373357 Wed Feb 21 09:10:38 -0800 2007 31 6 Southwest 0 2313981 I'm meeting a friend in Tempe next week for dinner, and I want to try someplace new. She's a vegetarian and so a place that's vege friendly would be great. I've been craving something ethnic... Any ideas? Wed Feb 21 09:10:38 -0800 2007 70009 abbefaith 1 2313994 There is a Thai place on Elliott east of Priest (north side behind Olive Garden). It is called Yupha's (or something close to that). Have only lunched there, but thought it was pretty good. Also, on the border of Tempe and Scottsdale there is a vegetarian place in a strip mall on the west side of Rural. I know others on this board know the name. It has been well reviewed. Bz Wed Feb 21 09:14:00 -0800 2007 2313981 14380 Bazel 2 2315348 thanks for the info... Wed Feb 21 14:18:07 -0800 2007 2313994 70009 abbefaith 3 2315378 The vegetarian place in the strip mall is called Green ( http://greenvegetarian.com/ ) ... I've only been there once and remember it being pretty good - there are lots of fake meat items on the menu if you're into that sort of thing. Wed Feb 21 14:26:41 -0800 2007 2315348 27844 sistinas 4 2315454 actually i love tofu, etc. thank you for the info, and i really appreciate the link! the menu looks good. =) Wed Feb 21 14:47:03 -0800 2007 2315378 70009 abbefaith 5 2745593 Abbefaith, have you been to Green yet? I do love the food there. I've tried many entrees, and have only been disappointed with three, so far: curry pasta salad (bland), spicy buffalo "wings" (too stringy; made from mushroom), and tsoynami (vegan ice cream base too sweet!). Must-try dishes include artichoke gratine, green hummus, egglessrolls, jerk tofu and spicy peanut chicken salads, flatbread pizzas, thee "argentine" po'boy, Thai peanut and coconut curry bowls (brown rice or noodles; I like mine with brown rice, and my meatless choice is usually crispy tofu), tahini coleslaw, and thyme fries. Haven't tried the chocolate chip cookies, yet, but you must save room (or take home) for the vegan peanut butter chocolate bars! Thu Jul 12 22:44:20 -0700 2007 2315454 106866 starlightjulian 6 2752375 no i need to get over there! thanks for reminding me! Sun Jul 15 18:34:03 -0700 2007 2745593 70009 abbefaith 1 2313995 Udupi, Blue Nile, or Efe's Turkish Cuisine would probably be good choices. Wed Feb 21 09:14:12 -0800 2007 2313981 67548 azhotdish 2 2315350 i've been wanting to try udupi! Wed Feb 21 14:18:21 -0800 2007 2313995 70009 abbefaith 2 2745598 All good restaurants, with Blue Nile having the better service out of the three. I love the dosa at Udupi, but the slow service and health violations rap keep me away, for now. Thu Jul 12 22:47:14 -0700 2007 2313995 106866 starlightjulian 1 2314007 I second the choices above and would add Cafe Lalibela, Cornish Pasty Company, Pasand, Priya, Thai Basil, Classic Italian Pizza, and Cafe Boa. None is 100% vegetarian, but all offer enough choices to be appealing to a wide variety of palates. Wed Feb 21 09:16:47 -0800 2007 2313981 26466 silverbear 2 2314054 Cornish Pasty Co. I believe is closed. Wed Feb 21 09:25:53 -0800 2007 2314007 67548 azhotdish 3 2314175 Don't scare me like that! =D Cornish Pasty Company is NOT closed - I just called and they are open for business. Wed Feb 21 09:49:42 -0800 2007 2314054 73847 ggdinero 4 2314184 Ok, sorry. ;( Someone told me they were closed when they tried to go - I guess I should stop listening to hear-say. Wed Feb 21 09:51:36 -0800 2007 2314175 67548 azhotdish 4 2752907 I love CPC's Lamb and Mint (the red wine gravy is to die for! sadly, I'm allergic/severely intolerant to cornstarch, so unless i can successfully persuade them to use flour, and i haven't been thus far, this gravy is off-limits... boohoo!) and the chicken greek. tried the rosemary chicken but found it a little bland... must be the brie, as i've tried other sandwiches elsewhere with brie and didn't care for them, as well. although, i must profess to enjoying multi-grain crackers with baked brie with raspberry preserves on top. Mmmm!! Have you tried their apple and strawberry pavlova pasties? the banofee pasty sounds so tempting, but i'm allergic to bananas :( i know i can call ahead for special orders, but after the first attempt, i don't know if it's worth the hassle... certainly not just for one person... i'll have to get a bigger group to join me. Mon Jul 16 01:31:07 -0700 2007 2314175 106866 starlightjulian 5 2754347 SLJ - that Lamb and Mint Pasty sounds deeeelicious! Haven't had the desserts yet. :( I have tried the bangers & mash, the chicken greek and Sheperd's Pie. I just noticed the Lovely Bit a Salmon on the online menu (maybe its new or I haven't noticed it before?) - Fresh Atlantic Salmon in a white wine cream & dill sauce, sautéed asparagus, spinach, roasted red potatoes and roasted tomatoes. I may have to make a special trip during lunch for this one!!! Mon Jul 16 11:52:02 -0700 2007 2752907 73847 ggdinero 2 2315355 thanks for the suggestions. =) Wed Feb 21 14:19:14 -0800 2007 2314007 70009 abbefaith 1 2314169 I second Blue Nile. I prefer it over Lalibela. This will satisfy your two requirements. Wed Feb 21 09:48:14 -0800 2007 2313981 75433 HeatmiserAZ 1 2314476 how about www.pitajungle.com by ASU? Wed Feb 21 10:47:07 -0800 2007 2313981 20570 Baxterita 2 2314634 I second this recommendation. It is mostly vegetarian and all tasty. Wed Feb 21 11:22:53 -0800 2007 2314476 10910 dustchick 3 2314689 yeah pita jungle is actually one of my top 5 faves... i want to go somewhere i've never been. =) Wed Feb 21 11:37:00 -0800 2007 2314634 70009 abbefaith 1 2316831 China Max next to Changing Hands Bookstore does proper Chinese, not American Chinese. They have a nice selection of tofu and vegetarian dishes. Little India, a grocery in the mall on the SE corner of McClintock and Baseline has chaat dishes. All vegetarian, some very tasty. Zero ambiance though. Pasand in the same mall is a proper restaurant with a big selection of South Indian vegetarian dishes including dosas. Although I really like Efe's, it's much more about the kebabs there. Veg choices are limited. Wed Feb 21 22:33:54 -0800 2007 2313981 17424 zebcook 2 2317697 My experience at Efes has been somewhat different. I pass on the kebabs and still enjoy myself every time. The menu has a separate section devoted to vegetarian entrees, with five choices offered. I've tried both the turlu and the mixed dolma and have enjoyed both. In addition, there are numerous good options among the appetizers, soups, and salads. http://www.efesturkishcuisine.com/ I'm not sure if Efes is the absolute best choice for the original poster, but I think it's a viable one. Thu Feb 22 08:31:26 -0800 2007 2316831 26466 silverbear 2 2322681 I shop at that Trader Joes and have been wondering what that Chinese place is like, it always smells so good. I'll have to try it. What's good? Fri Feb 23 11:36:54 -0800 2007 2316831 71999 slimline45 3 2325203 Usually I ask them what's written in Chinese on the whiteboard. Last time we had a nice vegetarian dish of asian eggplant and vegetables in a spicy sauce, orange chicken (nothing but chicken in spicy orange sauce) and noodles.. I've also had the best beef tendon hot pot -- the meat was stewed until it was gelatinously tender in a rich seasoned broth. The place is not elegant, but the people are friendly. Sat Feb 24 08:31:27 -0800 2007 2322681 17424 zebcook 1 2331677 I went to Giovanni's Pizza Bistro (Mill and Baseline, SW corner) and was actually very impressed. Great salads and pizza (didn't try the pasta or paninis or sandwiches), lots of ways to make it veggie friendly. I can recommend it! Here's a link to the menu: http://www.giovannipizzabistro.com/menu.htm Mon Feb 26 15:49:04 -0800 2007 2313981 52195 HomeCookKirsten 2 2333302 thanks for the recommendation! i live very closeby so i definitely will check it out. i wish i could read the menu though... =( Tue Feb 27 06:53:51 -0800 2007 2331677 70009 abbefaith 2 2452221 Giovanni's... We ended up there by accident in a way.... my parents were in town and mom wanted to hit the AZ Mills for a shopping spell - but I refused to eat lunch there. Thus we headed E. on Baseline. There's not many visible non chain places along that stretch so I started to panic. I pulled into the strip mall, sensing I'd been there before. And I had. It was a veggoe place, right? Regardless, it was nice. We only ordered a pizza and big salad, so I can't give a decent review. The salad was o.k. but the pizza was pretty good. Nice crust. Nice toppings. I get the sense they are still finding themselves. On the one hand, you want a nice Italian eatery nearby. On the other hand, you want an inexpensive place to grab some grub on the go. Wed Apr 04 20:41:08 -0700 2007 2331677 15036 tastyjon 1 2333567 I know! The PDF is terrible. The Web site seems pretty low-budget. Sorry! Tue Feb 27 08:10:32 -0800 2007 2313981 52195 HomeCookKirsten 1 2346417 Udupi Indian on Rural/Scottsdale {on the border} is totally vegetarian, but not vegan. Plenty of dairy items. Fri Mar 02 13:18:55 -0800 2007 2313981 38256 VictorLouis 2 2346478 Just to clarify, there are plenty of vegan items at Udupi, and the lunch buffet dishes are always clearly marked, if vegan. The Dosai always tastes like butter, to me. Fri Mar 02 13:30:28 -0800 2007 2346417 10852 johnseberg 3 2761724 If you're looking for vegan, try www.mandalatearoom.com Mandala is on 5th Ave/Goldwater. Many of the items I've tried there are very good!! If you want suggestions, I'll post back :) Also, try www.vegguide.org for vegetarian and vegan restaurants all over the world! Wed Jul 18 12:55:05 -0700 2007 2346478 106866 starlightjulian