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

• Vegetable Spring Rolls
• Vegetable Dumplings
• Scallion Pancake
• Endamame
• Mock Eel(Braised Shiitake Mushroom)

Entree

• Mock Chicken-Favorite(Braised Wheat Protein)
• Sizzling Tofu Dish
• Country Style Vegetables

• Avocado Roll/Cucumber Roll
• Inari Sushi

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.

• Sliced Vegetarian Beef and Chicken
• Vegetarian General Tso Chicken(Homemade fried balls of soy protein, wheat protein and ground vegetables)
• Triple Delight(Plate of every Vegetarian meat with Vegetables)
• Vegan Soups(Tofu Vegetable, Veg Wonton, Miso and Tofu Seaweed)

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.

• Various Chinese Green/Sea Vegetables
• Vegan Mochi
• Tofu Skin(3ft in Diameter)
• Tofu in bulk
• Variety of Vegetable Buns
• Vegetable Spring Rolls
• Scallion Pancakes
• Mock Chicken
• Shredded Tofu Noodles
• Spring Roll/Vegan Sushi ingredients

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.

• Bruschetta(Fresh Tomato, Basil & Garlic on Thin Crust)-Favorite
• Foccacia(Plum Tomato, Olive Oil & Oregano)

3614 15th Avenue

Dessert($-$$)

1(718)972-0222

     Yes, it exists! I had to keep repeating that to myself when I discovered this one. As an ice cream parlor for both vegans and omnivores, this location also serves as the factory and headquarters of Klein’s Ice Cream. This factory ships their one of a kind ice cream to many vegan restaurants as well as to Klein’s other small ice cream shops. Here you can find vegan ice cream along with traditional ice cream. A majority of the residents in the area have made a religious decision not to eat meat and dairy at the same time. This being the case, the dairy is dealt with carefully and is separate from the non dairy items. Klein’s is not exactly geographically proximal to the locations of my previous posts but given the weather, it would be worth the trip to get there soon. There is unfortunately no seating area but they have much to offer a person no matter what their eating preference may be. The prices are low, the ice cream is fantastic and your friends will think so too.

Below is a list of most of their stock items.

All items are available Vegan or non Vegan.

• Soft Serve Ice Cream(Vanilla, Chocolate, Peanut Butter…)
• Scooped Ice Cream of various flavors
• Toppings(Sprinkles, Nuts, Cookies, Chocolate shells, Fudge…)
• Ice Cream Cones(Waffle, Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cones…)
• Ice Cream Cakes of various designs and sizes
• Tubs/Cartons of Ice Cream in different sizes and flavors
• Kettle Corn
• Fruit Smoothies
• Milk Shakes
• Banana Splits/Ice Cream Sundaes

7417 3rd Avenue

Take Out/Carry Out($$)

1(718)680-6900

     Nature’s Grill boasts itself as a “health conscious kitchen” but it disappoints in many areas. The “health foods” are actually on the brink of becoming comfort foods. For Vegetarians and Vegans the options are limited and these options are best used as a last resort because of their unsatisfying dull flavor. The only strong point at this location in the chain is their juices. The service is always slow, the wraps are undesirable but the juices are crave worthy. Most impressive is that you can watch and see the fresh vegetables being juiced right in front of you during your lengthy wait.

Wraps:

• Veggie Roll
• Protein Vegetarian Wrap
• Sesame Tofu Wrap

Sandwiches:

• Veggie burger
• Tofu Sandwich
• Vegetarian Pita Sandwich
• Vegetarian Panini

Favorite Juices:

• Iron Plus(Kale, Broccoli, Beet, Apple Carrot)
• Bone Builder(Cabbage,Broccoli, Kale Celery)
• Lower My Cholesterol(Ginger, Garlic, Spinach, Carrot)
• Popeye(Broccoli, Celery, Parsley, Spinach)

8002 3rd Avenue

Shopping($-$$$)

1(718)745-5776

     This store has saved a Vegan many times.  Located in the heart of Bay Ridge, Apple Tree has anything you may need to be an herbivore.  Although prices are slightly higher than they are at Fairway or Whole Foods,  this local store has specialty items in stock that cannot be found anywhere else in the neighborhood.  With friendly and personable service,  the owners will gladly order anything that you may need or that they have run out of.  Pay a visit to Apple Tree and support the Locals at the same time as your Lifestyle.

Items of interest:

• Vegetarian meats
• Daiya cheese and other Vegan cheeses
• Bulk products(oatmeal, texturized vegetable protein, etc…)
• Bragg’s products
• Nutritional Yeast
• GT’s Kombucha
• Gluten-Free products
• Vitamins
• Vegan Sweets

The list can go grow to an unbelievable length.  If you are looking for something, you can be confident that your search will end here.