London 2006: Favorite vegan cafes / restaurants?

[Korn]

We already have a thread about Vegan London - this thread is a poll about places to eat in London, closing December 31 2006.

Please enter suggestions about which places to include in this thread, but keep the discussions in that other London thread. I'll enter suggestions into the poll for a week or two, and then enable the voting.

When the voting starts, you can vote for one or more places.

Re. the suggestions: just list the the vegan restaurants/cafes you can think of, they don't have to be the same that you'll vote for later.

[Mr Flibble]

I think it'd be hard to pitch places against each other as different ones meet different criteria (price, speed of service, dress code, type of food, healthiness of food etc).

If there's only 4 suggestions then the obvious choices would be the 4 most popular that we already know are the most popular, but there's tonnes of good places to eat out in London that will cook decent vegan food.

[Korn]

If there's only 4 suggestions

There are no suggestions yet, but there will be as many suggestions as you want.

the obvious choices would be the 4 most popular that we already know are the most popular

Lot's of us don't live in London, we have many visitors from outside UK, some members are new vegans with no overview about these places, other people who read this aren't even vegan yet...

[absentmindedfan]

VitaOrganic, Maoz, RedVeg, Mildred's are the places I've been to so far and I love all of them, VitaOrganic and Mildred's being my faves.

[Korn]

Thanks, AMF, I just entered your suggestions into the poll...
Others?

[Mr Flibble]

fairy snuff, in which case candidates could be

Vegveg (the chain that includes tai, joi, ctv etc)
Govindas
222
Pogo
Eat and 2 Veg
Vitaorganic
Beatroute
Redveg
Mildreds

[Korn]

What do you guys think about including restaurants/cafes that are both vegan and lacto-vegetarian? As long as they have a good selection of vegan food, I don't have a problem with that.

[RedWellies]

You already have Personally, I don't have a problem with that.

[absentmindedfan]

I don't mind vegetarian restaurants (VitaOrganic is the only 100% vegan place I've been to or know of) but I'd rather not go to omni restuarants that have vegan options. The fear of cross contamination puts me off. Plus I have negative associations with omni restaurants as I usually visit them with The Family

[aubergine]

My suggestion is Spirited Palace in Crystal Palace, although I'm pretty sure me and Amy are the only two on here that have been to it.

Oh, and Pepperton UK.

[GoatBoy]

beatroute is spelt beetrootor beat root, just had to mention.

there is some great place round the corner from it i have already forgot the name of.

and there is world food cafe in neals yard plus about three other places in the square. (i met danni minouge there, and had a lengthy conversation about massage equipment).

[absentmindedfan]

Oh yeah Neal's Yard Cafe. They do a great vegan burger.

[harpy]

You could add The Gate, and perhaps Kastoori (although as that's in Tooting it may not be central enough to qualify). Both of these are lacto-veg but vegan-friendly.

[Korn]

Done - thanks!!

Are there any of these places that in your opinion should be listed (see below)?

http://www.veganlondon.co.uk/eat/index.htm
http://www.veggieheaven.com/guide/london.html
http://www.healon.co.uk/central/cfood.html
http://www.vegetarianguides.co.uk/updates/index.shtml
http://www.alotoforganics.co.uk/cats/eat.php

[Gorilla]

i'd have to say Tai, the vegan Chinese buffet restaurant in Soho - i go there nearly every time i visit London

[Kiran]

Speaking of Soho, I loved the Mantras on Dean Street. Myself and a friend went there a while ago and we absolutely liked it. Might be worth adding to the polls?

[Korn]

Vegveg (the chain that includes tai, joi, ctv etc)

Maybe they all should be listed separately?

[Mr Flibble]

Can do, though there are multiple ones called tai, so you'd need to specify the street. I personally find that the quality varies greatly between them (to the point now where I wouldn't take someone there for a meal of any importance), so maybe it is a good idea.

[harpy]

Actually there are a few more Indian vegetarian ones that could be added to the list:

Ravi Shankar - in Drummond St behind Euston station
Diwana Bel-Poori House - also in Drummond St

Woodlands (a small chain - I most often go to the one in Panton Street)

There are probably quite a few more in this category but those are the ones I've been to relatively recently.

[Gorilla]

i didn't know VegVeg was part of the same chain as Tai etc. i've only ever been to the one on Greek St. i can't tear myself away from there

[Korn]

The poll is open now...

[refinnej]

What about Manna? It's one of my faves as well.

[GoatBoy]

don't forget the pogo, hackney.

I work there and it rocks.

[Davey]

i'd have to say Tai, the vegan Chinese buffet restaurant in Soho - i go there nearly every time i visit London

You gotta try "Peking Palace" in Holloway Road, Islington. Its the best vegan chinese restaurant I have been to since visiting the Garden Cafe in Orlando.
There is no alcohol which is a bit of a bummer, but the food makes up for it.

Your friend
Dave

[Korn]

We'll add the places mentioned in the last few posts to the 2007-poll. Keep 'em coming!

[Kevster]

Yeah Pogos would definitely get one of my votes, it's my favourite place to eat out in London.

[mango]

Anyone know a place called Chai Pani at Marble Arch? I just saw an advert for it and wondered if it's any good.

[Korn]

A little reminder: this poll is closing December 31st this year...

[Smoothie]

My favorite is Pogo Café - but since it's not there, i voted for joi veg buffet.

[Korn]

Pogo Café will be included in the 2007-version of the poll....

[jasper]

I'd have to say Neils Yard Cafe, they made a yummy spinach/tofu mini pie. The base was a wholemeal crust. If anyone knows the recipe please let me know!

[mango]

Anyone know a place called Chai Pani at Marble Arch? I just saw an advert for it and wondered if it's any good.

I went there with my dad yesterday. Definitely not recommended. Overpriced, little choice, terrible food. The waiter looked a bit shifty - I think he must have been embarrassed about the insultingly low quality of the food. To be avoided.

[Jamie]

You gotta try "Peking Palace" in Holloway Road, Islington. Its the best vegan chinese restaurant I have been to since visiting the Garden Cafe in Orlando.
There is no alcohol which is a bit of a bummer, but the food makes up for it.

Your friend
Dave

Oooh I've been wanting to try this sometime. I heard that they do vegan 'fish and chips', with battered peices of 'fish' and all that (yes it sounds gross but I'd try it for a laugh!! ) but it's not on their website.

Is it hard to find Dave?? I'd probably get there on the train, or tube, unless I was feeling particularly brave to try driving it, I'm not sure (I live in Harlow)...!

[musicalveg]

Another place I enjoy going to is Riverside Vegetaria, 64 High Street, Kingston. I know it is quite far out of the centre, but the food is good and the view of the Thames is good- you see people rowing in the evening!

[Jamie]

I forgot to post back that I went to Peking Palace!

It was really nice - we went on a night when we were only people there! There were a couple of people in for a takeaway, and a few people coming in not realising it was vegan (one seemed vegetarian but confused because there wasn't egg fried rice, and one omni who was put off once they explained the 'chicken' was from beans and the 'prawns' from yam., neither ended up ordering).

I had chicken balls in sweet and sour sauce for starters, my hubby had spare ribs (I thought he was mad lol! it was like mini seitan cutlets, with a bit of wooden skewer poking out to represent the bone! very creative!), then we had some other chicken things as the main, I'm afraid I don't remember what. It was all very nice, although I found having the chicken all the time was too much (I think it was tofu based)... it just made me feel a bit sick. And the portions are really filling too - unless you've got a large appetite, I'd reccomend sharing a starter rather than having one each or you'll get full up before the mains come!

So if I could go again, I would try having a different 'meat' for each part, rather than the same one for everything like I did. And I wish I had a bigger appetite, I just couldn't fit it in! But they did give us the leftovers to take home in takeaway boxes.

The place looks lovely inside, and had relaxing music the whole time which I really liked. The staff were really sweet, and the prices fine (although a big bottle of Ame cost nearly £5, but my hubby pointed out it's still much cheaper than if we'd ordered wine (I can't remember but I think they had a wine list)).

So all in all, I'd reccomend it if you want a fake meat chinese at a nice place and lovely staff.

No sign of 'fish and chips' though!

[Korn]

Hi, for some reason this thread wasn't closed. Please use the new thread:

London 2009/2010: Vegan (friendly) cafes and restaurants you really like