The Veggie Table

Appleby’s

By guest reviewer Jan Taylor

Recently I had a very pleasant dining experience at Cleveland Westlake, where I had stopped for the night.

I went to Appleby’s, hoping for a veggie burger, which is available at some but not all Appleby’s restaurants. This time, no veggie burgers.

My first scan through the entire menu turned up nothing appropriate. My second time through I found a chicken-and-veggie stir-fry. I asked the waiter if I could have this without the chicken, and he said that he would be happy to do that for me.

When my dinner arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a very large portion of interesting, delicious vegetables. They didn't just leave out the chicken; they added a lot more veggies.

My second pleasant surprise came when I got the bill, which was two dollars less than the price on the menu.

The reason for my surprise was that many businesses, especially large corporations, have very rigid procedures, from which their employees are not allowed to deviate.

(A few weeks later, I ordered the same thing at another Appleby’s and received the same bountiful, delicious meal, but without the discount. That’s okay. I was just happy to be able to get an enjoyable meal.)

Ardor Pub and Grill

Two things caught our attention in an ad for the Ardor Pub and Grill. One was the promise that this eatery has gone completely smoke-free. The other was the announcement that they offered salads, wraps, and vegetarian fare along with burgers and Friday fish fry. So when the occasion arose for Chuck and me to eat out with our Atkins-diet family, Ardor Pub was the place we tried, simply in the hope that we would all be able to eat there comfortably together.

This hope was fulfilled. We actually were able to download their menu from the internet ahead of time, and it proved to be accurate. We entered and found a very English-pub-style yet smokeless atmosphere, warm and inviting. (The ad also mentioned an outdoor patio for warmer weather than pertained that day.) There was indeed a vegetarian section on the menu, and just like in an English pub the waitress turned out to be vegan herself and helped guide us to what was “safe,” for example by warning us that the vegetarian burger was not in fact vegan. Admittedly there was not much of a selection for Chuck, but he did find a California Wrap that fit his needs, and there were several lacto-vegetarian selections for me. We both found our meals very tasty and satisfying, and our carnivorous family members were equally satisfied with theirs.

Bangkok Dokkoon

By Jan Taylor

Bangkok Dokkoon, at 7335 W. Greenfield Ave., has a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, with recorded music playing softly in the back-ground. The walls are adorned with Thai artifacts, including bejewelled elephants.

The vegetarian section of the menu lists four entrees, priced from $5.95 to $6.95. I ordered Vegetable Pad Thai, which was a very generous serving of bean sprouts, pea pods, baby corn, onions, broccoli, and mushrooms. This was accompanied by a spice rack, so that diners could add hot chili oil, crushed chili, and crushed peanuts, to achieve whatever degree of spiciness they desire. The basic dish, as served, had no spiciness at all, and therefore would appeal to those diners who prefer a more bland meal.

Beverages include soybean drink, coconut juice, lemonade, coffee, and tea. We ordered tea, and were served jasmine tea, which had a delightful aroma and pleasing taste.

The dessert list included three types of fruits – lychee, longan, and rambutan. I ordered longan, which was served chilled, and was slightly sweet and very refreshing.

The phone number is (414) 256-9090. They are open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 10 PM, with a lunch buffet, and on Saturday from 3 PM to 9 PM; they are closed on Sunday.

Bangkok House

We found a new restaurant to tell you about, and it is not on the East Side! We were helping with last week’s rally for Howard Dean down by Mitchell Airport and had a couple of hours between set-up and people arriving and needed some dinner, so we went into a Thai restaurant Chuck had spotted near there, and had a great meal.

Bangkok House’s décor is a degree fancier than we usually patronize, but the prices were only in the $10. range for entrees. The extensive menu lists each dish’s ingredients, and includes three vegetarian appetizers and eight "Special Dishes for Vegetarians" entrees, some with tofu and others without it. Some are labeled hot, but we found that any of them can be made to your personal specifications for heat or mildness: Chuck’s dish was as hot as he wanted it, while mine was completely mild.

When our food arrived, it was well presented and extremely tasty, as well as copious – I had to take half of mine home for the next day’s lunch. Bangkok House also has quite a wine list (and beer and so on), and we ended up enjoying the very nicest plum wine I have ever tasted. All in all, we stumbled into the place by chance – but we definitely intend to go back there.

Bangkok House is located at 4698 S. Whitnall Ave., in Whitnall Square Shopping Center just on the north side of Layton Ave., (414) 482-9838, open for lunch/buffet Tues.–Fri. 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, dinner Tues.-Fri. 2:30–9 PM, Sat. noon–10 PM, Sun. 4-9 PM.

Beans and Barley

Beans and Barley has been around for many years now, and since it is just down the block from Whole Foods, this seemed like a good time to review it again.

Beans has been operating in its current incarnation (same location as before but much expanded from its prefire coziness) for over a decade. Its core menu has not mutated out of recognition, but we have noticed increased dinner specials over the years, and small but significant improvements, such as the option of brown rice and now whole wheat tortillas on request. The basics are reliable, consisting of fresh soups and chili, appetizers, salads which can be sides or a whole meal, cold sandwiches, hot sandwiches, Mexican-food menu, desserts, a page of beverages, and beer, wine, or other alcohol. We have found the quality of all items to be reliable as well: fresh, distinctive, and tasty. And we have found the waitstaff to be knowledgeable and very helpful about vegetarianism and veganism: they understand the words and can reliably guide patrons to which menu items will be suitable. They are also very helpful about substitutions, for example of one kind of bread or roll for another, or giving me some lettuce leaves instead of chips with my burrito.

Chuck and I ate there again recently, and enjoyed our meal as always. Dining at a table where one can start with a glass of wine or beer and be served by a waitperson is a completely different experience from the salad bar down the street, and one to be savored in its place.

Blind Faith Café

We report at whiles on vegetarian dining that Chuck has discovered through work all over the world. This time, he had to spend a day in Chicago renewing his expiring passport on short notice, so we checked out Blind Faith Café while we waited.

Blind Faith is near the eastern end of Dempster St. in Evanston, just north of Chicago and easy to find since Dempster is an exit off of I- 94. It’s all-vegetarian and macrobiotic-oriented, with both counter service and seated dining. The menu offers 9 appetizers, 14 entrees, 6 sandwiches, 6 salads, various side dishes, and desserts both vegan and dairy, plus a breakfast menu which is served until 3 PM and includes both vegan and ovo-lacto options. Dishes seem derived mostly from Asian and Mexican cuisines. All our selections were generous, well-presented, and delicious. Décor is friendly, and prices not bad for a big city.

Blind Faith is at 525 Dempster St., Evanston, Illinois, about a 2 hour drive from Shorewood. Call (847) 328-6875 to find out exactly when they’re open and/ or to make a reservation, which is probably necessary on weekends.

Burger King

It’s good news that Burger King has launched a new VeggieBurger, since the availability of vegetarian fast food could help many people to follow through on a wish to quit meat, and if it succeeds it could force McDonalds and Wen-dys to follow suit, ultimately saving many animals from slaughter. For this reason, vegan Erik Marcus recommends it even though its bun has a smidgeon of butter, and other vegetarians also see value in helping promote it. The burger is made of grains and vegetables, not soy; if you want it vegan, ask them to hold the mayo and microwave rather than flame-broil it (explain that a veggie burger only needs warming, not cooking through like meat does!).

So Chuck and I decided to try it. After the Meat-Out we made our experiment, and it was partly successful. We did get microwaved veggie burgers at a Burger King, and the burgers themselves were vegan, if less substantial than we’re used to calling a meal; the tomato and lettuce were fresh and had some taste. But while we’ve heard several good reports of the burgers’ taste, both our tongues confirmed data we had that our sandwiches contained a large array of chemical flavorings and preservatives. We’re used to no-preservative whole foods, so this left a most dismaying taste in our mouths (both figuratively and literally). Others like them. It must depend on what you’re used to.

Candle Café

One reason that Chuck and I visit New York City several times a year is to see my family there, but the restaurant scene in that metropolis is certainly a draw as well. This time we tried a restaurant advertised in E Magazine, the Candle Café, where we ate very well indeed.

Candle Café is very "politically correct": they serve only organic vegetarian food, and a modest but quite noticeable sign on the front door politely asks people not to come in if they are wearing fur. Since all points of this mind-set were fine with us, we entered, were seated promptly, and sat down to peruse the menu. This took some time, since offerings include many juices and juice cocktails (and wine and beer), eight appetizers (including the soup of the day), four salads (some of which look like meals in themselves), four sandwiches and burgers, eight entrees, and a variety of side dishes. For $8.95 I could choose 3 sides, which together made quite a filling and delicious meal, and when I asked the waitperson which two of the several dressings she would recommend, she brought me both. I did not have room for any of the seven listed desserts. All ingredients of each dish are listed on the menu, and the very rare non-vegan item is flagged (casein in soy cheese, bee pollen in a protein drink, honey in the tempeh bacon). Being mid-Manhatten, it was a bit pricier than Milwaukee, but not that much more, and entirely worth it. If you get the chance, find Candle Café at 1307 Third Ave. (3d Ave. and 75^th St.) in Manhatten, open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, (212) 472-0970

Ciao Café

We found a new place to eat (actually, it’s been there for a couple of years, but we just found it). It is called The Ciao Café, and despite catering to carnivores among others, it seems very veg-friendly.

The Ciao Café is located at 404 E. Silver Spring Drive in Whitefish Bay, 3 doors east of the Fox Bay Cinema, phone number (414) 906-1555, and manages on a fairly simple menu to serve diet styles from Atkins to vegan. Starters include the vegan hummus plate and the vegetarian bruschetta; salads include the vegetarian Caesar salad and the vegan garden salad and tomato-and-spice salad; wraps include the "V" Wrap (vegan) and the "F" Wrap (for felafel, also vegan); one of the subs is full of cheese but no meat, and we were enthusiastically informed that since all orders are made up fresh on the spot, a pizza could easily be made with-out cheese – and one could specify quite a few vegetarian toppings for it that they have on hand. Beverages include various coffees, chais, bottled water, and sodas.

Chuck and I each ordered a different wrap, and both were so large that each of us ate half and took half home for the next day – we certainly got out money’s worth, especially since the prices were moderate.

The décor is Italian/luncheonette, with attractive round tables that are not too small, and comfortable wood-and-metal chairs. When we were there the television was left on but with the sound down; it did not intrude on our meal. Outdoor patio seating is advertised (if the weather should ever permit). It looks like a good place for a nice casual lunch or supper, especially (not necessarily) before or after seeing a movie, and we intend to go again.

The Ciao Café serves breakfast and pastries seven days a week from 9 AM to 11; lunch and dinner are available on Sun. through Thurs. from 11 AM until 8 PM, on Fri. until 10 PM, and on Sat. until 9.

Chautara

Chautara restaurant, in Madison, WI, is located right near the State Capitol on 334 State St., phone number (608) 251-3626.

Chautara's food is Tibetan/Nepalese (though like much current Asian cuisine it prominently features potatoes – which originated in the Andes). Both lunch and dinner menus feature a variety of vegetarian offerings in addition to various meat dishes. Chuck and I each found dishes which would satisfy our palates, and the staff readily made a substitution in the side dishes accompanying Chuck's selection so as to avoid something he couldn't eat. We found the food quite tasty, although much richer/ fattier than we're used to. We probably would not drive to Madison specially to go back there, but we might well go there again – or try Chautara's sister restaurant, Himal Chuli, two doors down (but closed for vacation the day we were there) – when we find ourselves in Madison again for some other reason. Decor was attractive and related to the area the recipes derive from; prices were quite moderate; the wine was nice, too.

Ching Hwa

Chuck and I went out for dinner with friends who live in Waukesha, so I have non-East-Side restaurant to tell you about!

Ching Hwa is to be found at 1947 E. Main Street in Waukesha. Though not especially distinguished from the road, its décor once inside is noticeably nice – the upper end of predictable Chinese motifs and artistry. Yet the prices are not especially high, as the décor might lead one to expect – a most pleasant combination! The menu is extensive, and though the chef’s specialties and appetizers seem to be aimed at meat-eaters, one of the soups (Spinach Bean Curd Soup) is listed as "a vegetarian’s delight" and there are six entrees listed under vegetables. Chuck had the snow peas with black mushrooms, while I decided to save the House Vegetable Deluxe for another day and went for the Budda’s Delight, which included fried tofu. It was delightful, and my taste of Chuck’s dish was very good too. Hot tea and a plentiful bowl of white rice come with the meal; we took home leftovers from the generous entrée and so had no room for the choice of cold lychees or various glazed fruits which make up the deserts. It’s a place we would definitely eat at again.

Ching Hwa is open for lunch on Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM and on Sunday from 11 AM to 2:30. Dinner hours are Monday through Thursday from 5 PM to 10, Friday and Saturday from 5 PM to 10:30, and Sunday from 5 PM to 9:30. The phone number is (262) 544-1983.

Chin's

Chuck and I noticed an eatery going in at Oakland and Locust, where a shoe store had been, and when it was open we checked out the menu and found many vegetarian possibilities.

Chin’s offers fast-food Asian cuisine. The décor is Asian/Industrial but pleasant enough. Two of the appetizers are vegetarian/vegan, as is one of the salads. There are a variety of stir fries, including vegetable and vegetable-with-tofu, for which you choose which of several sauces you prefer; four or five of these sauces/ flavors are vegetarian, and they vary from mild to spicy. Other vegetarian selections include three of the six noodle bowls. We were happily surprised to be asked, when we ordered, whether we wanted brown or white rice, just as if brown rice was a normal option, and the menu promises no MSG. Beverages include strawberry lemonade, sodas, teas, bottled water, bottled beer, and wine by the glass.

We both found our selections quite tasty, and distinctly different from each other. I took a chance on a "mildly spicy" dish, and was pleasantly surprised to find that its spiciness level was exactly right. Chuck’s meal was considerably more oily than what he usually eats, though, and we also noticed that the tofu had been deep-fried in its pre-preparation. That much fat is a negative for him, though it probably appeals well to what most Americans prefer. There are 5 locations, two in our area: 2907 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 967-9757; and 17550 Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, (262)754-9955.

Heinemann’s

Chuck and I needed to find a place on the west side of town for a quick supper, and so discovered that Heinemann’s is quite veg-friendly.

Although mostly a mainstream restaurant, Heinemann’s features several vegetarian items on the regular menu, and at least one vegetarian special each day, and several of these items are vegan. We tried the restaurant’s own veggie burger, and were easily able to substitute their partly-whole grain bread for the white-flour roll it would ordinarily come on; it was quite tasty indeed. On another occasion I had the grilled vegetable casear salad, which was made with light lemon butter and creamily dressed but was vegan otherwise, and found it quite delicious. Other regular vegetarian items include the vegan veggie wrap, the hummus dish, and the lacto-vegetarian tortilla cheese grill, while different days’ specials include vegestrone soup, a grilled cheese dish, and a Mediterranean veggie stack. Décor was cheery and comfortable, prices were easy on the wallet, and we found the staff friendly and helpful. Beer and wine are available, as well as Heinemann’s own bakery offerings. We would go back.

There are several Heinemann’s restaurants around town: the one we went to at 18000 W. Bluemound Rd. (792-1500); and at 317 N. 76^th St (258-6800); 412 E. Silver Spring (964-6060); 333 W. Brown Deer Rd (352-2244); 2717 N. Mayfair Rd. (774-5200); and 411 E. Wisconsin Ave., (224-7800).

Lula’s Café

By reviewer Jan Taylor

Lula’s Café, featuring East African and Italian cuisine, opened earlier this year at 2921 N. Oakland Ave. The recorded soft background music enhanced the bright, cheerful atmosphere.

There is no waitstaff. You place your order at the counter with the owner, Omar Gagale, a very pleasant man who certainly knows East African cooking.

The vegetarian section of the menu featured three entrees, priced from $7.50 to $7.95.

I ordered Saharo, which was a very generous serving of cauliflower, eggplant, and mixed vegetables in a delicately spiced tomato sauce served over rice. This was accompanied by a lettuce and tomato salad with a light dressing.

Lula’s is open seven days a week from 11 AM to 9 PM. The phone number is (414) 962-1183.

Mimma's Café

Friends suggested we try Mimma’s Café on Brady Street, and we had a lovely meal there (though a bit more pricey than usual for us).

Mimma’s features Sicilian cuisine, which is usually heavy on seafood and pork, but we found an extremely vegetarian-friendly situation. We had let it be known that we’re vegetarians, and the waitperson assigned to us was a vegetarian herself, who was most helpful in determining which dishes were suitable, including suggesting which pastas were egg-free (and could be substituted for egg-containing ones in some dishes). We had multiple choices from among the entrees, whose ingredients are listed on the menu, and everything we had was truly delicious. Décor is comfortable-upscale, prices a bit more than double what we usually pay at Beans and Barley. Mimma’s is at 1307 E. Brady St., (414) 271-7337, and is open Sunday through Thurs. 5-10 PM and Friday and Saturday 5-11 PM.

Mud Pie Restaurant

Members Jody and David were in Minnesota recently, and bring back a report on a vegetarian restaurant in Minneapolis. Mud Pie Restaurant, named for one of its desserts, is at 2549 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, (612) 872-9435; "easy to find" on Lyndale Ave. about 5 blocks south of the exit from I-94.

The restaurant is nearly vegan, offering dairy substitutes for dishes usually made with soy, instead of the other way around as is more common. It features booths, tables, and an outdoor screened-in porch, and a pretty wide-ranging menu including kids’ choices, a variety of dips, Mexican foods, a Middle Eastern platter, sandwiches, various sides, and of course desserts; the menu features handy labels for vegan dishes. Our intrepid reviewers tried a tofu scrambler and the tater plate with vegetables, and a pancake for Dustin which filled the plate. They found their food excellent, abundant, tasty, and reasonably priced.

No. 1 Chinese Restaurant

By guest columnist Jan Taylor

No. 1 Chinese Restaurant, at 2678 S. Kinnikinnick (between Lincoln and Oklahoma) is pleasant, brightly lit, and very veg-friendly.

One section of their menu is Vegetarian “meat,” described as soybean protein. I think it’s probably tempeh, or something similar. All items on the menu are color-coded: black ink means mild; red ink means spicy.

I ordered Vegetable Chicken with Orange Flavor, which was so delicious that I almost licked the plate! The sauce included matchstick strips of orange rind. I was very hungry, and really ate a lot, but still had to ask for a box to take home the ample leftovers. At $8.55 this was a real bargain.

Noodle House

By Jan Taylor

The Noodle House, at 3422 W. National Ave., features Laotian and Thai food. Although they just opened on August 28^th, already they were listed in the Dining Out section of the September 5 edition of the Shepherd Express.

The atmosphere is bright and clean, having been completely remodeled and redecorated from the George Webb that previously occupied this location. There is a convenient parking lot behind the building. If you sit at one of the rear tables, you can see into the kitchen through a large window and watch the food being prepared.

The entire wait staff is very fluent in English as well as Hmong. Most of the customers were Laotian. (It is always a good sign if an ethnic restaurant has customers of that ethnicity.)

For an appetizer I ordered fresh papaya salad. The waitress asked how many peppers I wanted in it, and I was unsure how to respond. She then asked if I liked spicy food, and when I said "Yes" she suggested two peppers. The resulting salad was, indeed, very spicy.

Although the vegetarian section of the menu has only two items, some of the other entrees can be prepared vegetarian on request. I ordered Pad String Beans, which usually contains chicken, which they left out for me. I received a generous serving of crisp green beans with bamboo shoots in a delicious ginger-garlic sauce, accompanied by a bowl of rice.

I will definitely return to this restaurant. It’s open Sun.-Thurs., 10:30 AM – 9 PM, and Fri. and Sat. 10 AM-11 PM. (414) 672-6693

Old Siam

by guest reviewer Jan Taylor

There's a new veg-friendly restaurant in town, and it deserves our patronage. Old Siam, at 2301 W. Wisconsin Ave., opened in May 2001.

Each item on their very extensive menu is described in great, mouth-watering detail. There are a variety of appetizers, salads, soups, fried rice dishes, and noodle dishes, as well as quite a few entrees. In addition, many of the entrees have subheadings: you can order them either with chicken, pork, or beef; or with shrimp or squid; or with tofu or just no meat; and a note at the bottom of the menu explains that all the dishes can be prepared as vegetarian dishes at a patron's request. Furthermore, with the spicy dishes you have a choice of four degrees of spiciness. Most of the tofu dishes are priced at $7.95.

There were so many items I wanted to try that I had real difficulty making a decision. (I will have to go back again.) The dish I chose was The Rama Dish, which consisted of a very generous portion of tofu, onions, broccoli, and other vegetables in a homemade peanut sauce, on a bed of rice. It was delicious, and very enjoyable.

Old Siam is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday 11 AM to 10 PM, Saturday 4 PM to 10 PM, and Sunday 4 PM to 9 PM. A luncheon buffet at $5.95 is served Monday through Friday from 11 to 2. Free parking is available. Phone number is (414) 934-8882.

By guest columnist Jan Taylor

Rice Palace Asian Cuisine

There’s a new veg-friendly restaurant in town. Rice Palace Asian Cuisine, at 3730 W. National Ave., opened this summer. The pleasant décor is one of understated elegance, with very soft background music. On a hot summer evening, the air conditioning was welcome (and not overdone!)

The very extensive menu includes soups, salads, fried rice, fried noodles, entrees, and desserts. Nine of the entrees consist of various combinations of vegetables, which can be ordered with meat or with tofu.

Several dishes are spicy, as indicated by a small red pepper next to the menu listing. I was lamenting the fact that the dish I was considering was not spicy, and the waitress said she could bring me a side order of red pepper sauce.

Each entrée is accompanied by a large serving of rice, and a dinner salad that is arranged on the plate very artistically. Servings are very generous, and could easily be shared by two people. Most of the vegetarian entrees are priced at $8.95 or $9.95.

Rice Palace Asian Cuisine is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM; phone is (414) 383-3156.

Riverwest Co-op Café

Chuck and I went to the Riverwest Co-op Café to try it out, and the report is good.

Opened quite recently, the café is friendly and informal in atmosphere, with half a dozen or so small round tables and local-looking art on the walls. Although open into the evening, it is more of a lunch or quick-bite kind of place than a dinner venue. But the menu will make it of considerable interest to the MARV community. There is a Soup of the Day and a Grain Dish of the Day, coffee, various teas which will be brewed up for you in a nifty little socklike cloth, eight different smoothies, and about half a dozen kinds of vegan bakery, in addition to the 10 different sandwiches. Only one of these features tuna, one egg salad, and one cheese; the other seven are vegan and vary from barbequed tofu to hummus, tempeh spring roll, black bean and veggie burrito, tamales, and various other vegetable-based concoctions. I tried the hummus wrap and tea; Chuck had the barbequed tofu and a cup of vegan potato soup. Both were delicious, although Chuck’s was fattier than he’s used to, and next time he’ll ask for mustard instead of veganaise mayo. Since everything is made fresh on the spot, substitutions will be easy, and the menu mentions that smoothies can be made with cow’s milk, rice milk, or soymilk as you prefer.

Seva

by guest reviewer Jody Johnson

If your travels take you toward the Detroit area, stop in Ann Arbor at the vegetarian/vegan restaurant Seva for "fresh imaginative vegetarian cuisine." You will not be disappointed. It has an inviting raised deck for outdoor dining; the interior is spacious, stylish, and large. The "bar" at this restaurant has wheatgrass growing on it for juicing. They have a juice bar menu, a wine list, and a dessert menu as well as food, and much of the food is organic. Prices range from $5.95 for a lunch salad plate to $10.95 for their Spicy Green Curry. I had a chargrilled vegetable salad of mushrooms, red and yellow peppers, red onions and zucchini on a bed of romaine lettuce with croutons. The tahini dressing made it one of the best salads I’ve tasted! Dustin liked their soy "sausage" and David had the Indian Summer Pita with guacamole, fresh sunflower sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, lettuce and shredded carrots. The menu indicated which entrees are vegan, can be ordered vegan, or are low fat. It took us some time to order because the menu covered 6 or 7 pages with appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and chargrilled entrees. Items available include Mexican food, curries, stir-frys, and breakfast (served all day except for the pancakes and omelettes). We never had room left to try the vegan chocolate cake! Seva is at 314 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, MI, (734) 662-1111, open Mon.-Thurs.10:30-9, Fri./Sat. til 10 PM, Sun 10-3 brunch, 3-9 dinner. [Chuck, who has also eaten at Seva, agrees on its excellence.]

Sahar

We went to a restaurant we had not previously tried, although it seems to have been there awhile, and found it quite acceptable.

Sahar Persian Cuisine, located downtown, has vegetarian menu sections for both lunch and dinner. The $7 lunch buffet features quite a few vegetarian dishes, and there are six vegetarian lunch menu selections as well. The dinner menu offers five vegetarian appetizers and six vegetarian entrees. Entrees include a cup of vegan lentil soup as well as a complimentary appetizer of warm pita quarters with a plate of feta cheese cubes, radish slices, fresh parsley, and onion, with which one can make a nifty little sandwich, either vegan or vegetarian depending on the items one chooses.

This does raise the point that Sahar offers rather more choices for lacto-vegetarians than for vegans, since a number of its dishes incorporate either feta cheese or yogurt. Of the dinner appetizers on the menu, for example, only two are vegan, and only four of the dinner entries are vegan (two of which, unfortunately for Chuck, contain eggplant, thus leaving him with a choice only of dolmeh – stuffed grape leaves – or koofteh, which are seasoned fried chickpea balls in sauce and very tasty). Beverages include wine, juice, lemonade, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and an interesting item called doorgh which involves yogurt (again), mineral water and mint and would be extremely thirst-quenching in a hot climate. In general, we found the food quite tasty, and the prices quite reasonable.

Both times we went, we noticed that a good percentage of the clientele looked distinctly Middle-Eastern, which was heartening, since customers whose native food is the type of fare offered is usually a good guide to relatively authentic ethnic fare. The entryway is shared by the entry to a Cousins restaurant, and very plate-glass luncheonetty, but inside Sahar the décor includes some very nice murals and painted tiles. We found the waitstaff helpful and friendly, though in an uninvolved way.

Sahar is located at 307 E. Wisconsin Ave., phone number 270-0970. The lunch buffet is available Monday-Friday from 11 AM to 2:30 PM, and the restaurant in open for lunch from the menu on Saturday as well, and for dinner Monday through Saturday.

Sa Wat Dee

Chuck and I have friends in Menomonee Falls who enjoy an odd phenomenon: a local restaurant that has changed hands and therefore cuisines several times in their experience. I reviewed it a while ago when it was a Chinese restaurant, and its décor still partly recalls when it was a German restaurant, but now it is a Thai eatery. We ate there recently, and found its new incarnation to be very good.

Sa Wat Dee Thai restaurant has a quite extensive menu, including both Thai and Chinese dishes, of which a handful of items are vegetarian. Possibilities include som tum (a bean sprout and papaya salad), vegetable fried rice, vegetable subgum or chop suey, vegetable Cantonese chow mein, vegetable lo mein, and six items on the “vegetarian menu” section. The menu notes that only vegetable oil is used in their cooking.

Asterisks on the menu warn which dishes are spicy-hot, and as I accidentally discovered, that means very hot (though also tasty). But I was able to order an excellent moo shu vegetable platter with no heat at all, which I enjoyed that night and again when I ate the other half of it as lunch two days later – serving sizes were generous.

Sultan’s Family Restaurant

By guest reviewer Jan Taylor

There’s a new Middle Eastern restaurant in town. The Sultan’s Family Restaurant, at 3800 W. National, opened earlier this spring (2002).

The atmosphere is pleasant, with large photographs of Arabic scenes on the walls, and recorded Arabic music playing softly in the background. They have live Arabic music on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 9 PM.

Although the menu does not have any veggie dinners, it has many vegan appetizers and many vegan salads, as well as a side order of saffron rice with peas and carrots. Beverages include lemonade, orange juice, tea with mint/sage, Turkish coffee, and American coffee.

I figured that one appetizer and one salad would constitute a filling lunch, and I was right. From the appetizer list I chose Baba Ghanouj, a deliciously-seasoned eggplant puree, served with pita bread, at $3.95. To accompany it I ordered Tahini Salad: finely chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and parsley, with a tahini and lemon juice dressing, at $3.50.

(Next time I have to remember to ask them not to put olive oil on top of the Baba Ghanouj. Apparently this is common in Middle Eastern cooking. I have often seen hummus served with a puddle of olive oil on top.)

Sultan’s is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to midnight, Saturday from 8 AM to 2 AM, and Sunday from 8 AM to 10 PM. The phone number is (414) 647-9920.

 West End Gallery

We ate a lunch in a place that is not your usual restaurant, nor especially vegan (though it could easily become vegan-friendly – but we know the people and it was delicious, so I will review it anyway.

West End Gallery, on the corner of Vliet and 50^th St., started out as a gallery for the display and sale of really nice crafts and art (furniture, pictures, blacksmithery, and so on), as well as the sale of nice wines. It has now expanded into offering snacks and lunches along with the wines, and since some of the blacksmithery on display there was made by Chuck, we naturally had to give the place a try.

It is now called the Flying Hicca, and offers an omniverous menu. One of the three sandwiches is vegetarian (the roasted eggplant humus, sprouts, gouda, and tomato sandwich), and since all food is made up fresh when ordered you could surely request it without the gouda cheese. Similarly, all three salads are vegetarian and one (apple salad with tarragon walnut vinaigrette) is naturally vegan. Appetizers include wonderful “house cured olives” served with breadsticks, and the multiple-choice “house cheese plate” could easily become a choice of breads and fruits instead of choices of breads, fruits, and cheeses. We had really delicious lunch (with wine, of course), and though it was a bit pricier than our usual lunches the upscale gallery décor was wonder-fully different. Hours are a bit in flux at this time, and may change between summer and winter hours, so phone (414) 431-1390 for further information.

Whole Foods Market

The new Whole Foods Market, as noted last month, has substantial eat-in facilities: a huge salad bar, a hot food bar, cases of food to take out or eat in, an Asian foods kiosk with hot and cold items, dessert bar, beer and brats bar, and coffee bar. In two lunches Chuck and I have only begun to tap the possibilities.

The first time we ate there, I chose the salad bar because there were few vegetarian (and no vegan) options at the hot bar. So I wrote a comment for the store’s suggestion box – and when I looked again, about 10 days later, there were numerous vegetarian and several vegan options at the hot bar. I sampled them on my second trip, along with a couple of salad bar things (easy to combine since both hot bar and salad bar sell for the same $6.99 per pound). Chuck, after noticing another customer at the hot bar being careless where he put his spoon back, preferred the Asian food kiosk, which also had vegan options and used tin foil on their grill to keep vegetarian and meat foods separate. Our various choices were tasty, distinctive, and filling; Chuck was pleased that his meal was refreshingly not oversized. We can highly recommend this place for on-the-fly eating.

I also spot-checked prices, and found Whole Foods generally cheaper that Outpost, often a lot cheaper; the “365” store brand even beats out our direct-from-warehouse buying club.

Whole Foods Market is at the corner of E. North Ave. and N. Prospect, and is open from 8 AM until 10 PM seven days a week. Prepared food is served from10 AM to 10 PM.