VeganFabulous

the lowdown: Picabu Bistro | 901 W 14th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204 | 503.624.2464 | Website |Entrees $7.95 - $17.95 | Lunch, Dinner | ****

This is where you go in Spokane!

Last weekend I visited my college roommate and dear friend in her hometown of Spokane. Thus far I have made it a yearly tradition.  Her daughter, approaching two years old, was at an age where she wasn’t quite verbal, but her personality and charm did all the talking. I struggled for the first part of the weekend to earn her trust and by mid-day on Saturday I received it. Despite my sometimes awkward and sometimes rigid approach around children, she was able to open her arms up to me and give me a chance.

Google searching “Spokane + Vegan” ranks this blog #3. Unfortunately this doesn’t say a lot about vegan dining since I have only reviewed one Spokane restaurant! Luckily the HappyCow.Net index lists 7 options. Picabu was my top choice not only because it was nearly my only choice, but there were a few reasonably priced menu items including appetizers, salad, burgers, curry, pad thai, and a falafel. Picabu is located up the hill from Spokane’s downtown, juxtaposed to Roseaur’s, a grocery store. Although I generally avoid restaurants in such locations, we carried on through the front doors into a quaint, art covered bistro with a neighborhood feel. We started with the amazing Cilantro Hummus ($7.95) complete with grilled veggies and I followed that with a huge Curry Bowl ($10.95). Most typical curry only comes with a few veggies while this bowl included broccili, zuchini, onion, mushrooms, and green beans, not to mention it was loaded with tofu! We ended with dessert and the vegan option is a delectable Raspberry Cheesecake ($5.95). It doesn’t seem like much changes as we get older except our taste in food, friends, and clothes. One thing is for sure, we all scrutinize what we eat and who we spend time with and sometimes it just takes a little bit of time to warm up.

the lowdown: Mizuna Restaurant & Wine Bar | 214 N. Howard St, Spokane, WA | 503.747.2004 | Website | Entrees $18 - $34

Over half the menu has a an all natural, non-processed vegan alternative (and labeled as such) and the menu assures you that it is prepared on separate surfaces!

Situated on a quiet downtown street you could almost miss Mizuna, but I highly recommend you don’t. Aside from the food, my favorite part was the alley used for outdoor seating, decorated with strings of white lights, wrought iron tables and chairs, and of course the birds singing from branches draped above. We started off with the Greek plate, an assortment of hummus, pita and tomatoes (all vegan although not marked). My main dish was the “Tofu fritters with hominy succotash” and it was utterly amazing! The portion sizes were on the larger side which is sometimes rare but much appreciated! To top it all off they offer two vegan desert options, one of which is the carrot cake. By the time we got to desert I was completed full, but I managed to get through half of the slice of cake and took the rest to go. It is that good!