Freshly baked hand rolled New York Bagels cannot be beaten. The only other thing to ask for is a dairy free cream cheese option. Ask no more! The locations below have variations of tofu “cream cheese”.
Bagel World
339 5th street
1(718)499-1143
La Bagel Delight
284 7th avenue
1(718)768-6107
315 5th avenue
Cafe/Sandwich Shop($$)
1(718)788-2121
Saying it ‘snice is an understatement. The interior (or exterior if it’s warm) is comfortable for a naturally brightly lit cafe and the service is quick and competent. This one was found not by me but by my mother some time ago. Knowing I am in the habit of collecting menus, she brought it home to me one day after walking by. I was excited to see the list of Wraps, Heroes, Soups, Salads and Beverages that they offered. My excitement only grew when I went there personally and saw their vast selection of Vegan treats. All menu items are Vegetarian and most of them can be made Vegan. Below are a few of the many examples. I highly recommend paying ‘sNice a visit. It is one of my favorite places to get a quick healthy lunch and sometimes an indulgent snack.
2 359 7th Avenue
Dine-in($-$$)/Take Out($-$$)
1(718)768-5327
I know you crave New York Pizza. I did too, until I found Pizza Plus. I have tried many vegan pizzas from various locations that I have yet to write about. However, It was not until I ate at Pizza Plus that the search for New York Vegan pizza ended. The combination of the homemade dough and sauce with daiya cheese surfaced a comfort that satisfied my nostalgia. Even, to my surprise, the whole wheat dough provides the unique New York pizza experience. I have eaten here many times with my best omnivore friends and we have always left happy. We each ordered our own customized pizza. I firmly suggest paying Pizza Plus a visit. The interior is comfortable and the delivery is pretty fast. Below are some highlights from the menu:
6 Thursday. 10am.
7717 3rd Avenue
1(718)833-8200
Stay tuned for more information on this location. I was told by the staff that they have Vegan chefs but have been unable to dine here to experience it for myself.
8405 5th Avenue
Sit-in/Take Out/Carry Out($-$$)
1(718)238-1300
Chopstix is a local Chinese restaurant that I have visited regularly since I was younger. The interior is kept modern, service pleasant and the food was always very tasty. After becoming Vegan, it took me a few visits to realize the options they had for me. Usually getting tofu and broccoli, I then realized that they had more to offer me. Below are some of these items. These items are spread throughout the menu and not under any certain category. Chopstix will not disappoint you or your omnivore friends. Check out the lunch specials if you are there from 11am-4pm.
Appetizers
Entree
1 479 74th Street
Wine Bar($-$$$)
1(718)680-2436
New to myself and Bay Ridge, this wine bar feels as if it belongs in Williamsburg. Being that I love Williamsburg and Williamsburg loves vegans, I felt very comfortable at this establishment. My friends and I were able to choose from a variety of Wines and Six Point Beers. Immediately after finding out I was vegan they made known to me the many vegan options that they had. This included Chocolate and a plate of assorted raw macaroons. Meanwhile, my friends shared a cheese plate. Everyone was content. With a warm interior and a menu that will comfort any diet in several ways, The Owl’s Head is worth a visit.
7917 3rd Avenue
Take Out/Carry Out/Sit-in($-$$)
1(718)238-2202
Dragon China is a fairly new and surprising discovery of mine. I have a habit of picking up menus everywhere I go. One day I was walking to Apple Tree(see previous posts) and I swiped a menu while passing by Dragon China which so happens to be next door. From the outward and inward appearance of the place, I expected it to offer the basics of the average take out Chinese restaurant. Instead, I found an entire section dedicated to vegetarians. They offer vegetarian soups and a variety of faux meat dishes. Eating inside is not at all glamourous but the food is worth a try. Especially for the pricing. Below are some of the options that they offer. The vegetarian meats are infused into many dishes. If you decide to go, take a gander at the lunch specials.
2 6720 Fort Hamilton Parkway
Shopping($)
Warning: This supermarket has tanks and barrels full of living beings that they sell by the pound for food. They also feature a large selection of Meat. It is hard to avoid seeing this while there. If seeing this would bother you, I would suggest you avoid shopping here. Previously a movie theater, Great Wall is a large authentic Chinese market for food. Located in the vicinity of China town, local residents are constantly in there shopping. As you have no doubt noticed while dining out, Asian restaurants are great places to find a satisfying meal. Great Wall, following that truth, turns out to be a hotspot for fresh and semi-prepared vegan food. The prices are very cheap and the ingredients are often natural and simple. Below is a list of some things I found. This list barely scratches the surface.
3 7305 3rd Avenue
Dine-In/Take Out($$)
1(718)745-0222
Like other establishments in Bay Ridge, Vesuvio has the humble beginning of a family owned restaurant. Established in 1953, the owners found delight in feeding and treating their customers as if they were family. Over five decades later, this restaurant still draws a regular flow of locals inside and is constantly sending deliveries out of its doors. Pleasant to eat at home or in the restaurant itself, Vesuvio has a taste that separates itself from the rest. This unique quality is there in part because they provide specialty pizza’s that are not found in average pizzeria’s. Additionally, the menu covers to some extent all Italian cuisine from homemade pasta to foccacia so your omnivore friends will have no difficulty in finding a satisfying meal. Your Vegan self can consider the pizza’s below. They are surprisingly satisfying even without a Vegan cheese substitute.
