Archive for the 'Raw Restaurants - New York' Category
Adelina Vegetarian Kitchen
By Thomas McCabe
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Adelina Vegetarian Kitchen
119 E 17th Street
New York, NY 10003
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Located between Irving Place and Park Avenue South, Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant not only serves a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes, but has also established itself as one of the leading raw foods restaurants in New York City. One of the factors that set Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant apart from other healthy restaurants in the area is that they feature many raw, vegan and vegetarian variations on traditional Italian - style dishes. The selection of raw dishes offered here is fairly extensive, with raw salads, soups, sandwiches, nori and wraps, pizza, entrees and desserts available.
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The atmosphere at Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant is comfortable and relaxed. The friendly staff members here always provide excellent customer service, all of the food is very tasty, portions are large and the prices are fair and reasonable.
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Several raw items are available as meal - starters at Adelina Restaurant. These include salads such as Power Salad, with kale, hijiki, mushrooms and carrots, Sea Caesar Salad, with romaine lettuce, dulse, nori and”unbread” croutons and their House Salad, with romaine, apple, cranberries, walnut and celery. An excellent raw soup named Zuppa Del Giorno is also regularly available. Very flavorful raw Daily Nori Rolls and raw Daily Collards Wraps are popular menu items here. The raw nori rolls are filled with shredded carrots, spinach, zucchini and lentils sprouts and the collards wraps are filled with shredded carrots, spinach and zucchini.
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The raw pizzas and raw sandwiches served at Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant are favorite menu items of many customers. The raw pizzas here feature crusts made from flax seed and vegetable pulp, with large slices and whole pies available. Pizza slice choices here include marinated tomato and marinated mushroom varieties. Raw sandwich choices at Adelina Restaurant include their Flat Bread Panini, with avocado, carrots, lettuce, tomato and zucchini, the Sun Burger, which is a raw veggie burger, with lettuce, tomato and avocado on “unbread” and the Adelina Salad Sandwich, which features a creamy vegetable slaw on “unbread”. The fresh and exciting raw sandwiches here are also available with House Salad on the side.
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Raw entrees at Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant are not only delicious, but they are also very creatively - presented. Raw entree selections here include Zucchini Spaghetti Marinara, with zucchini pasta and tomato sauce, Zucchini Spaghetti Al Pesto, with zucchini pasta and pesto sauce, Zucchini Spaghetti Primavera, with zucchini pasta, squash, carrots and celery and their succulent Raw Lasagna. Their outstanding raw lasagna features fresh zucchini pasta, yellow squash, tomatoes, arugula and marinated mushrooms, with a delectable creamy nut sauce. All of the wonderful raw entrees here are also available with a House Salad on the side.
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Another factor that sets Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant at the head of the class in raw foods and vegetarian restaurants in New York City is their fairly extensive selection of exquisite raw desserts. Among the delightful raw desserts served, here are Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Mulberry Ball, Orange Carob Balls, Nut Shell Bars, Raw Homemade Granola with nut milk, Maca Chocolate, Super Food Chocolate Bar and Coconut Lemon Cheese Cake. Not only are these raw desserts delectable and aesthetically - pleasing, but they are also affordably - priced.
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Be sure to try the awesome organic fresh juices and organic fresh smoothies served at Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant. The smoothie varieties here include Blueberry Abbondanza, Himalayan Heaven, Chocolate Mylkshake, Raspberry Refresher, Green Dream and Liquid Libido. In addition to their large assortment of raw items, Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant also regularly serves a range of vegetarian sandwiches, entrees, Italian Bread Sandwiches and salads. For great raw food dishes in New York City, Adelina Vegetarian Restaurant consistently offers some of the finest choices available.
Rawstar Cafe
By Howard Portnoy
Rawstar Café
687 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (Btwn St. Marks Ave & Prospect Pl)
(718) 975-0304
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Good things, they say, come in small packages. For proof of this claim, look no further than Rawstar Café, a shoebox-sized gem of a place on Washington Avenue in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Bamboo, an imitation thatched grass roof, and the lilting strains of reggae as you enter signal an island connection. Sure enough, the chef, Mawule Jobe-Simon, is a native of Trinidad. The West Indies influence is present in several of the dishes, all of which tend to be boldly spiced.
To ensure maximum nutritional value, the menu promises that no temperature higher than 95°F is applied in the preparation of the food. You’d never guess this from tasting the spinach cheese puffs or the sundried tomato ravioli that two of us started our meal with. Both were first-rate. The third person in my group ordered the hummus (listed among the side dishes) as a first course and thought it was good as any he had eaten in a Middle Eastern restaurant; the chickpea dip was smooth but with plenty of body and not overly blended.
Appetizers that I plan to try on my next visit include the cashew cheese and flaxseed crackers, broccoli and cheese cannellini, the chipotle hand roll, and falafel, which come with either tahini or cashew sauce. There is also a tempting 5 bean soup, which I’m eager to sample, and several fabulous-looking salads that I saw coming out the kitchen. I am particularly intrigued by the one made with kale and pears!
Dishes are artfully presented, but service is ultra-casual, which perhaps was the reason that not everybody at my table was served at the same time. This is a minor quibble I’m willing to overlook after tasting the veggie pizza, a pie-shaped wedge of deliciously grainy crust topped with a cheese-like spread, crunchy peppers, and tomatoes. Another winner was the pasta in a pesto sauce made from pistachio as well as pine nuts. The curried tempeh delivers a jolt of strong curry flavor from lots of raw ginger, but its Indian-inspired tamarind sauce helps mitigate some of the heat. The dish comes with two sides. My companion opted for curried plantains, which were one of the best things I sampled during this visit, and the bok choy. All the entrée portions were large and filling, and as an added bonus all dishes are gluten-free.
Other main courses to be considered on future forays to Rawstar include nut loaf, garlic-stuffed mushroom, lasagna, spinach pie with spicy ginger sauce, and stuffed bell pepper. A woman at a nearby that we struck up a conservation with was enjoying the napa sandwich, wrapped in leaves of audibly crunchy napa cabbage.
Don’t miss the fresh juices (I found the cane juice with pineapple to be especially refreshing), and by all means save room for dessert. The banana coconut cream pie was amazing, creamy and rich under a blizzard of coconut shavings. The tropical berry pie could have been a tad sweeter for my tastes, but on balance was also good. The fruit parfait makes for a light and agreeable finish after two hefty courses.
It is worth noting that Rawstar has a weekend brunch Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 pm. Choose from quinoa porridge with dried fruits, banana pancakes (which I’m told taste amazingly like the cooked version), or coconut bread with avocado medley, among other dishes.
One of the people I dined with at Rawstar lives in the East Village across the river. In his opinion, Rawstar was at least on a par with—and in the case of several dishes surpassed—his local raw food restaurant of choice, Quintessence. The prices at Rawstar are lower, which is another huge plus. No main course costs more than $13, appetizers run from $6 to $6.50, and desserts are in the $6 to $7 range.
Estimated Cost Per Person for Three Courses: $19 - $26
Bonobo’s
by Thomas McCabe
Bonobo’s Vegetarian Restaurant
18 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
(212) 505-1200Cuisine Type : Raw Foods and Vegetarian Foods
Bonobo’s Restaurant is a hip and funky vegetarian and raw foods restaurant that is very popular with local residents and visitors to the city alike. Named after a type of great ape that maintains a diet of fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables, Bonobo’s Restaurant offers a range of delicious menu items that could make a raw foods lover out of the most devoted carnivore. In keeping with raw foods standards, foods at Bonobos are not heated above 118 degrees Farenheit and are served with live enzymes intact.
Bonobos is a clean and attractive restaurant that is staffed by people who seem to really enjoy their jobs. The atmosphere here is warm and welcoming and service is always fast and friendly. The portion sizes at Bonobo’s are generous and prices are reasonable, by New York City standards. This raw foods restaurant is also in a great location, overlooking Madison Square Park, which is a prime people - watching spot.
The exciting menu at Bonobos Restaurant features a multitude of tasty raw and vegetarian items that are not only healthy and delicious, but they are also creatively - presented. Fruit Blends, made with coconut water and a choice of 1 - 3 ingredients are popular items here. Flavors include grape, melon, carob, young coconut meat, blueberry banana, strawberry, pineapple and more.
Bonobos regularly serves several types of raw soups, such as Carrot Ginger, Sesame Cucumber, Gazpacho and Spinach Avocado. Warm soups at Bonobos include Minestrone, Vegetable Puree’ and Winter Veggie. The garden - fresh salads here, Chopped Romaine, Baby Spinach, Greens du Jour, Herb Mixed Greens and Mesclun, are bountiful and aesthetically - pleasing. A large selection of organic salad dressings are served at this raw foods and vegetarian restaurant. They include Green Pesto, French, Italian, Thai Coconut, Berry Vinaigrette and Lemon Garlic Tahini.
A nice assortment of “Scoops” are available at Bonobos. These raw food blends are particularly enjoyable when eaten with any of their wonderful salads. Among the varieties of Scoops that are served at Bonobos are Thai Pate, Organic Mixed Veggie, Organic Curried Almond Pate, Nut Pate, Organic Italian Herb Pate, Pate du Jour, Scoop du Jour, Guacamole Salad, Organic Almond - Sesame Hummus, Nut & Seed Mousses and Assorted Nut & Seed Salads. Additionally, a nice variety of organic seed / nut crackers, crisps and wafers are available here.
The various entrees that are served at Bonobos are often chosen based upon the availability of fresh ingredients. By far, one of the most frequently - ordered entrees at this raw foods restaurant is their delectable Lasagna. This creative and highly - flavorful lasagna is made with fresh organic vegetables, with layers of nut pate and delicious tomato sauce.
A special feature at this vegetarian and raw foods restaurant is their large selection of exquisite desserts and sweet items. Some of the treats available at Bonobos are Mixed Fruit Ambrosia du jour with fresh coconut, Bonono’s Carob, Bonobo’s Frozen Fudge, nut - crusted fruit pies, Fruit & Nut Sinless Ice Creams and Sorbets, Mesquite Coconut Banana Split, puddings and candies.
To quench the thirst, Bonobo’s offers Young Florida coconut water, pressed sugar cane juice, orange and grapefruit juices, Agave Lemonade, warm Lemon Ginger or mint tea, warm Coconut Chai and more.
If you’re looking for a great vegetarian / raw foods restaurant in New York City, look no further than 18 E. 23rd Street at Madison Avenue, chances are, you’ll be truly impressed with Bonobo’s.
Pure Food and Wine
by Thomas J. Mccabe
Pure Food and Wine
54 Irving Place
(between 17th St & 18th St)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 477-1010
Open daily from 5:30 pm until late
Cuisine Type : Raw Foods
Pure Food and Wine is widely regarded as being one of the leading raw foods restaurants in New York City. This is easily evidenced by the throngs of customers who regularly patronize this stylish eatery. Known for their creative use of organic and seasonal vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruits, this award winning raw foods establishment offers a fun and energetic atmosphere and stunning decor, as well as a wide range of delectable raw foods and top - rate customer service. Three separate dining areas are featured here ; the main dining room, with its abundance of beautiful wood and candlelight, a private dining area and a spacious, attractive warm weather garden. An excellent date restaurant, Pure Food and Wine can sometimes be a bit loud, but the overall dining experience here is consistently wonderful.
The talented kitchen staff here, under the leadership of Executive Chef Neal Harden regularly produces an impressive selection of raw and live food dishes, inclding many mushroom and avocado dishes, that are a cut above those served at any other raw foods restaurant in the city. Standout menu items at Pure Food and Wine include Sea Vegetable Salad, Caesar Salad, with pine nuts, fresh parmesan and nori, Marinated Shiitake & Avocado Sushi Rolls, Lapsang Smoked Portabella Mushroom with Caper Potato Salad, Tomato Tostadas, White Corn Tamales, with Mole Sauce and Sour Cream, Braised Mushrooms with Mustard Greens and Mushroom and Kimchi Dumplings. Other great dishes here include their out - of - this - world Zucchini and Heirloom Mushroom Lasagna, which features a basil / pistachio pesto, pignoli ricotta and sun - dried tomato sauce. Mushroom Burgers, Vegan Asparagus Sushi Rolls and a very popular Five - Course Tasting Menu. In addition to the afore - mentioned items, Pure Food and Wine also offers several types of sumptuous desserts. The decadently - delicious desserts here, such as Passion Fruit Mousse and Lemon Blueberry Plate are consistently exciting and satisfying, as are several varieties of sundaes, including their legendary Mint Sundae.
The bar at this New York City raw foods restaurant limits its offerings to organic wine and sake only, but features many high - quality varieties. The bar is also a favorite see and be seen spot for local residents and tourists alike. Befitting a true raw foods restaurant, Pure Food and Wine does not use any burners or ovens in its kitchen, maintaining strict adherence to keeping all food preparation at a maximum of 118 degrees farenheit. Instead of using traditional stoves with burners, this New York City raw foods restaurant uses dehydrators in its kitchen. Even the exquisite pastries that are served here are prepared without the use of traditional baking methods.
Pure Food and Wine also operates another nearby raw foods establishment,which is named Pure Juice and Take - Away, which specializes in take - out service of many raw foods items, but also offers a few tables for dine -in service. Both restaurants share the same kitchen, ensuring that the highest standards of quality and freshness are always observed. Among the standout menu items at Pure Juice and Take - Away are Lettuce Tortilla Wraps, which resemble mini tacos and Morel “Burgers”, made with hemp nuts, pistachio and carrots. Pure Food and Wine also maintains a web site named www.oneluckyduck.com, which sells a wide assortment of merchandise, including snacks, skin products, clothing items, cookbooks and household items. Pure Food and Wine restaurant is a wheelchair accessible restaurant.
Estimated cost per person : $50 and over
