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: Al Amir | 223 SW Stark St., Portland, OR 97204 | 503.274.0010 | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $5 - $18 | ***

More Lebanese options in Portland then you know what to do with.

Dinner and a movie is one of my favorite night out activities. Although I prefer to do it the opposite way, movie first, then dinner. I like this order because matinees are cheaper, there is no hurry to finish dinner, and talking about the movie over dinner is great! Last weekend we saw the much anticipated Dark Knight at the Broadway theater.  Heather Ledger was terrifying, Christian Bale was amazing, and having not seen Batman Begins didn’t seem to hamper my enjoyment of the film. I generally avoid movies over 2 hours, but I was happy to make an exception for this one. It’s a good thing we actually ate dinner prior to the movie this time.

Al Amir is one of the more expensive Lebanese options in Portland. It occupies a narrow space where the tables are mostly empty. Apparently it turns into a dance club at a certain times each night but the only evidence of this is the disproportionate speakers mounted on the walls. They offer a vegetarian menu and each time I’ve asked they’ve indicated that all items are vegan. I ordered the “Maza Al-Amir” ($16) which includes a Maza appetizer and a choice of one entree. The Maza includes the standard hummus, grape leaves, falafel, bread, and Baba Ghannooj and is large enough to share. There are four entree choices consisting of a variety of grilled veggies and rice. I choose the vegetable shish kabob topped with garlic sauce. Although the Maza is better at Al Amir’s neighbor Karam, the entree was excellent. The perfect type of food to rest in your stomach for 2.5 hours while you enjoy a movie.

the lowdown: Yahala | 8005 SE Stark St., Portland, OR 97215 | 503.256.4484 | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Items $3.95 - $16.50 (They offer 6-8 person feasts as well) | *****

You can always count on Mediterranean food to come through!

I think I spend too much time close-in because there is an entire world out there, beyond inner city Portland, that I simply didn’t know existed. When I set out to meet my editor from NW Veg for dinner on 80th & Stark, I was expecting to be dining in a restaurant with a florescent sign next adjacent to Taco Time. Not only was I ignorant and wrong, I was late because I didn’t correctly estimate my travel time! This cheeky part of town offers a row of shops, restaurants, a cheap movie theatre, and bars, surrounded by a great residential area.

Yahala is a highly regarded Mediterranean restaurant with a huge selection of vegan options. We started with the veggie mezza. This is the food item I always need to be careful with because I could easily over eat the falafel, homous, baba ghanouj and pocket bread. I was mindful and politely nibbled (ok not really) to save room. We then shared the “Sheik Al Mehshi” which is an eggplant dish, sauteed, stuff, and smothered an a tomato sauce. I sometimes take issue with the texture of eggplant but this dish melted in my mouth! Great talk and great food make for a great night in outer PDX.

the lowdown: Tara Thai | 1310 NW 23rd Ave., Portland, OR 97210 | 503.222.7840 | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $7.95 - $16.95 | *****

Fabulous thai cuisine and its plentiful vegan options!

If you have the feeling that NW Portland is full of over priced pretentious restaurants with few to none vegan options, you are mostly right, except in the case of Tara Thai!

Tara Thai occupies an enormous Victorian house with a sprawling deck, perfect for the short summer months. Their food comes in huge portions, is ready quickly, and tastes fantastic. I normally like to go out to dinner on Saturday nights but with selling my house, going to school and working full time, some Saturday nights are better spent eating take out and watching the scariest movie on the planet, The Descent! I ordered the “Coconut Tofu” as an appetizer and “Kaeng Phet Khiao”, green curry with tofu, basil, zucchini, bamboo shoots, and green beans as my entree. Between being scared shitless and eating wonderful thai cuisine, I couldn’t have had a better Saturday night out.

the lowdown: Voleur | 111 SW Ash, Portland, OR 97205 | 503.227.3764 | Website | Breakfast (weekends only), Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour | Entrees $7 - $21 | ***

Go for the burger and fries!

A couple of weeks ago a frequent visitor to my blog, Chelsea, tipped me off to the veggie burger at Voleur. I used to work close to Voleur and always wondered what it was like and after her suggestion I made plans to try the burger and followed it by one of the best movies I have ever seen, No Country For Old Men.

Voleur is a low profile bar just a couple blocks off the main downtown night scene. It seems to be popular for large crowds as the loft was reserved for a private party and corner table comfortably seated 20 people, as a result, the service for smaller parties is somewhat disjointed, but not unbearable. To kick things off we ordered fries, which was an excellent second choice since the broken blender prevented hummus production. My main dish, my one and only choice and the reason I came, was the burger. According to the waiter it was a special version of the “Gardenburger” that contained no diary or eggs. It arrived loaded with fresh vegetables, a side salad, and kept me satiated throughout the movie.

the lowdown: Green Dragon Ale House & Bistro | 938 SE 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97214 | Lunch, Dinner | Items $8 - $12 | ***

Few vegetarian options, but they will modify!

After a few weeks of keeping tabs on Green Dragon via AltPortland, I finally met up with my pub going co-workers. Tragically I was on-call and as everyone that has ever been on-call knows; if you make plans, you will get called.

Green Dragon is situated amidst large industrial buildings and by way of the large garage style door, opens up to the outside in the summer months. The lofty space is apparently difficult to heat, so bring a jacket! A large and varied selection of beers is displayed on a chalkboard and according to my beer drinking friends is quite good. As usual I called ahead and the woman on the other end was very helpful. When I arrived she remembered our conversation and I ordered the veggie panini and salad, vegan style. The salad was a fantastic combination of mixed greens, raisins, and dried pears and completely trumped the panini, which in its own right wasn’t bad. If you are trying to find a happy medium with friends, or want a eclectic selection of beer, this is a definite option, otherwise, the salad isn’t enough to make me return.

the lowdown: Jam on Hawthorne | 2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214 | 503.234.47.90 | Breakfast, Lunch | Entrees $5 - $9.50 | *****

Ask not what Jam can do for your scramble, ask Jam what YOU can do.

Jam is a happening place off Hawthorne with a small dining room and a long waiting list. My experience has always been that folks eat and get on with their lives, so you won’t have to wait all day. The stack of papers, eclectic crowd, and serve your own coffee will definitely keep you entertained.

Portland vegans have many many tofu scramble options, but there is nothing better then having the opportunity to build your own. With a base price of $6 and items ranging from $.75 - $1.75 (veggie sausage isn’t vegan), your budget is your only limit! I ordered the custom scramble with spinach, tomato, and kalamata olives. The dish comes with some hash and toast, so you won’t go hungry! If Jesus lived in Portland he would take a break from helping the poor and order one for himself…of course sharing the leftovers.

the lowdown: Henry’s 12th Street Tavern | 10 NW 12th Ave., Portland, OR 97209 | 503.227.5320 | Website | Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour | Entrees $7.95 - $27.95 | ***

Options include salads and house made veggie burger.

I have often scoffed at Henry’s as a viable dining option ever since I witnessed a line that extended the length of the block on several occasions. Preoccupied with the notion that it was nothing more than a meat market, both in the dating scene and its fish and steak heaviness, Henry’s was never made it on my list. However, when it is a friends birthday, wherever they choose goes.

The dining room is completely separate from the bar that offers 100+ taps and is quite the happening place. The veggie burger consists of brown rice and black beans and if you sub ciabatta for the kaiser roll and hold the mayo and cheese, you’ve got a vegan meal! Equipped with avocado, tomato, lettuce and a side green salad, I was definitely pleased. The experience also gave me a sense of hope for the future of vegans in the Pearl.

the lowdown: Wild Abandon Restaurant & The Red Velvet Lounge | 2411 SE Belmont St., Portland, OR 97214 | 503.232.4458 | Website | Brunch (weekends only), Dinner, Happy Hour | Entrees $7 - $21 | *****

Three vegan entrees and tons of family friendly options ensuring everyone’s happiness.

Trying to find a place to eat dinner on Christmas Eve is hard enough, but to add criteria such a vegan friendly, good for the parents, and no prior reservations needed, made it nearly impossible. After spending an hour calling 15 different places my friend suggested Wild Abandon, the perfect place to bring cohesion to our disparate needs.

Wild Abandon is an aluminum sided building just off Belmont. The door is partially hidden by brush and the dark dining room is quite small and narrow. The table was equipped with bread and hummus and the menu offers everything you could ask for when considering the parents. Steak, fish, chicken, burgers, and pasta. Best of all the veggies have three great choices including “Linguini and Meatballs a la Vegan” (which I ordered), “Tofu Heaven”, and “Wild Mushroom Risotto”. The pasta was topped with “meatballs” made from “Gimmie Lean!” and a variety of vegetables and spices. My portions were even larger then the meat centric dishes! Everyone in our party was happy, including, (most importantly) yours truly.

the lowdown: Kalga Kafe | 4147 SE Division St., Portland, OR 97202 | 503.436.4770 | Pizza $12 - $30, Entrees $10 - $12 | Dinner, Late Night | ****

Most everything on the menu is vegan, or can be!

The best way to pre-function before a work holiday party that claims appetizers only (but ends up having TONS of vegan choices I could fill up on) is to chill out at place with plenty of food options and ambient tunes.

Kalga Kafe’s half moon shaped space is quite dark, so dark in fact you need a candle to see your food. The one thing I could see is that at least one person at every table was eating the “Falafel Sandwich”. It doesn’t take much to convince me so I followed suit. I normally can eat everything in front of me but this time I had a difficult time finishing the four large falafel’s stuffed in a pita. The other menu options will take you all around the world including Thai, Indian, and Asian cuisine. The service is friendly but extremely sloooooow, try not to let that deter you from some good grub. One word of advice, avoid having the neighboring nail salon’s neon sign in your peripheral vision.