'http://veggiebites.com/ Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Seattle en Copyright 2006, Veggiebites.com christine@tangent.org brian@tangent.org http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=297 Note: This restaurant is under new ownership/management. On the menu they have supposedly added salads, freshly baked pie pockets, meatball sub, gluten-free dough, and hot tea. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=290 <B>NOTE: This restaurant has closed.</B> http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=300 <B>NOTE: This restaurant has closed.</B> http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=301 Chaco Canyon Café's mission is to "provide delicious organic sustanance for a wide variety of needs and individual tastes." They use fresh organic produce, organic nuts, seeds, spices and oils, changing their menu with the seasons. What this translates to is an extensive amount of raw foods options, vegan sandwich and soup options, living juice and wheatgrass, organic loose-leaf teas, shade-grown organic espresso, and Fair Trade organic shade-grown coffee. Their food is 100% vegan and 95% organic. Additionally, they recycle and compost the majority of their total waste and don't offer plastic utensils. <P> On my first visit I decided to go ahead and try their most popular raw food option, the Spicy Thai Grinder. They prepare a patty of peanuts, carrots, cilantro, garlic and hot peppers and serve it on a bed of spinach with chopped savoy cabbage and a miso glaze drizzled over it. I will certainly agree with the name of this dish - it is very spicy. The cabbage and miso did help to cool it down, and the miso in particular was very good. As raw foods go I would say that the dish was good, but I prefer their vegan hot sandwhiches, which can be made on spelt bread upon request. On a recent visit I shared a hot Pesto Melt and "Tuna" Melt from their regular menu and an Artichoke Melt from their daily special. The Artichoke Melt was considered the best of all three options as it had a nice blend of lemon and spices with the artichokes and vegan cheese. The hot Tunaless Melt has housemade almond-dulse tuna, vegan cheddar, garlic aioli, marinated onions, sprouts, and tomato grilled on Essential Bakery rye bread. It was good, but a bit bland. The hot Pesto Melt has their housemade basil, parsley and walnut Pesto with vegan mozzarella, marinated onions, sprouts, and tahini, grilled on Essential Bakery foccacia and served with sprouts and tomatoes. While we all liked this, I think it would have been better with more tomatoes or something such as avacado or vegan mayo to counteract the saltiness of the pesto. All of the sandwhiches are served with housemade Coleslaw or Terra Chips. At first taste I liked the coleslaw, but didn't care for the aftertaste which was pretty spicy. The terra chips they serve are also spicy, which I don't prefer. Another option is to order a Cup of Daily Soup or a daily half salad with your sandwhich. <P> I've not tried any of their raw juice combinations, but I love the name of one of the options: Swamp Monster. It's made with pear, carrot, beet, apple, and spinach. I have tried a few of their Smoothies, which are made with 100% organic produce, and no ice, sherbet, or other sugary fillers. The "Classic," which is made with strawberries, bananas, almonds, and your choice of milk, was good but a bit bland tasting. I much preferred a recent tropical option they had as a daily special, which had peaches & in-season berries. It was much more flavorful. A friend of mine likes the "Mocha Madness" the best, which is made with espresso, housemade chocolate, agave, soy, and choice of milk. Since I'm not an espresso fan I didn't care for it, but I think it would taste pretty amazing without the espresso.<p> The only dessert I've tried has been the raw food Carrot Cake. It is composed of soaked and dehydrated almonds, fresh carrot, dates, raisins, and spices and then topped with a thick frosting of cashews, lemon and vanilla. While it was moist, it was not sweet enough for my tastes and the frosting was a bit dense. All of the other dessert options are also raw foods based, so I just tend to stick with the smoothies to satisfy my sweet-tooth.<P> Service, while very pleasant, can often be extremely slow. This is both true for eating there and for getting items to go. During one lunch break that I ordered food to go there were even people who came in *after* me who got their meals and/or drinks before mine was ready (this included people who were both eating in the restaurant and ordering to-go items) This is certainly not a place to go if you have any time constraints or are starved at all. On the other hand, when a mistake had been recently made to our order (they served my friend a salad with his sandwich when he'd ordered soup) it was easily pleasantly resolved. In fact, the server made a comment was that it's always good to have more salad as she brought my friend his soup. <P> Color-wise the decor could be considered Southwestern, but it feels more like a funky laid-back cafe to me. There's a bookshelf full of books and games to play while waiting for your food. They also have free wireless. Local artwork decorating the walls, which currently depicts odd alien/cartoon-looking characters. It can be a place to relax, provided you aren't disturbed by the artwork as of of the people in my group recently were, but isn't really a place to linger in the summer as they do not have air conditioning and it can get pretty stuffy in the restaurant. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=321 <B>NOTE: This restaurant has closed.</B> <P> Mmmmm, gelato. Not only does it taste good, but it's got about half the fat of most ice creams. This café makes new flavors daily, so the hard part is deciding which ones to get!<P> I think the name says it all for this café: Dolce Vita, "Sweet Life." They have espresso & other coffee based drinks, but I really like their hot chocolate - it's made with three kinds of Guittard chocolate & comes with a Guittard gold foil 64% cacao wafer. If that doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, they have biscotti, homemade cookies, and the gelato, which includes non-dairy sorbets. You can get from 1 up to 4 scoops in a cute plastic cup, and they also sell pints (which they can split into 2 flavors if you want). They also make sundaes, Thomas Kempter Root Beer floats, and milkshakes. Whipped cream is available on top of the milkshakes, although I prefer it without. You're also welcome to mix flavors or add a shot of espresso, if you're looking for a bit of a kick in your milkshake.<p> If you're looking for something more substantial, for lunch and dinner they have a few Panini sandwiches to choose from, and one is always vegetarian, and can be made vegan. I've had the Vegetariani, which has roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, tapenade, mozzarella, fontina, & romano cheeses on focaccia. It's good, but not quite filling enough, which does leave room for dessert.<p> The atmosphere is definitely a neighborhood European café, with wooden chairs, tables, and a fireplace. The feel of the small space leans more to cozy than cramped, which is nice. The staff is very friendly, letting you take as many tastes of the different gelato flavors that you want. Plus, they're always coming up with new creations, which the owner Jim encourages. If Jim is around, he's always willing to come out and talk to customers to answer any questions, find out if they have any suggestions, or to just ask about your family. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=338 <B>NOTE: This restaurant has closed.</B> <P> The Healthy Hedon is just that: healthy food that is hedonistic. They offer elegantly prepared food, beautifully presented on very colorful pottery, with the most unique and delicious flavor combinations. It is a bit pricey, but worth it for the occasional treat. The menu is 95% vegan (the other 5% being the fact that they "LOVE cheese") and changes seasonally. They also offer weekly specials. As of the spring of 2007 they are opening a new grab-n-go lunchbox outside, which features sandwiches, salads, soups, desserts, coffee, and assorted goodies. <P> When I am in the mood for indulgence, this is where I go. It is truely "an experience in Vegetarian decadance," especially the chocolate tea ritual. My favorite is the Sour Cherry Mint Chocolate Tea: you are brought a large cup filled with mint leaves, a pot of steaming coconut water (with small bits of coconut), a shot of sour cherry juice, cherries, a side of coconut whipped cream, and chocolate truffles. Since I prefer not to lose any of the chocolate, I pour the coconut water over the mint leaves, let them steep for a minute, then remove them and add the truffles. After they have melted, you add the cherry juice, cherries, and top it off with the whipped cream. The presentation is fabulous, the process of putting it together is fun, and the end result is divinely amazing. Plus, it is all vegan! The only other chocolate tea I have tried was the Cocunt Curry, which was also very good. The curry powder that is used is very mild; the addition of that and a side of coconut cream flavors very well with the chocolate. A note of caution: the chocolate teas are very rich and the portions are large, so I would suggest either sharing it or just do not plan on getting a dessert! I've only managed to do this once and tried a chocolate mousse dessert served over vegan doughnuts with whipped cream. It was good, but a little too rich and the alcohol infusion (it was either wine or port, I forget) was a little much for my tastes. <P> The food is very filling and very spicy, with obvious Korean and Jamaican influences. If you like really really spicy, Catch a Fyah is the way to go: Jamaican Jerk Wings are grilled and served with Mango Mint puree, a sweet Jerk sauce, and a slice of grilled pineapple. The meal is accompanied by grilled bread and a marinated salad, which is good for spice wimps such as myself. The Dusty Rose and Loretta Simone are more at my spice level. The Dusty Rose is grilled tofu infused with lemongrass and scallion, served with a Spicy Rose sauce and accompanied by a marinated salad and grilled bread. There is just a hint of rose in the sauce, which was nice as it did not overpower the other flavors. The Loretta Simone is smokey grilled B-B-Q "Pork" served skewered with toasted sesame seeds and Wasabi cream and also comes with a marinated side salad. I am personally not a fan of wasabi, but the person I was with is and thought that there was a very nice flavor balance, as it was not a very strong wasabi. I have tried a few other entrees that are not on their current menu: The Sundial, which consisted of bean thread noodles served on top of citrus greens with hot pepper grilled shitakes and "beef," marinated cukes and tomatoes, root veggies, herbs, spiced peanuts, and served with lemon grass peanut sauce, was very good although a bit messy to eat. The 3 Some was also very good and came with three different hummus selections: lemon thyme, thai peanut and smoked red pepper. It was served with root veggies, marinated cukes and tomatoes, grilled eggplant, and grilled bread. The colors of the veggies are very vibrant, from the red of the beets, the orange of the carrots, to the white of the jicima. Everything was very fresh and tasted great. The only dish that I have had from one of their prior menus that I did not like at all was the Shrimptease. The texture for me was just too similar to real shrimp, which I have had exactly one time in my life and did not like either. The grilled pineapple salsa it came with had a nice flavor, but I will likely avoid any of their cold fake meats fashioned after shrimp. <P> I have been for brunch twice and walked out very full both times. There are hot entrees, fresh fruit, and homemade vegan waffles. They also serve fresh orange juice, mimosas, and Fair-Trade Organic coffees. From their entrees, I have enjoyed a mildly spicy potato, sweet potato, mushroom, and onion dish. The mildly spicy "Chicken" had me coming back for seconds and thirds. And I was surprised by their polenta, as this is tricky to get right, but theirs was very flavorful and not at all mushy. The fruit was very fresh and at just the right ripeness. It was hard to believe that the waffles were vegan. While they were a little on the dry side because of the cinammon that was sprinkled on top, they were quite fluffy and tasted really good with the syrup. <P> The staff are friendly and helpful. I've never felt rushed, everyone always seems happy, and they seem to really enjoy working there. The atmosphere itself is also very comfortable and relaxing. The space is colorful, from the colors of the walls to the beautiful fabrics, eye-catching paper lanterns, and local artwork adorning the walls. I especially love the dyed sliced geodes that hang from the top windows. There is also a chalk board in the restroom with colored chalks for those artistically inclined. To quote a friend the space is a "rainbow of visual and taste sensation." http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=298 <B>NOTE: This restaurant has closed. </B> <P> If you are a Vegan, do you miss being able to get southern comfort foods such as Pancakes, Biscuits with gravy, Home fried potatoes, or Cinnamon rolls? Then head over to The Globe Cafe and Bakery where you can get delicious & inexpensive vegan items such as these plus much more.<p> The Globe offers a variety of outstanding breakfast items, which are served all day. The Biscuits & Gravy are one of the most popular choices. They take freshly baked homemade biscuits and smother them in a mushroom based gravy sauce. You can get the same sauce served over mashed potatoes. I find the gravy to be a bit salty, but my other dining companions always rave about it, so it could just be me. The Stir fry curry veggie with tofu is more to my liking, chock full of tofu and whatever fresh veggies they have on hand. It comes served with fresh bread and home fried potatoes or a salad, so it is a pretty substantial meal. I make sure to get the "regular" size so that I have room for dessert. Other options include a Breakfast Biscuit Sandwich, which is broiled tofu with mustard sauce on a biscuit, and Corn Bread, which is served with fruit and your choice of either maple syrup or a southern style molasses whip. <p> If you are looking for something on the sweet side for breakfast, I would suggest the Pancakes. They come with maple syrup and you get to choose three toppings, which range from fruits, pecans, poppy seed, chocolate chips, ginger, currants, coconut, dates to chopped veggies. You can also get cardamom or cinnamon at no charge. They also have French Toast, which is also really good. They take a thick piece of their homemade bread, spice it with cardamom and then topped with fruit and maple syrup. It is really yummy and I especially like the way the cardamom gives it a bit more of an exotic flavor that what you would usually expect from French Toast. <p> In addition to the breakfast menu, which is served all day, they have a daily specials board with sandwiches and other entrees. I have tried the Grilled Portabello Sandwich. It is served between slices of their homemade potato bread and comes topped with sweet peppers, lettuce, tomatoes & tahini. It is really flavorful, but make sure you are hungry if you get it because it is a pretty dense sandwich. A friend of mine really likes the Open Faced Tofu Sandwich. It is also served on homemade potato bread, comes with mashed potatoes, and both are smothered in gravy. <p> Make sure to leave room for dessert, because they have a ton of excellent choices to choose from. There are the famous huge Cinnamon Rolls, that have chunks of walnuts, which are a nice contrast to the sweetness of the icing. This is something you defininely must try, but make sure you have others to share it with, because it is huge. Other vegan pastries include fruit or veggie scones and various sweet muffins. They also have cookies and cakes. I really really like their cakes, and will usually get one to go to eat later in the day. My favorite kinds have been chocolate cake with chocolate icing, and a chocolate cake with peanut & chocolate icing.<p> The setting of the restaurant is homey and comfortable with a hodgepodge of chairs, tables and quirky lampshades. Plus, the waitstaff is very friendly and laid back, which gives it even more of a feeling of eating at a friend's house. They do have a somewhat small dining area, with mabey a dozen tables, so be prepared for a wait on the weekends. But, then again, this is the perfect excuse to get one of the yummy Cinnamon rolls while you wait. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=287 It's all about the brewed rootbeer. At least it used to be, as they don't brew their own rootbeer anymore. As brew pub places go, they do have good food, but I do go less often now that I can't get from the tap brewed rootbeer. <P> The nice thing about the Elysian, as with a lot of Seattle restaurants, is that you can get good vegetarian and vegan food, in addition to the traditional meat fare pubs tend to serve. If you like cheese, the Arbol Nachos is a very good appetizer to start off your meal. Mounds of tortilla chips are covered in red onions, black olives, diced green chilies and tomatoes with jalapeño jack cheese sauce. The Black Bean Cakes would be a better alternative if you're trying to avoid lots of cheese, although it's a bit bland for my tastes. They're made from black beans, onions, roasted garlic and shallots which are hand-pressed, pan-seared, and served over mixed baby green salad with guacamole and topped with sweet corn vinaigrette. It can't be made Vegan due to the breading. While I've not had it, another good looking option would be the Oasis Platter - Hummous and baba ganouj with feta cheese, kalamata olives, hot peppers, diced tomatoes and warm pita bread. <P> My favorite vegetarian sandwich option (it can't be made Vegan due to the breading) is the Eggplant Parmesan, which is served on a french bun with marinara sauce and mozzarella (it also comes with aioli, which is made with raw eggs, but you can ask them to hold that.) Unfortunately the last few times I've had it, it's been too dry, partially because it didn't have enough sauce but partially because it was overcooked. A friend of mine really likes the Camden Cheese "Steak," which is made with vegetarian Field Roast, and is smoothered cheese, sauteed peppers and onions on a hoagie roll. He also recently tried the Vegan Sloppy Joe, which is also made with vegetarian Field Roast. He wasn't expecting it to be so spicy, but liked it that way. Personally, I'm not a fan of vegetarian Field Roast, so I tend not to like the dishes that are served with it. The nice thing though, is that any of the vegtarian dishes that are made with the Field Roast can be adapted to be Vegan. The veggie burger however has dairy in the burger, so it can't be made Vegan. All sandwiches are served with really good tasting fries or a mixed baby greens salad with raspberry vinaigrette, avocado balsamic vinaigrette or wasabi vinaigrette dressing, if you're feeling the need to eat healthy. <P> In addition to the sandwiches, they do have some Vegetarian and Vegan entree options. I recently tried the Vegan Golden Curry, which is made with potatoes, carrots, onions and fresh tomatoes in a coconut milk curry sauce served over basmati rice. It also comes with warm grilled pita bread. The pita bread is the best part of the dish - the curry is good, but there's just not quite enough sauce for the amount of rice they serve. Also, don't expect it to be very spicy, it's actually quite bland. I have not yet tried the Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff, but from the description it sounds really good: buttered egg noodles topped with sautéed oyster, crimini and white button mushrooms in a rich cream sauce with caramelized onions, fresh baby dill and thyme. They usually also have either a Vegetarian or Vegan option on their changing Specials menu.<P> The space is very comfortable, with wood furniture, huge windows that let in a lot of light, and high ceilings. There's a lot of space, so you don't feel like you're crowded in next to other groups. There are tables, booths, and space at the bar for those that wish. You can also see through to where they brew their beer. I've had both good and extremely slow service when eating here. The friendliness of the staff is pretty consistent however. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=289 http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=292 This used to be the restaurant Good Morning Healing Earth and then it was Rainy Day Cafe. It is my understanding that it is now run by a group of vegan punks. The staff is made up of volunteers who can become collective members that get a say in how the restaurant is run. The menu has become a little less hippie granola than Good Morning Healing Earth's (although they do have that on the menu), the number of selections has decreased, but the taste of the food has improved. Plus they host live music some evenings, anything from political folk punk to gutter country to local accordian players.<P> The focus of this restaurant is affordable homestyle vegan food. Everything is 100 % vegan, free of hydrogenated oils and refined sugars, and they try to use organic products whenever possible. Breakfast is served everyday they are open all day (as one of them told me, it's none of their business when you wake up for the day.) They have a printed menu for breakfast and lunch, but at night dinner is whatever is posted on their "Daily Specials" board. <P> The night that I went I had a pesto pasta which was served on a bed of fresh spinach leaves. They did really well with the sauce (although it did need salt for my tastes), i.e. it didn't taste like a tofu sauce that was trying to taste like the real thing. The person I was with had the Migas - black beans, mexican seasoned tofu, pico de gallo, salsa, and cilantro tofu cream served over fried corn tortillas. The seasoning and spices were good, especially the tofu cream. I do have to say though, I'm not a big fan of corn tortillas - they tend to always make everything a little too dry for my taste. On another visit I tried the tofu veggie scramble which had curried scrambled tofu, onions, green peppers, mushroons, carrots, tomatoes, and broccoli with whole wheat toast. It was your good basic tofu scramble. My friend had a homemade veggie burger, which she was quite impressed by. It came with homemade cole slaw, which was tasty, and a pickle. <P> The appearance fits in with your typical casual comfortable cafe: mixed wood furniture, lots of light, and outdoor seating available. What I really loved about this place, besides the food, is how happy the people were that worked there. They seemed to honestly enjoy being there and will often banter with the other staff and customers. The atmosphere is definately laid back and stress-free. They didn't even get mad the time my friend accidently made one of the server's children cry (she was there visiting off hours.) http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=294 Sunlight was one of the first vegetarian restaurants in Seattle and has continued to serve basic, good, functional vegetarian fare over the years: lots of salads, soups, stir-fries, pasta dishes, veggie burgers and sandwiches. Think American with some of your standard international influences. <P> They have lots of vegan and wheat-free options and are very accomodating. The night we went one person in our group asked whether the veggie nutburger could be made vegan, which they could, but the server also offered to put avacado on it for him. We also had someone in our group that couldn't eat wheat or gluten and our server was very helpful in letting us know which of our options would work for her. <P> We started out with the hummus plate that came with fresh veggies and optional whole wheat pita, which came warmed up, for dipping. For those with allergies, do note that they sprinkled paprika on the hummus. After devouring that, those of us who had ordered salads shared bites around the table. They make the best dressings served over fresh salad fixings. The favorite was the basil vinegrette dressing, which wasn't too heavy on the balsamic vinegar and had just enough basil, ,but the lemon-tahini was also considered really good too because it wasn't overly tart, but not bland like tahini sometimes can be. For the main course, one of us ordered steamed veggies and tofu in a soy ginger garlic sauce, which can also be made with stir fried veggies. It tasted really great and felt like a really healthy option. I had the herb risotto with organic veggies served over spinach and really enjoyed it. Another person ordered roasted vegetarian lasagna, which was good, but not amazing. The final entree, a veggie burger, was pretty good, especially with the avacado and mustard.<P> When it came time to dessert, even though we boxed up quite of bit in their paper (not styrophone!) to-go boxes, we still ended up sharing a few things since we were already pretty full. The chocolate peanut butter pie was pretty good, but the vegan apple crisp was a bit on the heavy/dense side. We also shared bites off of a vegan peanut butter cookie, which was ok, but not very memorable. <P> In additon to the regular dinner menu, they also have a daily specials board to let you know the day's special soup, salad dressing, entree and desserts.<P> I have heard good things about their brunch on the weekends, but I have yet to make it there. It's unclear as to whether it is from 9-2 or 10-2, as I have heard both times when calling them up, but I will verify this the next time I can get up early enough on a Saturday or Sunday to go try out their brunch I will update this review. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=295 <B>NOTE: This restaurant is no longer open in this location.</B> <P> G’day mate! Are you hungry for something from Down Under? Then try Miya: The Great Australian Bite, where you can get great Vegetarian and Vegan pies. Miyi, pronounced My "y", is Aboriginal for "food." The pies are their specialty, with a handmade pastry dough that does not contain any dairy products. They offer four choices, one of which is Vegan and one which is Vegetarian. The Vegan option, the "Australian," has parsnips, potatoes, carrots, turnips, roasted garlic, spinach, barley, tomatoes, red kidney beans, mushrooms, split peas and green peas. I found it to be pretty tasty, especially with some of their sauce concoction, which is a mixture of ketchup, mustard, and some other spices. On my visit, I got a combo box, which is a really good deal. They also have family/party packs for the pies and some of the desserts. In addition to the pie, you get your choice of two side dishes in the Tucker Box. I tried the roasted garlic mashed potatoes, which I highly recommend. Do note that they are prepared with milk, so they are not Vegan. For the second side, I decided to try salad, since they have a Vegan dressing. This was also really good, with the basics of greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Their other side dish is a mixture of fresh veggies (snap peas, cauliflower, peas, corn, carrots, and sauteed onions) with a touch of sour cream. The "Mediterranean" is their Vegetarian pie, which has fewer root vegetables, and the addition of feta cheese, red and green peppers, and garbanzo beans. The other Vegetarian option is a Veggie burger, which is apparently cooked on a separate grill than the meat based sandwiches.<p> Drink choices include all the basics (juice, soda, coffee, tea) plus their signature Squatter’s Iced Tea, which is a black tea with apple cider, passion fruit, blackberry flavor, with a touch of ginger. It is really good, not too sweet and not too bitter. If you’re looking for something with no caffeine, their Squatter’s Apple Cider is the same mixture, minus the black tea.<p> Desserts include Banana nut bread pudding, spiced pineapple carrot cake, the "Anzac" Cookie which is an oatmeal cookie with fruits and coconut, and "Peter's Pav," a sweet meringue topped with passion fruit custard, cream, fruit, and chocolate.<p> The staff here is very friendly, and are very helpful pointing out what was Vegan on the menu. On my first visit I had gone during the Ballard Seafood Fest, which had apparently been an incredibly busy day for them. I went near the end of the day, at which point I would have expected them to be tired and grumpy, but they were still very cheerful and pleasant.<p> The atmosphere and decor is a little on the kitsch side, but not obnoxiously so. It is decorated with all things Australian, including the base of the ceiling fan, which is in the shape of Australia. The walls and furniture are all painted in bright cheery colors, giving the six table dining area an open inviting feeling.<p> If you're looking for an inexpensive sort of fast food lunch or dinner, skip the normal chain places and give Miyi a try. It is a change I think you will enjoy. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=299 If the name of this Restaurant seems familiar to you then you have probably purchased one of their fresh vegan sandwiches or subs that are sold in local health food and grocery stores. While those are good, having them made minutes before you eat them cannot be beat, especially if you are looking for a little Vegan spice in your life.<P> They have a variety of tofu-, tempeh- and seitan-based subs and deli sandwiches in various flavors to choose from. I have tried a pre-prepared Tofustrami TLT that was in their deli case, since I was running late for lunch one day. This one was made with thin sliced Tofustrami, lettuce, grilled onions and their own vegan mayo on grilled seven grain bread. It can also sometimes come with potato salad and tomatoes. It was good in terms of the spices on the Tofustrami, but I could tell that the sandwich had been in the case for a while because the lettuce was really wilted and the bread was a bit soggy. When she rang up my purchase, she did mention that I might want to take the lettuce off and gave me a discount without my asking. <BR> I was much more impressed on another visit with the Crazy Jamaican Burger. Be warned though, it is piled high with ingredients, and is almost impossible to get a bite with every layer. It is made with their Jamaican spice tofu, potato salad, grilled onions, grilled sweet plantains, and their own vegan mayo sauce on a whole wheat bun. I really like the way the Jamaican spices of the tofu contrast with the sweetness of the grilled plantains. And, while I was skeptical about having potato salad actually on a vegan burger, I found it to be an interesting mix with the rest of the ingredients and quite liked it. Plus, the vegan mayo sauce is quite good. If it were not for the fact that I have been trying to order different things from their menu each time for this review, I would have ordered this on every visit.<BR> I have also tried a BBQ Tofu sandwich, from their Specials menu one day. It was good, and the tofu was prepared just right, but I found the BBQ sauce to be a little bitter for my tastes. I also had a portion of their Macaroni & Yease on that visit. I really really liked it. It does not try replicating the melted cheese that you find in dairy macaroni and cheese. Instead it has it's own hearty version, which I find to be much more flavorful. They also serve this by the pound, so that you can take some home for later.<BR> In addition to the subs, sandwiches, and burgers they also serve wraps, burritos, soups, side dishes, and specials such as curried vegetables or a pasta entree.<P> The menu also includes daily vegan desserts, cookies, cakes, pies, nut bars and soft serve vegan soy cream. I have tried one of their cookies, coconut lemon bars, and a slice of chocolate cake, but was not super impressed with them compared to other places that make vegan sweets. I found the cookies and bars to be a little on the stale/tough side, and I could taste the sugar granules in the cake's frosting.<p> In addition to the normal menu, they have a Saturday brunch. I have yet to try it, but apparently they have things such as polenta and vegan French toast. The menu does change from week to week, and plates start at $5.99.<P> The decor is simple and low-key, just what you would expect from a sandwich shop. They do have a couple of tables outside, which is nice in the summer. The service, while very friendly, can be very slow at times, as there is only one person working (or at least that has been the case every time I have been). So, if there is anyone ahead of you, expect a lengthy wait. If it was not for this, I would have given them a higher ranking for their service. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=302 Malena’s is your basic neighborhood Mexican Taco Shop, which just happens to be in Queen Anne. The food isn’t fancy; the selection is based on traditional burrito, tostada, & taco choices, with sides of rice and beans. There are only a few vegetarian options. Be warned that the Tostada shells are not vegetarian, so the Veggie Tostada is out. What you’re left with is the Bean Burrito with cheese, the Veggie Burrito, and cheese Quesadila. They do use the same grill to make all of the meat options, so some may or may not consider the food to be vegetarian. You can get the Bean Burrito or the Veggie Burrito without cheese or sour cream, but I haven’t been able to find out if their flour shells are vegan or just vegetarian. <P> When I lived in Queen Anne I tended to only go to Malena’s Taco Shop if I wanted something quick & basic. The prices are relatively inexpensive, which made it easy to justify getting something to go or eating there (there’s a small amount of dining space.) I’m not sure how they’ve been affected now that Gordito’s has opened up a restaurant at the top of the hill, since I no longer live there and it’s rare for me to eat in Queen Anne anymore. I do have to say that being able to get really good horchata from Gordito’s would make me favor going there over Melena’s. http://veggiebites.com/?node_id=304 Miriani's is styled as a casual family-oriented place, but with a relaxed atmosphere and dim lights in the evenings to cater to couples out on a date. I had heard really good things about the service, but the night I went it was really only so-so.<P> Miriani's serves traditional Italian pastas, baked pastas, pizzas, and meat entrees. Unfortunately, the food is pretty authentic. And by authentic, I mean sauce that tastes like spaghetti-o's from a can. To be fair, when I was traveling in Italy a few years ago I discovered that a majority of real authentic Italian food tasted like this. Sadly I have to admit that I am much more of a fan of Americanized Italian food. I have only been to Miriani’s once and only tried a couple of the dishes. But I was so un-impressed by not only the sauces, but the food in general, that I've not been able to talk myself into going back.<P> The Gnocchi al Sugo was one of the least impressive gnocchi dishes that I've ever had. The gnocchi were tasteless lumps surrounded in the aforementioned spaghetti-o's sauce. The Eggplant Parmesana, while better, was still also very bland. There are no vegan options as all of the pastas have egg in them and I believe that there was cheese in all of the sauces.