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

Symbol Key:

•• Vegan or vegetarian restaurant
§ Reviewer's choice

Kentucky

Lexington

Alfalfa Restaurant

141 E. Main St., Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 253-0014

Eclectic. Alfalfa Restaurant says on their website that they have been "feeding vegetarians and carnivores alike with innovative and eclectic homemade eats for over 35 years." Menu items include salads, sandwiches, and breakfast items like Tofu Scramble. Specials are written on their chalkboards so check for daily offerings. 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, wine/beer, special beverages, VISA/MC, $-$$.

Good Foods Market & Café

455-D Southland Dr., Lexington, KY 40503

(859) 278-1813

140 E. Main St., Inside The Library, Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 422-6802

Natural foods café. Good Foods Market Café offers a full-service coffee bar featuring organic equal exchange coffee as well as espresso, chai, and hot chocolate; fruit smoothie and juice bar with made-to-order fresh juices, including carrot and wheat grass. 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 vegan and vegetarian 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. Café is open daily for lunch and dinner and Sunday for brunch. Cafeteria, vegan options, catering, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $$.

Louisville

Grape Leaf

2217 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206

(502) 897-1774

Middle Eastern. When dining at Grape Leaf, try dining 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 40207

(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, $$.

Third Avenue Café

1164 S. Third St., Louisville, KY 40206

(502) 585-CAFé

American. This cute, cozy restaurant in Old Louisville serves meat, but its substantial vegan menu includes some of the best items in the area. Feast upon options such as the gigantic black bean burger, grilled portabella and veggie sandwich, hummus veggie delight, veggie club, veggie reuben with vegan thousand island dressing, BBQ tofu sandwich, and spinach salad with tofu. Afterward, you have your choice of wondeful vegan cheesecake, chocolate cappuccino cake, chocolate raspberry cake, cookies, and sometimes even homemade soy ice cream. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. Full service, vegan options, soymilk, beer/wine, espresso/cappuccino, take-out, 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, $-$$.