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

Symbol Key:

•• Vegan or vegetarian restaurant
§ Reviewer's choice

Tennesee

Benton

•• The Vine

108 Lifestyle Way, Benton, TN 37307

(423) 338-7777

Vegan. Located inside the Lifestyle Center, The Vine serves delicious vegan food in a sunny and relaxing atmosphere. Cash only. Open Monday through Thursday for lunch. Closed Friday through Sunday. Full service, take-out. smoothies, soymilk, $$.

Chattanooga

(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Collegedale.)

•• Wildwood Country Life Vegetarian Restaurant

809 Market St., , Chattanooga, TN 37402

(423) 634-9925

Vegetarian. At Country Life, enjoy an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet with a salad bar, soups, seasonal vegetables, beans, brown rice, cornmeal rolls, fresh baked desserts, and soft-serve soy ice cream. There are different choices for entrées each day, which may include a mixed-grain casserole, potato-mushroom chimichangas, tomato-asparagus stuffed potatoes, or zucchini, pepper, and tomato couscous. The only thing that keeps this establishment from being completely vegan is the occasional use of honey. Open Sunday through Friday for lunch. Closed Saturday. Buffet, vegan options, take-out, VISA/MC, $-$$.

Collegedale

•• Village Market Deli

5002 University Dr., Collegedale, TN 37315

(423) 238-3286

Vegetarian/natural foods store deli. This ultra-affordable deli, in a natural foods store catering to the Seventh-day Adventist community, offers hot foods for lunch, such as cheese enchiladas and Spanish lentils and brown rice. Grab-and-go items, a pay-by-weight salad bar, and soups are available until 6 on weekdays. They can also make vegan cakes to order. Deli open Monday through Friday for lunch. Store open Sunday through Thursday for three meals. Open Friday for breakfast and lunch. Closed Saturday. Deli-style, vegan options, take-out, VISA/MC/DISC, $.

Knoxville

El Charro

6701 Kingston Pike, , Knoxville, TN 37919

(423) 584-9807

University Of Tennessee Campus, 811 22nd St., Knoxville, TN 37916

(865) 525-9808

10420 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922

(865) 693-9660

Mexican. This Mexican establishment offers veggie burritos, enchiladas, tacos, beans without lard, and rice. Open daily. Full service, non-alcoholic wine/beer, wine/beer/alcohol, take-out, VISA/MC/AMEX, $-$$.

Falafel Hut

601 James Agee St., , Knoxville, TN 37916

(423) 522-4963

Middle Eastern. Falafel Hut offers vegetarian grape leaves, hummus, tabbouleh, lentil soups, salads, kabobs, and deli sandwiches. Meatless items are clearly indicated on the menu. Open daily for three meals. Full service, non-alcoholic beer, special drinks, take-out, catering, VISA/MC/AMEX, $-$$.

The Tomato Head

12 Market Square, , Knoxville, TN 37902

(423) 637-4067

Italian. Feast on gourmet pizzas, vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, a hummus pita, and tofu enchiladas in Tomato Headés dining room, which doubles as an art gallery. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Open Monday for lunch only. Full service, vegan options, VISA/MC/AMEX, $.

Madison

Tennessee Christian Medical Center Cafeteria

500 Hospital Dr., , Madison, TN 37115

(615) 865-0300

Hospital cafeteria. This Seventh-day Adventist-run cafeteria serves mostly vegetarian food, including cheese manicotti, burritos, cashew casserole, and quiche. There's also a great salad bar. Open daily. No breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. Cafeteria, take-out, $.

Memphis

(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Bartlett.)

Brother Juniper's College Inn

3519 S. Walker Ave., , Memphis, TN 38111

(901) 324-0144

American. Be sure to try Brother Juniper's scrambled tofu, granola with rice milk, Greek salad, and unique sandwiches made on Armenian cracker bread. Open Tuesday through Saturday for three meals. Closed Sunday and Monday. Full service, vegan options, catering, take-out, $.

La Montagne Restaurant

3550 Park Ave., , Memphis, TN 38111

(901) 458-1060

Natural foods. La Montagne offers several vegetarian options, including veggie burgers, vegetables alfredo, pizza, and burritos. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, take-out, espresso/cappuccino, VISA/MC, $$.

Whole Foods Market

5022 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38117

(901) 685-2293

Natural foods store/deli/juice bar. Stop by for lunch or dinner and experience their juice & java bar, fresh sushi station, pizza station, sandwich station, deli, hot bar or salad bar. Open daily. Cafeteria, vegan options, take-out, fresh juices, VISA/MC, $$.

•• Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine

4205 Hacks Cross Rd., Memphis, TN 38125

(901) 737-9914

Vegetarian/Indian. Woodlands offers an extensive all-vegetarian menu of South Indian cuisine. Enjoy their awesome lunch buffet. Vegan items are not labeled on the buffet or menu so make sure to check with the very friendly and helpful staff. Woodlands is closed on weekdays between lunch and dinner, so please call ahead for hours. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, special beverages, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $-$$.

Nashville

(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Madison.)

•• Grins Vegetarian Café

2421 Vanderbilt Pl., Nashville, TN 37212

(615) 322-8571

Vegetarian/café/kosher. Grins is pronounced "greens," like the Yiddish word for vegetables. Daily special may include Mexican, Thai, or Indian-inspired dishes. This kosher, vegetarian café on the Vanderbilt campus offers entrée and panini specials, as well as a Curried Tofu Wrap, Hummus Wrap, Veggie Sandwich on Maple-Wheat, and other sandwiches. Options include soy mozzarella, and sandwiches that can be made vegan are clearly marked on the menu. The café also offers salads, sides, soups, cookies, muffins, and desserts, many of which are vegan. Grins is located at 25th Avenue in the Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life on the Vanderbilt University campus but is open to the general public and has convenient parking. Please note that Grins is closed during university breaks including summer (May through August). Open Monday through Thursday for lunch and dinner. Open Friday for lunch. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Cafeteria, vegan options, take-out, catering, VISA/MC, $.

•• The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant

1896 Eastland Ave., Nashville, TN 37206

(615) 262-2717

Vegetarian/natural foods. The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free food in a fun, casual environment. They make most everything from scratch and feature great daily specials along with a cold case of grab 'n go items. Menu selections are noted as 'Vegan' or 'Vegan Upon Request' and they have a separate gluten-free menu. Enjoy Mock Chicken Salad Sandwich, Vegan Queso Dip, TLT (tempeh or tofu), or Grilled Tofu Salad. Don't miss their Sunday brunch with a revolving menu that may include tofu scrambler, veggie sausage, and German Toast (their vegan version of French Toast). The Wild Cow is located across the street from the Rose Pepper and just a few minutes from Five Points in East Nashville. Open Monday and Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Open Sunday for brunch. Closed Tuesday. Limited service, vegan options, take-out, soymilk, smoothies, wine, VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$.

•• Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine

3415 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 463-3005

Vegetarian/Indian. See description under Memphis, TN.