Avant Garden

I had high expectations, but the food was a hit or miss. The Brussel sprouts and toast were wonderful. However, with the “paella”, we had issues (i put it in quotes because it was reimagined paella, not the real deal). There was a big piece of squash that was more or less uncooked and inedible. Also I’m not sure what the purpose of the piece of mushroom was either. I’m no Michelin star connoisseur, but putting a big piece of unseasoned mushroom doesn’t seem like it enhances the dish. Finally, the lava cake was a flop. The entire joy of eating a lava cake is the hot molten core surrounded by a moist gooey cake. We got neither. The cake was cold and plasticy. The “lava” wasn’t flowing. The additional things like banana, additional sauce, ice cream didn’t really do much to enhance the dish. F

Avant Garden is one of those Manhattan restaurants that completely changes your expectations of plant-based food. Located in the East Village, this place is creative, thoughtful, and genuinely exciting from the first dish to the last bite. The artichoke presentation alone is a showstopper. Perfectly cooked, layered with flavor, and plated beautifully. It’s rich without being heavy and balanced in a way that makes you slow down and actually appreciate what you’re eating. The cucumber and radish dish was bright, refreshing, and incredibly clean. Light but full of texture, with that subtle acidity that keeps you coming back for another forkful. One of the standouts for me was the roasted cauliflower. Deeply caramelized, crisp on the outside, tender inside, and sitting in that silky sauce th

presentations were great but it wasn’t enough to convince me that maybe my tastebuds were novice. flavors and textures were just okay. first time I’ve had to send a dish back- the pepper was undercooked and difficult to cut. By the time you get a piece, the filling was mixed into the huge amount of sauce you were hoping to not eat as soup. I found a lot of the dishes were difficult to eat without getting messy. dang, looking back even the dessert was underwhelming and flour-y to an easy chocolate lover despite us remaining positive! I am possibly spoiled coming from Chicago’s vegan landscape lol. I didn’t take photos of all the dishes, i realized I wasn’t coming back:/ We all know what it’s like to not agree with a dish that’s not for you, and to also go crazy over something that has never

I stopped by early evening on the weekend out of curiosity. The cozy, stylish interior drew me in, so I ordered a Peach Toast and a cocktail (forgot the name). The cocktail was fine, but the mix of peach and nuts on the toast didn’t really work for me. Next time, I’d like to try their dinner menu instead.

Just off Tompkins Square Park and on the second level, this enchanting vegan restaurant offers reprieve from the chaos of Ave A with its warm and inviting ambiance. The food is served family style—so expect to order a bunch—they recommended 9 for 4 people (which, be warned, can get really expensive quickly with most dishes being $20+). The toasts were yummy, as were the drinks and the cold items like the Hen of the Woods, but I’m coming back for the paella and the risotto—they both are must-haves and tasted DEVINE. It’s amazing how far vegan food has come. Overall, not a cheap night out, but the ambiance and service were great and the hot items (the paella and risotto) were even better. Pro tip: check them out on InKind and save some $.