photo from Blossom and Root Kitchen

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Blossom and Root Kitchen, 411 Hartz Ave., Danville, CA 94526

Enjoy their art-decorated main dining room, intimate semi-private room, and 2 outdoor dining areas. Featuring starters; small plates  include (Crudites – local vegetables, whipped miso lemon dip, grilled sourdough, house-made seed and nut bread; Fritters – seasonal vegetables, chipotle glaze, sesame seeds, creamy herb dressing); salads (Mushroom Steak Salad – grilled maitake, little gems, radicchio, bleu cheese crumbles, watermelon radish, fennel,  cherries, toasted sunflower seeds, fried onions, bleu cheese dressing); large plates (Masa Cake – mole verde, braised cannellini beans, charred corn, tomato salad; and Funghi Sando – crispy maitake, creamy slaw, pickled jalapenos, charred chili jam served with house potato salad). Has daily dessert specials and a menu for children under 8 years old. All dishes are free of gluten, sugar, nuts, and soy unless otherwise noted on the menu. Several dishes can be made gluten or nut free. Serves “dessert wines.”

Chic Peas, 5210 Yonge St. North York, ON M2N 5P6 Canada

Offers online cooking classes, and opportunity to “Donate a Meal” to those in need. Enjoy smoothies, soups, snacks, wraps, Build Your Own Buddha Bowl/Salad (fresh selection of veggies, legumes and grains with your choice of sesame turmeric tahini or Asian sesame salad dressing); “Super Delish Hot Meals” (choice of grains that alternate with roasted sweet potatoes and quinoa plus choice of 2 stews, which change weekly, plus fresh veggies/salad); baked goods; and specialty drinks.

Crystal’s Soul Café, 12823 S. Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90061

Crystal Soul Café is a forest of love and plants. You will be surrounded by ambient lighting and music that add to your experience. Take your pick on any soul plate, each dish is bursting with flavor. All plates come with two sides, and several plates replicate classic seafood meals. Some popular plates are the Lions Mane Rib Soul Plate, Spicy Jerk Shrimp Po’ Boy, and any chicken sandwich. You can’t leave without getting some mac’n yams and make sure you get a beverage on the way out.

Dub n Grub, 18400 NW 2nd Ave., Miami Gardens, FL, 33169

Customers pick protein, sauce, and grain of choice (example – Coconut Curry – sautéed onions, peppers, carrots, tomatoes, in Indian-Jamaican-style curry sauce, served with grain of choice and steamed vegetables). Also has Dub Plate (“view Menu Board for Dub Plate menu of the day”), Tacos, and Dubway (“Sub or Sandwich Vybe”). Corporate luncheons, yacht parties, and cooking classes available.

Oops All Vegan, 4409 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39206

If you’re looking for a fast-food place that tastes like an afternoon at the ballpark, Oops All Vegan located off of I-51 is the place to go. They offer food you thought you would never see again after making the honorable choice to go vegan. Their burgers and sandwiches have the option to have chickpea patty’s or the veggie house patty. They have a hearty Philly Cheesesteak that uses beyond meat substitute, jackfruit, or mushrooms, and you can never go wrong with a patty melt! They carry an incredible Nachos selection that uses walnut or jackfruit meat and loaded fries that will leave you waddling.

Rise Above Pizza & Wings, 274 James St. N., Hamilton, ON L8R 2L3 Canada

This vegan pizzeria, which has gluten-free options as well, offers pie options so creative that they put traditional pizzerias to shame. Case in point: The Deep-Fried Pickle Pizza, which is topped with house-made ranch sauce, tangy pickles, shredded mozzarella, their crunchy beer batter topping, and dill, or The Big Kahuna, which is made with a base of seasoned pineapple purée, shredded mozzarella, steak, more pineapple, and topped with zhoug (a spicy cilantro sauce), and onion rings. Yes, onion rings—on top of the pizza. Their extensive menu also offers starters (including sour cream and onion rings and deep-fried pickles), subs, wraps, and pasta (including the Tri-force of Cheese Pasta). If you are still hungry after all that, do not fear, because dessert is also available—and you can follow up your dinner pizza with a personal-sized chocolate chip cookie dessert pizza.

Royally Baked, 1211 Jungermann, St. Peter’s, MO 63376

Pre-order cookies, brownies, cake jars, bars, and more. Pick them up or have them shipped.

Seasoned Vegan, 128 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003

This mother/son team has moved to a new location and offers take-out organic vegan comfort food including a BBQ Craw Sandwich, Craw Pretzel Boy, Lemon Crusted Nuggets, fries, raw cheesecake, cupcakes, and cookies. You can also purchase combo dishes.