Whether you follow a vegan/vegetarian diet or you’re seeking a healthier meal in Connecticut, you’ll find numerous great dining spots in the Nutmeg State. Long-standing favorites as well as newer options focus on locally-grown, organic ingredients, making everything that much tastier. Find all the best of vegan and vegetarian-friendly fare at these 8 restaurants in Connecticut!
A long-standing vegan and vegetarian favorite, Bloodroot is a feminist bookstore and restaurant serving a menu that changes seasonally. To ensure the highest quality ingredients possible, the dishes incorporate local, seasonal, and organic produce. Stop by for Sunday brunch to enjoy vegan sourdough pancakes with bananas, poached eggs on a nest of spinach with hollandaise sauce, shiitake mushroom quiche, an omelet, or soysage. Bloodroot is also open for lunch and dinner, with delicious vegan appetizers, entrees, and desserts on the menu.
Heirloom Food Company chooses only 100 percent organically grown produce, and also aims to source locally whenever possible. Almost each dish at Heirloom can be ordered vegan and they also have a wide array of gluten free and vegan baked goods. The menu features delicious breakfast items such as portabella and kale tofu scramble, avocado and scrambled egg burrito, and gluten free oatmeal. For lunch, they serve numerous salad, sandwich, wrap, and veggie burger options.
This long-standing favorite among students, visitors, and business people alike, Claire’s Corner Copia is a healthy institution near Yale University. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Claire’s where all food is local, healthy, and includes only ingredients you can pronounce. Start your morning off right with a vegan breakfast sandwich, organic black bean hash, or tofu scramble. For lunch or dinner, dine on quiche, avocado toast, chili, veggie burger, and more. The extensive menu is certainly filled with something for everyone.
This swanky restaurant has a great vegan and vegetarian menu with numerous gluten free options. Enjoy lunch or dinner with vegan twists on meaty classics such as shepherd’s pie, lasagna, and Reuben sandwiches. The Southern fried tofu, kale salad, and yam quesadilla are also flavorful options.
Dine on vegetarian cuisine in what resembles a quirky, comfortable grandmother’s house. Healthy eaters will love the Mediterranean dishes such as falafels, tabuli, and baba ghanouj. Meat eaters will also find lamb dishes, such as kafta, as well as shis kabob and shawarma. This is an excellent option for dining out with both vegetarians and meat-lovers as both will be pleased with their meal.
Organika is an organic, vegan, and non-GMO kitchen open for breakfast and lunch. The scrumptious breakfast menu includes the lovely orange scented olive oil pancakes as well as the currently trendy acai bowls. For a quick and healthy lunch, stop by Organika for a protein bowl, burger, salad, or organic pizza.
Owned by the chefs at G-Zen Restaurant, GMonkey Mobile is a vegan food truck that is a perfect spot for a scrumptious lunch. From “Farm to Street,” casual diners can enjoy fresh quinoa salad, G-fries, chili cheese fries, peanut soba noodles, and more. For a sweet pick-me-up try the daily special raw, vegan treat—a guilt free delight!
For a grab and go vegan, gluten free, non-GMO meal, stop by the Sweet Beet food market. Those with allergies will be happy to know that the Sweet Beet is also soy and peanut free. Fuel up with a plant-based meal of bean chili, mac n’ cheese made from quinoa-corn noodles with homemade cashew “cheese,” layered taco salad, or cauliflower rice. Wash it all down with a fresh pressed organic juice and finish your healthy meal with a mini cupcake or cookie dough bite.