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

Kentucky

Lexington

Alfalfa Restaurant

141 E. Main St., Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 253-0014

Eclectic. For over 35 years, Alfalfa Restaurant has been "feeding vegetarians & carnivores alike with innovative and eclectic homemade eats." Menu items are reasonably prices and include salads, sandwiches, and breakfast items like Tofu Scramble. Make sure to check their chalkboards for the Daily Specials. Alfalfa is closed between lunch/brunch and dinner, so please call ahead for hours. Open Monday and Tuesday for breakfast and lunch. Open Wednesday through Friday for three meals. Open Saturday for brunch and dinner. Open Sunday for brunch. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, soymilk, beer/wine, special beverages, VISA/MC, $$.

Good Foods Market & Café

455-D Southland Dr., Lexington, KY 40503

(859) 278-1813

Natural foods store/café/organic. Good Foods Market & Café is a locally-owned and operated co-op where everyone is welcome to shop. They offer a full-service coffee bar featuring organic equal exchange coffee as well as espresso, chai, and hot chocolate; fruit smoothie and organic juice bar with made-to-order fresh juices, including carrot and wheat grass. They also have a self-serve salad bar with fresh, make-your-own green salads and a variety of homemade cold salads. The self-service hot bar features vegetarian and vegan soups, entrées, casseroles, and vegetables. Made-to-order sandwiches and fresh sushi (seafood or vegetarian) are made daily. Also available are combination boxes and miso soup. Vegetarian and vegan items are noted. The kitchen is trans-fat free and uses all organic beans, flours, grains, and sugars. Open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Open Saturday and Sunday for brunch and dinner. Cafeteria, vegan options, take-out, catering, fresh juices, smoothies, espresso/cappuccino, soymilk, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $-$$.

Louisville

Grape Leaf

2217 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206

(502) 897-1774

Mediterranean. When dining at Grape Leaf, enjoy your meal on the patio surrounded by growing grapes. Check out the Vegan Dolmas or Vegetarian Mousakah. Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday and Monday. Full service, vegan options, fresh juices, smoothies, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $$.

·Rainbow Blossom Natural Foods & Deli

3608 Springhurst Blvd., Louisville, KY 40241

(502) 339-5090

3738 Lexington Rd., Louisville, KY 40241

(502) 896-0189

12401 Shelbyville Rd., Louisville, KY 40243

(502) 244-2022

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 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, $.

Ramsi's Café

1293 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40204

(502) 451-0700

International. Ramsi's offers many vegetarian options, including roasted vegetable sandwiches, Capellini Marinara, and Vegetarian Lasagna, just to name a few. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, catering, beer/wine, VISA/MC/AMEX, $$.

·Sweet Surrender Dessert Café

1804 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206

(502) 899-2008

Vegetarian/bakery/café. Indulge your sweet tooth at Sweet Surrender. This dessert café & coffee shop offers cakes, pies, tortes, cookies, cupcakes, and more. While the offerings change daily, you can be sure to find at least one vegan sweet. For weddings (or any special occasion), call on Sweet Surrender to create the vegan cake of your dreams. Their afternoon lunch service is all-vegetarian with vegan options. Try the Vegan Chili, Orange Pecan Salad, or Black Bean Pita (a veggie burger chopped with red peppers, salad greens, sundried tomato & their own chipotle mayonnaise - all vegan!). Oh, and don't forget dessert! Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday and Monday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, soymilk, espresso/cappuccino, VISA/MC, $$.

·Zen Garden Vegetarian Restaurant

2240 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206

(502) 895-9114

Vegetarian/Asian. Zen Garden is a health-focused vegetarian restaurant serving gourmet Asian cuisine. Menu items include Kung Pao Tofu, Noodle Soups with Veggie Meat, Crispy Shiitake Mushrooms, and a wide assortment of appetizers, soups and sandwiches. Not only does Zen Garden care about the health of its customers, but it also contributes some of its earnings to charities around the world! Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, soymilk, smoothies, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $-$$.