The beginning of a new year is filled with hungry New Yorkers looking to indulge in their healthy resolutions. Thankfully, unlike resolutions, plant-based restaurants are here to stay.
Divya’s Kitchen (seen in the photos at the top of this post) is where you will find your community of fellow vegan and Ayuvedic cuisine aficionados. Chef Divya Alter can be frequently seen talking to guests and making sure everything is just right. The almost spiritual atmosphere at Divya’s Kitchen is a reflection of Divya herself. She is a delightful host and possesses a wealth of knowledge on all things vegan. At the center of it all is the belief that food can heal. Eat brunch, lunch or dinner here and chose from dishes like: “Sunflower Beet Humus”, “Vegetable Pancakes” or a “Curry Bowl”. Make sure to try like their “Poppy Seed Biscuit”.
Divya’s Kitchen 25 1st Avenue (betw 1st/2nd St)
Copper Branch is a vegan franchise from Canada. Their Director of Marketing, Andrew Infantino, tells us that New York City has a booming veg-appreciation and hopes to open more branches in our influential city. What makes Copper Branch different from other take-out or eat-in places in New York is their all-day breakfast menu, options like burgers, desserts, and all-natural hot and cold beverages. The substantial portions will wow you and the variety of tasty dishes will make you want to eat this way every single day.
Copper Branch 195 Bleecker St (betw 6th Ave /Macdougal St)
Ladybird is a fashionable restaurant and bar in the East Village, serving creative tapas, fondue to share, vegan cocktails and a trendy atmosphere. If you are looking for a truly fun experience to explore a vegan cuisine or want to impress a date, Ladybird is the place to go. This venue explores the idea that vegan food does not have to be bland or boring. In fact, Ladybird’s dishes are so good, it might make you a convert. Besides getting to taste ingenious dishes, this is the kind of spot you will want to showcase on your Instagram feed
Ladybird 111 E 7th St (betw A and 1st Avenue)
Ravi DeRossi is the owner of Ladybird and one of his latest openings, Night Music happens to be right next door. The two entrances mirror each other in style but Night Music focuses on a vegan menu inspired by an Indian cuisine. In some cultures, “vegan” food did not have a label – it simply was and still is a national way of eating. It is no wonder then, that a vegan restaurant would want to borrow from the vast wisdom of those cultures. Night Music is a place where Indian home cooking is recognized in a hip atmosphere, with natural wines and funky tropical cocktails to boot.
Night Music 111 7th St (betw A and 1st Avenue)
Superiority Burger guests can be seen spilling over onto Ninth Street. This burger spot might lack the space to fit them all, but it never lacks the enthusiastic customers. Their simple but always exciting fast-food menu is more than just burgers. The options include vegetarian and vegan options, special of the day, wraps, gelato and sorbet. You do not have to be a vegan to love this place. The menu has a reputation for changing on a regular basis. In fact, Superiority Burger proves that meat-free food can be exciting, and taste as delectable and unhealthy as your favorite non-vegan fast-food.
Superiority Burger 430 E 9th St (betw A and 1st Avenue)
Van Leeuwen serves vegan and artisan ice cream in various locations of the city, but their story begins with just a truck. All the ice cream is made from scratch in Brooklyn from a handful of fresh ingredients. The vegan options are made with cashew milk and other all organic ingredients. If you have a sweet-tooth for ice cream after dinner and need a time-out with a cone, stop by the East Village location and park yourself on a bench. They are open late. We love to people watch with a cone in hand.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream 48 1/2 E 7th St (betw 1st and 2nd Avenue)
LEARN MORE ABOUT BEING VEGAN
The International Vegan Film Festival seeks to educate and spotlight on animal welfare, veganism and climate change showing the “Best of the Best” films from 2019. If you are interested in a film submission for the third annual Festival, the entry deadline is June 30, 2020. The Festival’s mission is to: “Be the leading film festival for vegan films that inspire people to choose a healthier, more environmentally-friendly and compassion lifestyle through the consumption of plants and animal-free alternatives”.
