photo from Soli Grill

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:

Blooming Lotus Bakery, 2215 E. North Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202 and 3948 N. Maryland Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211

Features grain-free, dairy-free, processed sugar-free, and egg-free food made with nut flours and seed flours. Features breads, rolls, muffins, pies, cakes, cookies, dessert bars, and biscotti, with no added oils or fats. Samples include Cardamon Pistachio Scone, Lemon Poppyseed Muffin, Peach Blueberry Danish, Foccacia Bread, Apricot Fig Loaf, Tiramisu Bar, Cherry Pecan Chocolate Cookie with Chocolate Drizzle, and Chocolate Cashew Date Truffle. Also available are dozens of pies and cakes.

The Grain Café, 4222 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019; 10032 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232; 4403 E. 4^th St., Long Beach, CA 90814; 715 N. Pacific Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach, CA 90277; and 14440 Gilmore St., Van Nuys, CA 91401

With an emphasis on natural, organic foods, and offering a diverse menu that includes pizza, crepes, and Mediterranean and Mexican dishes, there is something for everyone at The Grain Café. For those who really like to have options, you can select from The Grain Food, where you can mix and match from selections of veggies, grains/beans, plant proteins, and dressings/sauces to create a dish that is exactly what you want. Favorite crepes include the Chocolate Crepe made with chocolate mousse and strawberry and the Tropical Crepe, which includes mango, strawberries, kiwi, blackberries, and banana. You can even order a full-sized cake, choosing from flavors that include Tres Leche, Green Tea, and Berries & Almond. Considering all of these options as well as a robust beverage menu with lattes, teas, juices, and smoothies, you will want to make multiple trips to The Grain Café in order to try everything!

HAAM, 234 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211

Features appetizers, salads, entrées, sides, and desserts. Non-alcoholic drinks also available. Entrées include Bake and Shark (flatbread filled with cabbage, pineapple, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and banana blossom drizzled with house-made chutneys, served with side of Mango Chow) and Curry Tofu Bowl (curry roasted tofu, sautéed bell peppers, purple cabbage, sweet plantains, and avocado served with quinoa and curry dressing).

Looking Meadow Café, 2500 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, MO 63143

Features 10-12 different baked goods daily, including fried donuts, apple fritters, quiche, zucchini bread, house made granola, and cinnamon rolls. Highlights from the lunch menu include French onion soup, a Beyond Burger patty melt, and a French-dip sandwich (seitan on bread with vegan cheese and au jus).  A hearty Cobb salad features seitan and tofu, JustEgg, vegan bacon, tomatoes, and chives.

Plantees Burgers, 1030 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803

Features burgers, fries, and shakes, plus a kale salad. Burgers include The Shroom (vegan provolone, grilled mushrooms, and truffle sauce). Sandwich option includes Deluxe Sandwich (chick’n, vegan cheese, tomatoes, pickles, and garlic sauce). Various drinks include vegan milk shakes and some alcoholic drinks.

Soli Grill, 1709 Benson Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Lunch and dinner options include appetizers such as Poached Pear Flatbread (poached pear, vegan gorgonzola cheese, candied walnuts, arugula, and balsamic vinegar), salads, soups, sushi, tacos, sandwiches, wraps, and a number of dinner entrées such as Scallops and Chorizo (seared vegan scallops, spicy vegan chorizo, cauliflower purée, lemongrass cream sauce, and grilled asparagus) and Chicken Marsala Cassoulet (vegan chicken, marsala wine, Portobello and cremini mushrooms, and mashed potatoes). Features coffee, tea, sodas and mocktails, as well as several dessert options such as Vegan Chocolate Cake and Apple Tarte. Weekend brunch items include pancakes, waffles, French toast, and more. They also have a kid’s menu.

VeGreen Burger, Town Center Mall, 400 Ernest W. Barrett Pkwy. NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144

Located in the food court, VeGreen Burger offers a plethora of Asian-inspired fast food and American options. There are several varieties of its signature item (BBQ Pork, Teriyaki Mushroom, Beyond Meat, and more) as well as appetizers like Ginger Salad and Cream Cheese Rangoons. Some popular dishes include the Shrimp Burger, Chicken Nuggets, Drumsticks with General Tso’s sauce, Fried Kale Chips, and Crinkle Fries. The Shrimp Burger is crunchy, tender, and golden, with creamy mayo sauce and a tasty sesame bun. The Chicken Nuggets come with a sweet dipping sauce. The Drumsticks are delicious, while the Kale Chips and Crinkle Fries are fresh, hot, and crispy. There is also an array of cake cups and milk teas available. Please note that some items rotate on and off of their menu.