In late September I was delighted to receive an email from a representative of Araka in Clayton informing me that the chef had recently added a number of new vegetarian and vegan items to the menu and suggesting that I come in to give them a try so as to post a review here. I was about two seconds from leaving for vacation but I quickly hopped on over to the site to see what was on offer and replied that I would definitely make a reservation when we got back in town.
Fast forward to last week when my husband and I made good on my promise to visit in celebration of our anniversary on the 24th. I decided to put off the reservation until then because Araka is a little fancier/pricier than an average (non-occasion) dinner out for us. I checked the menu online that day just to be sure all the new items were still available and proceeded to get super excited about trying everything out!
When we sat down at our table, I opened the menu just to take one last glance and to my great dismay, found that two of the three items I had planned to order were nowhere to be found. When I questioned our server about the differing menus online and in the restaurant and the whereabouts of the “new” vegan items I’d heard so much about, I was told that the menu had been changed again just a day or two earlier and obviously, not yet updated on the site. Ok…
What I had planned to order was the crispy tempeh bites appetizer, simple green salad (which featured raspberries) and soy-mirin tofu as an entree. The one new item I was interested in that still appeared on the new, new menu was the crispy tempeh bites appetizer. The salad was still there, but had a completely different description that included gorgonzola cheese crumbles even though it was marked “v” (for vegan) on the menu (more on that later). I was told the soy-mirin tofu had morphed into a pasta dish now branded “Green Tea Noodles” and covered in a ginger-hoison sauce. Color me unhappy.
I went ahead and ordered the tempeh bites, new simple green salad sans cheese and the green tea noodles (despite the fact that I loathe ginger). I was told that the only vegetarian entree still on the menu, roasted acorn squash, could easily be made vegan, but as luck would have it, I hate squash even more than I hate ginger, so there you go.
My husband enjoyed the crispy tempeh bites, and they weren’t bad but I think there’s way too much tempeh, not enough crispy going on there. And the sauce was unpleasant. My entree was so-so. The tofu was a little too soft for my tastes and, of course, I could have done without the ginger. You’ll notice that I skipped over the salad. That would be because as mediocre as the rest of my meal at Araka was, the salad was dynamite!
I assume the ingredients on this change with the season. Right now it’s apple cider vinaigrette, red pear, gorgonzola (optional), croutons and toasted walnuts on a bed of baby greens. You all know I’m not big on salads, but this salad was SO good I was almost mad I had to share it with my husband! The dressing was uh-mazing. I’ve since tried to duplicate it at home, to no avail. I’m not giving up though! I enjoyed this so much that I obviously forgot to take a picture of it before I ate it all.
So, the salad and the fact that Tony LaRussa was seated a few tables away from us about mid-way through our meal, totally saved the Araka experience for me. Sans Tony sighting though, that’s pretty thin ice to be skating on for a meal that cost as much as it did.
Although I was ticked that the menu items I’d been asked to try weren’t still available just one month later, I’m told that frequently changing up the menu is pretty standard here, so I suppose that’s forgivable. What is not cool though, is not immediately updating the online menu anytime there is a change. If there is a menu available online (and there should be!), it should be the exact same menu that customers are handed in the dining room – no exceptions. This is especially important for diners with restricted diets, for health reasons or otherwise.
Also not cool, botching menu designations for items that are appropriate for special populations. In Araka’s case, that’s gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan. I certainly appreciate the effort and I see that this has since been fixed on the online menu (which has also since been updated). I”m also sure it was an innocent mistake, but it’s a problem for two reasons:
If I restrict my diet for health reasons, an allergy to dairy for example, I may be less careful about reading descriptions or asking questions on items that are marked dairy-free (vegan). If something is mistakenly marked and I eat it, it could be life threatening.
I noticed two items on the menu that were marked vegan that had cheese listed in their descriptions. As a vegan, this makes me nervous that the chef doesn’t really understand what it means for a food to be vegan. I start wondering about what might be lurking in the other things I ordered.
So, overall not the most awesome experience. However, if you’re a vegan in St. Louis, your options for higher-end dining are a tad limited and you certainly have to appreciate that Araka is really trying. I would definitely consider this place for a special occasion, but just be sure to check the menu to verify that there will be appealing vegan items available before you go (and confirm that the online menu is up to date) and read descriptions carefully when you order.
I still can’t believe how long it took me to get to SweetArt. This adorable little bakery/cafe is nestled on a quiet stretch of S. 39th St. and is arguably the city’s best source of vegan baked goods and treats. Considering that, it seems rather ridiculous that I only just visited for the first time this past weekend!
Unfortunately, part of that is due to SweetArt’s limited hours. Since they close throughout the week (W-F) at six, our only option really is Saturday, when they’re now open from 9-5. We decided to stop in for lunch last weekend, and apparently, so did everyone else! Because they make everything to-order, it seems there is some significant lag time between placing orders and receiving your food. If you stop in during a particularly busy time, say lunch on a Saturday, that could mean you’ll be spending a little more time than your tummy would like waiting in line.
The good news is, it’s worth the wait! While everything at SweetArt is vegetarian, not all items are vegan. There are still plenty of outright vegan choices on the menu though, and there is a prominent note that mentions how anything on offer can be made vegan upon request. Cha-ching!
Andy ordered their classic Sweet Burger, which is the only constant on their ever-changing lineup. I myself had a vegan BLT, sans “magic,” which is some kind of vegan mayo concoction. Sandwiches can be ordered in half or full portions and most entrees come with a choice of fruit or Billy Goat Chips on the side. I ordered a half size sandwich (because there were treats to be had!) and it was still plenty big.
Both of our meals were yummy, though Andy was slightly disappointed that the Sweet Burger is more of a faux-meat burger rather than a “not trying to be beef” veggie burger. That’s just his personal tastes though. I like both styles. Really just depends on what I’m in the mood for.
We took our desserts to-go…but they didn’t last long! You know I didn’t miss the opportunity to sample at least two cupcake flavors, ordering a vegan red-velvet and vegan “harmony” (yellow-ish cake w/chocolate icing). Andy ordered himself a non-veg “hummingbird” cupcake which is an old-fashioned layer cake loaded with bananas, pineapples and toasted pecans with a cream cheese frosting.
I ate the harmony cupcake as soon as we got home and enjoyed it thoroughly. I had the red-velvet on Sunday (shortly after breakfast!) and it too was good. One thing to note: both cupcakes tasted quite a bit alike. Considering how different those two flavors are supposed to be, that’s a little weird – no complaints though!
Maybe the best thing about SweetArt is the atmosphere. It sort of doubles as an art studio for the couple who owns it (she’s the cook, he’s the artist). It’s clear that the entire place has been thoughtfully decorated by the two of them and all the small, personal touches are nice. It makes for a very casual and comfortable place to enjoy a meal. Or a treat. Or both!
Oh, one more thing! As you would expect from any bakery, SweetArt accepts custom orders for cakes, cookies and other goodies. So the next time you’ve got a celebration planned with a vegan guest of honor, this is the place to order up something delish for dessert! This is probably also your best bet for a lovely vegan wedding cake in St. Louis. Stop in or call for more info.
Bobo Noodle House is another one of those places that has been on my list to visit for way too long. We live really close to this place, so I had high hopes going in that it could become a new go-to.
I checked out the menu at Bobo online long ago and was thrilled to find several possibly vegan options including vegetarian pad thai with tofu, vegetable dumpling pho with shiitakes and crispy vegetable spring rolls. Just a few months ago, Bryan Peters reviewed Bobo in his Veggielante column for the RFT and seemed to confirm that the pad thai and vegetable dumpling pho were indeed, vegan (no mention of the spring rolls, but I can’t imagine they wouldn’t be) – which renewed my desire to stop in for a meal, and soon! Seasoned veggie’s know that a good vegan pad thai isn’t all that hard to come by, but veggie dumpling pho? Not so much.
This is exactly what I planned to order last Friday when Andy and I stopped in Bobo for dinner. It seems they do a pretty solid take-out business in addition to their dine-in customers because we stepped into a moderately sized group gathered right inside the door that was waiting to place and/or pickup orders. With no signs about seating or directions of any kind posted, we were a little lost about whether we should have a seat or place our order at the counter, but quickly figured out that we were supposed to order at the counter and then sit to be served.
One thing I’ve learned (the hard way) about eating out as a vegan: never make assumptions. Even though I was fairly certain from the RFT review that both the items I was interested in were vegan, I asked the guy taking orders to confirm that the pad thai was, in fact, vegan, to which he replied that it was the only vegan item on the menu. Whaa? When I asked specifically about the vegetable dumplings, he wavered a bit but eventually settled on this “I’m not sure and I don’t have time to check.” Noticing my obvious dissatisfaction with that answer, he then told me that I didn’t need to order anything else because the pad thai was big enough.
Now look, I understand they were busy, but that’s a totally unacceptable thing to say to a customer. I guess if I’d have lied and said I had an allergy, maybe I’d have gotten to order what I primarily came there to try. That’s not really my style though and I don’t think I should have to resort to lying to make sure that a meal I’m paying for is suitable for my dietary needs. Also, if I was a more sensitive gal, he might’ve caught some serious hell for that “what you ordered is enough food for you” comment.
Anyway, the pad thai was good – though in dire need of some Sriracha, which they provide, if requested. I especially like the extra-wide noodles.
My husband very much enjoyed his meal and is interested in going back to check out a few other things on the menu, so I’m sure we’ll be back now and then. Hopefully next time someone there will have time to look into the ingredients for the pho and spring rolls so I can try something new too.
I’d say if you find yourself with a crowd in the mood for general pan-asian fare, keep Bobo in mind. If it’s just vegan pad thai you’re jonesing for though, go right up the street to Thai Cafe and ask them to hold the egg.
I’m headed out to the ballpark today to see the Cardinals beat the tar out of the Cubs (Go Cards!). Typically, I eat before or after going to the stadium and/or bring my own snacks both for lack of options and to avoid the outrageous prices, but today I got to wondering just what might be available to a vegan fan at Busch Stadium?
Every year, PETA releases a top 10 list of veg-friendly Major League ballparks in the U.S. In 2008, Busch Stadium came in at number six on the list for offering a wide variety of veggie fare including a veggie burger, vegetable stir-fry, fire-roasted veggie burrito, Mediterranean tapas and whole roasted corn. Unfortunately, since then the pickin’s seem to have slimmed considerably – which explains our absence from subsequent lists.
On the bright side, there are still a few options for a hungry vegan at Busch. First, there’s my favorite game-day snack, roasted peanuts. Grab these from nearly any concession stand in the park, or save a few bucks and bring your own. Another good snack option that is widely available throughout the park are soft pretzels (sans cheese, of course).
As far as more substantial vegan food options inside the stadium, it looks like the last man standing is the veggie chicken sandwich at Dizzy’s Diner – not that I’m complaining! It would be nice to have more than one meal option, but if there is only one thing available, I kind of love that it isn’t a standard veggie burger.
And then, of course, there’s always fries (my BFF/arch-nemesis).
Just out of curiosity, I think I’m going to give the chicken sandwich at Dizzy’s a shot this afternoon. I’ll let you know how it goes down.
Finally, no trip to the ballpark would be complete without a $10 beer, right? Thankfully, you can toss ‘em back with a clear conscience when you’re at Busch Stadium because Bud Light and Budweiser are both vegan friendly brews.
Once again, I didn’t remember to take a picture before I started eating. Awesome.
I have been wanting to stop in at Atomic Cowboy for ages! This past weekend, Andy and I finally got around to trying this place out. Overall, the food was pretty decent but I think the main attraction at Atomic Cowboy is the atmosphere and frequent live music guests.
We arrived pretty early because I know this place tends to turn into much more of a venue than a restaurant in the evenings and I was really primarily interested in the food. We ended up catching the tail end of the St. Louis “Slutwalkers” who congregated here at the end of their demonstration. Needless to say, there was some great people watching to be done over the course of our meal.
There are several vegan options on the menu at Atomic Cowboy and even more when you consider that the kitchen is willing and able to veganize anything else they possibly can. I had the “vegan version” of the grilled portobello mushroom sandwich with mexican rice instead of chips and salsa (only because we had ordered chips and salsa with guac as an appetizer). Though this wasn’t really anything I couldn’t easily duplicate at home, it was a perfectly tasty meal.
Given the atmosphere, don’t expect to be able to carry on much of a conversation when you dine here, as the music is just a smidge too loud to talk over comfortably. I also highly recommend avoiding the bathrooms, if possible. Aside from those two caveats, I’d say this place is definitely worth a trip if you’ve never been. The service was very, very friendly and the prices super affordable. I’m not sure how it’s possible that I didn’t sample an order of the Gaucho fries while I was there, so I’m certain we’ll stop in again at some point to rectify that glaring oversight.
Well, here she is, the last option for non-DIY vegan pizza in St. Louis (as far as I know/for the time being!), PW Pizza.
PW opened just a few months ago in the first floor of the Centennial Malt House on Chouteau, also home to Moulin, Malt House Cellar, Vin de Set and Grand Petite Market. Named for the first initials of its creators, PW offers up gourmet pies, salads, soups and desserts, plus a grand selection of craft beer and wine.
The idea is that ingredients here are fresh, seasonal and (as much as possible) local. Of particular interest to you and I, in addition to the pizza basics, PW also has options for veggie, vegan and gluten-free diners. Woot!
This is where Andy and I had dinner on my birthday last month (yeah, I’m that serious about pizza you guys) and it was mmm, mmm good! The ingredients do indeed taste super fresh and the selection of toppings is so large that it made it fairly difficult to choose – good problem to have. I believe I eventually settled on caramelized onions, artichoke hearts and wild mushrooms. Like Whole Foods and Pi, the vegan cheese option at PW is Daiya.
As far as the crust here, I’m torn. Negative: it’s thin. Positive: it is still fairly soft and chewy. Overall, the taste is good though, and that’s what really matters. The original crust at PW is vegan but the gluten-free is not. Unfortunately, the Honey Wheat crust is a no-go for obvious reasons, which I was bummed about (I sort of despise eating refined grains, they feel like a waste of calories).
I actually can’t recall if PW allows half and half splits, but it doesn’t really matter because the pizzas here only come in one size (12′) and it’s too small to share (for us anyway!). Unfortunately, that means you’ll spend a little more than you might expect for pizza, but on an occasional basis, it’s acceptable.
Overall, I really enjoyed PW and I’m sure we’ll be stopping in from time to time. Always great to have yet another option for vegan pizza in St. Louis!
So here’s the second “buy” option for vegan pizza in St. Louis. Unless you’ve been living in a hole for a while, it’s pretty likely that you’re familiar with Pi if you live in the area. It’s a very hip and tasty pizza joint that first opened up shop in STL a few years ago in the Loop (my hood!) and quickly rose to prominence due to a certain pre-election POTUS showing it some serious love when he passed through town.
These days you can get yourself a slice of Pi (see what I did there?) at five different locations around the St. Louis area, including a mobile Pi truck. There will also be a DC location opening up shop any day now to better serve their biggest fan (I’m sure that’s not the only reason, but I’d like to think so!).
Back to the issue at hand though, in addition to their traditional Chicago-style, Pi also happens to serve up a pretty decent vegan pizza! The thin crust here is naturally vegan, as is their tomato sauce. Of course, garlic olive oil is also a vegan sauce option, if that’s how you do.
As any respectable vegan pizza should, the vegan pizzas at Pi feature Daiya cheese. They’ve got a wide variety of delicious veggie toppings to choose from as well, but unlike the other two “eat-out” options for vegan pizza in St. Louis, Pi also offers up Match meat substitutes for their vegan patrons. So thoughtful!
If memory serves, the pizza pictured featured Match sausage, red onions and mushrooms. I mentioned in an earlier post that I’m not a huge fan of thin crust, and this is definitely the crunchiest of the three options, but it is still darn tasty. My husband actually gives Pi top billing for vegan pizza in St. Louis. If you’re down with thin crust, you might agree.
Downsides at Pi include a fairly rigid policy on halfsies, in that they don’t allow them, period. If you and your companion(s) are vegan, that works out ok. If you’re the only vegan at the table though, not so much. Pi is definitely not the cheapest place in town, so having to order two whole separate pizzas for two people gets pricey pretty quick. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from taking home leftovers though, and thankfully, this reheats well.
Finally, in what must be a new addition to the menu since I was there last, Pi also offers a vegan dessert option! Vegans can now follow up their pizza with 2 chocolate chip sandwich cookies. Very cool. If you stop in for a vegan slice before I visit again, sink your teeth into one of these and report back!
Fact about me (and my husband): if it’s Wednesday, we’re eating pizza for dinner. We started this tradition about three years ago and it stuck – big time. My husband was working overseas for several months last year and even then, it was a weekly ritual we never missed (he even got nearly the entire crew he was working with started on it!).
Obviously this started pre-vegan, but the transition certainly hasn’t slowed me down (Daiya, anyone?). Since I know pizza is a fave for a lot of people and something you might think isn’t well-suited to veganizing, I figured this series would be eye-opening and useful for prospective or current veg-heads!
Over the next several weeks, I’ll be publishing these posts (when else?) every Wednesday. Most of the time, we “make,” but there are several good places to “buy” as well, so some of these posts (like today’s) will also double as “Local Vegan Eats” features.
I’m kicking things off with my favorite place for vegan pizza in St. Louis: Whole Foods. When you see the other few establishments I’ll be featuring, you might be surprised to know that I think Whole Foods takes the cake in this matter. Why? Despite the fact that Whole Foods isn’t actually a restaurant, it’s the cheapest “buy” option by far. Very far. Regardless, I think they’re the hands-down winner on taste.
I think the primary reason that Whole Foods is my favorite comes down to the crust. I am not a fan of thin/crispy crust. The two other places I’ll be reviewing are in that camp. The crust here is a deliciously doughy and chewy New York style. Can’t beat that. Don’t get me wrong: I LOVE the taste of Daiya and quality of the ingredients is certainly also a factor in taste, but those things are a constant in all three options for dine-out vegan pizza in St. Louis.
You’ve probably noticed that Whole Foods sells fresh-baked pizza by the slice in their stores. What you may not have been aware of is that you can place custom orders for whole pies just like any other pizza joint! Not only are all of their ingredients of excellent quality and freshness, both of their crusts (white and wheat) are naturally vegan and you can get Daiya cheese in place of regular dairy cheese on any order.
As you can see from the picture above, they allow half and half orders on any pizza, even for cheese (my half is on the left)! If you have an allergy or are not comfortable with the possibility that you may end up with a smidge of dairy cheese on your half, this is obviously not a good solution for you. However, if you’re a bit mellow in that department and married to a non-veg, this is perfect!
The one down-side to pizza at Whole Foods: they’re only available in one size. The good news there is that the size is huge and it warms up really well for lunch the next day. As I mentioned before, the price here is super reasonable. When you consider how much pizza you’re getting, this is especially true.
So there you have it! The first of many posts proving that pizza is absolutely not off-limits to vegans. Be sure to check back next Wednesday for more ooey-gooey goodness!
Red Robin is a favorite amongst my crew at work. Despite the emphasis on cow at this place, that works out a-ok for me because you can sub in a vegan Boca patty for any burger on their menu. I always do my own thing, opting for lettuce, tomato, onion and A.1. steak sauce – which is vegan!
Interesting sidenote: A.1. actually played a big role in helping me to go vegetarian way back in the day. I never ate a steak without it and it turned out just the taste of the sauce was enough to fool my taste buds into thinking I was eating real beef. Additionally, the strong flavor of A.1. (which I happen to love) goes a long way towards enhancing the taste of somewhat less savory foods, so I continue to use it liberally on burgers and the like.
Back to the matter at hand though, as usual, I opted for fries with my burger. There are lots more (healthier) vegan choices like steamed veggies and melon wedges to choose from if that’s how you roll but I’m a fool for french fries. Always have been.
Though it wouldn’t usually be my first choice for a meal out, it’s still good to know there are vegan options at Red Robin. As I said, it’s often the lunch choice du jour at my office so it’s great to be able to tag along with the carnivores without having to eat like them!
Yes, yes, I know Chipotle and Qdoba have significant differences. However, their menus are strikingly similar and I order the exact same thing no matter which one I’m at, so it seemed silly to do two separate posts for each.
The great thing about these kind of places is the “have-it-your-way” set-up. You stand within view of your food as it is prepared and decide what does and doesn’t make it into your order – which means virtually anything on the menu at Chipotle or Qdoba (except maybe quesadillas) can be veganized with ease.
My go-to order at each establishment is a vegetarian burrito. The options are many and varied, but I go with rice, black beans, pico, lettuce and guacamole. The tortilla itself is vegan at either place, as are the taco shells. That may sound a little sparse, but considering the sheer size of these things, it’s a more than satisfying meal.
Massive burritos are easily the fast/easy/cheap dinner of choice for my husband and I. Always a good option for a casual meal out with a vegan in tow.
