Vegetarian Restaurants in London

[fedupwithdeployment]

Does anyone have any suggestions for good veggie food in London. A friend of mine has asked my advice (known as a bit of a foodie!) as to where he should take his Mother for a special birthday treat. But she is 100% veggie - no fish - and all the restaurants I like / have suggested are hopeless. Perhaps just one or no veggie options.

Any ideas?

Many thanks!

www.mildreds.co.uk/

Really buzzy and great food.

Manna in Primrose Hill is veggie and meant to be nice for a special treat. Mildred's in Soho is lovely but a bit bustly and loud so not so good for a special treat.

Rasa is a vegetarian Indian restaurant that's nice. There are a few branches I think.

Sorry link here

Does "special treat" mean a non buzzy place then?

Woodlands - veggie indian restaurants - Marylebone and just off Leicester Square. There is also one in Hammersmith - I'll need to think of the name.

cranks - though reviews are varied

The Gate

www.thegate.tv/web/index.asp

Cranks doesn't have any restaurants in London any more, only one in Devon.

This place looks good, although I can't vouch for it personally.

What I would say is that most Michelin-starred restaurants worth their salt will have an entirely separate vegetarian menu (certainly, the ones I've been to have). Try any of Gordon Ramsey's places, Helene Darroze at the Connaught or Rhodes 24 - I've eaten very well as a vegetarian at all of these restaurants. If you ring up beforehand and let them know there will be a vegetarian present, most places will not have a problem.

Ottolenghi is the dog's kahunas. The Islington one is the one with the restaurant.

I second Mildred's. I'm no longer veggie but still eat there by choice. Very busy and noisy though, especially at lunch time.

[[http://www.zillirestaurants.co.uk/green/ Zilli Green] in Soho (part of chef Aldo Zilli's chain) is excellent for Italian veggie with a touch of fusion and is quite classy.

I second Mildred's. I'm no longer veggie but still eat there by choice. Very busy and noisy though, especially at lunch time.

Zilli Green in Soho (part of chef Aldo Zilli's chain) is excellent for Italian veggie with a touch of fusion and is quite classy

I've been to Vanilla Black and wasn't impressed with the food, although it is a lovely place and would be nice surroundings.

Saf (near Old Street tube) is FABULOUS. And vegan, so your friend would be safe. I am neither veggie nor vegan but love it in there. Great food and cocktails.

I also think Rasa is great for veggie South Indian food, though they also now serve seafood and meat. The one on Charlotte Street is fantastic - pink frontage, white tablecloths, classy. An exclusively veggie South Indian restaurant is Ravi Shankar on Drummond St near Euston/Warren Street - quite homespun and rustic decor and food but superlative.

second The Gate been there years and still pretty good

I third The Gate and you can always go for a drink on the river before or afterwards.

I fourth The Gate. Leith's used to do a vegetarian menu - not sure if it's still going. The Time Out Eating and Drinking guide usually has good recommendations.
Does she want to go to a vegetarian restaurant, though? I am vegetarian but usually prefer the cooking in non-vegetarian restaurants (less choice for veggies but the food is less knit-your-own-lentils and you don't have to force vegetarian food on meat-eaters).

what Time Out says

Another vote for Ottolenghi here. They aren't a vegetarian restaurant, but the veggie food is so good you wouldn't want to eat the meat there. And the cakes, they are gorgeous. Beware there is a huge queue for lunch as you can't book but they do take reservations for dinner.

Oranges I didn't mean buzzy isn't good for special meals. I suppose what I meant is that the OP sounded like it was a big treat, fancy restaurant, long posh meal type thing that she's after. I love Mildred's but I think of it more as a place for a big, hearty lunch but you're in and out quite quickly and your elbow to elbow with the people at the next table and it's noisy in there etc. Depends what the OP is after.

FWIW OP, I'm a vegetarian but very rarely eat in vegetarian restaurants. I usually go to Indian, Thai (although I'm a bit suspicious that there's fish or oyster sauce on everything) or Italian restaurants (not that I go out to restaurants much at all these days). There are usually plenty of veggie choices.

Thanks very much for all these suggestions - will pass them onto my friend. By the way, have been to Ottolenghi (had actually suggested it to him) and loved it - although not the prices!

And RR - yes I think it is a special treat for his mum. He had been thinking Gordon Ramsey. And they are an Indian family, but want to do something a bit different.