used to eat at different salad bars in the area.

I didn’t even know about Little Lad’s until somebody told me about it.  It’s located on the lower level of my building, 120 Broadway.  Recently they put a sign in the lobby with the name of the restaurant, letting people know it was there, but before that if you didn’t know about it, it was hard to find.

I loved this place from the minute I walked in and felt right at home.  The people who work there are so nice and friendly and greet me by my name and ask me how I am when I walk in the door.  I am not a vegetarian or a vegan, but I love the food that they have.  I feel like I am eating a home-cooked meal.

They have a standard menu with sandwiches, veggie burgers and other things, but I love to have the buffet.  The price is a real bargain for what you get.  For $5.40, including tax, you get one plate and one bowl to fill with a choice of six hot dishes or you could make a salad from the salad bar or fruit salad with toppings such as granola and delicious sweet cream, which is vegan.  They also have a choice of two different kinds of soups.

What I love about it is that you never know what they will be serving.  Every day the food is different, which makes it interesting.  There are some dishes which are very popular, such as the macaroni and cheese.  The cheese tastes and looks like real cheese but it’s made from carrots and potatoes.  I don’t understand how they make it.  All I know is that it’s delicious.  I also love the butternut squash and the guacamole.

They also have an assortment of things for dessert such as fruit pies, cookies and something called Need’ems, which is hard for me to explain.  It is a little patty made from potatoes and other ingredients.  It looks like it is covered in chocolate, but it’s really carob.  They come in an assortment of flavors, two of which are orange-almond and peppermint.  There is something called Nice Creme which is vegan ice cream.  They also have different kinds of breads, rolls and crackers for sale and of course their famous popcorn, which comes in an assortment of flavors, but the most popular flavor is the herbal popcorn.

I would recommend that people try this place at least once and they might be pleasantly surprised just like I was.  The only negative thing I could say about it is that sometimes I eat too much because the food is just so delicious.

Little Lad’s, Big Flavor

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

little-lads

When I come to work the thing I really look forward to is lunchtime because I know I will be going to my favorite place. That place is Little Lad’s Vegan Restaurant.  I have been going to eat there since it opened in 2006.  Before discovering this place I used to eat at different salad bars in the area.

I didn’t even know about Little Lad’s until somebody told me about it.  It’s located on the lower level of my building, 120 Broadway.  Recently they put a sign in the lobby with the name of the restaurant, letting people know it was there, but before that if you didn’t know about it, it was hard to find.

I loved this place from the minute I walked in and felt right at home.  The people who work there are so nice and friendly and greet me by my name and ask me how I am when I walk in the door.  I am not a vegetarian or a vegan, but I love the food that they have.  I feel like I am eating a home-cooked meal.

They have a standard menu with sandwiches, veggie burgers and other things, but I love to have the buffet.  The price is a real bargain for what you get.  For $5.40, including tax, you get one plate and one bowl to fill with a choice of six hot dishes or you could make a salad from the salad bar or fruit salad with toppings such as granola and delicious sweet cream, which is vegan.  They also have a choice of two different kinds of soups.

What I love about it is that you never know what they will be serving.  Every day the food is different, which makes it interesting.  There are some dishes which are very popular, such as the macaroni and cheese.  The cheese tastes and looks like real cheese but it’s made from carrots and potatoes.  I don’t understand how they make it.  All I know is that it’s delicious.  I also love the butternut squash and the guacamole.

They also have an assortment of things for dessert such as fruit pies, cookies and something called Need’ems, which is hard for me to explain.  It is a little patty made from potatoes and other ingredients.  It looks like it is covered in chocolate, but it’s really carob.  They come in an assortment of flavors, two of which are orange-almond and peppermint.  There is something called Nice Creme which is vegan ice cream.  They also have different kinds of breads, rolls and crackers for sale and of course their famous popcorn, which comes in an assortment of flavors, but the most popular flavor is the herbal popcorn.

I would recommend that people try this place at least once and they might be pleasantly surprised just like I was.  The only negative thing I could say about it is that sometimes I eat too much because the food is just so delicious.

What a Pesc…

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

no-meat-shirt

Someone recently told me that they were a foodie. “Really?” I replied. “What a coincidence, I’m a foodie too. In fact, I like food so much that I eat it three times a day, sometimes more.” All people are foodies, if only to meet basic survival needs. Yet, I will admit that there are those of us who enjoy food more than others. This is especially true in New York City, where we cannot walk down the street without passing all sorts of food options, from hot dog vendors to $90-a-person power lunches.

As a pescetarian, I was pessimistic about eating out Downtown -– a culinary district known mostly for its serious selection of steakhouses. Just scrolling through the Downtown Alliance directory, one can find a handful of restaurants with the word “steak” or “steakhouse” in the name. Yet I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the diverse menus at even the meatiest of meaty restaurants. Here are a few of my best meatless surprises:

Delmonico’s: Um, hello, their house special is the famed “Delmonico Steak.” When I went for Restaurant Week Winter 2009, my hopes were not high for their fish and veggie dishes. I mean, the chefs probably laugh when someone orders anything other than steak, right? Wrong. All I remember from that meal was the perfectly cooked and seasoned salmon (which was HUGE, by the way). Oh, and that my date was given a steak knife, yet cut his steak with a butter knife. (Guys: note that improper table manners are NOT okay, especially on a first date).

Harry’s Café/Harry’s Steak: Just steps from Delmonico’s is another Downtown favorite of mine. Needless to say, I order from the Harry’s Café menu, although the Harry’s Steak menu looks quite tasty, even to this non-meat eater. The place is packed at lunchtime, the atmosphere energetic, and the smells will make your stomach rumble. Last time I was there, they offered a special salad with goat cheese and sautéed mushrooms. It was beyond.

The Palm: This Downtown steakhouse is a feast for the eyes –- the walls lined with caricatures of celebrities, past and present. Tear your gaze from the décor long enough to select from their extensive menu, which includes veggie-friendly items like hearts of palm salad and hash browns. As a fish-eater, I go for the ahi tuna steak (they always give it a nice sear) and a side of my favorite guilty pleasure – creamed spinach.

Recession got you down? You can check out many Downtown restaurants during this year’s Winter 2010 Restaurant Week, from January 25th through February 7th.

And remember: keep your eyes and mind open when searching for vegetarian and pescetarian dining options. Bon appétit!