I LOVE NYC!

Yup, just like the millions of other visitors who come to The City, I LOVE it! I love the museums, the shows, the people and the bustle – but one of my all time favorite things about NY (and you wouldn’t expect this) – is that it’s so easy to find delicious healthy food. There are SO many restaurants that cater to those of us who want to respect our body and respect the planet with each delicious meal we enjoy!

Really, you can find a cool little juice joint or smoothie spot every few blocks, and a completely stocked health food store in most neighborhoods. What I want to focus on in this post however, are my favorite sit-down restaurants in NYC. Their expertise is in making absolutely delicious food that leaves me feeling nourished, vibrant (and spoiled) every time!

All of these restaurants are vegan, vegetarian, or very accessible for vegetarians. Plus they are all sensitive to gluten-free folks.

I’ll start with the more high-end restaurants and work my way down to the more casual, and at the end I have a list of other NYC healthy restaurants that I want to check out.

CANDLE 79

This is fine vegan dining in a warm, inviting atmosphere. They’re flavorings are imaginative and every single dish I’ve ever eaten at Candle 79 has been scrumptious.

Vegan. Upper East Side. Make reservations in advance.

ABCV

Inventive, hip, elegant, fun! They have a really nice mix of flavors on the menu. Some rich and intense, some light and bright. I love how they use herbs in their cocktails and mocktails to enhance the desired impact.

Vegan. 19th & Broadway. Make reservations well in advance.

DIRT CANDY

Dirt Candy has a hip downtown but upscale vibe, and with a really gorgeous and delicious menu. They totally glorify veggies here, and do it in a unique way that makes sharing fun.

Vegetarian. Lower East Side. Make reservations well in advance.

BLOSSOM

Blossom has several locations around the city. I went to the Upper West Side location and it had a bustling, noisy, lively vibe to it. The menu consists of a lot of classic dishes like nachos, lasagna and Caesar salad, so it’s very easy for non-vegans to navigate.

Vegan, many locations, make reservations.

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HANGAWI

Vegetarian & Korean in a very special environment with low tables and floor seating (but don’t worry, there’s an open space for your legs below the table). Hangawi is the place to go if you like trying new, interesting and delicious food.

Vegetarian Korean. Mid-Town. Make reservations.

~~ANGELICA’S KITCHEN~~

THEY CLOSED ????

Angelica’s kitchen has been around since 1976, and I’ve been going there since 1982. It’s the real deal when it comes to high quality nutritious food prepared with care and creativity. The pic above is their classic gluten-free cornbread with tahini dressing. I get it every time I go.

Casual. East Village. No reservations (and no credit cards).

LE BOTANISTE

Counter service imaginative bowls of beautiful veg and dips. Le Botaniste, just opened in 2016. The food is delish!

Le Botaniste, just opened in 2016. The food is delish!

Completely gluten-free

~ Casual, Upper East Side, No Reservations ~

QUINTESSENCE

I could wax poetic for a long time about Quintessence. It’s raw-food gone-gourmet. What they create from uncooked and dehydrated high-quality organic ingredients is amazing (like the raw ravioli in the pic above). I wish it was around the corner from my house. I would go every day.

Raw Vegan. East Village. Casual. No reservations.

HU KITCHEN

I went to Hu Kitchen with my teenage son (pic above) – we both loved it – and came back later the same day to pick up a snack. Simply put, it’s real food without any crappy ingredients added in. It’s a perfect take-out or quick meal spot. They also make amazing chocolate bars that are sweetened with coconut sugar.

Casual. Completely Gluten-Free. Counter service, no table service. 14th St. No reservations.

Here are other veg-focused and health-conscious restaurants that I want to check out, or that I haven’t been to in such a long time that I can’t in all good conscience say that they are my favorites (which doesn’t mean they are not awesome)

I’d love to hear what your favorite veg friendly restaurants are!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nina Manolson, MA, CHC, certified Health Coach and Psychology of Eating Coach believes that every women deserves to feel good in their own body. She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life! She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and NourishedWomanNation.com

She helps busy women look and feel their best. She specializes in working with women over 40 who have tried other diets and approaches but are still struggling with their body and food. She helps women step into a new wellness paradigm that makes it real and do-able and makes self-care a sustainable healthy habit.

She’s the author of “Feed Your Kids Well In A World That Doesn’t: an everyday guide to make healthy food happen in your home and beyond”. She’s also the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

To get your F.R.E.E. Video Series “What to do now, when everything you’ve done hasn’t worked” by mail and receive her healthy recipes and wellness tips click here.

ninamanolson

Nina Manolson, MA, NBC-HWC, is a Body-Peace™ Coach.

She is a board certified Health Coach, Psychology of Eating Coach and Certified Body-Trust Provider, believes that every woman deserves to feel good in her own body.

She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can truly feel at peace in their body! She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and The Nourished Woman Nation.

She specializes in working with women over 40 who have tried many other diets and approaches but are still struggling with their relationship to body and food.She’s the creator of the BODY-LOVE MAP and the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.To take a powerful step on the Body-Peace™ Path, download your Practicing Body-Peace Journal right HERE.

If you’d like help with navigating an authentic and respectful relationship with your body. Let’s talk.

2 Comments

Janice on March 25, 2016 at 2:58 am

Hi Nina, I’ve been to Candle 79, Blossom and Angelica’s Kitchen. I loved them all! I’ve also been to
a great vegetarian Indian restaurant but I can’t remember the name.
Thanks for your recommendations, I’m always excited to try new Vegetarian/Vegan restaurants
when I’m in NYC!
- ninamanolson on March 25, 2016 at 3:02 am
  
  Thanks for stopping by and commenting Janice! When you remember the name of your favorite Indian restaurant, I’d love to know so I can check it out! Healthy Foodies Unite!