Blue Collar

★★★★
6730 Biscayne Blvd. / Miami / 305.756.0366

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes

Vegan-friendly: Yes

Blue Collar (in the former American Noodle Bar spot) serves new-school American comfort food and excels in veggie-friendliness.  They also have thoughtful, cute touches like thermoses full of Panther coffee and paint buckets to chill your bubbly.

On to the food!  Their "Veg Chalkboard" is one of my favorite options in Miami: a massive list of 20+ veggie and carb sides that can be purchased individually for $4 each, or you can get four of them for $14.  I am a Brussels sprouts aficionado and their caramelized ones don't disappoint.  

Blue Collar also has a house-made veggie burger which I believe is vegan.  For the non-vegans their Mac (with cavatappi, trugole, chedder and parm) and Chanuka Latkes are to die for.  Note: this place is popular, and TINY.  Don't come in a large group, and if you're more than two head out early or late to ensure a seat.    

$$
bluecollarmiami.com

-Review by Lolo

Yard House

★★★★
320 San Lorenzo Ave. / Coral Gables / 305.447.9273
601 Silks Run / Hallandale Beach / 954.454.9950

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes

Vegan-friendly: Yes

At first glance, Yard House could easily be mistaken for just another upscale sports bar (after all the one I went to is in Merrick Park, one of Miami's schmanciest shopping centers).  However, all it takes is one solid read through the menu to realize that someone there knows what's UP.

One word: Gardein.  They have an entire section on the menu dedicated to dishes featuring this fantastic meat substitute that's winning vegetarian and omnivore fans alike (my omni boyfriend is obsessed), featuring everything from Sliders to a BBQ Chicken Salad.  You can also have any of their burger variants with a Gardein patty instead of meat.  

Yard House sets a great example for modern restaurants.  Why NOT carry a substitute protein, now that they're readily available and often less expensive than actual meat?  There are huge movements dedicated to "Meatless Mondays", being a "Weekday Vegetarian", and so on, so it's great to see a growing chain like Yard House leading the way.  They also have a squillion beers on tap (to find out which ones are vegan, check Barnivore.com).

$$
yardhouse.com

-Review by Lolo

MAOZ Miami Beach

1657 Washington Ave. / Miami Beach / 305.534.MAOZ [6269]

Vegetarian-friendly: 100%

Vegan-friendly: Yes

We've already posted that there is a MAOZ in Boca but we're so excited because now there's one right on South Beach!  It's on Washington just across from the Fillmore so here's hoping they stay open late(r) for post-concert munchies.

The premise of this Amsterdam-originated chain is simple: they serve up crispy falafel, either in a sandwich or on a salad.  You can start with "premium" add-ons (avocado, feta, hard-boiled egg), and/or just deck it out at the Salad bar, which has everything from roasted veggies to tabbouleh, salsa and sauces.

Maoz also has Belgian fries, daily vegetarian soups, reasonably-priced fresh juices, and great graphic design.  It's CHEAP too, $5.95 for the sandwich, $7.95 for the salad, with combo deals available.  They also cater so keep that in mind for your next event.  Hoping to see many more of these pop up around South Florida!

$ 

maozusa.com

Woodlands Indian Cuisine

4816 N University Dr. / Lauderhill / 954.749.3241

Vegetarian-friendly: 100%

Vegan-friendly: Yes

Guest review by Emerge Miamian Sara Yousuf
 
Woodlands is a fully-vegetarian Indian restaurant and their menu is enormous!  Appetizers, sides, soups, dosa (super thin stuffed crepes), uthappam (lentil and rice cakes), house specialties, dinner specials, pullavs (rice specialties), curries, breads and desserts.  No dessert is priced at over $3.50, and each one would rival those made by my Indian-born grandmother.  

 

I had a delightful daal served with rice and raita for a mere $6.50!  A giant set meal including, coffee or tea, soup, an appetizer, a main dish, and various other treats goes for $13.50, and is probably enough to fill you up and provide you with lunch for the following day.  A vegan can easily order a satisfying meal from Woodlands' array of daals, samosas and soups (anything with paneer, and many of the kormas will have dairy in them).  The spicy "rasam" soup was the best, I never wanted it to end!  Also, the samosas were wonderful and the potato and pea filling was perfectly seasoned.  They were fried to perfection, and served VERY hot with two types of chutney.  Surprisingly, the coffee is also fantastic.  There are hints of spice in it, and it is served steamed (with milk in it) and frothy on top.  

 

My main critique is that the ambiance doesn't feel like a fine Indian restaurant.  At the same time, I appreciate the fact that the prices are so low, and I imagine that if the place was spruced up, the prices would increase as well.  I'll take my restaurants affordable, delicious and slightly dive-y.  The service however, is fantastic.  It seems like every employee has a personal stake in your experience there, and every waiter makes sure that each table is happy.  Recommended!

$ 

woodlandsus.com

Choices Cafe

379 SW 15th Road / Miami / 305.400.8895

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes 

Vegan-friendly: 100%

I know I took forever to add Choices but they've become one of the best vegan spots in Miami (in the old Om Garden space in The Roads).  They've got a huge menu of juices, smoothies, salads, sides, wraps, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, stews, pizza, burritos and beyond.  On weekends they do customizable pancakes which are fantastic (who knew a savory kale and onion buckwheat pancake would be so damn good?) and literally everything I've tried there has been delicious, savory and not overprices as some veg places can be.  

The place is called Choices because you can eat any "style" from completely raw to hearty cooked food, and everything there is vegan.  The staff are great and they throw vegan-related events too.  Highly recommended!

$ 

mychoicescafe.com

The Meatball Joint

1570 Alton Road / Miami Beach / 305.695.9441

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes 

Vegan-friendly: Not really






[I'm sad to write that The Meatball Joint is closed as of February 2013.  We hope it resurrects somewhere, maybe off the beach?  In the meantime Bernie's L.A. Cafe next door is still awesome.]
 
When I heard that Bernie Matz of the Cafe at Books & Books and Bernie's L.A. Cafe had a new meatball-themed restaurant opening, I immediately put it on my list (even though it literally has "meat" in the name) as both of his other places are exceptionally vegetarian-friendly.  Over the summer I had tried a meatball place in NY and was disappointed so I was hoping this one would be better, and I'm happy to say it definitely was.  The Meatball Joint is on Alton Road a block south of Lincoln, directly next door to Bernie's and their slogan is "BEER, WINE, BALLS" so you know what you're getting into.  Their menu is a laminated form you write on with markers to indicate your ball and sauce preferences.

One of the three main ball choices is the vegetarian "West Hollywood" which is made of eggplant, herbs and Parmesan.  I'm pretty sure there were some mushrooms in there as well.  In NY the veggie balls were dry and crumbly but these were moist and well-seasoned.  The sauce options are a fantastic marinara, a very tasty Alfredo, and a chunky mushroom gravy.  There are always specials too, and they day I was there they had a falafel ball that was spot-on.  

You can get your balls on a plate, smushed on a sandwich or as "sliders" on little buns.  They have an awesome happy hour on weekdays from 3-6 where drinks are reduced and the sliders are only $1.50 each.  I could barely finish three of them so it was a great deal.

They also have a huge selection of sides that are all vegetarian.  The day I was there the "Sauteed Greens of the Day" was a delicious plate of kale and onions in a balsamic/tomato sauce.  The normal veg of the day was a slightly boring dish of roasted cauliflower, carrots, a Brussels sprout (literally one) and pear.  It could've used some sauce or seasoning; we ended up dunking it in the leftover slider sauces.  The winner of the sides though was their mac and cheese casserole which was decadently gooey and had a crispy layer of cornflakes baked on top of it.

All in all despite the name The Meatball Joint is another great vegetarian option on South Beach.  Thanks Bernie!  Keep up the good work.

$ 
themeatballjoint.com

Mushaboom Food Truck

Follow on @mushaboomvegan on Twitter for location info

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes
Vegan-friendly: Yes

Mushaboom is a fully vegan burger truck now tooling around Miami that serves large, satisfying vegan fare.  They have four main burgers (Falafel, Black Bean, Chickpea Parmigiana and Portobello) and all are above-and-beyond delicious.  They use Daiya for the cheese and for sides they offer french fries or 'shroom skewers.  Each burger is $9 or you can get smaller "slider" versions for $4.50.  The only thing I thought was strange is that they only have white buns - no wheat or whole grain [Edit: they now have Ezekiel buns - yay!].  However, all the burgers are also available atop a side salad if you want to avoid carbs altogether (and two of the burgers are gluten-free as well).  Either way, factor in vegan chocolate chip cookies for dessert and that makes Mushaboom one more A+ option for vegans, vegetarians and meat-reducers in Miami.

$
mushaboomvegan.com

Cafe Prima Pasta

414 71st St. / Miami Beach / 305.867.0106

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes 
Vegan-friendly: Somewhat 

[Full disclosure: I was invited to a dinner here on the house.  As always, my reviews remain unbiased.]

Italian restaurants are vegetarian-friendly by default: noodles and tomato sauce, what could be easier?  However, finding something delicious to eat beyond eggplant parmigiana is less common.  Cafe Prima Pasta is trying to change that with their "Veg Out Tuesdays" six-course vegetarian tasting menu, as well as a regular menu of vegetarian options (though I believe you need to specifically ask for it when you go).

The tasting menu was great, a full review of it can be found here.  My personal favorites of the night were the Grillata (an insanely perfect plate of grilled vegetables), the zucchini rolls with sun-dried tomato and arugula, and the fiocci alla pera (pasta "packages" filled with cheese and pear).  Some items on the main menu are vegan-able, and they were very accommodating to requests.

It's a cozy, dimly-lit spot perfect for a date, the service was impeccable, and they have a renowned early bird special.  I seriously can't wait to go back just for the Grillata... Recommended!

$$
primapasta.com

Darbster

8020 S Dixie Hwy / West Palm Beach / 561.586.2622

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes
Vegan-friendly: Yes

Oh Darbster, how I wish I lived closer to thee. Several months back my friend and I made a pilgrimage to West Palm Beach to eat at the much-heralded vegetarian bistro Darbster (okay, and South Florida's only H&M).  To fuel up for our shopping excursion we hit Darbster first.  It's a cute little indoor/outdoor spot located next to a canal, and the menu is a smorgasbord of creative, veg-ified comfort food dishes (like palm cakes made with hearts of palm instead of crab cakes).  The prices are reasonable and everything looked so good it was hard to pick.  Here's what we ate:

Chicken Caesar wrap

Steak sandwich with a side of mac & cheese

Raspberry cheesecake!

All the food was delicious - for real delicious, not just "delicious for veggie food" - and the cheesecake was amongst the best I've ever had.  Judging by all the updates and photos on their Facebook page, they seem to be doing well.  Here's hoping to a long future for them, and perhaps one day another location further south!

$$
darbster.com

Copper Chimney

18090 Collins Ave / Sunny Isles / 305.974.0075

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes
Vegan-friendly: No
 
Review by David Rolland of pablochiste.com

I'm a sucker for the all you can eat Indian buffet, but sometimes I get myself in trouble challenging the elasticity of my stomach. Copper Chimney an Indian restaurant in Sunny Isles provides an interesting alternative. They have a buffet on Sundays for $16.95, but on weekdays from 12-4pm they offer a lunch special  for $12.95.  The only problem for vegans is that the six vegetarian options all have dairy as ghee (clarified butter) is a common ingredient in Indian cooking. Fortunately the server spoke to the cooks and they are able to offer several vegan options. The dinner menu was filled with even more vegetarian entrees (many of which were priced at $12), but again if you are vegan you must specially request your food not to have dairy.

Copper Chimney's atmosphere is very fine, but unfortunately when I went there a bachelorette party took up the dining area. So we were seated outside where the servers were good natured, very attentive and glad to accommodate my picky vegan requests.
 
When the food came I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the serving. The portions are quite generous, but fixed so you don't eat so much that you need a wheelbarrow to take you out. I ordered the mushroom masala which was cooked in a savory tomato sauce. The lunch special also included an equal sized "side" of vegetable masala which had a tasty blend of carrots, peas, cauliflower, and broccoli. There was a fresh spinach salad with a pomegranate dressing, a pakora (which is a fried dumpling), a piece of nan (flat bread), and spiced Basmati rice. All the ingredients were quite fresh. I asked for medium spice which was actually quite mild, so fans of heat should not be afraid to request their food as spicy. But even without that extra kick the food was flavorful enough  that I am excited to make a return lunch visit and hopefully there won't be a bachelorette party, so I can enjoy the restaurant's ornate decorations.
 
$$

copper-chimney.com

El Vato Taco & Tequila Bar

1010 South Miami Avenue / Brickell / 305.523.6449

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes
Vegan-friendly: Yes

El Vato Tequila and Taco Bar is an oasis of casual, veg-friendly Mexican food in the bustling Mary Brickell Village area.  The interior is modern LA/Mexi style with skulls, glitter, graffiti, low-riders and loud music.  

The menu consists of the basics (enchiladas, burritos, and so on) but they explicitly state that anything on the menu can be made vegetarian or vegan because they actually stock veggie crumble AND Daiya cheese!  I couldn't remember the last time I'd had a gooey, melty quesadilla so I ordered one and the Daiya definitely did the trick.  It was fabulous and my non-vegan cohorts agreed.

Their guacamole is fresh and all the food is very reasonably priced, but I do wish their drinks were a touch cheaper–or stronger.  I'm a lightweight when it comes to tequila and two $13 margaritas didn't do it for me (I'll have to look into their happy hours...). For just eats though, El Vato is a great option.

$
elvatobar.com

twitter.com/ElVatoBar

Vegetarian Restaurant By Hakin

 
73 NE 167 Street / North Miami / 305.405.6346

Vegetarian-friendly: Yes
Vegan-friendly: Yes

Review by David Rolland of pablochiste.com

It's funny how vegan is still considered a bad word. I've been ensured by Hakin (the owner of Vegetarian Restaurant By Hakin) that every item at his restaurant is fully vegan, but like many establishemnts in South Florida it seems that using the five letter v word in his restaurant's title could scare off more prospective customers than it would bring in. Fortunately on a Thursday afternoon the restaurant had a nice crowd.

The erasable markerboard shows what's available on the ever-changing menu and behind the display case you can see what the day's dinner plate looks like as well as other items on the menu like the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich, the fruit pancakes or the veggie wrap. Don't let the exhibition fool you, the food is made to order and you will wait a bit for your food, but the servers are friendly and willing to talk the faults of the Miami Heat with you as you wait.

I was told Tuesday's barbecue rib plate is the dinner to get. But I still enjoyed Thursday's offering. For $8.95 I got some delicious faux meatballs, a slightly too salty fake beef stew, great lentils with a complimentary vegetable rice, and a fresh green salad with a homemade mango vinaigrette sauce.


For dessert I tried the tiramisu for $5.95. This was extremely rich, but left me a little unsatisfied as my previous foray in their $3.95 coconut cake had. The only flavor in each cake was excessive sweetness. They were pleasant enough, but I don't feel the need to order either item again on what I hope to be countless returns to this fine vegan restaurant.

$
ingaambrosia.com/hakin