Eating low on the food chain is better for your health and the planet’s. We invited readers tell us about their favourite veggie restaurants and we post them on our website here:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/What_is_it/Food/Veg_restaurants.asp
but we didn’t have room for more info - until now! Readers, write in with your veggie faves, whether they provide organic selections, support local growers, etc.
Here are a few from Louis Desgrosseilliers of Waterloo Ontario:
"The chain first started off as Juice for Life , but then expanded its menu to become what is now the Fresh restaurant chain in Toronto. Their locations are at Spadina, Bloor, and Crawford in the Toronto core. They welcome reusable bags and takeout containers. Their menu is mostly vegan.
Check out www.juiceforlife.com .
In Waterloo there is also Lotus Tea House (on Regina St N) and Chill and Grill (which serves really great veggie burgers and soy chicken burgers/wraps as alternatives to their regular menu items, in the University Plaza at University Ave W and Philip St).
Vegetarian Fast Food is also in the University Plaza (in fact next door to Chill and Grill) and have tons of vegan hot dishes and really great lunch specials. They are also friendly to those who bring in tupperware for takeout rather than resorting to the usual, wasteful styrofoam dishes."
Tags: Food, local, organic, vegan, vegetarian
Six-year-old Lowell Smith of Campbellford, Ontario writes:
“I like to help the environment. My daddy has a restaurant and his food grows local. Using local food is important because it travels less than 100 miles (160 km) to get to your plate. We live in a farming community and buying local helps our neighbours. You can see more information about my daddy’s restaurant at http://www.100milediner.ca.
My favourite job is saving the rainforest.
I have a question, How did global warming start and when did it start?”
Lowell’s Dad’s restaurant is not vegetarian, but has many veggie selections on the menu.
We also directed Lowell to our past newsletter issue on Global Warming: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/newsletters/march2008_carbon/. The video there offers a simplified explanation of the subject.
Parisa Rostamabadi from Vancouver, BC writes:
“The Naam (www.thenaam.com) Restaurant in Vancouver is a super cool, hippie place with yummy vegetarian, vegan and organic options and it’s open 24 hours!”
Barb Walton from Caledonia, ON writes:
I spend a lot of time in Toronto, both downtown and in the Kensington Market area. My friend Steve Balla and I love seeking out great stores and restaurants that serve or sell local, organic, and fair trade items.
Two favorite stores we love are Goodness Me in Hamilton, Ontario and Horn of Plenty in Dundas, Ontario.
It’s so exciting when we find a new place that has lots to offer, and often we spend hours looking at everything!
Barb Walton from Caledonia, ON adds her two favorite restaurants in Toronto:
Camros at 25 Hayden St. near Yonge St. Vegetarian, organic and they use only bio-degradable take out containers.
Rawlicious at 3092 Dundas St. West in the Junction area of Toronto. Organic, vegan and raw.
Mitchell LeBlanc from Toronto, ON writes about a restaurant which serves organic smoothies and sandwiches in the heart of Toronto:
“The smoothies are, in my opinion and in that of some local newspapers, the best in the city!”
Papaya Island
513 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
416-960-0821
Hope you enjoy it!
For veggie eats in Montreal, Quebec, Grace Seybold suggests:
Lola Rosa Cafe. They have two locations: one downtown near McGill University and one by Vendome Metro station in NDG. They’re kind of pricey and the one near Vendome is only open at lunchtime, but it’s still good.
A. Rawlings recommends:
The Arcadia Coffeehouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario at 823 Queen Street East. Wednesday through Friday, Earthward Eatery serves a vegetarian lunch in the coffeehouse that is affordable and exquisite! The website is http://arcadiahouse.wordpress.com/coffeehouse/
K & J recommend: Brewsters in Regina. It has a few vegetarian items. http://www.brewsters.ca/
Kim from Vancouver writes:
Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company at 1876—1st Ave. is a fabulous restaurant. They have many no meat options. I know the owners and they are very concerned about reducing their environmental impact and giving back to the environment.
http://www.rockymountainflatbread.ca
It’s also a good choice for families. They’re very family-friendly, with a children’s menu and a play area for the little ones. It’s the only place we take our kids (age 2 and 4) to eat right now. I know the food they’re eating is good organic food, and they love it.
Lori Waltenbury from Montreal, Quebec recommends:
Au Vivre on St-Laurent near Mont Royal in Montreal. It’s PHENOMENAL! They have the most amazing BLT sandwiches!
There’s also Chu Chai on St-Denis and Yuans at St-Denis and Sherbrooke. Very yummy and vegan!
http://www.chuchai.com/chu_en.html
Two veggie restaurants in Kitchener, Ontario:
The Duke Street Muse
http://www.dukestreetmuse.com
6 Duke Street East, Kitchener, Ontario
East African Cafe
Just around the corner from the bus terminal.
50 Ontario Street South, Kitchener, Ontario
Nina recommends two veggie restaurants in Hamilton, ON:
The Himalya Restaurant
Affinity Vegetarian Restaurant
Emily from Ottawa, ON writes:
I’m pretty sure if you’ve been to Ottawa you’d have heard of these restaurants but if not they’re pretty fantastic. Not only do they provide vegetarian and vegan meals, they are also served by weight, so you can have as little or as much as you’d like and you only pay for what you serve yourself. The restaurants are:
The Green Door, located on Main Street by Saint Paul’s University
The Table, located on Wellington Street West near Holland
The atmosphere is very friendly in both locations, with local art on display. I’m not a vegetarian myself, but I always find a selection of interesting meal options that are tasty and healthy.
Diedra Renee Bayne of Winnipeg sent in this suggestion:
Delicious Vegetarian Restaurant - 204-477-1530
1467 Pembina Highway , Winnipeg , MB R3T2C5
(100% vegan Chinese food, very good!)
Parisa Rostamabadi of Vancouver loves The Naam Restaurant (www.thenaam.com) - “…a super cool, hippie place with yummy vegetarian, vegan and organic options and it’s open 24 hours!”