Do You Have Anything Vegan?

Recently traveling to the Phoenix area, VEGAN & VINE came recommended to us from a friend and my mom also heard about it on a radio show. To clarify: my mom heard about the creme brulee (apologies to any French readers for the lack of punctuation) on the radio show, which is pictured above and let me say does not disappoint. I asked our server, who happened to be the co-owner, if they used aquafaba (OK fine, I’ll admit I said ‘chickpea water’ haha) to mimic the egg/creme texture and her eyes went huge, “How do you know that??” was her response. I shrugged and said, “M’yeh, I know some stuff” (I don’t know how to change a tire but I know about aquafaba).

Also pictured above:

• Mac ‘n Cheese – which was delicious although a penne noodle not a macaroni noodle and if I’m being 100% honest here was more like a cream sauce pasta dish than a classic mac ‘n cheese – but still DELICIOUS;
• Caesar Salad – so so SO GOOD – right balance of flavors and great crunch factor;
• Chicken Fried Steak and Fries – FAVORITE DISH of the evening – covered in spot-on gravy.

We buffeted it and ate family-style so we could all get a taste of everything. Restaurant interior is super modern with brick and concrete and metal style. And finally, the co-owner could not have been sweeter. She really makes it feel like you’re at home having a meal with friends and family.

Give VEGAN & VINE a go, you will not be disappointed.

Address: 502 E Thunderbird Rd

Website: VEGAN & VINE

Apulia is a region in Italy but this here delicious spot feels more Greek-inspired. With a bunch of vegan choices, it’s a perfect spot for a cup of coffee and a snack or if you’re really hungry, plenty of choices to fill you up.

We split the FALAFEL WRAP – it had a nice red pepper flake kick to it – and the JACKET POTATO – a UK classic. Located on a quiet side street away from the crowds shopping two blocks away, enjoy yourself at this local neighborhood favorite.

Address: 69 Upper Berkeley St, London

Website: LA MESSERIA

Quoting right from BUBALA’s website: ‘Our food is playful and champions the humble vegetable.’

So Jim’s BFF Hillari sent us a gift card to BUBALA for Christmas. We figured they would have a few vegan or veggie items. We arrived to this super-packed place to find out the entire menu is vegan and vegetarian. They even have a vegan tasting menu and because it’s the holidays, a vegan holiday tasting menu. They also have an a la cart menu where you can pick from small to larger shared plates. Tons of options – YES – we LOVE tons of options, don’t we?

We enjoyed the PICKLE PLATE – which included pickled mushrooms, LAFFA BREAD, HUMMUS with burnt butter and pine nuts, SMACKED CUCUMBERS, TAHINI & CHILI CRUNCH – which our server recommended after we asked him what his favorite dish on the menu is (we do this everywhere we go cause who knows better than the people who work there, right?), and a few more plates. Everything tasted amazing especially accompanied with the wine we ordered.

We’ll be going back.

Address: 15 Poland Street, SoHo (multiple locations – check website)

Website: BUBALA

Day trip to Bath with our pal, Ruthie, to explore the ancient Roman baths and we get off the train and need a bite. Ruthie jumps on her phone and finds this gem lickity-split: PLANT. EAT. LICIOUS.

Let’s start with this: It’s a little tricky to find but if we can do it so can you. It’s behind a building, down some stairs, in a lower ground space. A nicely sized, well laid out, modern space with plenty of seating inside and out. Staff is super friendly, pricing is reasonable, and options are plenty:

Jim had the TEMPEH TOAST – Smoked tempeh, humus dip, seeded bread with salad piled on top. He loved it.

Steve had the THERE WON’T BE MUSHROOM LEFT – partly because he appreciates a good pun – so tasty with mushrooms over butter bean dip and miso sauce, crunchy crisps of potato shavings on top of toasted bread. YUM.

Ruthie had the soup of the day – a zucchini blended something – and it came with homemade croutons on the side and not already in it which is big points in all our books.

Adventuring to Bath? Dive into this place when you’re there.

Address: Basement, Chapel Arts Centre, Bath

Website: PLANT. EAT. LICIOUS.

WE.

LOVE.

THIS.

PLACE.

Funky, fun atmosphere, super friendly staff, beyond well-priced items, and way tasty eats make UNITY DINER our new fave place for any meal of the day. And best of all? Every meal you eat here helps support their animal sanctuary. Help animals by not eating animals – LITERALLY.

Our favorites include:

• FRIED CALAMARI – they nail the flavor but more importantly the texture – spot on
• PHILLY CHEESE STEAK – perfect mix of sauces and flavors
• MIXED BERRY CHEESECAKE – Yum. That is all.

And yes, GET THE FRIES. When you do, ask for a side of vegan mayo to dip em in with some ketchup.

Address: 60 Wentworth St, London (multiple locations – check website)

Website: UNITY CAFE

VEG BOX is in a super easy to find location, a block off of the Baker Street Underground. Great dining area, great staff, and great food. We’ve gone here a few times and the menu has changed with the seasons – not much – just a few rotations of items and dishes.

Jim’s Choice: BURGER ROYALE & FRIES – it’s their own patty and was more veggie than meaty – which I prefer.

Steve’s Choice: Sometimes an around the world of all sides is the perfect meal. Last time we went, I had the TEMPURA BROCCOLI in this spicy orange sauce, MUSHROOM WRAPS with an amazing plum sauce, and the OLIVE OIL & GARLIC FLATBREAD.

Funny story from Steve: I wanted to get the SPAGHETTI CARBONARA but I was like, ‘Am I THAT hungry tonight?’ ’cause it sounded filling. I opted for my sides extravaganza and then as we were leaving we walk by this table of two women, BOTH of them are having their own bowls of the CARBONARA. I stopped and I said, “I almost ordered that! Is it good?” In unison, they both go, “SO. GOOD.” And then one asked me what I got and I said I did all sides and she goes, “I love to do that – you get a little bit of everything.” Great minds.

Address: 136 Marylebone Rd, London

Website: VEG BOX

We’ve tried more than a few pizza places and can tell you this: Alley Cats for the win.

The VEGAN ‘N’ FIRE brings the flavor and the heat. It’s a-spicyyyy. And we love it. They put their sauce on top of the cheese and it was damn good. Note: They have their own vegan cheese so you can pick almost any non-animal pizza and sub it in. Note 2.0: They pies are huge. HUUUU-GE. We had half, took the other half home and had lunch for the next two days. Bonus points for super friendly staff.

Go get you our some pizza at our fave place in London.

Address: 84 Westbourne Grove, London (multiple locations – check website)

Website: ALLEY CATS

This place was – and is – our go-to for all things burger and fries delicious. We are old school Native Foods fans all the way back to the original owner Chef Tanya, so trust us when we say: GO EAT HERE.

Jim’s Choice: TWISTER WRAP – crispy chicken, avo, cucumber salsa, lettuce, ranch sauce all wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla. And I love both the STUFFED OATMEAL COOKIE and the PEANUT BUTTER PARFAIT enough to marry either or both of them or just have them for dessert.

Steve’s Choice: This is my Sophie’s Vegan Choice moment – how do you choose when you love it all? From the DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER to the GASTRO PUB BURGER to the CHICKEN RUN RANCH – it’s all good in the vegan hood. Ask for extra sides of sauces.

Pro-Tip: GET. THE. FRIES. Get a second order even. You deserve it.

Address: 1775 E. Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs (more locations – see website)

Website: NATIVE FOODS

Blue Owl is one of our favorite places for all kinds of tasty eats. And bonus – your omnivore friends can come with you and order off the regular menu. They have a great outdoor seating area right outside in front. And we’ve had so many items off their menu we’ve lost count. It’s also right off State Street, the main place for window shopping that leads right down to the beach and the pier.

Top Faves:

• MISO KALE – crisp, bright, refreshing
• VEGAN GRILLED CHEESE – makes you feel like a kid again so yummy
• SWEETHEART BURRITO – tons of flavors coming together in perfect harmony and it’s the perfect size – not over-sized like most burritos

FYI: They feature live performances, singers, bands – it’s a good time party at Blue Owl.

Address: 5 W Canon Perdido St, Santa Barbara (public parking lot directly across the street)

Website: BLUE OWL

Steve here: Every time I go to see my mom and sister in Phoenix I ask, ‘Hey, can we got to Wild Child?’ And they will each – and sometimes both if they are together – say – in unison when they are together, ‘FLOWER CHILD. Basically, I change the name of places to suit my own needs and/or tell you a little bit more about myself, ie ‘Wild Child’ instead of ‘Flower Child.’ Now that we got that outta the way…

LOVE this place. So many delicious options, so many incredibly tasty vegetable-centric creations, and like some of the other places we’ve previously mentioned here there are plenty of vegan and omnivore options. Bonus is you order at the counter and there’s no fighting over the bill at the end (and/or your friends and fam not chipping in enough of their share – don’t act like you don’t know what and who we are talking about).

Jim & Steve Choice: All together now…THE MOTHER EARTH BOWL (pictured above). Eye-popping colorful veggies and grains, it’s an absolute feast. Add in tofu as your protein if you choose and if you like spicy, ask for extra sweet potatoes – the glazing (‘Gaaaa-laaaa-zing’ said like Kathy Griffin imitating Mariah Carey, #IYKYK) they use on them is damn good.

Get you to Wild Child (and/or Flower Child)!

Address: 10460 N 90th St, Scottsdale (multiple locations – check the website)

Website: FLOWER CHILD