11 Top Restaurants for Veganuary
2017 saw the rise of veganism in the UK, and it is now estimated that over 150 thousand people in London identify themselves as a vegan, which will likely increase in 2018. Whether your reason for veganism is ethical, environmental, health or you just want to try it out for Veganuary, we have put together a list of restaurants who are making veganism even more accessible.
Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar
What: Vegan-Friendly Steakhouse
Why: Now hear me out when I say that Waterloo based steakhouse, Gillray’s, is doing a vegan menu, especially when I tell you that it’s actually pretty good. The set menu offers the option of 2 starters, 2 mains and 2 desserts with complementing vegan wines. The cauliflower fritters with Hollandaise and truffle sauce are incredibly moreish and you’d have no idea that the caramelised apple crumble doesn’t have any butter.
Where: Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar, Westminster Bridge Road, London
Website:
gillrays.com
Yard Sale Pizza and Biff’s Jack Shack
What: The Vegan Collaboration
Why: Vegan street food heroes Biff’s Jack Shack is guiding Yard Sale Pizza through Veganuary with their special collaboration that sees the vegan rising star ingredient jackfruit take centre stage. The crispy jackfruit vegan pizza special will be made with a signature Yard Sale double-fermented dough base topped with Biff’s Crispy Fried Jackfruit, Buffalo Sauce, Blue Cheese Sauce, Fresh ‘Slaw, Coriander, and a Yoghurt Dressing.
Available from Monday 15th January to Sunday 11th February which also covers Foodism’s National Pizza Day on 9th February.
Where: Clapton, Finsbury Park, Walthamstow
Website:
www.yardsalepizza.com
No 32 The Old Town
What: Vegan Options
Why: No. 32 The Old Town offers fresh food, all made from scratch with a focus on well-sourced ingredients. Their vegan options include the House Salad with warm quinoa, edamame, thyme baked squash, roast beets, sesame wakame and miso dressing, and butternut squash curry with sticky short grain brown rice, coriander and toasted coconut.
Where: No 32 The Old Town, The Pavement, London
Website:
www.no32theoldtown.co.uk
Wildflower
What: Instagram Friendly
Why: New Peckham canteen, Wildflower, has plenty of pretty, Instagram-worthy dishes thanks to their reliance of fresh vegetables and artistic presentation. Wildflower is vegetarian and vegan friendly with an all-day menu offering options like cashew milk and raw cacao nib porridge with banana and halva in the morning and Swede fondue with soft pretzels and pickled veggies in the evening. #Instagramitoritdidnthappen
Where: Peckham Town Centre Carpark, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4TG
Website:
www.wildflowerpeckham.uk
The Real Greek
What: The Cheap Option
Why: Eating healthily can sometimes have a bad reputation of being expensive but The Real Greek has recently launched a range of Olympian food boxes, available exclusively through The Real Greek’s Click & Collect service, for under £4 every Monday and Tuesday and £5.50 for the rest of the week. Each Olympian food box is named after a legendary Greek god like The Aphrodite Box with crudites, beetroot, tomato & cucumber salad, houmous and melitzanosalata.
Where: Various London
Website:
www.therealgreek.com
Camden Market
What: Vegan Haven
Why: Camden Market is fast becoming London’s vegan hub of delicious eats thanks to the likes of London’s first vegan pie and mash shop, Young Vegans, 100% vegan Mexican food from Club Mexicana, and vegan, gluten free, organic coconut based pancakes from Osu Coconuts. Dock yourself in suitable vegan attire with Thamon London who make 100% cruelty free accessories, Read The Label who make cosmetics with 100% pure vegetable and plant based ingredients, and Dr. Martens who has vegan approved accessories at their flagship Camden Market store, with an animal-free range of their trademark shoes and bags.
Where: Camden Lock Place, London NW1 8AF
Website:
www.camdenmarket.com
Dishoom
What: Spice It Up
Why: Indian cuisine is a veggie friendly haven but Dishoom has upped the ante by having a whole exclusive vegan menu (available on request) that includes fried puris puffed with spiced lentils, served with a hearty bowl of potato and chickpea curry that will apparently bring happiness, gunpowder potatoes and Chana Chat made with chickpeas, couscous and baby sprouts studded with fresh pomegranate and pumpkin seeds and smooth avocado and mint chutney on the side.
Where: Various
Website:
www.dishoom.com
Harvey Nichols
What: Vegan Shopping Refuel
Why: Harvey Nichols is getting aboard the plant-based diet train with their first ever vegan menu in either a 2 course or 3 course set menu. Dishes include a coconut and pumpkin soup, a vegan take on the classic Fish ‘n’ Chips made with battered tofu-wrapped in seaweed, served with minted peas and tartar sauce, and a chocolate cremeux with blood orange sorbet. The best thing is Harvey Nichols will also offer a range of vegan wines to perfectly complement the menu.
Where: Fifth Floor Café at Knightsbridge and the OXO Tower Restaurant on London’s South Bank
Website:
www.harveynichols.com
Thai Square
What: Options Galore
Why: Thai Square has one of the most impressive vegan menus we’ve seen for a restaurant that isn’t vegan. Options are plentiful and include dishes like coconut soup cooked with galangal, lime leaves, lemongrass and oyster mushrooms, vegetable tempura, and stir-fried bean curd with cashew nuts, spring onion and garnished with roast chillies.
Where: Various London
Website:
www.thaisq.com
The Kitty Hawk
What: British-Inspired Menu
Why: The team at The Kitty Hawk, an all-day haven for casual dining in the city, has created a three-course menu, plant-based menu just in time for Veganuary. Expect British-inspired dishes like roasted heritage beets, horseradish foam and oat crumble, and seasonal roasted baby squash with wild mushrooms, golden enoki and chilli. Alongside the plant-based menu, the Kitty Hawk has also designed a non-alcoholic cocktail perfect for those taking part in dry January.
Where: 11, 13 & 14 South Place, London EC2M 7EB
Website:
www.thekittyhawk.co.uk
Tibits
What: Vegan Inside and Out
Why: As veganism is a lifestyle choice and not just a diet preference tibits is hosting a Veganuary Panel Talk with leading vegan experts on 16th January including personal trainer Laurence Fountain who specialises in body transformation for vegans. On 20th January renowned chef Katherine Frelon will be holding a Vegan Cooking Demonstration beginning at London’s Borough Market where Katherine and guests will tour the market and buy the produce that she will be cooking with before heading back to the restaurant where Katherine will make all the recipes from scratch with a chance to sample all the dishes once completed.
Where: 124-128 Southwark Street, Bankside SE1 0SW
Website:
www.eventbrite.co.uk