All The Best London Veggie - Friendly Eating Places In One Compact, Clearly Indexed Guide
Disadvantages:
They Didn't Invite Me To Sample The Menus With Them !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
'Vegetarian London' (Alex Bourke/Jennifer Wharton) is essential reading for anyone in the Metropolis who requires a meat-free meal - from tourists visiting for a weekend; fledgling vegetarians unsure where they can dine out; experienced veggies & vegans keen to sample new cuisine or track down elusive ingredients in the capital's many healthfood stores; busy office workers planning a working lunch with minimal effort & students looking for cheap grub; to people who just enjoy good, tasty food!
A handy pocket guide, I've bought it in every previous incarnation since 1994, so was keen to obtain the latest edition, published Jan 2002. I sat reading it avidly on the Tube home to check out the additions (it contains an extra 100 fact-filled pages to the last version) & wasn't disappointed! 'Vegetarian London' covers 400 places to eat out or take away; all of London's completely veggie & vegan restaurants, hotels, shops & supermarkets; the best ethnic 'veggie-friendly' eateries; detailed maps of Central London food places; plus other useful chapters, such as menu tips for restaurateurs, veggie caterers, accommodation (hotels, B&Bs, hostels & campsites), a 'Getting Away' travel section, guide to animal-free cosmetics & local support groups.
The improved layout is pleasing to the eye & easy to use, with clear 'chapter finder' tabs down the page sides (what a good idea - it saves tons of time flicking through to find the right section!) & separate indexes at the back detailing restaurants, shops & all-you-can-eat buffets.
The main restaurant & shop content is divided into 16 postcode areas: West End - Soho; Covent Garden; Bloomsbury; Marylebone & Fitzrovia; The City; Sloane Zone; Islington; Stoke Newington; Camden; North London; North West London; East End; West London; South London; Middlesex & Surrey. Each chapter has a key detailing the vegetarian restaurants, omnivorous ones, wholefood & health food shops covered; location map marking these (central areas only) & reviews for each place.
Restaurant reviews are detailed, giving plenty of menu examples, whether places are licensed (or if you can bring your own) & typical prices. I've always found them to be fair, giving a reliable idea of what to expect. On the right of each page is a summary column of practical info which includes category of place (eg vegetarian Chinese restaurant, salad bar, organic supermarket etc); address; phone number; nearest Tube, BR or buses; opening hours. They've added photos of many places too, which is a nice touch.
For the different shops, the guide concentrates on the take-away food, snacks, organic produce & any seating areas available. You'll also sometimes find comments on toiletries, supplements, allergy testing, nutritionists, fair trade goods, books stocked, discounts (Vegetarian/Vegan Societies or student) & many other individual tips.
The guide promises that there will be regular updates on the publisher's website (see link below), which will be good to see, as the only problem I've ever had with previous editions is the pace at which information can go out of date. Mind you, I tend to ring ahead & double-check, particularly on special occasions, just to make sure everything's in order.
And, probably most importantly, this book isn't only for vegetarians, so don't be afraid to pick up a copy if you're a meat eater - there are plenty of tasty venues I'm sure you will enjoy. Give it a whirl!
I can attest that this is an invaluable book that I just cannot do without! As a Londoner, I often just want to grab a quick inexpensive meal in the centre of town or find myself out in an unfamiliar area. Particularly when out with a group of friends, we might number veggies, vegans & people with wheat & dairy intolerances between us, so the level of detail in the reviews gives us a perfect starting point of venues that might suit everybody's tastes. I also find it encourages me to be less lazy & hunt out backstreet eateries rather than stick to the same old places, however nice they might be!
A selection of my current West End favourites to whet your appetites include:
- Govinda's (Soho St, just off Oxford St): Bargain Indian eat-all-you-like buffet £4.99 (happy hour £3.99!), plus pizza slices, jacket potatoes, cakes etc. - Mildred's (recently moved to bigger premises in 45 Lexington Street, London W1 & NOT in Greek St): Regularly changing, extensive menu with tons for vegans. Gets busy, so arrive early. About a tenner a head for a main course & drink. Stir fry veg on brown rice; 'burger of the day' with chunky chips; falafel in a tortilla wrap with chilli sauce; large detox salads; double chocolate pudding with mocha sauce (vegan!); freshly squeezed juices etc. - Red Veg (Dean St, just off Oxford St): Yes, at last a veggie fast food bar! Stir fry noodles; falafel & hummus; chilli burgers; plantain chips; crispy zucchini etc. - Tai (Greek St): One of a new chain of vegan Oriental restaurants. Eat-all-you-like buffet £5 day/£6 eves; unlimited jasmine tea £1 etc. The sizeable buffet is frequently topped up with new dishes before your hungry eyes. It's organic, GM free, there's a fab variety of Chinese/Thai food & the staff are very friendly. Wear your elasticated-waisted trousers! - Wagamamas (various - quickly growing chain): Japanese fast-food noodle bar. Very speedy service & the staff know what's veggie/vegan. Easy to adapt most dishes to swap for vegan noodles, leave out egg etc. Only place I've ever eaten fresh soya beans in their pods - yum!
By now, I'm sure you're all hungry (I know I am!) but I hope you've got the idea, so I won't continue around the rest of London.
Priced at a reasonable £5.99 - less than a typical meal out! - 'Vegetarian London' will save you hours of frustration hunting for somewhere that can offer a dinner that's more interesting than a portion of chips served with a limp lettuce garnish & the obligatory fruit salad for afters.
Buy a copy for all your friends!
Vegetarian London (4th Edition, Jan 2002) - by Alex Bourke & Jennifer Wharton. Price: £5.99 384 pages ISBN 1-902259-033 Publishers: Vegetarian Guides Ltd (http://www.vegetarianguides.co.uk) Available: All good bookstores; mail order from the publishers or from various vegetarian, vegan & animal charities.
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