vegetarian restaurants in Vancouver

[kcgirl]

I am looking for a vegetarian restaurant that might be similiar to The Greens in San Fran. in Vancouver. Slightly upscale, great food. I have read on the boards several ideas, but looking for something that doesn't just make you think of veggie burgers.

[fmed]

Try Radha on Main St close to Chinatown.

[vandan]

i've never been but does radha qualify as "slightly upscale" because the outside of the building and location do not seem to reflect that

[fmed]

The food itself is upscale (certainly compared to the usual recs of Foundation or - godforbid - Naam). I was impressed the first time I went...I don't usually go for "vegetarian" (though I like South Indian, etc.). The presentation style is almost "fine-dining"-ish.

[vandan]

how about the prices?

[fmed]

About $20/pp, IIRC.

I just visited their website to have a look the current menu - no menu posted unfortunately and it indicated that they are closed for renos till Sept 16.

http://www.radhavancouver.org/dinner/...

[cdnprairiedog]

Sorry, no such place in Vancouver. The vegetarian places here tend to be hipster doofus as opposed to erudite urbanite. (The time I tried Radha, I was underwhelmed.) When I want upscale veg, I just go to a place like West that makes accommodations for our patronage.

[fmed]

Good to have a vegetarian perspective - thanks cdnprairiedog. Good tip on asking for vege options at a high-end place. "Hipster-doofus" is a perfect description.

[Sam Salmon]

The Naam=The Horror, The Horror.....

[vandan]

agreed

[fmed]

Worst restuarant experience I have ever had in Vancouver occurred there.

[cdnprairiedog]

+1

[twinkienic]

Not upscale, but different from the "hipster-doofus" vibe - Saravanaa Bhavan.

My veggie friends really like Foundation... but that's still hipster-doofus. Personally, I think everything on that menu reads the same. Also, I hate when people mis-spell things to be cute (e.g. "brokly").

I was also really underwhelmed by Radha, though the space inside is nice.

It'd be great if we had some upscale vegetarian places here. In the meanwhile I can only think of places that have good veggie options. Lumiere and West both offer vegetarian tasting menus.

[sf toronto]

kcgirl, sadly, Vancouver has a void in the category of great, veg-only fine dining that is clean and healthy, not just vegetarian (e.g. The Greens, Candle (NY), Mandala Tea Room (Scottsdale)). Radha is likely the closest thing, but keep in mind that it is vegan, not veg. Also, it's only open 3 days a week, so be mindful of when you visit.

As some of the other contributors have mentioned, many of the higher end restaurants do a great job of catering to veg diets, although I realize that it's still a stretch from what you're looking for.

[cdnprairiedog]

I just looked at the menu for Greens in SF, and I am going to go cry myself to sleep now.

[grayelf]

Hey cdp, if you want to get really depressed, hop on the SF Bay Area Board and check out the reviews of Ubuntu in Napa... but I digress.

[bookley]

I'll add a vote for Radha. The space has a magical feel. Service is charming (as opposed to that self-absorbed manner you find at Nam and Foundation). The menu's highly inventive and sometimes even well-executed. Plus a pretty smart selection of BC wine. The sum of the experience is to leave feeling nourished. The antidote to that, of course, is a couple of whiskies downstairs at the Brickhouse on your way out. Radha and Brickhouse are two of the most unique experiences in Vancouver.

Less upscale (or even slightly upscale), but equally nourishing veg options: Bo Kong (3068 Main Street) for sweet and sour soup, Rhizome (Main/Broadway) for pay-as-you-feel lentils and Sweet Cherubim (1105 Commercial) for every kind of late afternoon snack. The Foundation for all it annoying tics does offer pretty good bang for the buck.

[sf toronto]

I forgot to mention Gorilla Food on Richards (downtown, on the edge of gastown). Not upscale, but it's a wonderful raw vegan spot. It's certainly unique and the people working there are passionate about feeding you well. The menu items are creative (more than just salad) and you won't leave hungry. www.gorillafood.com

[fmed]

This dearth of good vegetarian fine-dining betrays Vancouver's "left-coast" reputation. I would think that a place like Ubuntu or The Greens would do well here.

[sf toronto]

fmed, I see a business plan. You? ;)

[fmed]

Got any investors with money to burn? ;-)

[jahvay]

Yes, but they are thinking Tim Hortons(sadly)...