Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada |
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Vegetarian restaurant
Vegan restaurant
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33 Central St., Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 947-1654
Café/bakery. Located in the heart of downtown Bangor, Bagel Central offers a wide variety of bagels and spreads, including a house-made vegan tofu cream cheese. This eatery also carries some vegan dessert pastries. The atmosphere is friendly and vibrant, featuring paintings from local artists on the walls. Bagel Central is a great place to go for a quick and delicious bagel, soup, sandwich, or sweet treat.
The Bangor Farmers Market, 140 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401
603-767-4988
Vegan/donuts. The Donut GroVe offers both fluffy and delicious raised (yeast) donuts and scrumptious classic cake donuts. Note they use almond milk to prepare most of the donuts. Find them at the Bangor Farmers Market on Sundays. It's best to pre-order your donuts. You can also have donuts delivered for a fee.
(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Ellsworth.)
14 1/2 Mt. Desert St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-4483
American. Café This Way has an extravagant breakfast menu, nearly all of which can be made vegetarian (if it's not already) with mockmeats like veggie sausage. They have a few vegan breakfast items as well. Dinner has slightly less options, but there are vegetarian appetizers to choose from as well as a variety of salads and two entrées (Southwest Tempeh Steak and Cashew-Crusted Tofu). Enjoy dining on the outdoor deck in nice weather. Please note that Café This Way is closed between breakfast and dinner so call ahead for hours.
50 Eden St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-3348
Natural foods. This restaurant is located next to two hotels overlooking Frenchman Bay in Bar Harbor. They offer a separate vegan/gluten-free menu including items such as Coconut Crusted Tofu, Roasted Eggplant Quinoa Salad, Braised Fennel, Tomato, and Mushroom Stew, and Potato and Cabbage Croquettes. The menu is available to hotel guests as well as the general public.
123 High St., Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-2532
Natural foods. Belfast Co-op serves three vegetarian entrées daily, as well as salads and breads.
96 Main St., Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-0555
Vegetarian/American. Chase's Daily is a vegetarian restaurant with creative dishes. They use fresh produce gathered from their own farm. Popular dishes include Soba Noodles with Spicy Grilled Tofu, Napa Cabbage Salad, and the Black Beans and Rice Burrito. They also feature a daily soup.
155 High St., Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-2339
International. Darby's Restaurant & Pub has operated continuously since 1865 with the original walls, tin ceiling, and antique bar. There are some vegetarian items offered including the Fiesta Salad (available with vegetarian black beans), portobello sandwich, Pad Thai (available with tofu), and Bombay Curry (available with tofu). Darby's is located in the historic downtown of Belfast, just two doors down from the Colonial Theatre (movie theater). Reservations are recommended.
125 Main St., Bethel, ME 04217
(207) 824-5282
Vegetarian. Café DiCocoa is a self-proclaimed "funky and hip natural foods eatery." Located in an 1880s Victorian farmhouse, this café has a full bakery and holds cooking and baking classes. They are kid-friendly and do vegetarian catering.
230 Main St., Biddeford, ME 04005
(207) 282-1434
Natural foods store/organic/café. New Morning Natural Foods is a family-run labor of love. They offer whole, organic foods, bulk items, organic produce, and more! They have a café in the back of the store with an ever-changing selection of creative entrées, a wide variety of sandwiches, and homemade soups and chili. Please note that only the Biddeford location contains a café.
166 Admiral Fitch Ave., Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 725-6287
Bakery/café/deli. Wild Oats is a from-scratch bakery, café, and deli in the heart of downtown Brunswick. They have a revolving selection of deli salads, many of which are vegan, and they usually have at least one vegan soup. They don't offer vegan bakery items. Have a refreshing fruit salad or a cup of coffee while surfing the Internet. Free Wi-Fi is available. Check out each day's menu online or sign-up to receive it by email. Wild Oats is located in the Tontine Mall, across from Pleasant Street, and within easy walking distance of Bowdoin College.
151 Main St., Ellsworth, ME 04605
(207) 667-7220
American. Enjoy breakfast or lunch in the relaxing environment of the Riverside Café. The restaurant offers a separate vegetarian menu, including The Illusive Tofu Scramble, The TLT, and 151 Main, a vegan French toast dish.
443 US Route 1, Freeport, ME 04032
(207) 865-0046
Natural foods store/organic. Royal River Natural Foods is a health market specializing in local and organic foods. They offer tofu cheeses, meat substitutes, and other vegan items; local organic produce; fresh-baked bread; special dietary products; organic and specialty wines; local and micro-brewed beer; gourmet treats; cruelty-free body care items; and eco-friendly household goods. Royal River also offers delicious take-out foods such as sandwiches, soups, muffins, and salads. Table seating is available. Check their website for daily hot deli choices, fresh organic juice schedule, and upcoming seminars and other events. The store is located in downtown Freeport near L.L. Bean.
680 Gray Rd., Gorham, ME 04038
207-572-1002
Vegan/American. Anyone who thinks vegans miss out on comforting, nostalgic foods need to pay a visit to Curbside Comforts, whose name really says it all. Owned and run by veterans, this walk-up establishment with outdoor dining offers a menu chock-full of everyone’s favorite indulgences: multiple varieties of Mac & Cheese; burgers featuring Beyond Burger; Chik’n sandwiches & Chik’n Tenders; and 7 different options for fries. There is a kids’ comfort menu as well. And if sweets are where you get your comfort, you can select from ice cream concoctions (such as the Curbside Chaos, Cookies & Cream, comprised of soft-serve with crushed chocolate cookies) or vegan candy bars. And Lovebirds donuts are offered on the 1st Saturday of every month and special occasions.
3 York St., Kennebunk, ME 04043
(207) 985-6774
Natural foods store/organic. See description under Biddeford, ME.
450 US Route 1, Kittery, ME 03904
(207) 703-2392
Vegan/donuts. Lovebirds is an all vegan donut shop located on Route 1 in Kittery. The donuts, glazes, and toppings are made from scratch daily in their kitchen. The three tiers of donuts are swanky, such as a strawberry shortcake donut with layers of frosting and strawberries. Followed by signature, think Boston cream donut or a mango glazed donut. The final tier is classic with favorites like chocolate glazed and cinnamon sugar. There is a flavor for everyone at this vegan donut shop!
7 Wallingford Sq., Kittery, ME 03904
(207) 703-2079
Vegetarian/juice bar. Enjoy a wide variety of smoothies and fresh juices including the Chocoholic, Very Berry, and Lemon Zinger. They also serve an AcaiI bowl.
115 Middle St., Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 376-3344
American/eclectic. She Doesn't Like Guthries is an inviting restaurant filled with local art and live music. They offer many vegetarian and vegan selections such as their Vegan Burrito or Marquee Moon Panini (request the turkey be replaced with Tofurky). They make every effort to be eco-conscious and have been certified as a Green Restaurant by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Free Wi-Fi is available.
(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Biddeford and Freeport.)
5 Canal Plaza, Portland, ME 04101
207-747-4676
Vegan. Copper Branch describes itself as a “Vegan Powerhouse” with a menu that lives up to the title. Stop in for a hearty breakfast with the Field Roast and JustEgg and a Dairy Free Cappuccino. Or try some of the vegan versions of other classic dishes throughout the day. Options include the Black Bean Burger, Aztec Power Bowl, or BBQ Flatbread Pizza. Be sure to check out the smoothie and dessert menus as well. All dishes are available gluten-free, but organic Kamut bread is also available.
Eastern Promenade, Portland, ME 04101
207-383-7033
Vegan/food truck. Curbside Comforts food truck is veteran owned and offers delicious plant-based vegan all-American comfort food, such as Chick’n Patty Sammy, Gravy Comfort Fries, Comfort Burgers, and a variety of Comfort Mac & Cheeses. Be sure to check out their social media pages for their schedule and location. See: https://www.facebook.com/curbsidecomfortsfoodtruck/?ref=page_internal
608 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101
(207) 347-3111
Vegetarian/Asian. Asian-inspired vegetarian cuisine is the focus at Green Elephant. Most items are vegan (and are noted as such on the menu) or can be made vegan. All "meats" are vegetarian soy. The menu offers a good variety and includes entrées such as Watercress Veggie-Duck, Organic Green Tea Noodle, and Veggie Citrus Spare Ribs. Green Elephant is closed between lunch and dinner so please call for hours.
1 Monument Way, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 468-1043
Vegetarian/Middle Eastern. Enjoy a falafel sandwich, hummus platter, falafel bowl, Shawarma fries, and more.
119 Cumberland Ave., Portland, ME 04101
Vegan/ice cream parlor. Enjoy vegan, gluten-free ice cream made from scratch! Flavors vary by season. They also make their own waffle cones.
15 Temple St., Portland, ME 04101
(207) 879-2425
Bagel deli. More than 16 varieties of bagels are offered with various topping options, including cream cheeses, Tofutti spreads, salads, and other vegetarian combinations. Only natural ingredients without preservatives are used. The Works Café is environmentally conscious and socially active in its community.
2 Somerset St., Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-7711
Natural foods store/deli. A wide variety of vegetarian and vegan foods are offered in the deli and on the salad bar.
161 Main St., Woolwich, ME 04579
(207) 443-4554
American. This seafood restaurant overlooking Pleasant Cove has a separate vegan menu. They serve vegan nachos and potato skins as appetizers, sandwiches, pizza, as well as vegan main dishes such as stroganoff with mushrooms and stuffed ravioli. Weather permitting, you can also dine outside on their deck.