Veggie Vibes in the Village of Ridgewood

Downtown Ridgewood is filled with restaurants for anything between food on-the-go to Saturday brunch to some of the most delicious sushi rolls. But, as a vegetarian, I always find myself wondering “will this restaurant have anything I like that doesn’t have meat in it?”. If you’re like me and want to know where you can go for some delicious vegetarian-friendly food, stay tuned and read on!

B R E A K F A S T

If you’re ever craving bagels on a weekend morning, Ridgewood Hot Bagels is the place to be! 9am on a Saturday is a busy time but their service is quick and they serve quality bagels with a wide selection of cream cheese. My personal favorite, which I don’t find everywhere, is the olive cream cheese. If you love olives, you’ll definitely want to give this one a try!

Attention bloggers and instagramming foodies, this one’s for you. If you love searching for the little restaurants that might not look so fancy on the outside but serve quality food and have huge portions, you’ll definitely want to check out Country Pancake House. First of all, the menu has endless options. From pancakes, to waffles, to omelettes and everything in between. I’m a big fan of the Greek Omelette which is topped with some feta cheese—yum! Each omelette comes with a side of pancakes, home fries, and toast — perfect if you have a big appetite!

Okay, so I know this isn’t really a heavy breakfast kind of place, but if you’re in Ridgewood, you have to check out the Ridgewood Coffee Company for their amazing brews and assortment of lattes. So before you head on that stroll around the town, grab a cup to go and you won’t regret it.

L U N C H

Oh where, oh where, can the vegetarian sushi be? —Apparently at Sushi X in Ridgewood!

There’s only so many cucumber rolls a vegetarian can handle. But, Sushi X actually has a variety of vegetarian sushi! Some of my favorites are the Mango Avocado Roll — honestly, whoever came up with this combination, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Then there’s also their Peanut Avocado Roll which has a nice crunch to it. Lastly, their Sweet Potato Roll is A M A Z I N G! Trust me, if you’re craving sushi, this is where you want to go.

As a vegetarian, if there’s one thing I know for certain, when it doubt go for Thai food. It really never disappoints and they’re always serving vegetarian alternatives. Ridge Thai has some savory dishes that’ll please any veggie lover’s appetite. Try out their Gang Pak, filled with coconut red curry goodness or their Tao-Hoo-Pad-Gra-Pow enriched in Thai spices and basil.

If you’re walking around the Wood wondering if it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, the answer is always yes. The Office Tavern Grill serves all kinds of American food and the best part is that there’s delicious drinks to pair your plate with! You can never go wrong with some Margherita flatbread or try out their Tavern Style Formaggio if you’re craving some mozzarella and truffle cream (honestly, who isn’t?). Pair your meal with The Ultimate Blood Mary and you’ll be good to go!

D I N N E R

If you’re living in the northeast, I think you’re also wondering, “so when is this weather going to get warmer?”. Well, I can’t answer that. But what better way to escape the twists and turns of mother nature than to indulge in some good Mexican food at Leon, where the decor and vibes make you feel like you’re dining in Riviera Maya. First of all, guacamole. Do I really need to say more? Secondly, sangria. Grab a pitcher and refill your glass. If you have the yelp app, definitely check-in and get a free Leon Mini Nacho dish — the sauce they use is smoky and delicious — in love! Now, onto the entrees — the Cancun Salad will have you feeling like you’re somewhere tropical. It’s a medley of avocados, veggies, and pineapples bringing you a variety of flavors with a juicy kick. They’ve also got amazing veggie/cheese enchiladas, because who doesn’t love cheese.

Since we’re pretending we’re not in the cold northeast, might as well continue and pretend we’re somewhere off in Tuscany. La Lanterna Cafe and Grill serves some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had. And let’s face it, if you’re a vegetarian, pasta is often your go-to dish so at this point I consider myself an expert in distinguishing amazing pasta from mediocre pasta. Also, shout out to gluten-free people because this place serves gluten free pasta! Oh, and did I mention, Wine Seller is right across the street from this place and it’s BYOB? Yeah, that’s right, you can thank me later. So to start off, try out their La Lanterna Salad with hints of goat cheese and a Raspberry Vinaigrette drizzle. Okay, now let’s talk pasta! You can try out their Penne Alla Vodka, you can never really go wrong with penne. Or try their Homemade Lasagna, sans the sausage. Luckily, with most pastas or lasagnas you can always ask the meat to be removed so Italian is always a great go-to.

Alright, last stop — India! Kailash Indian Cuisine serves some of my favorite Indochinese fusion dishes. To start, try out their Cauliflower Manchurian for some fried, sweet and spicy deliciousness! Another one of their great starters is the Paneer 65 which is seasoned with a ton of spices and will satisfy your Indian spice cravings. For your entree, try out their Paneer Butter Masala with Garlic Naan. If you love anything garlic, that dish is the way to go. If you’re feeling like you want to indulge a little extra because you deserve it, try their Bombay Naan which is stuffed with mozzarella, cheddar, and is mixed with peppers, cilantro, and onions. Seriously, who thinks of this stuff?! Genius and delish!

So I hope I’ve convinced you all to make a trip to Ridgewood if you’re hungry or just looking to try out some new dishes. My fellow vegetarians, search no longer for places that have good vegetarian food —Ridgewood is where it’s at.