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When Zen Palate shuttered its Union Square location in 2007, nearby Dang Lai Palace stepped in to fill the vegetarian void. It also cloned Zen Palate’s famous menu, with word-for-word replicas of favorites like “mango halo,” “shredded heaven” of wheat gluten and soy, and the soy crepes called “rose petals.” Alas, the copies fall flat, even with one of Zen Palate’s former line cooks helming the kitchen. Proteins are limp, the accompanying sauces gloppy and cloying. Dang Lai Palace’s own creations are just bizarre; “avocado salad” arrives as a corn-flecked ball of mayonnaise, and sesame kale with tofu is strangled by salt. Maybe it’s a good thing that appetizers and entrees frequently go AWOL. Decor is Zen by way of IKEA, with water cascading down a glass pane at the door and framed posters recounting Buddha’s life story. You’ll need some good chants to get through a meal here. — Michael Kaminer

Sesame medallions, $12; curry supreme, $12