Vegetarian Eats in the Denver/Boulder Area

Having an entire menu to choose from is rare, but everything at WaterCourse Foods is vegetarian, and many options are vegan. Committed to environmentally friendly practices, the restaurant is a healthy alternative for the world as well, recycling what can be reused and even giving discounts to those who arrive by bicycle. The restaurant exudes a fun, quirky atmosphere, with a widely tattooed and pierced staff and clientèle as diverse as the city itself.

Watercourse

Though new to the town, Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant is well on its way to becoming a Boulder favorite, and is well-worth a visit. Open for lunch, dinner and happy hour, Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant brings healthy, organic dining right to Pearl Street. Moderately priced items range in style from American with a vegetarian Philly Cheese Steak using seitan to North African with the Harissa Eggplant to Asian with the Mooshu Vegetable plate.

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant

Perfect as the quick fix for an American food craving, V.G. Burgers offers fast food for the vegetarian. Baked fries, salads and shakes accompany the restaurant’s five distinct styles of burger, ranging from the Classic Burger (yes, it’s vegetarian!) to the Falafel Burger.

VG Burgers

So many restaurants stick so devotedly to the toppings mainstays of American pizza: pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon, really any kind of meat. The Walnut Room takes a totally different tack, with many vegetarian pizzas including toppings like pesto, walnuts and fresh garlic.

Eating the pizza is a totally different demon, however. Grease everywhere, no plates, no silverware. But oh, damn it’s good.

Oh, it’s also a bar & live music venue, so it’s important to see what’s happening in the place before expecting a table or any kind of quiet.

The Walnut Room

After working for more than two years in a sub-par pizza shop, I’m a little picky about pizza. Proto’s definitely makes the cut. It serves these fantastic crispy thin-crust, light-cheese pizzas that perfectly balance the flavors of the toppings with the sauce, bread and cheese. A small 7” pizza is perfect for one person (get a salad too if you’re hungry), and there are abundant choices using ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, feta cheese, pesto and fresh herbs.

Proto’s

Actually Mad Greens also serves paninis, but they’re really known for their excellent salads. With names like the Napoleon, Crazy Ivan and Ernest Hemingway,you just can’t go wrong, right? My passion for Asian-inspired foods was satisfied with the Nobo Seagaru (even if I still have no idea how to pronounce it) and its fantastic soy ginger dressing.

For those on the go, the restaurant offers dine-in or take-out service.

Mad Greens

Ras Kassas provides the perfect setting for experiencing the best of Ethiopian cuisine and culture, with the interior filled with low stool seats surrounding masabs, small communal woven tables. An enjoyable, if messy, dining adventure is guaranteed, as silverware is not part of eating; instead, guests scoop up bite-sized portions with injera, a pliable flatbread.

Ras Kassa’s

While there is some dining within the cafe, one of the best things about Khow Thai is that all of the food can be ordered to-go, and ahead of time by phone. Prices are maybe a little high for what you get, but the food is absolutely incredible, Curries, stir fry dishes and noodle items can be made with tofu or a variety of meats.

Khow Thai

Gelman’s combines the best aspects of a restaurant and a bar, and on top of its regular lunch and dinner menus it serves up an absolutely fantastic weekend brunch. There are only a few vegetarian dishes on the regular lunch and dinner menus, if you feel like more than just a salad, but that doesn’t mean they are anything less than terrific.

As for brunch, I loved the vegetarian benedict, which involved fantastically prepared eggs served with avocado slices, mushrooms and onions; all beneath a creamy hollandaise sauce. The tofu scramlet did exactly what it should with the red peppers and spinach, cooking them to a perfect tenderness.

Gelman’s

Mona’s gets a place on this list for its great breakfasts and its very helpful, friendly management.

The eggs I had were done just right, and mixed with avocados and spinach, it was really delicious. It was accompanied by potatoes with green peppers and onions, and again, prepared fantastically. Plus, the coffee was really hot, which is always good.

I showed up after closing but the owner(?) still got me a table and even took the time to chat. It was that attitude that really mattered to me. Without knowing that I write reviews, he mentioned being disappointed with occasional poor reviews online, not because he can’t take criticism but because he wished that people would let him know when things are wrong so he could make up for it. What a great attitude!

Open for breakfast and lunch only, The Delectable Egg is much more friendly to meat-eaters, or at least those who eat eggs and dairy. An impressive selection of omelettes, pancakes, sandwiches and more give even picky children something to enjoy. With delicious low-fat options for those trying to eat healthy as well as hearty fare available to provide ample fortification for the day ahead, the restaurant is perfect for small groups of friends or family.

Delectable Egg

Despite the dimmed lighting and excellent fare, Racine’s is truly meant for a social crowd. While it’s entirely possible to have a quiet meal nestled back in one of the restaurant’s plush booths, the extensive drinks list and easygoing atmosphere draw hordes of locals at any time of day. Open from the early hours of the morning onwards, the restaurant has garnered a number of audience awards for its daytime meals. Southwestern cuisine is a particular specialty, though everything from salad to salmon to stir-fry is available.

Racines

Swing Thai’s small size, low lighting and unique art give the restaurant a low-key romantic touch. While many of the items can be made with tofu instead of meat, fish sauce is often an ingredient; look for items with the Gluten-Free and Vegan symbol.

I strongly recommend the red curry. Even medium spiciness is pretty spicy, so don’t order hot unless you’re ready for it. Rumor has it that the Pud Thai is excellent, but it has fish sauce.

While you’re there, get an order of Cappuccino Mochi Ice Cream, it’s hard to find in the area and a superb end to the meal.

Swing Thai

Spicy Basil draws its cuisine out of a variety of Asian culinary traditions, including Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and Japanese. This selection works well, however, whether carefully sticking within the bounds of one region’s dishes or sampling a bit from all over the menu. Have some hot sake or iced Vietnamese coffee to start.

Spicy Basil

A big hit with local hipsters, musicians and artists, Sputnik has really great sandwiches for both meat-eaters and vegetarians. Try their fries, the accompanying sauce choices are superb! You can get an espresso or a strong drink, depending on your mood. There are nightly events and live music often plays next door. Did I mention there’s free wifi?

Sputnik

Rich interior decorations and low music help accent the cozy-yet-casual atmosphere inside Ali Baba Grill. Specializing in Lebanese and Persian fare, hordes of appetizers (many of which are vegetarian) can serve as the precursor to a full entree or, in combination, serve as a group meal in their own right. The baba ghanouj, eaten with large pieces of pita bread, was my favorite, though the falafel and hummus appetizers were close seconds. The method of eating is a bit messy, but that just adds to the fun.

Ali Baba Grill

Offering all organic produce, along with free-range poultry and fresh seafood (a feat in Colorado!), Sunflower takes the best of Boulder and translates it into a quiet, romantic setting. A more expensive restaurant, as things go in the town, the menu is inspired by cuisine from all around the world.

Sunflower