Help me help a reader!
Hello blog readers. I got an email yesterday from an out-of-town reader named Tony who is planning a trip to Roanoke with his girlfriend. He wants to take her to a romantic restaurant that also offers vegetarian options, since she is a vegetarian.
It’s not too difficult to advise him on the romantic part of his question, but the vegetarian requirement makes it a little harder. I notice that a lot of fancy restaurants have one, maybe two vegetarian options on the menu. I’d love to hear from vegetarian readers who might have ideas for this fella, as well as anyone else who has thoughts on this issue.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide for Tony!
January 12, 2012 - 11:24 AM
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The Isaacs of course! I haven’t been there recently and a friend told me their liquor license hit a snag when they changed hands, so it might be worth a phone call first. But the food and service are *excellent*! Pair it with a movie at the Grandin and that’s a pretty sweet date.
Thai Continental on Market is recently remodeled & is very nice. The service is excellent there too. Ask for the spice you want or they’ll assume you want mild
Taaza in SW County is great for veg options too.
The Isaacs has some awesome vegetarian dishes!
As a former vegan, I’d have to recommend Lucky as it has several vegetarian options and Jeff is always happy to whip something up on the fly. Great cocktails, great ambiance, and delicious food–can’t ask for more!
Wildflour on 4th or Local Roots maybe?
Metro is another thought.
These are some great suggestions! I will wait until the end of the day today to see what else folks have to say, then I’ll send these ideas to Tony. Thanks!
Horizon has my vote!
Nawab is a great choice. The food is great and the staff is very kind and accomodating. The Isaacs no longer serves alcohol, so that may be a factor.
Most of the good restaurants in Roanoke have meatless dishes I’d think. I’m with #3…Lucky. Maybe Metro. Carlos has that fabulous view.
As a vegetarian in Roanoke, those are all some of my favorite restaurants–Wildfour on 4th, Local Roots (if you want to spend a little more but it’s worth it!) and Isaac’s. Another choice could be Norberto’s – Italian places usually offer several meatless options.
As a pescatarian, my favorite places in Roanoke are The Isaacs, Local Roots, Blue 5, Metro, Nawab, and Alexander’s. Wildflour on 4th has great food, but I wouldn’t call it “romantic.” It’s definitely delicious though.
I’m thinking Local Roots.
Has anyone suggested Taza or Nawab? Both great indian places with numerous veg and vegan options. Taza is on Franklin Rd. and Nawab is downtown on Campbell Ave.
Tazaa, the Indian place on Franklin, has a nice romantic vibe in the evenings and an extensive selection of vegetarian entrees. Jimmy Sardine’s is a little less intimate, but they’ve got several very good choices (try the Antigua pizza) and a decent beer selection.
CAn’t be;oeve no one has mentioned Rockfish! Great atmosphere and have some veg choices. Great wine selection with many good inexpensive choices.
Thanks, everybody!
Went to Issacs tonight for some vegetarian moussaka. They still don’t have their ABC license. As Jes mentioned in #3, Lucky will whip up something for you and so will most of the other restaurants. I asked for the chef to do that at Table 50 one night and everyone seated nearby wanted my dish! Agree that Nawab and Taaza have the most vegetarian options on their menus.
I vote for Taaza too.
In addition to the above, I might suggest The Double Apple.
Isaac’s on Grandin has gone downhill. Maybe you guys have been there in a while, but I have and I am so sad to say I won’t go back. My choice – Rockfish or Stephen’s on Franklin.
I always go to Growlers for the Big Daddy Brews! None are made with any meat products so should have no problems!
As far as nice restaurants go, I say he should go for Taaza—very appropriate for a date, nice atmosphere, so many diverse menu options for vegetarians (something vegetarians rarely get), nice waitstaff, delicious food.
Szechuan by Tanglewood has awesome veggie sushi, and miso soup and also has a nice date atmosphere.
Isaacs used to be a great little place with great food, but has gone down since it remodeled, very loud, obnoxious, hard to hear your date, as well as the food being kind of subpar.
Don’t know how long they will be in town, but Pop’s in Grandin is a vegetarian must. They are all vegetarian, and their soups are amazing. More for a quaint, cute date than a romantic one however.
First & 6th! They have an appetizer – waffle smoothered in mushrooms that is just fabulous! Great wine selection and nice lighting. Perfect for a romantic dinner. Great wait staff too.
Have to disagree with Lisa2, I ate at the Isaac’s Friday night and it was great…better than it had been in ages. I didn’t even miss their alcohol. Rockfish was a disappointment on my last two visits, I probably wont be back there.
Fork in the City…….always good, I agree Isaac’s has gone down… I want to try The Double Apple after Lindsays review sounds yummy…..
Rocc, that was a review written by Wade Anderson, but I am so glad you enjoyed the food at the Double Apple.