Bon Appetit article

An article in the February issue of Bon Appetit formulates a list for the top 10 modern vegetarian restaurants. I'm not sure what the difference is between a modern vegetarian restaurant and other types of vegetarian restaurants (antiquated vegetarian? old fashioned vegetarian? classic vegetarian?), but nonetheless, the article nominates some winners. In Columbus, Dragonfly is the undisputed champion. Chicago's Green Zebra, named after the artisanal tomato, is also a great experience. If the other eight are half as good as those two, this list is a perfect 10.

Lavash Cafe

I was beaten to the punch by every print publication from Columbus in reviewing Lavash Café. Alive beat me. The Dispatch beat me. ThisWeek beat me. Even other Web sites like MetroMix beat me. I admit defeat. I'll still eat vegetarian amidst the ashes.

Lavash Café is the new Mediterranean venture from the old proprietor of Firdous. It is located in the same plaza as Hungry Howies in Clintonville. As with most other restaurants of this type, there are tons of options for vegetarians on the menu.

You place your order at the counter at Lavash, and they call your name when your order is ready. The name of the establishment comes from the fluffy Turkish bread in which many of the sandwiches can be rolled. The decor is colorful and modern.

Vegetarian starters include hummus (in both chickpea and black bean varieties), baba ghanoush, grape leaves, falafel, various fatayer preparations, lentil soup and assorted salads. The baba (pictured above) was rich, smoky and delicious.

The falafel sandwich was quite good. The falafel was nicely spiced. I ordered it wrapped in lavash bread, although it could also be stuffed in pita bread.

There are also a number of vegetarian entrees, including mojadara, which is rice and lentils cooked with special herbs and spices topped with carmelized onions. Prices on all items come in south of $10. There is no alcohol on the menu, but there are plenty of coffees, teas, smoothies and Pepsi products to quench your thirst.

The neighbors will have to decide for themselves whether Lavash is better or worse than Aladdin's. I like both well enough that my stomach wins the battle.

Lavash Cafe

Barcelona half-price tapas

I've talked before about how great Barcelona is. The only thing that makes Barcelona better is half-priced tapas on Monday nights. This, coupled with the bar's happy hour cocktail specials at the beginning of the night, makes for a four star dining experience at a two star price. Vegetarian tapas include hummus, spiced olives, sweet and purple potato chips with blue cheese dip, gazpacho, peach soup and a cheese platter. Entrees are not discounted.

Thurman Cafe

Thurman Café in German Village didn't need a visit from a television show devoted to eating gargantuan amounts of food for sport to generate a buzz. Thurman has done well enough coasting on its reputation as Cbus' go-to burger joint for the past six decades to eliminate the need for free publicity (although the effect on business was probably much appreciated).

Vegetarians get an extra boost; Thurman Café makes sure to offer a grilled vegetarian sub for those who don't partake in flesh food, and it is every bit the caloric thrill of its carnivorous cousins on the menu. This is not a vegetarian sandwich for the vegan health nut. Rather, it is a cheesy blend of lettuce, tomato, onion, mushroom, black olives and banana peppers slathered in Italian dressing and mayo on a hearty sandwich roll, and it is not for the timid. Like most items at Thurman, it makes a complete mess while you eat it, making your meal as athletic as it is savory. The experience of wearing your dinner is sometimes referred to as being Thurmanized

There are a number of vegetarian starters, including the hand cut fries, cheese sticks and fried pickles. There are also vegetarian pizzas.

I tried the fried pickles. They were battered spears that were more or less like carb-laden Vlassic pickles. I usually enjoy fried pickles, but I found Thurman's version to be fairly banal.

The beer selection is fairly standard issue, although a trip to the bar is almost compulsory when you are waiting for a table. I had the Leinie seasonal. The place is small, but they typically burn through business at a rapid fire pace. Drinks somehow make the wait seem minutes shorter.

Thurman Café is fairly easy to locate since it is on the street in the name of the restaurant. People somehow always seem to find Thurman after a bout of heavy drinking. Maybe there's a connection there somewhere. Maybe not. But there definitely is a vegetarian sub.

Thurman Cafe

Plank's Bier Garten

I have written in the past about the other two Plank's pizza establishments. Whether they are in Columbus or Grove City, or if they are owned by one side of the family or another, I ate there and liked the pizza. So I decided to give Plank's #3 (or #2 or #1, depending on whom you ask) a try.

Plank's Bier Garten is located on High Street in the German Village area. They seem to have a larger menu than the other two Planks. Pizza is the only vegetarian item on the menu outside the appetizers.

The pizza is thin crust with a crisp snap, similar to the other establishments. I found the beer garden's toppings to be a pinch more spotty than the other Plank establishments both in quantity and quality.

If you like Donato's pizza, you'll probably love Plank's. I personally prefer the Parsons version to the other two, but none of them make terrible pizza.

Plank's Bier Garten

Barley's Redux

I have written about Barley's in previous posts. But the white truffle mac and cheese with smoked gouda, white cheddar, tomato, basil and bread crumbs was great. The Christmas Ale was mahogany colored with a rich, caramel malt character, delicate spice flavors and a delicate mouthfeel. It was delicious even two days after the holiday.

The Web site lists a number of food and drink specials during the week. I can also attest that the pierogi and beer washed onion strings are also very good (and vegetarian-approved). There are a few other vegetarian options on the menu that I haven't tried. If you wash it down with enough beer, I'm sure it should be great.

Barleys

German Village Coffee Shop

I made a valiant attempt to defeat the enormous line at the Thurman Cafe. Everybody else was probably there for the enormous burger, and I was the only guy there for vegetarian food. However, the wait was just too much (thanks television), so instead I slipped next door to the German Village Coffee House.

GVCH keeps breakfast joint hours--they are not open for dinner. Half of the menu or more consists of breakfast items. I'm not a big eater of breakfast cuisine. The Coffee House does have a veggie omelette. I hate eggs, so I'll leave that to a braver soul than myself.

German Village Coffee House makes grilled cheese with a choice of sides (I ordered onion rings, although fries are also available). The double-decker grilled cheese is delightful. Three griddled bread slices are covered with melted American cheese in a towering sandwich that fills the stomach for less than $7 with onion rings and a fountain drink. Coffee and juice are also available.

There aren't a tremendous amount of vegetarian choices at German Village Coffee, but the grilled cheese is definitely a winner. Considering the price and the fact that I ate in less than 20 minutes, I'll definitely go back.

German Village Coffee

Columbus Brewing Company

Despite the terribly grainy appearance of my pictures which makes it look like I had dinner near the edge of a black hole, I actually ate at Columbus Brewing Company last night. I hadn't gotten a chance to sample the menu since the place was sold by Cameron Mitchell. It can now be crossed off my list of things to do.

Columbus Brewing Company's brew pub is the flagship of the regional brewer, and the Columbus Pale Ale and 90 Shilling Ale can be found throughout the area. Although newer operations like Barley's and Elevator have stolen some of the thunder from CBC, they still offer solidly made brews. I am particularly fond of the 90 Shilling Ale, a copper colored Scotch Ale, and the 1859 Porter, an opaque, choclatey brew filled with as much smoke as character. Beer is also sold in flights that allow you to sample all of the brews without falling into a coma. Beer can also be taken home in a growler (or three) if you'd like to sample CBC's wares off-premises.

There are a couple of vegetarian appetizers. The spinach and artichoke dip is served with an herbed flatbread. It is tasty and filling. I wanted to love the barbequed plantains because I have a natural affinity to the tropical fruit, but the mushy consistency and the overly sweet sauce left me slightly underwhelmed.

The seasonal vegetable plate is an entree bathed in a balsamic reduction with a side of risotto alongside a wide variety of grilled veggies. It appears to be almost the same as it was on Mitchell's menu.

The margherita pizza was very well made. Fresh tomatoes, basil and olive oil marry perfectly atop the soft crust and bubbling cheese. The poorly lit image is above.

The new menu seems slightly scaled back from the Cameron Mitchell era. Luckily for the new owners, CBC still has the same convenient location with tons of parking.

Columbus Brewing Company doesn't offer a ton of vegetarian items. However, since the menu is more focused, they made certain to feature a few different choices for the vegetarian diner.

I am a slacker

Sorry for being a slacker. I've been doing thesis work and newspaper work and moving and a numerous other activities too tedious to mention, so I didn't have time to eat and take pictures of veggie food. I swear I'll be back soon to complain about the dearth of vegetarian options on the menu or to praise the multitude of meatless eats in an unnamed restaurant in the near future, I promise.

Hunan Lion

Hunan Lion is always included as part of the upper echelon of restaurants around Columbus (see: Dispatch). The combination of tasteful decor with tasty Chinese and Thai dishes garners a lot of praise for this establishment. All the acclaim is deserved based upon my experience.

The restaurant is stylishly appointed. The service is courteous. Hunan Lion offers both dine-in and take-out options. The restaurant belies its strip mall exterior with detailed wood accents, dark colors, white table cloth and Asian light fixtures alongside a photogenic fish tank.

The server informed me that all menu items that did not list meat as an ingredient in the description were in fact vegetarian. There are many vegetarian appetizers in addition to the Thai and Chinese main courses on the menu.

The sesame noodles were delicious. Hunan Lion prepares the peanut dish hot with thick noodles, cucumbers and scallions. It is rich, mildly seasoned and deeply satisfying.

My main course was the Siam tofu. It was pan fried cubes of tofu in a brown Thai chili sauce with asparagus, red peppers, green beans, onions and baby corn. The tofu was crispy and not at all greasy. The sauce is a flavorful of green herbs, hot peppers and savory balance. The vegetables were a great blend. They demonstrated a focus on flavor more than a blind adherence to tradition a la the neighborhood take-out establishment.

Hunan Lion is more expensive than the typical neighborhood Chinese joint based upon the level of service, the decor and the quality of food. It is worth the price of admission.

Hunan Lion