Vegetarian/Vegetarian-Friendly Near Times Square?

[Caitlin McGrath]

My mother will be attending a conference at the Marriot Marquis next week, and would love some recommendations for places she can eat lunch and/or dinner when she's at the meetings and won't have time to get out of the vicinity to eat.

She eats fish and shellfish, but prefers to make most of her meals vegetarian, so would like to fnd places where that'll work, and is looking for casual, inexpensive options. She's totally open with regard to cuisine. I'm not up to date on the Ninth Ave. places near Times Square, but I'm thinking heading west will be her best bet. Ideas?

[alc]

Two other suggestions (where we eat vegetarian meals frequently):

--Turkish Cuisine on the west side of 9th Ave. between 44th and 45th (many vegetarian options)

-- Utsav (Indian on a sort of alley just west of 6th Ave. between 45th and 46th) -- the lunch buffet always includes three vegetarian dishes plus salads; the dinner menu includes a vegetarian thali platter

[rebus03]

If you're looking for casual and inexpensive-ish options, I would recommend:
- Le Pain Quotidien on 40th & 6th
- Bali Nusa Inda (Indonesian) 46th & 9th)
- El Centro for Meixcan (53rdish & 9th)
- Akdeniz - Turkish - 46th & 6th
- Say Cheese - grilled cheese joint with variety of grilled cheese on 9th bw 45 & 46
- Pongsri (or any of theother Thai places on 9th ave) on 48 bw 7 & 8
- Saigon 48 on 48 bw 7 & 8
Hope this helps!

[Caitlin McGrath]

Thanks! I think she's leaving tomorrow, so I've emailed her some of your suggestions along with the others.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Thanks to you both. You've mentioned a few places that weren't on my radar, and brought a couple others to mind that I'd forgotten about. I'm among those who aren't fans of Zen Palate, though I only ever ate at the erstwhile Union Square location; I'm also not a big fan of the Pump, Energy Kitchen, or Better Burger, which I think are boring. I think my mother likes ZP okay.

Does anyone know if Jewel of India has lunch specials or a buffet (website has a single menu w/dinner pricing)?

I know she enjoy's Kellari's type of food, but I'm pretty sure it's beyond the budget of this trip.

[goodhealthgourmet]

i did some Googling and found several web pages that said Jewel of India has a lunch buffet and a prix fixe menu.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Ah, you turned up more Google results than I did. Thanks, GHG!

[goodhealthgourmet]

out of curiosity i just checked out the restaurant's website - if you go to the menu and click on the Specials link, you'll find the Buffet description and the prix fixe lunch offerings. why they decided to hide them there is beyond me...

[RGR]

Re: Zen Palate. Vehement? You bet! In a word; Horrible!

Other good options:

Kellari Taverna, on 44th, b/t 5th & 6th - Greek seafood taverna - http://www.kellari.us

Trattoria Trecolori , on 47th, b/t B'way & 8th - Homestyle Italian - http://www.trattoriatrecolori.com

[goodhealthgourmet]

plenty of options!
- Uncle Nick's for Greek
- Zen Palate, though i'm sure you know opinions are mixed...and vehement :)
- Jewel of India
- La Paloma or Mi Nidito for Mexican
- Akdeniz for Turkish
- Afghan Kebab House
- Better Burger has a veggie burger
- Juice Generation
- Pita Grill
- The Pump or Energy Kitchen
- Kyotofu