circqe d'alex

★★★★(4 stars)

three words: vegan hot dog.  life changing, my friends.  so, i'm over-hyping.  in fact, i never have really enjoyed a hot dog, vegan or not.  but as soon as i saw this place, i was on a quest to go and enjoy a hot dog.  mostly because i wanted to support a place in kansas city that would have a vegan hot dog.

so the place isn't really my style.  it's very 'carnivalesque' and definitely geared for kids (i am without child).  it was a visual onslaught of bright colors, clown pictures on the ceiling, and weird plastic chairs. yet, i know some people (and their kids), would feel right at home.  despite the awkwardness, the husband and i forged ahead and ordered two vegan dogs.   it was pretty awesome - you could order it in a number of different styles - chicago, coney island, etc., or you could customize your toppings.  we went ahead and got chicago style, which has onions, tomatoes, sport peppers, relish, etc., and then retired to our weird plastic chairs to wait for impending deliciousness.  they steam the dogs to order, so it ended up taking 15 minutes or so before our order was brought to our table.  the wait was worth it, as we finally  presented with two 'designer' dogs...  they looked just like the picture!   and man, these rocked.  about halfway through, we decided we needed two more....

i'm completely recommending this place, for those with kids or without.  i'll probably get mine to go in the future to avoid the kiddos whining about ice cream, but that's just me.  overall, this is kind of a unique place in a kansas city, and a huge step for the vegans.  (i did call twice to confirm the dogs were 'vegan' - they are).  unfortunately, i can't review the veggie chili since they were out when we went.    but, i just visited their website and they now have a 'muffuletta' dog, which you know i have to try!

website:
cirque d'alex


location(s):
7308 tiffany springs parkway
kansas city, mo
816.891.0608

7107 nw barry road
kansas city, mo
816.587.4555

café cedar

★★★★★ (5 stars) 

one day we planned a jaunt up to parkville, mo for a friend's block party.  however, being aware that our veg-friendly diet usually means snacking on a veggie tray at parties, we decided to stop in town for small a bite to eat first.  that sort of backfired in our face.

now, the reason it backfired:  so much awesomeness to choose from!  like two kids at a candy store - when we find large selections of food that we *can* eat, we have trouble with moderation.  this was supposed to be just an appetizer to hold us over to the block party veggie tray, but turned into a full-on food fest. to start off, the husband could not resist getting the appetizer for two - which consisted of falafel, taboulei, baba ganoush, hummus, stuff grape leaves, spanakopita (not vegan), and warm pita bread.

typically we split a normal appetizer, so we were feeling a little full already and decided to put the breaks on.  we split the cauliflower sammie (Karnabeat), but it also came with a side salad.  our waitress, who had an awesome australian accent, had previously chatted with me about my veganism and made sure they took the feta off my salad (i had totally forgot to request it).  she even let me know that the salad dressing was vegan without me asking!  i love when i get service like this.

after we wrapped up an extremely messy meal, we bid adieu.  i don't think i ate one damn veggie at the block party...  i was so stuffed i could have popped at any minute.  the only thing i can saw that isn't a glowing review is the menu is both 'mediterranean' and 'american'.  it's sort of an odd combo.  however, if you know what you are going for, it's not a bid deal.  café cedar totally rocks and if you are anywhere near parkville, missouri, this place is a must.

website:
café cedar



location(s):
2 e. 2nd street
parkville, mo  64152
816.505.2233

the klub (mound city, mo)

★★★★ (4 stars) 

the husband and i took an early anniversary trip up to big lake state park in northwestern missouri.  when we travel to rural parts of the country, i always try to scout things out ahead of time, food-wise.  luckily, i saw a restaurant at the location we were staying with great veggie options.   however, when we got there, we learned about a recent flood that had done some damage to some of local places - including the restaurant.

the nearest 'town' was about 15 minutes away, with a population of just over 1,000.  there was a pizza shop attached to a gas station, and a steakhouse.  oh yea, and a mcdonalds. things were looking pretty bleak.  i pulled out the droid and found the only other restaurant in the area.  granted, it looked as scary as the pizza/gas station joint, but maybe better than our other options.  it was call 'the klub' and ended up being quite a rural foodie dream. although when we pulled up, it was a corrugated steel building and scared us shitless, we forged ahead (and there was a full bar luring us in).
 
after we sat down, the server started to run down the specials, which (as most vegans know) are typically meat based, but she piqued our interest when she mentioned the wild mushroom marscapone cheese ravioli with a creamy port sauce.  uh, what?!  as it turns out, the owner is actually a chef, and makes almost everything homemade.  he uses local foods whenever possible.  i asked if he could make a vegan meal off the menu, and they were happy to!

we ordered the bruschetta (no parm) to start. as the husband and i were enjoying an anniversary cocktail, i glanced out the window and saw a women come shuffling out of the restaurant/shed kitchen area.  she ran over to the fence line, looked among the many plants and picked a sprig off a purple one, smelled it, and ran back towards the kitchen.  i told the husband that i thought it was odd, only to be delighted when our bruschetta was served about two minutes later with a fresh sprig of purple basil.  i almost died.  an herb garden in the back of restaurant...  in mound city, mo?  and it was to die for.  after the first bite, i realized i needed to be documenting this place for all the vegetarians and vegans in rural northwest missouri.  (so half the bruschetta is gone).

the salads came next and were okay (not glamorous), but i could tell they were fresh.  and my balsamic vinagrette was definintely homemade.  even if it was just a plain jane salad, they make a point of using local produce, so that's some deliciousness on a whole other level.

 our meals?  the husband ordered the mushroom marscapone ravioli (he's a vegetarian), and they made a fresh veggie pasta with homemade marinara for me.  perfect veggie fare for our anniversary.  the honey's pasta and sauces were homemade, and it's wild mushroom season in missouri, so i'm sure it was local.  although they told me my noodles were't homemade, the chunky marinara was and had some great seasonal veggies.  additionally, when they served the bread with our meals, they made a point to tell me they used olive oil instead of butter on the bread.

although the klub isn't a dedicated vegetarian or vegan restaurant, they sure did step up to the plate.  the food was good and the attention of the kitchen to our special diet was great.  it was like finding a diamond in the rough rural terrain of rural missouri.  one anniversary dinner disaster averted! 


website:
the klub


location(s):
1710 nebraska street
mound city, mo  64470
660.442.4043

the farmhouse

★★ (2 stars) 

over the summer, i met my friend kim for lunch at a newer restaurant in the river market called the farmhouse.  i hadn't heard of it before, but was exited when the website said it focused on using crops from local farmers.  yay - sustainable and responsible food love!  i knew they'd be great for a vegetarian which usually means you can veganize quite a bit.

after i sat down, the server came over and i asked about a particular beer.  there were only like ten to choose from, but the server didn't seem to know anything about it.  i thought this was odd, since when i walked in he was actually behind the bar, but really not a big deal.  i ended up getting the beer and started to ask about the egg and dairy content of a couple items.  to my surprise, there weren't a lot of vegetarian options and only one could be made vegan (besides the salad).  isn't this a farmer based restaurant?  oh well, the one item i could have was the chickpea fritters (minus the parmasean), although the garlic aioli sauce had mayonnaise.  i asked about the different salad dressings, thinking i could sub one of them for the aioli.  no dice.  every dressing had eggs or cream in it!  i finally relented and just figured i could live with the herb oil that they are drizzled with.  when my chickpea fritters finally arrived (they took forever!), they had the pamesean shavings and the aioli served on the side to boot.  after pointing out the issues, he took them back and later came back with non-cheese fitters, but also brought me a new side of aioli.  i guess you could say he didn't get it.

the fritters were okay.  kim had a blt, and said it was okay, but wasn't a stand out sammie.  it looks like the menu will change based on seasonal produce, but i wouldn't go in thinking they have a lot of vegan options.  and maybe my server was just having a bad day, but this visit certainly didn't entice me to go back.  which is too bad, really, because i'm all about supporting local farmers.  maybe i'll give it another shot, but based on this experience, i have to give it two stars.


website:

the farmhouse


location(s):
300 delaware street
kansas city, mo  64015
816.569.6032

taj mahal

★★★★ (4 stars)

taj mahal recently opened a location in independence, mo. we've been eyeing it from the outside for a couple months, and finally decided to give it a try when we had planned to meet my family for a movie in the area. this review is based on the independence location only, since i've not visited the kansas city one yet.  if i do, i will update this review.

i was... surprised. it's in a strip mall, but the inside certainly does not feel that way all. very clean, a great menu and service, and it definitely had fine dining appeal. and like any good indian restaurant worth it's curry, they started us off with some yummy papadums. i couldn't place the flavour, which killed me, but they were some of the best i've had. the only downturn came when i was trying to order something without ghee, cream or yogurt, which seemed to present a little bit of a problem. i'm guessing they don't have too many vegans coming through. after being told they couldn't make any of the first three dishes i wanted, i finally settled on baingan bharta (eggplant). to be fair, there were a number of other dishes that they suggested for me - mostly lentil and chickpea dishes. i guess i just get burnt out on lentils and chickpeas because i make them so much at home. the husband got something with paneer - i can't rightly remember because the paneer chunks were like the size of my head! it looked really good! we also got some roasted garlic naan (specified no butter) that was drool worthy as well.

all in all, a good indian restaurant. vegans will face a lot of the same dishes they can normally eat, so nothing above and beyond in that respect (at least at the independence location). however, the food was super delicious, service was good, they did have at least four or five vegan dishes and you'll be dreaming about the garlic naan for days. i'm not sure how friendly their buffet is (lunches), so this review is based on dinner only. not too shabby for the suburbs of the midwest heartland (which can often be a vegan wasteland).

no website

locations (2):

independence
19210 e 39th st
independence, mo
816.795.0001 

kansas city
7521 wornall rd
kc, mo 
816.361.1722 

the brick

★★★(3 stars)

i've been wanting to write a review of the brick for a while now, but have never found the right time to go and scour what is truly vegan.  we finally found the opportunity when a local band was playing, and headed down early so we could grab some grub.  they have a separate section of vegetarian options on their menu - probably more options than any other bar in kansas city.  unfortunately, their 'hipper-than-thou' staff seriously detracts from the underwhelming food.

granted, it's not the first time i've had server/bartender issues there before, but you always go hoping for the best.  we were the only people there at the time, and i politely inquired about the bun the portabello burger is served on.  the bartender checked, then came back and told me 'no', it's not vegan, and then walked away.   i had to flag her down and ask about some other options, and she seemed frustrated that i was bothering her.  as i said, we were the ONLY people there.  finally, she found a lady in the kitchen who came out an offered two bread options - the pita bread or a wheatberry wrap.  i was happy and decided on the wrap.  unfortunately, the end result wasn't all that great.  it was flimsy, and not very veggie stuffed.  it certainly seems a little overpriced.  not to mention, this all came after they told us the kitchen was closing late, and then rushed us to make an order at like 8pm.  whatever.

so truthfully, they only have two vegan options because the veggie burger has eggs. and they weren't all that impressive (seriously, check out the record bar's wrap in comparison).  and, of course, it isn't served up by super friendly staff or anything, so that also kinda detracts.  i give them props for having a robust vegetarian section on their menus, but the final product is sort disappointing (especially for vegans).  i went there thinking i would surely give them four stars, and i'm only giving them three because of all the vegetarian options.  otherwise, this is a two star vegan joint (with good music).  bummer.


website:
the brick


location:
1727 mcgee
kc, mo  
816.421.1634

thai paradise

★★★ ★ (4 stars)

recently a couple of the thai place restaurant locations have closed (bummer economy!).  in fact, the two closest to me - the north and downtown location were victims.  i wasn't aware of this, and had happily made the trip to downtown kc for some serious thai indulgence.  after realizing it had closed had closed, we headed over to thai paradise on grand boulevard.  we had eaten there once before, and i'm happy to report, it's as delicious as i remember.

we started with the crispy fried tofu.  although the tofu chunks were a little too big, they were still nicely crunchy.  we ordered the spice tray to kick our sauce up a bit. although the tray isn't as robust as the thai place spice tray, they do have jalapenos marinated in soy - seriously awesome.  for our entree, we both ended up getting the tofu cashew, but there are plenty of other options.  and, they don't use fish sauce, so veg folks can order safely.  the helping was very large, definitely enough for leftovers (and chock full of cashews).

the staff was super friendly and definitely were knowledgeable on the vegan/fish sauce issue.  it's not a glamorous place, but the tables all ornamental hand carved wood - gorgeous.  the tables are all small, so it can be a nice little date restaurant.  i would definitely put this as my second favourite thai place in kansas city, and who knows - now that it is the closest one to me, maybe it will become number one.

website:
thai paradise



location:
1513 grand boulevard
kansas city, mo
816.221.5727

waldo pizza

★★★★★ (5 stars)

valentine's this year consisted of a two day affair, culminating with a trip downtown to waldo pizza.  we've been here before, but the last time was to meet up with eric prescott and his crew from i'm vegan.  (i'm not in the documentary, but he contacted me while he was in kc just to have a casual dinner).  anyways, that didn't seem like the most appropriate time to bring my camera, and i haven't been back since.  i don't know why - we love pizza it's good enough to eat every night - but we live up north and only occasionally head in to the city for dinner.  most likely because i'm usually cooking at home.

anyways, as i said, this place rocks for vegans.  they have both soy cheese and vegan cheese (so be sure and specify) - the vegan is follow your heart mozzarella.  they run it through the oven twice to make it melty, which just shows how awesome they are to vegans.  you can also get the bread sticks, sandwiches, etc. with the fyh mozzarella.  on this visit we got the veggie pizza, and since neither one of us likes onions, we substituted half zucchini and half roasted corn.  we were a little nervous about the corn, but let me tell you - it rocks!  i wish we'd gotten the whole thing with roasted corn - it was a delicious surprise, for sure.  apparently, they also have some kick ass vegan cupcakes.  i don't really like dessert or sweets all that much (despite my love of baking them), so i've never actually had one. 

it's about as expensive as any non-chain pizza restaurant, but they have great specials on certain days (check their website).  they also have a gluten-free menu, and the staff really seems to know what they are talking about.  and if you get bored while you wait for your dinner, they have trivial pursuit questions that you can test your date with.  of all restaurants in kc, i would recommend this in my top 5 for vegans.

(this review was written about he original located in kansas city - i just found out they have one in lee's summit too!)

website:
waldo pizza




location(s):

7433 broadway
kc, mo
816.363.5242


rollins meadows @ douglas square
lee's summit, mo
816.875.2121

record bar

★★★★ (4 stars)

the record bar offers up some vegan friendly dishes, salads and some custom items that can be veganized. there are no real vegan-dedicated bars in kansas city. heck, there is really only one or two places where you can find all vegan food. so for a bar in the midwest, the record bar's vegan selection isn't bad. not to mention, you can hear some really great music while you're chowing down.


the moby is their vegan sandwich, a delicious marinated portabello (be sure and request is without the mayosturdaionase). they also have a vegan-friendly pizza, the ian mackay. although i really wanted to get a pic of the pizza, i had pizza for lunch that day, so i went with the moby. i wanted to get it in a wrap, so the bartender checked and as i recall, only one of them is vegan. i can't remember which (blame the beer) - maybe the tomato basil? be sure and check if you order a wrap. yummy and filling - what any good bar food should taste like. the husband got the straight up moby - i tried to convince him to get the pizza for picture diversity, but no dice - so two moby's are what you get. oh, they also have my favourite vegan-friendly beer on tap, kansas city's own boulevard unfiltered wheat.


the service is better than your average music-focused bar. prices are little higher than what i think bar food should be, but i guess it's worth it when you are getting good quality vegan food. this place definitely ranks up there with mccoy's, my other favourite vegan-friendly bar.


website:
record bar

location:
1020 westport road
kc, mo 64111
816.753.5207

swagat fine indian cuisine

★★★★★(5 stars)

i've been trying different indian restaurants in kansas city for the past couple of years, and i would say the swagat has been one of my favourite experiences yet. swagat is located up north of kansas city, in a shopping area called zona rosa. although the busy shopping area didn't appeal to me, i've heard good things about the restaurant and ventured up there.

the place was busy! by far the busiest indian restaurant i've been to - perhaps because of the prime location? it was nice and clean, and definitely had a "fine dining feel". we were seated and served with some (free) delicious crackers. we then ordered the vegan-friendly palak pakoras appetizer, which was a little scary looking, but so so good. it's basically deep-fried spinach, served with some dipping condiments (that i did not care for).



for dinner, i confirmed with my server what could be made vegan. the chana masala, dal makhni, bhindi masala, aloo gobhi, and aloo palak mutter are all cheese-free, but are usually made with cream. if specified, they will make it without, and so i ordered the aloo gobhi (cauliflower & potatoes). the husband ordered something with paneer, but i can't remember what and i can't tell from the photo! either way, we both loved our meals, and their naan was crispy and wonderful.



the portions were huge - i think i got three meals out of mine (although i did have an appetizer that night). the server was pretty knowledgeable about the vegan options - although he did have to check with the kitchen on one or two things. i certainly appreciate their willingness to customize so many different options. prices are pretty on par with other indian restaurants... or at least the ones i'm familiar with. i will definitely go back and would recommend it, for sure!

website:
swagat

location:
7407 nw 87th street
kansas city, mo 64153

nick and jake's

★★ (2 stars)

let me start by saying that my expectations weren't that high when i planned to meet some friends for dinner. i knew it was a shot in the dark, but kansas city is packed with bar and grill joints and many of them have decent vegan or vegetarian options. nick and jakes - not so much.


for vegetarians, there are quite a few options that involve cheese and eggs... many appetizers and pasta are vegetarian friendly. for the vegan, humus or salad are almost your only options (or sides). their noodles contain egg, according to our server, so pasta is out. at the time i took these pics, they had a portobello burger with sauteed onions (non-vegan bun), but it has since been removed from the menu. their salad dressings are also non-vegan, so you have to go with the olive oil and vinegar. and the prices aren't that great, really - especially when all you can eat is salad with vinegar or a combination of side dishes. my vegetarian husband got a peanut pasta (also removed from the menu), and said it wasn't all that great. mine wasn't all that great either.


the plus side is that the atmosphere is nice. service is just okay. unfortunately, the dishes a vegetarian can eat are just mediocre, and a vegan will struggle. there are plenty of other options in kansas city with more variety and taste - i suggest you go there.


website:
nick and jake's

locations:
overland park
6830 w 135th street
overland park, ks
913.681.8535

parkville
6325 lewis street, suite 110
parkville, mo
816.584.8535

bo lings

★★★★★(5 stars)

a couple weeks ago, the husband and i decided to go to bo lings chinese restaurant for dinner. there are several locations in the area, and i've been to four of them. i admit that they are all very good, but i absolutely loved the server during this particular visit. he was quick, funny ("go team!") and all together on top of things. of course, i forgot my camera, so you'll have to make do with camera phone quality.


we started with a yummy appetizer of crispy eggplant, which is egg wash free. it's served with a divine soy and ginger dressing which i could have slurped down. there was a lot - too much for two people, but we managed to put it away anyways. :)


for my entree, i decided to try something new and went for the tofu family style. note: both the tofu family style and tofu w/ black bean sauce are made with chicken broth, but if you request, the will substitute water. you really can't taste a difference. as usual, generous portions and spot-on flavour. the husband got vegetable lo mein, and said it was delish as well. its made with egg noodles, so it's only for vegetarians who eat eggs. my all-time favourite dish is the sichuan green beans, which i've tried to recreate at home.


overall, bo lings serves some of the best chinese food in the city. my only complaint is that the tofu could cut cut a bit smaller so it's not as tofu-y in the center. i'd guess that i cut each piece of tofu into about 3 separate bites. and the best part is they've got a great selection of vegetarian and vegan options. you can see all the options on their website. oh, and don't eat your whole meal because their take home bags are pretty awesome.

website:
bo lings

locations:
*see website for addresses
plaza
overland park (x2)
lenexa
zona rosa
city market

blue nile ethopian cafe

★★★★ (4 stars)

blue nile is located down in the kansas city river market area, right near the huge farmer's market that is hot spot on weekend mornings. the market area is definitely something that most food-lovin' kansas citians enjoy. besides all the great produce, there are a number great places to eat down there, including blue nile.


i never had ethopian food before this visit, but i had wanted to try this cafe for a while. it's a quaint and unassuming little restaurant, and known for being vegan-friendly. i had been under the impression that ethopian is similar to indian food, but i'm not sure i'm totally convinced of that now. this spices were different, and a lot of the entrees weren't always in the form of a sauce base like you would find with a dahl or curry. our server was very polite in teaching us that you typically order a entree, and then scoop up the food with a spongy injera bread. we ordered the vegetarian combo, so we got to try a little sample of each eight veggie entrees (all are vegan).


to start with, i really loved almost all of the veggie options. each one had a distinctive taste - some were more vinegary, and others were more savory. none of them were extremely spicy, and admittedly, i would have like to have one or two with a little more kick. but in general, each one was unique with out being to extreme. now, for the bad news. i didn't like the injera bread. at first, i was kind of giddy about trying the spongy bread - i tend to get excited when i try something for the first time. but after about one roll of the bread, the texture started getting to me. i found myself using tiny scraps of bread and huge helpings of the dishes. i know this isn't blue nile's fault - i'm sure everything was as it should be. however, since this is a personal review, i feel i have to add that in there for anyone trying ethopian for the first time. honestly, if i were eating it with naan or pita bread, i think i would have loved every last bite.


i almost forgot - we ordered the veggie sambusa appetizers, and they rocked! unfortunately, there were only two to an order... but so worth it. the flavor was right on.

also, be sure and go when you have some time, because it isn't exactly the speediest place to catch a bite. i'm giving blue nile 4 stars because the service was good, the dishes were good in general, and they definitely have a nice selection of vegan options. the combo platter is especially nice for a group of 2 or 3.

website:
blue nile cafe

location:
20 e 5th street
kansas city, mo
816.283.0990

czar bar

★★½ (2½ stars - see last paragraph)

kansas city has a handful of hip music venues with veggie fare on their menu. i had never been to the czar bar, but i was excited to try their menu - especially when i saw their veggie burger was "served on a vegan friendly bun." there are a couple of other veggie friendly options, including hummus, crispy eggplant strips and the unexciting house salad.

i met my friend kim for dinner one night and as usual, double checked with the server about the vegan veggie burger. to my surprise, the veggie patty contains egg and isn't vegan. i'm not sure i get it - to me, promoting the vegan friendly bun sort of implies that the patty itself is vegan. what am i going to do, just order a bun? strike one. slightly dissuaded, i thought i'd go with the crispy eggplant strips instead. nope - they use an egg wash to bread them. i asked if they could not use the egg wash for mine, but no dice - they are pre-breaded. strike two. it was a really cold and rainy day, and salad just didn't sound comforting, so i went with hummus.


the hummus itself was okay, but nothing to write home about. i'm glad i got it at the happy hour price or i would have been really disappointed. i usually don't have high expectations for bar food, but kansas city has quite a few vegan friendly places with great food. (mccoy's, record bar, etc. - i'll be sure to get reviews up soon.) basically, czar bar isn't very vegan friendly, but an ovo-lacto vegetarian has a couple options. the food and prices are just mediocre, so i can't really think of anything veg-food-wise that would put czar bar at three stars. therefore, i'm giving it two stars, with an extra half star for the staff member that kept going back to the kitchen to check on ingredients for me. thanks guy.


website:
czar bar

location:
1531 grand boulevard
kansas city, mo
816.221.2244

nara

★★★★(4 stars)

i'd say nara gets a healthy four stars, partially just because they offer so many veggie options. i'm judging based on their happy hour menu, and there are least 5 different vegan options. for happy hour in kansas city that doesn't consist of french fries or chips and salsa, that's saying something.


i'm happy to say that nara, which features neo-japanese food, offers a first class veggie roll. i can't say how refreshing it is to find a kansas city sushi joint that offers something more than the avocado roll. there are a few, but i could count them on one hand. they also have hummus, edamame, spring rolls, seaweed salad and a veggie robata (which is glorified miniature veggie-skewers). and that's just their happy hour - which mind you, is at super-cheap prices. the rest of the menu has a smattering of vegetarian options, but i haven't investigated what all is vegan - i'm sticking to happy hour for now.

unfortunately, the atmosphere is a little trendier-than-thou, but if you get there early and leave early, you can avoid that crowd *if* you want to. or sometimes it's fun to go during the peak hours and people watch the ryan-adams-wannabes. i'm certainly guilty of it. :) the service is really decent, and like i said, happy hour prices are worth it alone. it is super-clean, and perfect for a quick drink or bite after work.


website:
nara

locations:
1617 main street
kansas city, mo

genghis kahn mongolian barbeque

★★★★★(5 stars)

i've been here several times, but always forget to bring my camera! i finally remembered and now get to review the best little mongolian barbeque restaurant i've ever eaten at. i guess i'm spoiled, because this was my first restaurant of this type, and having been to several since, i've learned that really none compare. it's clean, it's quaint, it's super veggie friendly.

first, there are two different bowl colours - the blue for veggies only and white for the omnivores. although there is small sign noting the distinction, some people don't know and mix it up. but the grillers are apparently trained to note the difference, and they can always tell when it's a veggie only dish. this is important because they use separate sticks to grill the vegetarian/vegan dishes so you don't have bits of meat mixed in. so awesome!

the buffet is huge. for an all-you-can-eat vegetarian dinner, it is only $11 (lunch is $8.50). there are tons of great vegetables to choose from, including fried tofu. i always overfill my bowl because i just want to have it all. not to mention they throw in peanuts, all kinds of sauce choices and rice noodles if you want. i have never been to another mongolian buffet with so many vegetarian choices. and of course, they have a full menu too. a long time ago i had a mushroom pot off the menu, and i remember it being good. i can't say much else about the menu, except that it has a lot of veggie choices.

it's casual enough for a quick bite, but trendy enough for a date night. and it's a great place for the picky eaters, because you control the flavor. the prices are right, and of course, great for the vegetarian/vegan crowd. i also just discovered they have a second location in the northland. as i said, i've been wanting to review this place for a while because everyone in kansas city should try it at least once.

website:
genghis khan

locations:
midtown
3906 bell
kansas city, mo 64111

northland
8634 north boardwalk
kansas city, mo 64151

the pita pit

★★★★★(5 stars)

almost every time we go to lawrence, we eat at the pita pit. the first pic is a little older, but i was vegan at the time (just not running this blog yet). to start with, the pita pit is open late. like after-bar-show-ends-late, which is quite awesome because that is usually why i'm in lawrence in the first place.


they have a smattering of vegan and vegetarian friendly options - including fresh cooked falafel... all in convenient to-go wraps. the first time i went, they were really awesome in helping me make my falafel wrap vegan, steering me to which sauces would be acceptable. for the vegan, they have garden, hummus, baba ganoush and falafel pitas. i've tried them all and each was as tasty as the last. they also have feta and other cheese varieties for the vegetarian crowd.


for a quick-bite type of place, they are really clean and whip up those wraps in no time. they never skimp - my eats are always wonderfully overstuffed with yummy veggies. and you can pick between white or wheat pitas!

miss v's tip: try their hot sauce and hummus on a falafel pita... mercy!


website:
the pita pit

locations (2 local):
44 ne sycamore street
lee's summit, mo 64086
phone: 816.554.7482

1011 mass street
lawrence, ks 66044
phone: 785.856.2500

matsu japanese restaurant and steakhouse

★★★(3 stars)

my mother and i grabbed a couple rolls of sushi here before we went the museum. it was quite tasty. as with most sushi restaurants in kansas city, there are only 2 or 3 veggie-friendly rolls. i've also had the seaweed salad from here, and recall that it was quite tasty.

we went during off hours (like 2pm) so we didn't have a problem with service, but i have heard negative things. however, our server was quite friendly, and even offered to photograph my food for me (he mentioned something about being a photographer).


you can't really mess up an avocado roll, so i can't judge on that. and the veggie roll that i had was pretty tasty... i think there was one other option for veggies, but i don't remember what it was (nothing impressive). i like when i find sushi restaurants that have creative veggie rolls, instead of just your standard 'vegetable mix' and 'avocado.'

pricing was a little over average, but nothing outrageous. the side of the restaurant we sat on was nice, although the other side looked a bit shady. the bathrooms were so-so, and certainly weren't as clean or nice as you would think from the restaurant atmosphere.

overall, nothing to write home about, but i didn't leave disappointed. i certainly wouldn't drive out of my way to go there, but if i was in the neighborhood, i'd probably eat there again.


website:
no website

location:
427 westport road
kansas city, mo 64111
816.531.2602

garozzo's ristorante

★★★★(4 stars)

let me start by saying that this is a 5-star restaurant food-wise. it has been my favourite italian restaurant since i moved to kansas city. as an ovo-lacto vegetarian, i always found plenty to eat... and it is sooo good. authentic taste, great atmosphere, phenomenal food. but because i have to factor in the vegan-friendliness, i had to demote to four stars.

however, i will say that as a vegan, there isn't much choice. in fact, your only option is their salad. there a stuffed artichoke on the appetizer menu, which you could probably have them modify and just serve with olive oil, but i haven't attempted this yet. namely, because their house salad is ReAlLy good. pimentos, artichoke hearts, fresh romaine. and their dressing is just as tasty (be sure and ask for no parmesan in the dressing). and it's big. and it's $7, which is pretty decent for such a nice restaurant.

they have some great vegetarian options. i used to love the broccoli and mushrooms in a creamy red sauce. the husband always orders their white wine sauce and claims it is the best sauce ever. i try not get offended since i am italian and make some great sauce myself (so i think), but apparently mr. garozzo has one up on me. :)

anyways, it's a great date restaurant. the one in downtown kc is in the little italy district, which is in a pretty isolated part of town. the pictures here (sorry - camera phone) are from that visit. i've eaten at the one in overland park,which is just as tasty. we usually visit salvatore's in independence and sal is almost always there, greeting us and making sure our visit is spectacular. (*note - sal is the nephew of mike garozzo, but it is pretty much the same menu and just as yummy). so if you are vegan and go with the understanding you are having a salad, then this place will not disappoint.


ps- sorry for the sucky pics. it was really dark and all i had was a camera phone.

website:
garozzo's ristorante
salvatore's

locations:
kansas city, mo
lee's summit, mo
independence, mo (*called salvatore's)
olathe, ks
overland park, ks

el mezcal (lawrence, ks)

★(1 star)

i think the only thing saving this place from zero-stars is the unlimited chips and salsa (which wasn't bad), and the fun tattoo vending machine in the lobby area....

as i mentioned in my last post, the husband and i went to lawrence for a mini-vaca over valentine's day. as with most mexi joints, we tend to love the fajitas (and it tends to be one of the few things i can eat). so we were super excited with all the fun stuff listed... peppers, mushrooms, zucchinis, broccoli, etc.


to our surprise, when our sizzling plates arrived, they were overflowing with... pineapple. and i'm not a fruit-in-my-salsa kind of girl. don't get me wrong - some people would have probably enjoyed it. but i don't, and i think i should have been warned. not only was pineapple omitted from the menu, it was the MOST prominent ingredient. look at the picture below - that was just one plate's pineapple pile.


also, my tortillas weren't cooked or steamed... or something. they were all stuck together, so i basically couldn't even peel them apart. i ended up just eating my fajitas with a fork, which wasn't bad, if i didn't have to pick out all the pineapple. the service sucked. i think he came by our table twice, and we had to flag someone down to ask for everything else.... like drinks, napkins, boxes, the check, etc.... it just kept on. all the time i was thinking 'one-star, one star...' the margaritas also sucked some ass... and i wasn't expecting much since i'm not a margarita connoisseur. but i do know if one tastes like shite, and this one did.

so we gave up, and bought a fake tattoo in the lobby to cheer us up.

website:
el mezcal

locations:
1819 w 23rd
lawrence, ks 66046
785.832.8775