Williamsburg offers something for every vegetarian to love
Let’s face it: Dining out as a vegetarian can often mean eating a meal of side items, or taking your chances with a measly menu selection. Williamsburg restaurants abound with inventive and satisfying selections that make the most of the region’s fresh bounty.
Where to go, what to try
It’s easy to please the pickiest of palates at Food for Thought, where an abundance of vegetarian-friendly salads, noodle dishes, and sandwiches can be customized with hearty portobello mushrooms, tofu, vegan cilantro-lime “chicken,” and Beyond Burgers ®. The “Garden of Eden” section of the menu caters specifically to veggie lovers, with a selection of meat-free mains like roasted spaghetti squash tossed with sun-dried tomato pesto. Open: 11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., with extended hours Friday and Saturday until 9 p.m.
India has the highest number of vegetarians in the world, so cooking meat-free comes naturally at Amiraj – Modern Indian Kitchen. Traditionalists can enjoy more than a dozen vegetarian-friendly main courses like chana masala (chickpeas and diced potatoes), or opt for contemporary selections including paneer cheese and vegetable shashlik with Punjabi marinade, cooked on a tandoori grill. Amiraj prides itself on innovating Indian favorites, using ingredients like mango powder or iris water in traditional recipes. Sauces such as cashew-garlic-pomegranate, and apricot cream, are house-made fresh daily. Open daily: lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., dinner Sunday-Thursday 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
It’s no surprise for those who visit The Hound’s Tale that there’s a myriad of mouth-watering vegetarian options. Owners Michelle and Steve Sieling are animal lovers who’ve set up seating outside for patrons to admire the two-legged and four-legged foot traffic. Or, at a cozy table inside, warm up to savory favorites which include: steaming potato and chickpea curry, earthy beet salad, fried Brussels sprouts, and a perfectly poached pear salad studded with gorgonzola, candied pecans, and baby arugula. There are even vegetarian options on the “puppy chow” kids menu, like sweet potato and black bean enchiladas. Open: Tuesday - Sunday 4 - 10 p.m.
Emerald Thai brings on the green veggies and so much more, with a menu laden with fresh garden rolls, crisp vegetable tempura, steamy tofu and vegetable soup, and sweet papaya salad. For those who eat with their eyes, the open kitchen is a particularly fun treat. Open daily: Dinner menu offered Sunday - Monday - Friday 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., dinner 4 p.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday - Sunday 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
