A Review of New York City Vegetarian Restaurants

New York City always seems to be ahead of the game. Vegetarian restaurants which began popping up in the past twenty years in New York City are growing in numbers - like mushrooms! Here are three of my favorite New York City vegetarian restaurants to tempt your tastebuds.

Blossom Vegetarian Restaurant in New York City has three incarnations. Blossom Restaurant is located at 187 9^th Ave. between 21^st and 22^nd Streets. It is open for dinner seven days a week at 5:00 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, this vegetarian restaurant is open for lunch from noon to 2:45 p.m.

Blossom Uptown is located at 466 Columbus Avenue between 82^nd and 83^rd Streets. It is open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Cafe Blossom East is on 1^st Ave. between 79^th and 80^th Streets. The hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, Blossom Uptown is open from 11 a.m. to 10:15 pm. Sundays, Blossom Uptown is open from 11 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Blossom is a great place to find affordable and varied vegan and vegetarian fare. I like the Crostini Tapas for $7.0o. This dish is roasted crostini breads with hummus, spinach walnut pesto and tomato basil bruschetta mix dressed with basil oil and kalamata olives.

Maoz Vegetarian has several restaurant locations in New York City: 38 Union Square East, 59 East 8^th Street, 2047 Broadway and Times Square. The idea behind the restaurant is a quick serve vegetarian chain. Here, you can get pita bread sandwiches, falafels and a salad bar. It's affordable as well - a brilliant healthy option for lunch on the go. Also keep on the lookout for a new Maoz Vegetarian Restaurant which will open soon at 2857 Broadway between 110^th and 111^th Streets in New York City.

Teany is located at 90 Rivington Street in New York City.Singer Moby is a partner in this vegetarian and vegan enterprise which focuses on healthy food and a range of international teas. The website says that Teany is currently closed due to a small fire but will re-open soon.

Bonobo's Vegetarian Restaurant is a raw vegetarian foods restaurant located at 18 E. 23^rd Street at Madison Ave. overlooking Madison Square Park in New York City. I like the imaginative approach to vegetarian cooking - you will quickly develop some favourites such as the gazpacho soup or the nut crusted fruit pies.