In 2020, 57 percent of all U.S. households purchased plant based foods – that adds up to about 71 million households (Plant Based Foods Association). Clearly, plant-based eating is growing to become more and more common. Why?
Eating plant-based can help those at risk of diabetes, reduce inflammation, the risk of heart disease, cognitive impairment, and cancer while also lowering cholesterol, improving gut and much more (Thistle). Not to mention its capacity to reduce one’s carbon footprint. Eating a plant based diet is one of the best ways that we as humans can look after our health and our environment, so it is no surprise that with more research, people of all kinds are turning their diets into plant-based ones.
However, cooking with a plant-based diet in mind can sometimes be hard to navigate, even more so more particularly if you are no culinary expert. Luckily, anyone in NYC looking to eat high quality vegan food should look no further, as plant-based dining is becomingbecomes increasingly popular in the city. While there are many restaurants to choose from, here are the Nol Team’s favorites!
Image courtesy of Jajaja Mexicana
01. Jajaja Mexicana
Since Jajaja Mexicana’s first opening on 2017 Cinco de Mayo, this plant-based eatery has opened four locations in NYC: the Lower East Side, the West Village, Williamsburg, and Hudson Yards. Describing themselves as ‘a patchwork of culture, community, and comida threading plant-based eaters to the Mexican palate’, their dedication to more sustainable ways of eating combined with their rich cultural ties have the Nol Team obsessed. Not to mention their extensive menu – from over 30 types of tequila to choose from, to banana blossom birria, to coconut queso quesadillas – it’s hard to resist such a vast selection, and at such affordable prices. Comer hasta!
“vibration foods, embracing balance with beauty, wellness, wisdom & love to nurture our personal and planetary ecosystems”
- Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Photo courtesy of Jean-Georges Restaurants
02. abcV
World renowned French Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten takes on plant-based restauranteering with abcV where he offers ‘vibration foods, embracing balance with beauty, wellness, wisdom & love to nurture our personal and planetary ecosystems’. The restaurant’s menu is organized not by starters and main dishes, but by what the dishes may provide to the eater. In the ‘light & fresh’ section, you might find spicy cabbage and mandarin slaw with lime honey, crispy shallot, pepitas avocado, and thai basil. Alternatively, you might be drawn to the ‘warm & nourishing’ section to provide you with a hearty walnut bolognese with carrot paccheri, celery, and mint (check out their dinner menu here). Eating to honor what your body needs in addition to consuming sustainably is incredibly vital. Considering that a world-famous chef sits at the helm of this plant-based ship, the cost from dish to dish is pretty reasonable, although slightly on the pricey side. With its emphasis on consumers’ experience and overall satisfaction, abcV can be properly deemed by the Nol Team as a favorite and a must-visit.
03. Eleven Madison Park
Photos courtesy of Gary He/Bloomberg
“the food at Eleven Madison Park today is the best it has ever been.” -Chef Daniel Humm
Nearly a year ago, Eleven Madison Park went plant-based. A move which its famed chef Daniel Humm describes as ‘the most exciting time of my entire career as a chef’. In fact, since their switch to plant-based cooking, Chef Humm claims that ‘the food at Eleven Madison Park today is the best it has ever been.’ Exclusive as it is, we have no way of accessing the tasting menu that Chef Humm has for his guests, and so all we can do is trust his crowning as Number 1 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2017 – surely such expertise and honor can only be elevated by a plant-based menu. With this in mind, Eleven Madison Park is most certainly the priciest restaurant on our list today – with starting prices at $335 per person. However, the push for plant-based fine dining is certainly a positive one, so check this out if your palate is equally refined as it is environmentally conscious. Make sure to book in advance – tables tend to go quickly!
04. The Butcher’s Daughter
With locations in Nolita, Williamsburg, and the West Village, this ‘vegetable slaughterhouse’ prioritizes plant-centered eating with a vegetarian and vegan menu that has everyone on the Nol Team hooked. The Butcher’s Daughter ‘aim[s] to nourish the senses + self through wellness, community and connection’ – how can you not fall in love with a restaurant with such an inspiring message? From smoothies, to salads, to bowls, to sandwiches in the day time to a pasta selection in the evening – let your various cravings be affordably satisfied by checking out this NYC favorite.
The Butcher’s Daughter “aim[s] to nourish the senses + self through wellness, community and connection”
Photo courtesy of The Butcher’s Daughter
Photo courtesy of livekindly.co
05. Superiority Burger
Superiority Burger has always been a fan favorite of the Nol Team’s. The restaurant at the moment, unfortunately, is temporarily closed in preparation for their relocation to 119 Avenue A, between St. Marks Place and East Seventh Street. However, the location has been replaced by a salad company by the same owners! Superiority will re-open this coming winter to satisfy all your veggie cravings. In the meantime, you can try the recipe for their iconic veggie burgers at home. Keep up with their progress on their Instagram account, and prepare yourself for some salads and wraps worth salivating over in just a few months!
We hope that you will get the chance to visit these spots sometime in the near future, and come to fall in love with eating out plant-based style more than ever before!
May you be well,
Nol