Top 10 vegetarian entrees in Winston-Salem, Part 1
In honor of National Meatout day Saturday, Julie and I decided to share our lists of the Top 10 vegetarian entrees that you can get in restaurants in Winston-Salem. Maybe our lists will give you a new idea of someplace to go out to eat to celebrate the day. Today, here’s my list (check back tomorrow for Julie’s):
1. Chef’s Vegetable Tasting at Bleu: This changes from day to day, depending on the chef’s whim and what vegetables are fresh, so it’s a bit of a leap of faith to rank it No. 1. But the plate I had at a recent dinner was so exceptional, it had to be done. That plate included two big slabs of tofu with Asian-style vegetables, an artichoke-and-sundried-tomato risotto, and peas and mushrooms. All the vegetarians at the table who ordered it agreed that it was one of the best things we’d ever eaten.
2. Artichoke Cakes Benedict at Finnigan’s Wake: Finnigan’s Wake is a vegetarian-friendly place – especially for an Irish pub! – but my favorite dish is served only at brunch. Imagine crab cakes with artichokes instead of crab. Excellent! They’re served with a side of hashed white and sweet potatoes and a broiled tomato for a filling brunch entree.
3. Vermicelli Salad with Tofu at Xia: (above) A huge bowl of rice noodles, lettuce, cilantro, cucumber, carrots, peanuts and a sliced spring roll. It comes without tofu, but ask them to add it for $1 more – it’s definitely worth it, with its crispy, lemongrassy coating. The spicy, vinegary sauce that comes with the salad on the side is too hot for me, but I don’t even miss it. It’s a perfect, filling meal for a warm day – but sometimes I crave it even when it’s cold outside.
4. Vegetarian Thali at Nawab: Indian restaurants are almost always vegetarian-friendly, and Nawab is no exception. Can’t decide which entree to get? Try their vegetarian combination meal. It comes with vegetable korma (which almost made my list by itself), palak paneer, chana masala, rice and bread, PLUS an appetizer (a samosa) and dessert. This is a great pick when you want some variety. And I almost always have leftovers, which can be even better the next day.
5. Pho Vegetables and Tofu at Soups: (above) When the icy winter wind is howling down Fourth Street, there’s nothing better to tuck into than a huge, steaming bowl of soup at Soups. There’s just one vegetarian soup (along with a couple of entrees), but it’s fabulous: Tofu and a wealth of vegetables (broccoli, carrots, snow peas, mushrooms, baby corn) come in a savory, flavorful broth. No weak, watery broth here.You get lime wedges, bean sprouts, hot peppers, and cilantro or Thai basil on the side so that you can doctor it up how you like. Want it hotter? There’s a spice wheel provided for that, too.
6. BBQ Tofu Sandwich at Mary’s Of Course: Messy to eat but oh-so-good. A mound of tofu, slathered in BBQ sauce and piled on a bun with cole slaw and Swiss cheese. It’s a great vegetarian comfort food, simple but memorable, and one that I’ve often re-created at home. You can also get it made with tempeh instead of tofu.
7. Tofu Pad Woonsen at Cha Da Thai: I love Thai food, and my go-to dish is pad woonsen. I love the interplay of the thin rice noodles, eggs, vegetables, tofu and light sauce. And whenever you order a dish with tofu, they make sure to ask if it’s OK if there’s egg in it, in case you’re vegan – a thoughtful, with-it touch.
8. Vegetable platter at the Greek Festival: OK, this one is a cheat, since it’s available only twice a year and it’s not at a restaurant, but it’s something I look forward to every time. It’s a great deal compared to the meaty entrees: spanakopita (above), rice, bread, a Greek salad and those yummy, tomato-sauced green beans.
9. Sides sampler plate at Mooney’s Mediterranean Cafe: A gem of a restaurant at the corner of Fourth and Liberty streets, this Lebanese place offers several vegetarian dishes. The best bet is a sampler plate of four sides, served with pita bread. My favorites include falafel, summer couscous, herb-heavy tabouli and the smoothest hummus I’ve ever had. In fact, the hummus is so good, it’s almost ruined all other hummus for me.
10. Spinach Feta Pizza at Burke Street Pizza: Sometimes nothing hits the spot quite like a big slice of pizza, and this is perhaps the city’s best vegetarian option. It’s practically impossible to stop with just one slice. Now, if Burke Street only used fresh mushrooms instead of the unfortunate canned variety, it would be the perfect slice.
To find out more about Meatout, go here.
