Best of the City
Best Vegetarian 2009
Chefs are finally providing herbivores with delicious, filling and intriguing entrées. These are the city’s best
Image credit: Jack Dylan
The grilled veggie burger at Big Mamma’s Boy is appropriately enormous. Two gargantuan slices of grilled sourdough encase a portobello cap that’s stuffed with a hearty mash of kidney beans, chickpeas, butter beans, carrots and kale. Each bite offers satisfying crunch and velvety smokiness. $13. 554 Parliament St. (at Prospect St.), 416-927-1593.
The crispy, change purse–size dumpling at Fressen is all crackling phyllo outside and creamy cashew, mushroom and spinach pesto inside. A garlic-zinged spinach–basil oil sauce makes a smooth accompaniment. $9.
Kamasutra’s malai kofta brings two raisin-studded paneer-and-potato dumplings in a fenugreek-scented pool of tomato and cashew purée. With an extra touch of cream, it’s an indulgence fit for a raj. $10.95.
The vegetarian ragoût at La Palette delivers a cute butternut squash bowl filled with braised seasonal root vegetables and mushrooms. The accompanying cheddary polenta, flecked with kale and shiitakes, is paradoxically light yet rich. $22.
Local tofu gets reincarnated as carpaccio in the seasonal ratatouille at Silver Spoon. Smoked, sliced and dolled up with playful dots of red (chili) and green (herb) oil, it’s fanned out charcuterie-style alongside a satisfying stack of perfectly sautéed organic veg in a tomato reduction. $19.
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Fressen has the worst service! Don't go there unless you want to wait forever for attention by servers with bad attitudes.
April 28, 2009 | by thomintorontoHow can you overlook Fresh in an article about Vegetarian dining in Toronto? I love Fresh because they actually get what real vegetarian is about.
April 28, 2009 | by dinavieiraFresh can be over-looked because it's over-rated and over-priced. Food is mediocre at best.
To set the record straight the BEST veggie burger can be found at Canyon Creek. Amazing value for the tastiest burger in the city (or anywhere that I've tried). I know the burger has recently changed slightly and the price has gone up a few bucks, but it's supposedly still amazing. Have it with the fries because Canyon Creek's shoestring fries are delicious and cooked to crispy perfection.
July 21, 2010 | by City_Dweller