Vegetarian food today has come a long way. It’s not just about avoiding meat and putting tofu where your turkey should be on Christmas Day. Where many years ago the veggies among us would have been relegated to a mushroom ravioli, now there’s restaurants and cafés dedicated to offering the finest in vegetarian dining, to the point where even us carnivorous types are getting in on the action. In London in particular, veggies are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out. There’s no doubt about it, in the process, vegetarianism has become synonymous with the ‘clean’ lifestyle we’ve all become obsessed with but the upside is that the food on offer right now is rooted in championing exciting meat-alternatives that challenge your palette and don’t scrimp on flavour.
I am not unaware of the irony that an unabashed meat-lover like myself is writing a piece about vegetarian hotspots. I don’t go a day without meat. I think of myself as a fried chicken connoisseur. When asked in restaurants how I want my steak, I will invariably respond with some ‘joke’ about bringing me the cow. Some people have a sweet tooth; I have a meat tooth. A meat tooth is decidedly less classy and undoubtedly less charming to declare at a dinner party than a sweet tooth, but there we go. I try to be healthy and clean and embrace the latest food trends. I made kale chips at home, but they tasted like air. I didn’t really know what quinoa was until last year, but throw in some feta and I’m relatively happy. I have even sampled a juice with carrot in it, despite being deeply distrusting of the orange foam that had formed on top.
But, if there’s one thing that could make me go green, even just for one meal, then it would be somewhere that promises to offer up dishes that excite me just as much as a plate of fried chicken and waffles, but in a clean, green form. Like I said, London is now brimming with restaurants serving up colourful, inventive menus worthy of inspiring enthusiasm in all tastebuds. Here are five of the best to look out for.
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Farmacy: Fresh off the proverbial farm is the latest hotspot for clean eaters, Notting Hill’s Farmacy. Encouraging diners to “Eat Like You Give A F****”, Farmacy provides comfort eating for the conscious diner, where you can indulge in a house veggie burger, or sample a macro bowl, or even go the whole hog (excuse the pun) and finish with a plant-based ice cream sundae. Even the booze is clean, with a variety of wines that are biodynamic, sulphur-free and have minimum interference. Farmacy is on a mission to promote entirely guilt-free dining, with an attitude towards food that considers the impact on the earth as well as on your health.
74 Westbourne Grove, W2 5SH
Mildred’s: Mildred’s is a veggie London mainstay, having started in Soho and since grown to have locations in Camden and King’s Cross. The restaurant dates back to the 1980s and a time when the face of vegetarianism was either your wacky aunt dishing out unappetising blended veg, or the even less appealing attempts at a meat alternative. Mildred’s changed that by opening a cafe in the heart of Soho championing an internationally-inspired menu. Today, it still champions a globally-conscious menu and colourful dishes to excited vegetarians, vegans and even carnivores like myself.
45 Lexington Street, Soho, W1F 9AN
Nama: Raw food might initially strike you as fancy talk for rabbit food, but Nama is the raw food oasis determined to change that. Tucked away in Notting Hill, Nama is a mecca for people adhering to a strict raw food diet. They offer breakfast, brunch and dinner menus with guilt free dishes as close to nature as possible. That means vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, organic and unprocessed. Nama is also popular for its juice cleanse programme for anyone needing to freshen up.
110 Talbot Road, W11 1JR
Kin: A personal favourite of mine, Kin is the Fitzrovia-based haven for any vegetarians seeking a quiet quinoa break from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street. Their menu has a strong selection of salads, cakes and teas which I cannot pronounce. With great vegan, gluten free and even raw options on a regular basis, Kin’s menu is so tempting that they even manage to get me eating a kale salad whilst sipping some hibiscus tea on a regular basis. More importantly, it provides some solid interiors goals with the laid-back grey and white colour palette and wooden tables brightly lit b exposed bulbs.
22 Foley Street, W1W 6DT
Tibits: As the name suggests, Tibits offers tasty morsels of vegetarian goodness, ideal for a lunchtime treat to eat in or take-away. Choose from a menu of over 40 fresh vegetarian dishes inspired by cuisines from all over the world, and then pay by the weight. That’s right, you can pile your plate as high as you want – it’s like a fancy, ethical buffet. Every Tuesday is 100% vegan so you can give veganism a go once a week, or take your vegan pals who are normally trickier to cater to.
12-14 Heddon Street, W1B 4DA