Top Five

Brooklyn Vegetarian Restaurants

These days, Brooklyn is the borough of choice for artists and other progressive types—hence the minor boom in good veggie food in the county of Kings.

By Joel Gershon
Published May 5, 2003

Spinach Pie with Spicy Ginger Sauce, Tree Fish and Salad Combo Platter from Green Paradise.

(Photo: Courtesy of Live-Food.com)

1. Bliss

Solid organic vegan fare in a cozy café atmosphere has made this a Williamsburg staple. A recent special: fettuccini with vegan “butter” sauce and blackened tofu. (191 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg; 718-599-2547.)

2. Green Paradise

Raw food and only raw food (nothing’s heated above 108 degrees) is served in this small shop with a bamboo motif. For brunch, there are banana pancakes and crêpes; for dinner, falafel and “pasta” made from zucchini. Don’t miss the mango-coconut-cream pie. (609 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights; 718-230-5177.)

3. Imhotep

Named for an ancient Egyptian priest said to be the “father of medicine,” it’s the oldest veggie restaurant in Brooklyn. Fresh coconut water is available, everything’s organic, and there’s a thriving takeout business. (734 Nostrand Avenue, Crown Heights; 718-493-2395.)

4. Veggie Castle

Housed in a former White Castle, with décor intact. The buffet bar has collard greens, sweet-potato pudding, and too many kinds of tofu to count. Wide variety of juices, baked goods, and patties, too. (2242 Church Avenue, Flatbush; 718-703-1275.)

5. The Greens

A classic Asian mock-meat restaurant. The “Yin Yang,” a veggie version of beef with broccoli, bears an uncanny resemblance to the real thing. If you live in the neighborhood, the takeout can be addictive. (128 Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights; 718-246-1288.)