Greetings! It's been a few months since I last wrote a blog post. Sometimes I find it easier to post recipes/general nutrition tips on social media (mostly on Instagram) rather than in blog format, but when it comes to covering personal topics, I like writing my thoughts here. On that note, this past summer, my fiance and I made it a point to deviate from our usual date-location (Whole Foods Market salad bar/hot bar) to try as many restaurants as possible.
Since a lot of my readers and most of my clients are from Long Island, I thought I would share some of my favorite vegan (and vegan-friendly) restaurants/cafes/eateries. If you're not from Long Island, consider this a simple veg-friendly guide if you ever travel here! Keep in mind, these are my opinions and I completely made up these categories for fun.
Best Summer Dining
I love The Purple Elephant (Northport, NY) for the outdoor seating overlooking Northport harbor, and for a menu that suits both vegans and non-vegans.
This Costa Rican restaurant features traditional South American food, with a fresh, plant-based approach. My favorite dishes here are the burnt ends enchiladas and the rainforest burger + yucca fries. I also love their kombucha on tap! Make sure you make a reservation here as it gets busy and it's kinda on the smaller side.
Best Quick/Grab-and-Go Food
Sometimes (---actually, oftentimes) I want food and I don't want to wait. Organic Krush (Woodbury, NY) fulfills my needs for quick, healthy food, plus it's right next to a great yoga studio (and the menu caters to those seeking light, balanced food). I love their overnight oats, smoothies, and wraps. They cater to both vegans and non-vegans. This location is pretty small (no reservations- it's casual dining) and it's great for "grab and go" type of meals.
Best Healthy Food
When I think of dining out, I don't necessarily think of healthy food. A lot of restaurants claim to be healthy, but the actual food comes out greasy and causes that heavy, bloated feeling afterwards. I love Bee Organic (two locations- Huntington & Great Neck) because the food tastes super fresh and everything is 100% organic. I recommend the fresh juices, smoothies, and open-faced sandwiches (vegan + non-vegan options). I also love their buddha bowl (add tempeh or tofu!) which is filling but won't weigh you down with regret or indigestion.
Best Date Night Location
I've heard great things about Tula Kitchen (Bayshore, NY) and I wasn't disappointed when I went there for the first time this summer. I really love the ambiance here and the menu has so many delicious creations. This is a restaurant that caters to both vegans and non-vegans seeking a real-food approach to dining. I love their vegan tofu crab cakes, falafel, and their "summer lovin" dish which is basically just a bunch of vegetables roasted to perfection over forbidden rice topped with the most amazing miso dressing. Sometimes simple is best and Tula Kitchen definitely proves this! I don't have any photos of food from this location--but I'm using this as an excuse to go back soon!
Best Desserts
If you're a vegan on Long Island, there's a good chance you've been to the Witches Brew (West Hempstead, NY). This was my #1 hangout during college when the menu was limited to coffee/tea beverages, desserts, and some snacks, but in the past few years, they've upgraded their menu to offer tons of vegan dishes and now their dessert options are extensive. I love trying a new dessert each time I come. I highly recommend the vegan rainbow cookie cake, vegan strawberry cheesecake, and the vegan brownie with a side of vanilla soy ice cream.
I can probably think of a few other restaurants that I've enjoyed, but I really wanted to focus on places that have a vegan focus, and I honestly haven't tried all of the vegan places on Long Island, so perhaps I'll be adding to this list in the future. In the meantime, I would love for others to share their favorite veg-friendly locations (in NY, or elsewhere) so feel free to comment here or on Instagram @vitaminvalentine
-Jess
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