Cafe Istanbul - Plano, TX

Location: Plano, Texas (north of Dallas) - The Shops at Legacy

Ambiance: Sat outside, despite the August heat. Overhead fans from the dark wood slatted overhang kept us relatively cool, but would probably sit inside next time. Outside patio sits along sidewalk in popular Shops at Legacy, great for people watching. Extra points: authentic Turkish music in the background. Major drawback: Located next to Twisted Root Burger Co., which announces whose order is ready by yelling the names of famous movie characters through a loud speaker. Creative but obnoxious after awhile!

Variety: Not many vegetarian options. The majority of the appetizers are vegetarian (think humus, babaganus, falafel), but only two dinner entrees qualified: Sebzeli pide (vegetarian pizza) and sebzeli guvec (vegetarian casserole).

Quality: I ordered the sebzeli guvec (pictured below) and it was AWESOME. The tomato broth was perfectly seasoned and simple, and the vegetables -- carrots, celery, green beans, potatoes -- were melt-in-your-mouth perfect. This is going to be a new comfort food for me.



I also had Kunefe for dessert (pictured below), which is described on the menu as an oven baked traditional Turkish dessert prepared with shredded wheat and Turkish sweet cheese, served on a hot plate and topped with ground walnuts. It is delicious (and of course vegetarian).



Bottom line: Poor variety but good quality. Go if you love the two vegetarian dishes or want to eat lots of appetizers.

www.cafe-istanbul.net

Artu

Location: Boston (North End), MA

Ambience: Upscale, energetic, and cozy. Luckily, this isn't the Olive Garden and the clientele doesn't need a lot of real estate.

Variety: What the restaurant lacked with a vegetarian section on the menu, it made up for with unbelievable service. The staff was incredibly attentive to our needs and knowledgeable about the variety of options available.

Bruschetta broccoli rabe, cannellini beans, gralic, evoo, grana padano ($7)

Melanzane Parmigiana eggplant, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce ($17)

Fusilli e con Broccoli Rabe cork screw pasta, broccoli rabe, garlic, evoo, chili flakes ($16)

Quality: The bruschetta was unbelievable as was the eggplant parm. I wasn't the biggest fan of the fusilli, but that's because I like my pastas like my women, saucy. Overall, the food was ingredients driven and the freshness made each bite a joy.

Bottom line: Avoid taking a large party (in both senses)--but go!

http://www.artuboston.com/

Top of the Hub

Location: Boston, MA

Ambience: Amazing view of Boston, but the beer selection left me parched. The restaurant is located on the top floor of the Prudential Tower (second tallest building in Boston, behind the John Hancock Tower).

Variety: There were a few vegetarian options: a tomato mozzarella flatbread, a black bean burger with homemade chips (pictured), a gnocchi salad, and a mac & cheese.

Quality: The food was decent, and reasonably priced. It was a shame that the margherita flatbread ($13) and the blackbean burger ($11) were so enveloped in cheese that I couldn't taste the other ingredients. The blackbean burger on its own was pretty tasty. They also have a separate vegetarian/vegan menu if you ask, featuring five salads and a pasta.

Bottom line: Go for the view of Boston. It's well worth it if you are only in town for a short time or have guests that want to see the city, but don't feel like walking it.

http://www.topofthehub.net/

Veggie Planet

Location: Cambridge, MA

A vegetarian pizza joint by day, live music joint by night.

Ambience: If I had to take Sufjan Stevens on a date (in Harvard Square), I think I'd go here.

Variety: The whole menu. It's for us! And they let you mix & match. Pictured below is a combination of the Mexican Black Bean and Thai Tofu Pizza. Don't judge. Sometimes you can't decide between Mexican and Thai.

Quality: The dough is organic and made by Haley House Bakery. Not sure why they import the dough, other than to support a local development initiative, but whatever. I know--people are picky about their pizza. Me? I'm equal opportunity. The crust was thin, ingredients were fresh, and each bite was packed with flavor. Bonus? Cheap date. You can easily feed two for under $15 (total).

Bottom line: We needed a post in April. I mean, go. It's exactly what we want out of a restaurant--satisfaction, value, and vegetarian. These are our people, this is our place.

http://www.veggieplanet.net/