Thankfully, eating out meat-free no longer amounts to a mushroom risotto or a goat’s cheese tart.
London has a wealth of superb vegetarian restaurants that are serving up innovative menus to entice omnivores and herbivores alike.
With more of us than ever reducing our meat intake for health and environmental reasons, these top restaurants are guaranteed to inject pure pleasure into plant-based eating. From cosy cafes and all-you-can-eat buffets to fine dining in stylish surrounds, expect colourful bowls of tasty goodness that endorse the capital’s foodie status.
Vanilla Black
Smashing all stereotypes, this is London’s only fine dining veggie restaurant and it comes Michelin-recommended. Whilst the atmosphere is mellow and sophisticated, the food brings ample excitement! Their menu changes regularly, but dishes like tomato shortbread with sheep’s milk and broccoli, or baked high cross and charred spring onions, are indicative of the intrigue you will feel when faced with the menu. With adventurous pairings of ingredients and techniques, you’re unlikely to have tasted anything quite like this before.
The Gate
The Gate has delighted vegetarian diners since opening in Hammersmith in 1989, with additional branches now in Islington and Marylebone. Their modern and light interiors will transport you on an epic culinary journey: from Mexican Tortillas to Malaysian Curry and Japanese inspired Shitake Ginger Gyoza, plus plenty more globetrotting dishes in between. Nourishing ingredients wrapped in finely tuned flavours evolve into beautifully presented plates that won’t disappoint.
Manna
Heralded as London’s oldest vegetarian restaurant, Manna has been serving the health-conscious Primrose Hill set for over fifty years. Intimate and informal, the restaurant has kept up with the times with a modern menu that caters for everyone. You can build your own mixed meze or opt for comforting large plates like bangers and mash or spaghetti and veet balls. Dishes succeed in being hearty but healthy and light. Definitely worthy of it’s foodie institution status, and if you love your meal then you can also enquire about cooking classes.
Mildreds
Mildreds is no secret. In fact, it’s probably the best-known vegetarian restaurant in London. With such popularity and status comes a very long queue: during peak hours this Soho stalwart attracts crowds lined up waiting to enjoy it’s vegetarian fare and laid-back vibe. Fortunately, they have recently opened three new venues, which are generally slightly quieter. Whilst it’s not refined dining, the food is filling, flavoursome and fresh. The internationally inspired menu caters well for hungry customers, offering deliciously satisfying large plates like Sri Lankan curry, burritos and burgers. They have also just announced a month of vegan cookery classes for March 2018 so if their restaurant queues are anything to go by, then spaces will get booked up quickly!
Deliciously Ella
Health food blogger Ella Mills, also known as Deliciously Ella, has expanded her empire to include delis, which are perfect for daytime dining or a light evening meal. The restaurants are homely and light with plenty of green goodness on offer. Expect wholesome and rustic food, with dishes like falafel, curry and soup, plus plenty of sweets and snacks.
Ethos
Grazing amongst silver birch trees just a moment’s throw from Oxford Circus may be reason enough to give Ethos a try. Buffets tend to have a bad reputation, but you will be converted when you cast your eye over the multitude of vegetarian treasures that await here. Miso-glazed roasted aubergine, arancini and scotch eggs are amongst just a few of the eclectic dishes laid out on the buffet podiums. Offering all-day dining and catering for a range of dietary requirements, expect culinary influences from around the world. Don’t get too carried away though, the price is by weight!
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