Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Natural Foods Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada

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• Vegetarian restaurant
•• Vegan restaurant
§ Reviewer's choice

Indiana

Bloomington

Laughing Planet Café

322 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47408

(812) 323-2233

Mexican. The Laughing Planet Café is a funky, eclectic spot to grab a quick and inexpensive bite. Their menu is largely vegetarian and vegan, as well as organic. Locally-sourced ingredients are used whenever possible. Burritos are their specialty, but they also offer salads, soups, quesadillas, and veggie burgers. Baked tofu, seitan, soy cheese, and vegan sour cream are available. If you are in their delivery area, your food will arrive by bicycle. Located in Kirkwood Manor, an old Victorian house, Laughing Planet is only a few blocks from Indiana University. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Limited service, vegan options, take-out, delivery, VISA/MC, $-$$.

Roots

124 N. Walnut St., Bloomington, IN 47404

(812) 336-7668

Natural foods. Roots offers a very veg-friendly menu (seafood being the only exception) in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Enjoy such items as Country Fried Seitan, Southwest Black Bean Burger, Spinach Portobello Lasagna, or Thai Peanut Curried Noodles. You can add tofu, tempeh, or seitan to any salad. Make sure to choose from their extensive selection of beverages including juices, tonics, teas, and shakes. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Open Sunday for brunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, fresh juices, smoothies, espresso/cappuccino, special beverages, VISA/MC, $-$$.

Soma Coffeehouse & Juice Bar

322 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47408

(812) 331-2770

Coffeehouse/juice bar. Soma Coffeehouse & Juice Bar offers specialty coffee drinks and fresh juices as well as baked goods and snacks. Vegan items are noted on the menu. They use organic and local ingredients whenever possible. Soma is located below the Laughing Planet Café on Grant Street; just look for the orange and purple door! Open daily. Counter service, vegan options, take-out, espresso/cappuccino, soymilk, smoothies, fresh juices, VISA/MC/AMEX, $.

·The Owlery Restaurant

118 W. 6th St., Bloomington, IN 47404

(812) 333-7344

Vegetarian/American/eclectic. Named after a place in the Harry Potter series, The Owlery Restaurant offers vegan and vegetarian sandwiches and is located on the north side of Bloomington's downtown square. The menu includes a Philly, 'Cheesesteak' made with vegan cheese and seitan, 'Fish' and Chips, and BBQ Tofu Ribs. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Open Sunday for brunch. Full service, vegan options, take-out, beer, VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$.

Crown Point

(For restaurant listings in the surrounding area, see Valparaiso.)

Twin Happiness Restaurant

1188 N. Main St., Crown Point, IN 46307

(219) 663-4433

Chinese. Twin Happiness offers a large variety of vegetable and tofu dishes. Corn oil is used for cooking, and the restaurant is very willing to accommodate requests for low-salt, low-fat foods, etc. Open daily. Full service, wine/beer/alcohol, take-out, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $$.

Evansville

·Penny Lane Coffeehouse

600 SE 2nd St., Evansville, IN 47713

(812) 421-8741

Vegetarian/coffeehouse. Penny Lane Coffeehouse offers organic, vegetarian and vegan soups and sandwiches. They feature art, poetry, and live music from local artists. Located in the Haynies Corner Arts District in downtown Evansville, Penny Lane is a few blocks from the riverfront and the Indiana/Kentucky border. Open Tuesday through Sunday for three meals. Closed Monday. Limited service, vegan options, take-out, soymilk, espresso/cappuccino, smoothies, special beverages, VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$.

Fort Wayne

3 Rivers Natural Grocery & Deli

1612 Sherman St., Fort Wayne, IN 46808

(260) 424-8812

Natural foods store. This natural foods grocer offers many organic, healthy, and great-tasting alternatives to other grocery stores. Open daily. Take-out, vegan options, beer/wine, VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$$.

··Loving Café

7605 Coldwater Rd., Ste. A, Fort Wayne, IN 46825

(260) 489-8686

Vegan/international. Loving Café serves sandwiches, salads, soups, wraps, and many Asian dishes. Enjoy entrées such as Lemon Tofu, Sesame Chickenless, Thai Curry, and Kung Pao. Everything is vegan at Loving Café, and the prices can't be beat. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. Limited service, take-out, smoothies, soymilk, special beverages, VISA/MC, $-$$.

Pembroke Bakery & Café

300 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802

(260) 247-7220

Bakery/café. The Pembroke Bakery & Café is very vegan-friendly. All of their baked goods are vegan and over half of their soups, sandwiches, and salads are vegan as well. They support local farmers and artisans whenever possible. Pembroke is located at the Auer Center for Arts and Culture in downtown Fort Wayne. Open Monday through Saturday for three meals. Open Sunday for lunch. Counter service, vegan options, take-out, catering, espresso/cappuccino, soymilk, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $.

Indianapolis

India Palace

4213 Lafayette Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46254

(317) 298-0773

Indian. Many vegetarian options, including appetizers, side dishes, and many breads, are joined by such entrées as Paneer and Brijani. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, take-out, wine/beer, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $$.

SoBro Café

653 E. 52nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46220

(317) 920-8121

Café/eclectic. SoBro Café offers internationally-inspired dishes with vegetarian and vegan selections. Try a veggie burger or veggie grill sandwich made with tempeh. For brunch, enjoy Biscuits and Gravy with the choice of vegan mushroom gravy. The chef creates almost all food from scratch. Enjoy the local art that fills the dining room (all for sale with 100% of the money going directly to the artist). SoBro is closed on weekdays between lunch and dinner, so please call ahead for hours. Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Open Saturday and Sunday for brunch and dinner. Closed Monday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, beer/wine, VISA/MC, $-$$.

Three Sisters Café

6360 Guilford Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220

(317) 257-5556

Café. Three Sisters offers some great veggie treats. Try the house favorite, The Three Sisters Loaf, which is made with black beans and wild rice. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Closed Monday. Limited service, vegan options, $-$$.

·Udupi Café

4225 Lafayette Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46254

(317) 299-2127

Vegetarian/Indian. Udupi Café offers southern Indian vegetarian cuisine. Open Tuesday through Thursday for lunch and dinner. Open Friday for lunch only. Open Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. Closed Monday. Full service, reservations recommended, wine/beer/alcohol, take-out, catering, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $$.

Mishawaka

·Apple Valley Natural Foods

5618 Grape Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545

(574) 243-0800

Vegetarian/natural foods store. Apple Valley Natural Foods is a completely vegetarian natural foods store. Enjoy their hot food bar, deli, and salad bar. They are located in the southeast corner of the Wilshire Plaza. Open Sunday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Closed Saturday. Cafeteria, vegan options, take-out, VISA/MC, $.

New Albany

Earth Friends Café & Coffee Bar

3211 Grant Line Rd., Ste. 3, New Albany, IN 47150

(812) 725-9393

Café/coffeehouse/organic. Earth Friends Café & Coffee Bar specializes in organic, local, cruelty-free, and fair trade foods and products. They do their best to cater to vegan and vegetarian eaters. Their vegan options include a Vegan Special, which is a vegan cream cheese spread blended with pecans and raw agave, served on vegan bread and topped with organic spinach. They also offer many of their other sandwiches in vegan versions with vegan cheeses on vegan bread or with Tofurky slices instead of meat. Furthermore, customers can opt to have any salad topped with vegan cheese and vegan croutons or have the veggie wrap served with vegan cheese on a vegan tortilla. Additionally, all vegan food is prepared separately in the kitchen, and they even have a second panini press reserved exclusively for the preparation of vegan dishes. All paninis are prepared with vegan butter. They offer other vegan condiments such as vegan mayonnaise. Open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch. Closed Sunday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, espresso/cappuccino, soymilk, VISA/MC/DISC, $.

·Rainbow Blossom Natural Foods & Deli

3003 Charlestown Crossing Way, New Albany, IN 47150

(812) 941-0080

Vegetarian/natural foods store deli. Rainbow Blossom is dedicated to providing an alternative to those who seek healthy and convenient gourmet foods to go. Offering many vegan items, this vegetarian deli is take-out only. The foods are made with high-quality products using organic ingredients when possible. Open Monday through Saturday for three meals. Open Sunday for lunch and dinner. Take-out, vegan options, fresh juices, VISA/MC, $.

Valparaiso

Billy Jack's Café & Grill

2904 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, IN 46383

(219) 477-3797

Eclectic. Vegetarian options here include Grilled Portobello Mushroom appetizers, Parsley-Garlic Tortellini, Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza, Pesto Pizza, Black Pepper Linguine, Mushroom Ravioli, Vegetarian Stew, a Veggie Wrap, a Grilled Portobello Sandwich, and Fresh Fruit Sorbet. Ask the waitstaff if a particular dish can be made vegan. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, take-out, catering, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $$.