Vegetarian Eateries.

Shabadu

Where have you been & what did you think?

By and large, every vegetarian restaurant I have been to has been brilliant. Friday is my night off cooking, and the feller normally brings home dinner from Govinda's, which is consistently yum.

Cornucopia and Blazing Salads are also reliably delicious.

We tried that place 'Fresh' in Powerscourt townhouse yesterday, my pitta with Basil Tofu was fantastic, but the fellers cannelini bean and sweet potato stew was woegeously bland and underseasoned. Salads were delish (sprouted chickpeas ftw), but very reminiscent of Blazing Salads stuff.

A big turn off was seeing the girl behind the counter clean the edge of a customer's overflowing plate of crumble with her thumb and then licking it before swapping the crumble into a bowl.

There's meant to be a place on the southside quays that is great, but we haven't been yet. Any other reccomendations? Somewhere that has been on the list for an age is Denis Cotter's place in Cork.

Nature Boy

Juice on George's street is very good too. I like Cornucopia and Govindas as well. Where's the Blasing salads place?

Is the Govindas on Aungier st. shut down or what's the story?

Shabadu

I don't know about the Govinda's on Aungier street, we go the the Abbey street one. Is it closed?

Blazing salads is just diagonally opposite the exit from George's St. arcade on the left if you're walking through from the George's St. side. I highly reccomend it for lunch.

I'll keep an eye out for Juice.

Samos

I've only been to (Aungier) Govinda's and Fresh, and both were satisfactory, a welcome change from my usual bland self-made meals. It's a pity there isn't more choice though: all of them seem to be clustered in the same area in Dublin. And I wouldn't mind if the dishes were cheaper and the portions larger, but maybe that's just the studenty stinginess speaking!

I don't like Govinda food ,it is too skittery for my tastes.I have only tried it 3 or 4 times though.
Cornocopia is my regular haunt when I am living in Dublin,I quite like Fresh too.I have only eaten in Juice the one time was ridculiosly expensive, and tasted too much like my own cooking but can't complain otherwise.
My all time favorite veggie restaurent was An gabhar orga in Galway but it but a memory now.
Ciaran's in limerick is nice but overpriced considering the dishes are quite sparcely presented and not much of a selection of dishes.

Tar.Aldarion

Moonbaby wrote:

My all time favorite veggie restaurent was An gabhar orga in Galway but it but a memory now.

Where is it located?


I like Juice and Cornucopia. Haven't eaten in the others.

Tar.Aldarion

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

Where is it located?


I like Juice and Cornucopia. Haven't eaten in the others.

Oh An gabhar orga closed down about 3 years ago, it was beside NUIG acrross from the AIB there, they replaced it with a nice place that does interesting things with potatoes though.

Peanut

Outside of Dublin, I've been to the 'New Delight' in Kenmare which was very good, not sure if it's still open.

As for Dublin,
..both Govindas - excellent, but food can be too heavy/filling sometimes mostly likely due to enthuasiastic use of dairy ingredients.

Blazing salads - it's great to find somewhere that has salads NOT covered in gicky mayonaise or some other such muck. Also their other cooked food is awesome, and the bread is excellent too.

Cornucopia - Occasionally brilliant, but sometimes veering on the stodge side of things. Renovations should help the insane overcrowding (a bit).

Cafe Fresh - Cool place to go and relax as it's usually easy enough to get a seat. I tend to go for their sandwiches more than anything else for some reason, although they do have a very good pasta salad sometimes and (used to do?) delicious baklava.

Juice - Not bad any time I've tried it, although price & lack of informality potentially offputting. Also serves beer/wine.

non-exclusively veggie places ----

Marks & Spencers cafes - They label which food is vegetarian, which is always useful!

Cafe Nude - Not bad for a quick bite or takeaway.

O'Briens - Their standard 'cheese' tastes like rubber. When they have
sandwiches with Dubliner cheese or something similar it's fine.

Other cafe chains - could do better with labelling ingredients.

Tar.Aldarion

Moonbaby wrote:

Oh An gabhar orga closed down about 3 years ago, it was beside NUIG acrross from the AIB there, they replaced it with a nice place that does interesting things with potatoes though.

Aw crap, that would ahve been so handy for colege. Was wondering why i didn't know it.

Samos

Peanut wrote:

..both Govindas - excellent, but food can be too heavy/filling sometimes mostly likely due to enthuasiastic use of dairy ingredients.

I find it strange that Govinda is 'the protector of cows', and yet indulges so much in dairy products, while completely forbidding eggs! I can't quite fathom the logic of that: I thought it would be the other way round!

Shabadu

It's based on a set of religous beliefs. Religion has never really been the foundation of logic.

Peanut

Samos wrote:

I find it strange that Govinda is 'the protector of cows', and yet indulges so much in dairy products, while completely forbidding eggs! I can't quite fathom the logic of that: I thought it would be the other way round!

lol
I think the no garlic/onions/mushroom thing is funnier :-p

The 'no egg' as far as I remember is due to the belief that the egg is the (potentially) nascent form of the animal and is effectively too close to a living thing to be used (even though a given egg may not be a biological embryo, symbolically it is), could be wrong here though..

Shabadu

Peanut wrote:

I think the no garlic/onions/mushroom thing is funnier

I think this is linked to the more obscure macrobiotic belief that food that grows at night collects 'bad energy' or something. The mushroom thing anyway, I'm not sure if the alium family grow at night.

Samos

In spite of Govinda's inconsistent dietary philosophy, I must admit that their food is quuite filling and satisfying. I must eat at these places more during the summer when my income becomes more 'disposable'.

shroomfox

They don't use onion/garlic/mushroom? Could have fooled me.

I'm addicted to the place. I wander in there hungover every Saturday. Spamtastic.

Washout

Samos wrote:

I find it strange that Govinda is 'the protector of cows', and yet indulges so much in dairy products, while completely forbidding eggs! I can't quite fathom the logic of that: I thought it would be the other way round!

milking a cow doesnt kill it...an egg can easily be fertile (thus taking life) as having roosters in with the chickens encourages more egg production.
thats my theory on that one.

I eat dairy products but dont eat eggs for that reason anyways.

Peanut

shroomfox wrote:

They don't use onion/garlic/mushroom? Could have fooled me.

"hing"/asafoetida is used in place of garlic/onions (it's a gum extracted from an asian marsh plant). It's a Hindu 'pure vegetarian' restriction, garlic & onions were thought to be too stimulating a food, i.e. too drug-like, so were avoided for that reason.

Although I don't quite understand this, as asafoetida has the similar strong Sulphur type aroma/compounds . It's also one of the vileist smelling spices ever, only used in tiny amounts.

Peanut

Ho-hum.. shop next to Cornucopia is now 'the bag shop', planning permission notice taken down.. well I guess they could expand out onto the footpath a bit more !

Nature Boy

Peanut wrote:

shop next to Cornucopia is now 'the bag shop'

And they probably sell leather bags too :rolleyes:

Misty Moon

Can anyone recommend a decent place to eat in Birr, Co. Offaly that is vegetarian or at least has a decent vegetarian selection?

Oobie

I was in Juice years ago and found it very bland so I never went back. However, a few people on this thread seem to like it - has it improved in the last few years??

Nature Boy

I think juice is nice.

I went to Fresh (in powerscourt) on Saturday last and thought that was very nice too. It was too pricey though - €10.25 for a vegtable curry pastry wrap with salads.

I was in Govindas on Saturday too (late afternoon) and I found the food to be lukewarm. The obviously don't keep their food heated.

angelicfruit

I was in Juice on Friday and was disappointed with the quality of the food. I had the thai curry and found it very bland, and the rice had clearly been re-heated in the microwave. I won't be going back.

I go to Cornacopia at least once a week and find it consistently excellent. Tasty food with good portions.

I have been to Fresh twice recently for breakfast (saturday) and highly recommend it. It tastes fantastic (home made baked beans!) and the portions are generous - excellent value for money.

Nature Boy

Yeah I went to Juice for brunch yesterday and got scrambled tofu, I found it bland, not half as nice as the scrambled tofu I make :-)
Most of the times I've been to Juice I've enjoyed it though.
I've been to cornacopia once and liked it, a bit cramped in there though.

shroomfox

Went to the Govinda's on Abbey Street for the first time there last week and found the food luke-warm as well - does this happen often?

Otherwise, the food was great, huge portion compared to the Aungier St. one and I think it's probably better overall, apart from the temperature.

bonzo82

I went to Juice for the second time last week, and it just confirmed my first impression,the food is blaaaaand! And expensive. And stingy. Not impressed. It's a pity cos it's a great location and the place has a nice atmos. I had awful trouble trying to explain to the waitress that I wanted a vegan smoothie...I wouldn't blame her or anything, but staff at a veggie restaurant should be aware of this kinda stuff. I just wanted a snack so I had a nori roll, which was presented really well but had no flavour. They could have at least marinated the tofu, or used the smoky stuff!

Govindas on Georges St is fabarooney. Pity about all the dairy alright, otherwise tis great.

Dublin needs a posh, formal-ish veggie restaurant. Or is there one that I don't know about?

Mentalmiss

bonzo82 wrote:

Dublin needs a posh, formal-ish veggie restaurant. Or is there one that I don't know about?

Cork has Cafe Paradiso and it is always very busy but the staff there are not very "vegan aware" either and nearly all dishes have cheese.

Tar.Aldarion

Does nobody have such picky tastes as me that they can't eat out.
Have to have a sandwich or something.

Blub2k4

Peanut wrote:

"hing"/asafoetida is used in place of garlic/onions (it's a gum extracted from an asian marsh plant). It's a Hindu 'pure vegetarian' restriction, garlic & onions were thought to be too stimulating a food, i.e. too drug-like, so were avoided for that reason.

Although I don't quite understand this, as asafoetida has the similar strong Sulphur type aroma/compounds . It's also one of the vileist smelling spices ever, only used in tiny amounts.

Not correct at all.

Hingh is used to stop wind (flatulence) because of all the veg, it has nothing to do with lack of onions.

Onions are replaced in Ayurveda with mustard seeds and cumin seeds.

Ayurveda which is hindu dietary science, says that onions stimulate the mind, so if you want to meditate they are distracting, buddhists avoid alums for the same reasons.

spurious

The 101 in Talbot street usually have a good vegetarian selection.

Peanut

Blub2k4 wrote:

Not correct at all.

Hingh is used to stop wind (flatulence) because of all the veg, it has nothing to do with lack of onions.

Onions are replaced in Ayurveda with mustard seeds and cumin seeds.

Ayurveda which is hindu dietary science, says that onions stimulate the mind, so if you want to meditate they are distracting, buddhists avoid alums for the same reasons.

Ok well I'm pretty sure it's specifically mentioned as a replacement for onions, garlic etc. in the Hare Krishna cookbooks, at least if not there, then certainly in a lot of other places.

I can't see the mustard seeds having a more similar flavour than the hing, the hing definitely has the stimulating sulphury characteristic that is not a million miles away from the alliums..

wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asafoetida
"..However, its smell becomes much milder in cooking and presents an onion-like taste. In India, it is used especially by the Brahmin caste of the Hindus and by adherents of Jainism, who are not allowed to eat onions. "

Blub2k4

Peanut wrote:

Ok well I'm pretty sure it's specifically mentioned as a replacement for onions, garlic etc. in the Hare Krishna cookbooks, at least if not there, then certainly in a lot of other places.

I can't see the mustard seeds having a more similar flavour than the hing, the hing definitely has the stimulating sulphury characteristic that is not a million miles away from the alliums..

wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asafoetida
"..However, its smell becomes much milder in cooking and presents an onion-like taste. In India, it is used especially by the Brahmin caste of the Hindus and by adherents of Jainism, who are not allowed to eat onions. "

Fair enough but not according to Katayani when she gave us the cookery courses.

Hingh is not supposed to taste of anything in the meal, it's foul and sulphurous, its purpose is not as a flavouring. If you can taste hingh in the meal you have used too much, again all information from Katayani when she does the Hare Krishna cookery class.

Mentalmiss

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

Does nobody have such picky tastes as me that they can't eat out.
Have to have a sandwich or something.

I am with you on this one.
I can force myself to go to a restaurant that is 100% veg on a special occasion but I would prefer to prepare my own food. I have worked in restaurants and know what shortcuts can be taken.
I could not under any circumstances eat in a place that also serves meat regardless of the occasion. I actually take my own food to weddings and get them to serve it to me.

Peanut

I semi-grudgingly go to Christmas parties etc. in non-veggie places
Mostly it's ok I guess, sometimes you suspect there is dodginess in certain places...

It's so hard to balance your own beliefs/tastes with society at large, when you are in the minority, some things have to give.
You do your best.

Blub2k4

There is another hot tip for Veggies looking for a quick lunchtime snack who are in the city centre.

Madinah on Moore Street has a hot counter down the back and they do a large take away tray of food for 5 euro.
They serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, things like Saag Paneer, and Aloo Saag and Dahls, plus being hindu they are religious veggies so no worries about contamination etc.
The meat dishes are good too, but that's for another forum

Blub2k4

I cant edit that last post anymore for some reason, but I was in Madinah today and would have to advise against it since I had a look at it again, the meat was too close to the vegetarian stuff. I'd say the aloo saag has contamination from chicken it was so close.
So bare that in mind if you are very strict or if meat sickens you.

Peanut

They have a new restaurant open on Mary St., looks nice at least from a quick look. Interestingly, they have two separate menu sheets for veg and non-veg, here is the veg. - (large image)
madina veg. menu

(hmm I wonder have they been reading boards )

Tar.Aldarion

Nice menu for people, I'll tell people about it, although I hate most things on the list.

Went into Cornucopia recently, saw the one person i don't want to see in the world was working there now.
At her sight, abruptly turned and left, no more eating at my favourite restaurant then!

Shabadu

LMAO @ the 'extreame hardcore home spice's' on the bhindi bhajii. EXTREME hardcore!!!!!!!!!! [/pepsi commercial]

Laughing aside, it looks good, I'll definitely go. I probably won't try the extreme spices on the bhindi bhajii though, I hate okra. Bleurgh.

beefa

Im sick of having to go to specialised restuarants for vegan food, if normal restaurants have a vegetarian options why can't they have a vegan option also? :mad:

Shabadu

Have you tried calling annd asking them before going? Every restaraunt I've worked in has catered for vegans as long as we had a little notice to prepare something. The reason we don't always have a dish ready/on the menu, is because there simply isn't a good enough market for it, and you end up with a lot of waste.

Chuchu

Its such a shame that there are not more options as someone already mentioned... there was a great place that was actually right opposite Juice on George's st called Marx Brothers, it was yum, tastier and less expensive than across the road but alas now a distant memory. Maybe its location was a factor in its closing (its now a Mexican restaurant I think). All other Dublin veggie eataries have been mentioned above... but I think there is still one in Bray (can't remember the name) and if people are not bothered by eating in regular restaurants that do veggie otions I would suggest giving the 101 on Talbot St a go, always have at least 2 veggie starter and main options that are a bit different (aka not just pasta!) and always yummy!:)

Nature Boy

The one in Bray is not veggie anymore. But it still has lots of veggie options (about half the menu). I didn't go into it yet cos it was full the time i tried!

Peanut

Peanut wrote:

Ho-hum.. shop next to Cornucopia is now 'the bag shop', planning permission notice taken down.. well I guess they could expand out onto the footpath a bit more !

Wrong again, Cornucopia have a note up on their door saying they got planning permission to expand the premises (early next year I think).

mcaul

beefa wrote:

Im sick of having to go to specialised restuarants for vegan food, if normal restaurants have a vegetarian options why can't they have a vegan option also? :mad:

I'm married to a vegan and we have never gone to a specialised vegetarian restaurnat (I like my meat) - but we never have a problem.

For everday dining / lunch - Italian or Indian - both will have plenty of vegan / vegatarian options. - The original pizza did not contain cheese!

For special dining we simply inform the restaurant a day prior when we are booking that there is one vegan diner - so simple and we have never been let down. - in fact I can very highly recommend Abbeyglen castle in Clifden who even printed a menu just for hereself.

And watch out for a new pizza chain opening in the UK (and eventually Ireland) Hell - who even have tofu on their pizzas!!! (they're from NZ)

dereko1969

cafe paradiso in cork is far and away the best vegetarian restaurant in ireland and possibly anywhere - superb cooking and a great vibe in the place too - it is a little expensive but if any of the dublin based people here are ever in cork they should go there as a treat to see what is possible in a vegetarian restaurant. nowhere in dublin even comes close unfortunately, i think there could be a real business opportunity for someone to 'copy' paradiso up here. i've only been to juice twice and was really disappointed both times. cafebardeli is really good for vegetarians and is great value too. govindas i would go to only in an emergency, i can't wait for cornucopia to expand as they've nice food. fallon & byrnes on exchequer street always have nice veggie food too and are surprisingly good value too.

rockbeer

I just have to agree with what Dereko1969 says about Cafe Paradiso. It's far and away the best veggie restaurant I've found in Ireland, and I can hardly think of a better one anywhere (outside of India at least) in over 20 years veggie dining. If you haven't already been, do yourselves a favour. It's worth a trip to Cork by itself.

I had an excellent Masala Dosa in Madina Mary St. last week, and looking forward to going back soon to work my way through the rest of the menu. The dosa (and especially the sambar) had the authentic flavours of South Indian food - not the toned down Indian-for-westerners most places serve up. For half an hour I could have been in Kerala ( hint: if you want to experience this effect, sit with your back to the window )

As for Juice - I think this place is horribly overrated. I had one of the worst veggie meals there ever, and wasn't at all impressed on my other visits, so I don't think that was just a bad day. Generally their food is bland, badly matched (i.e. conflicting rather than complementary flavours on the plate), and way overpriced.

Anyone who opened a 'proper' veggie restaurant in Dublin - along the lines of Cafe Paradiso or Cork's other excellent veggie restaurant the Quay Co-Op - would surely make a killing, even in this meat-obsessed culture. I sell my own veggie food at a farmers market, so I know first hand that there are some people out there who don't want something dead every time they sit down to eat. People are surprised that my food has strong flavours. The first challenge to getting good veggie food in Ireland is getting over this bizarre idea that veggies like bland & boring food.

Tar.Aldarion

That Cork place is surely worth a visit by me if I am ever in Cork.

Peanut

rockbeer wrote:

...The first challenge to getting good veggie food in Ireland is getting over this bizarre idea that veggies like bland & boring food.

Very true, there is still the perception that veg should only be seen as the inferior accompaniment to meat. I blame a lack of imagination on behalf of caterers, and a chronic lack of openminded-ness for trying something new in a lot of the population. Also Irish Hotel food, you know the type that are popular for Sunday lunches etc... they have a lot to answer for!!

But at least the situation seems to be getting progressively better (slowly).

rockbeer

Peanut wrote:

Very true, there is still the perception that veg should only be seen as the inferior accompaniment to meat. I blame a lack of imagination on behalf of caterers, and a chronic lack of openminded-ness for trying something new in a lot of the population.

You want the veggie option? That would be the stock-cube pasta then :rolleyes:

It's always good entertainment at the market watching people try stuff. They start out highly sceptical so I have to go through the ritual of pursuading them to try something. The look of delighted astonishment on their faces as they realize it actually tastes good is priceless.

I never sell anything unless I offer up samples. Depressingly few people will risk a slice of cashew nut and wild mushroom wellington without tasting it first.

Peanut wrote:

But at least the situation seems to be getting progressively better (slowly).

I agree, it is improving. It's good that people are willing to take more risks and want something healthier.

Tar.Aldarion

rockbeer wrote:

You want the veggie option? That would be the stock-cube pasta then :rolleyes:

This is why I can't eat in most hotels, just really expensive ones...