-
Believe it or not, because I sure couldn't believe it, but I had one of the best vegan dinners I've ever had this past weekend at KO Prime. I emailed a few days before to see if they would be able to accommodate a vegan and they sure did! They first brought out a little sampler, tuna tartar for my husband and a spicy hummus spoon for me. Then I had a delicious salad followed by the same spiced hummus across the center of the plate topped with sauteed seasoned julienned veggies. It was amazing!!
-----
KO Prime
90 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108›1 Reply-
re: capecodvegan
Science Chick
Oct 29, 2009 06:41 AM
So basically, they gave you vegetables and hummus? IMO, that hardly qualifies as an "amazing" vegan feast. While not upscale, check out Red Lentil vegetarian in Watertown. Really wonderful and creative vegetarian/vegan fare.
-----
Red Lentil
600 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472
-
-
Upscale Boston area restaurant, as an example, L'Espalier (that is possible, but too expensive for my budget)? No way. Boston is the worst area for vegans and only slightly better for vegetarians. I've had some of the worst experiences possible at supposedly fine restaurants (two in Cambridge). I had an exchange of emails with the owner of one of these, and the results when we went there were disastrous. Were there a first class Asian restaurant, that might work, and I love Asian food; an upscale Asian restaurant with classical ambience, to my knowledge with a lot of searching, is not to be had in the Boston area. And I am tired of being told that the chef can fix something for me, usually a pasta marinara. The only choice I've had, because my wife likes a steak now and then, is an array of side orders. But for an entree? Forget it. Hadley (Hatley), about 25 miles north of the Vermont border in Canada, is the only place I know of that has a restaurant with a couple of vegan entries on the menu regularly. I've not tried NY yet, but if you want to celebrate something special, fly to San Francisco or Los Angeles.
›3 Replies-
-
re: chickendhansak
http://grezzorestaurant.com/boston/
The greater Boston area has a variety of options for vegans (even gluten-free) though not necessarily upscale besides Grezzo. Elephant Walk has options, mainly from the Cambodian side of the menu, probably considered mid-scale for supper, more casual and less expensive for lunch.
I'm admittedly not a "upscale" person, more interested in whether a place has something good that works for me.
-----
Elephant Walk
900 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215Grezzo
69 Prince St, Boston, MA 02113-
re: lgss
chickendhansak
Oct 30, 2009 02:05 PM
johnofhudson seemed to be specifically bemoaning the lack of upscale vegan experiences in Boston, which is why I was curious if he had tried Grezzo, though I have not been there myself.
-----
Grezzo
69 Prince St, Boston, MA 02113
-
-
-
-
-
-
While I'm not a vegetarian, my SO is. Personally I find it off-putting when researching a place to go if/when we have something to celebrate and not seeing anything vegetarian on a menu except "vegetarian option available upon request" (or something similar). For example: I've heard nothing but great things about Clio but I would have to rule that out for us (not that I can really afford to go there anyhow). I'm sure they would create something wonderful but what if the main/major ingredient is something my SO doesn't like? Am I being completely ignorant here? I try to flip it and think of going to a restaurant and being told that the only thing I could eat being called "meat option." I'm not sure I'd want to commit to dropping $30-40 for that.
That said, Ten Tables ranks high on my list to check out if/when such occasion arises. From past experiences: we had good results at Upstairs on the Square, mixed results at Helmand and Sabur (not sure either qualifies as upscale?), and we ruled out Oleana because at the time the menu was either less vegetarian friendly than remembered or there wasn't anything she wanted to eat (I can't recall).
›1 Reply-
re: po_boy
I am a vegetarian, and I actually prefer when there is no veggie option on the menu to having 1 option, because with no option on the menu, the chef is usually more open to working with what you like and don't like. Occasionally this plan has failed me and I've gotten things that aren't very exciting, but I have had many amazing meals this way.
-
-
-
-
re: micah
Aromatherapy
Feb 14, 2007 03:43 AM
There's a menu here. Can't vouch for its being current.
http://boston.menupages.com/restauran...
-
-
hotoynoodle
Feb 13, 2007 09:03 AM
in its previous incarnation, rialto also offered a vegetarian tasting meal. i'm sure they'd accomodate you.
most italian restaurants offer regular menu items that are vegetarian.
-
-
-
Clos Vougeot
Feb 12, 2007 11:37 PM
Whatever you do, DON'T go to the Metropolitan Club....... The LAST thing you want to do is go to a STEAKHOUSE for a vegetarian dinner (although it would be a great test of their chef's skill with ingredients that lack a growth hormone!)
-
I was very impressed with the vegetarian tasting menu at Oleana when I had it a few years back (and am generally fond of the restaurant).
›3 Replies-
-
re: D.Bernstein
I agree that Oleana's veg tasting menu is really good and is also reasonably priced - less than $40 for 4 small dishes and 1 dessert. You won't know in advance what you'll be eating, but you can let them know if you have any diet restrictions. You can also order vegetarian options off their regular menu.
-
-
-
-
How upscale and how close to Boston? I'm a vegetarian and prefer the modern, upscale restaurants, but, as expected, most places with that particular atmosphere cater to steak and seafood lovers...alas. however, I have found many hip to upscale restaurants will conjure up a veg plate, even if it's just a combination of side dishes. Finz (www.hipfinz.com), Grapevine (http://www.grapevinesalem.com/frontdoor.asp) and Strega (http://stregasalem.com/home/default.asp) on the Salem waterfront (north of boston) have modern, business-class crowds and offer at least one vegetarian dish - and they have all made adjustment to dishes when i have asked (for example, replace cream sauces with olive oil/lemon/white wine sauce or create a roasted veggie pasta dish to my liking).
I ate at The Metropolitan Club in Chesnut Hill for Valentine's last year - upscale, pretty pricey, but very cool - and they made me an extremely nice vegetarian dish....their blue peruvian potatoes were excellent.
My best advice is to call a restaurant that looks attractive and meets your aesthetics and ask if they offer a vegetarian dish of if the chef can/would create a vegetarian dish. I've found that for the most part they will...(even if it's with a groan :)...
)Good Luck!
Leeanne
