ISO restaurant 1) walking distance from Civic Center 2) extensive vegetarian option

[oohlala]

We'll be watching WICKED this coming saturday at the orpheum theatre. We're looking for a restaurant that fits the following criteria,

1) within walking distance from Civic Center
2) vegetarian option
3) ~$20 plus tax and tip
4) can be any cuisine
5) can easily carry on a conversation

help! help!

[Boythefoodtalksto]

Definitely try the newish Burmese Kitchen at 452 Larkin Street, which is very near Civic Center. This is closer to real Burmese food than you can get at any of the other Burmese places in the City, even though it, like the others, is operated by Burmese-Chinese folks. Excellent meat and vegetarian dishes (be sure to try the yellow peas, but it is ALL good.) Very friendly and attentive operators. Enjoy!

http://www.burmesekitchen.com/

[choctastic]

I've had the standard veggie burger at Ananda Fuara and as far as these things go, it was pretty decent, if not the most mind-blowing experience.

They have relatively decent cakes but I would warn people away from the brownies. At least the time I tried a brownie, it was caked on the bottom with some kind of congealed fat that was obviously not butter. It was edible because it was sweet, but not much beyond that.

[Gingerista]

Another vote for Ananda-Fuara. Fits the OP guidelines very well.

[ceekskat]

Definitely in a better neighborhood than Lahore Karahi, Naan 'n Curry on Van Ness may fit the bill. However, it is not exactly the healthiest option : )

http://www.naancurry.com/menu.php

There's also Gyro King (very close to theater), though don't have personal experience.

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Gyro King
25 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[artemis]

Golden Era is vegetarian Chinese, though not really walkable from the Orpheum.

[Windy]

Actually it's Vietnamese, and awfully good. Their banh xeo (Vietnamese crepe) is surprisingly delicious.

[choctastic]

Golden Era is a vegan restaurant and part of the Supreme Master network. Their food is actually not bad for the area.

Their vegan "cheesecake" is actually surprisingly not terrible, though not as good as the one I had at Hangawi in New York, which was truly good imho.

[The Dairy Queen]

Forgive me, but what is the Supreme Master network?

~TDQ

[Melanie Wong]

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org/

[bbulkow]

Same people who do Lovin' Hut.

[The Dairy Queen]

Wow. I'm really out of loop and haven't heard of any of these organizations. They say each of the restaurants have their own menus. Are they basically franchises and, therefore, independently owned? Or is there some common ownership?

~TDQ

[bbulkow]

No idea. I've been to the palo alto branch and seen the religious television broadcasts and posters, and seen the same website I forwarded.

[Windy]

I hadn't realized that. I had a pretty great lunch at Loving Hut at Westfield Center before the movies. A stir fry with snap peas and fake shrimp, which oddly were the best part.

They're devotees of a religious network. The pictures on the wall at Golden Era are pretty cultlike, but the brochures mostly encourage vegetarian/vegan diets. Golden Era's been there forever--at least 10 years, probably much longer.

[Melanie Wong]

In the last couple years, I've seen some billboards in the South Bay promoting the sect and going vegan. The group has also had booths at the Tet festival handing out reusable grocery bags.

[Meredith]

It depends on how comfortable you are with the neighborhood, but maybe something in the Tandooriloin would work for you - Lahore Kahari is good, though known more for their tandoori fish than anytyhing else. But Indian/Pakistani food seems to be a very good choice for inexpensive eats with good vegetarian options.

[Joel]

Millennium -- about 6 blocks away.
I've only been there once, many years ago. All vegan as I recall.

Millenium Restaurant

[phone] - 580 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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Millenium Restaurant
580 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[Pistou]

Millenium is nowhere near the OP's price range.

You could hop on the F-Market to Laguna then walk north a couple of blocks to Page and try Samovar Tea House. They have a small but very vegetarian-centric menu. The food is reasonably priced and tasty, and it's a lovely ambiance.

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Millenium Restaurant
580 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[oohlala]

ok, my wife just told me it's probably not the most pleasant neighbourhood to be strolling after dark. that's good to know before booking the restaurant, lol~

Hopefully all these restaurants are located AWAY from the neighborhood. Please keep the recommendations coming! They don't need to be completely vegetarian :)

[Ruth Lafler]

"Away from the neighborhood" is pretty vague. Can you be more specific?

Although the neighborhood is not particularly nice to walk in, because of the proximity of the Opera House, Davies, the Opheum, Herbst Theater, other venues and restaurants, lots of people are walking around that area at night.

[Ruth Lafler]

There's a vegetarian restaurant -- Ananda-Fuara -- a block or so up Market St. from the Orpheum.

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Ananda-Fuara Vegetarian
1298 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[oohlala]

Great suggestion, Ruth! The entire party really enjoyed the food. Went there without much expectation, walked out with really good impression of the place. Food was quite on the sweet side for me, maybe the chutney, but definitely a RETURN for me and my wife :)

Thanks again!

[Ruth Lafler]

Thanks for reporting back -- glad that worked out for you!