Let's begin by talking about restaurants and dining-out opportunities for vegetarians in Nashville. Thoughts? Suggestions? Recommendations?

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Answers

I talked with Gabrielle Mittelstaedt on the phone on 8/3 about dining out opportunities for vegetarians in Nashville. This is a summary of our discussion.

We discussed briefly some of the restaurants before she had to take another call. The main question she raised was: "How pure do you want to be?" Finding acceptable dining in Nashville depends on what compromises of the ideal you are willing to accept for the sake of practicality. (The restaurants remaining in Nashville simply are not run under the exacting standards of the Peaceful Planet.)

She mentioned several Indian restaurants: Shalamar, Sitar, East of India; Thai: The Orchid, Siam Cafe; Japanese; Mexican; the Calypso Cafe (Caribbean); Baja Burrito; Yellow Porch; Tin Angel; Houston's; Sunset Grill and Green Hills Grill. She mentioned a Vietnamese place on Charlotte Avenue (I'll have to look it up). She said she was not up to date on the practices of the downtown restaurants, but that top-of-the-line restaurants like Mere Bulles and F. Scott's will cook up a vegetarian dish to order, but they are likely to cook the vegetables in lots of butter, and they are quite expensive.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

Not completely relevant to this topic, but I had a very nice dinner last night at the macrobiotic pot luck. Met some nice people, too.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Houston's (on West End)is one of my favorites. They have an awesome veggie burger and a great vegetable plate that differs from day to day.

I also really like Rio Bravo (on West End). They will make you a black bean burrito that is not on the menu...just ask.

Another one of my favorites...Nick of Thyme (in Brentwood, across from Pargo's)...they are a bit pricey, but the food is outstanding! Everyday they offer various fresh vegetable dishes and great pasta salads and unusual casseroles.

Also in Brentwood...Bruegger's Bagels...everyday they offer some kind of vegetable soup (great!!) and delicious bagel sandwiches...my favorite is the Mediterranean (hummus, sundried tomato spread and lots of veggies).

Just a few of my faves!!

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Thanks so much, Jill. I want to put up a dine-out and food purchasing page on the website by November 1, in time for the visit by the lady who contacted me from London, England.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2001

A truly excellent guide to dining out--including such things as food/grocery shopping, farmer's markets, CSAs, buying clubs, community gardening, cooking and food preservation classes, etc.--is the guide created by the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington chapter of EarthSave, which is available on their website, as well as in a printed format.

See: Portland/Vancouver Chapter's Restaurant Guide, Including Food/Grocery Shopping, CSAs and Much More

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2001

Zola and Boundry offers some nice vegetarian entrees

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2001