Great vegetarian dishes around Yonge and Eglinton
Being vegetarian has never been so easy in this multicultural city. Try Middle Eastern favourites and classic Indian cuisine without having to specify dietary preference at these veggie-friendly around Yonge and Eglinton.
Grazie Restauruant
2373 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P 2C8Try the bruschetta pizza for an appetizer and then one of their multiple pasta entrees with vegetarian options. Substituting nuts or tomatoes for meatballs in a tomato sauce never fails, while the variety of mushrooms will add satisfying texture and earthy flavour.
Sake Izakaya
257 Eglinton Ave W, Main, Toronto, ON M4R 1B1Tempura does amazing things to vegetables. A lightly-battered vegetable of your choice is deep-fried until crisp and golden. The result is a crunchy morsel of tender goodness. Order that on top of some vegetarian rolls and a bottle of sake (rice wine for those with gluten allergies). With tapas-style offerings on the menu, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the vegetarian side of Japanese cuisine.
Tabülè Middle Eastern Cuisine
2009 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 1Z8Traditional Middle Eastern cuisine is much like traditional Indian in that they both stress the importance of vegetables. Hummus, baba ghanoush and tabbouleh are three staple dips that have no meat or dairy and are almost all gluten-free (substitute quinoa for the whole wheat bulgur). And those are only three of the cold-served items on the menu. If your diet includes cheese, then Tabule must be where you take your next vegetarian repast.
Marigold India Bistro
552 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S 2M6The modern incarnation of Indian cuisine is housed here amidst stylish decor accented with black and white photography. Find your favourite vegetarian dishes on the menu or ask the chef to tweak a recipe to replace meat with eggplant and zucchini. Their catering menu is just as extensive and versatile as the dine-in version.
Banjara Indian Cuisine - Eglinton Ave.
164 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1G4Indian cuisine was a great boon to vegetarians, vegans and those suffering from Celiac disease long before alternative eating went mainstream. Plenty of vegetables and legumes are routinely used in Indian dishes, making the absence of meat a non-issue. Banjara’s menu is full of such delights, some using protein-packed lentils as the main ingredient in aromatic and spicy tomato dishes.
La Vecchia Ristorante
2405A Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4P 2E7This cozy and romantic spot is the perfect starting point for a couples’ date night. Holiday menus are offered depending on the season and the regular menu is full of tasty vegetarian dishes made from classic Italian ingredients. Try the vegetarian pizza or ask the chef to put a veggie spin on your favourite risotto or pasta recipe. The minestrone vegetable soup is the answer when a cold day turns up.
