Lots of Vegan Food in Rochester, NY {Part 5}
July 15, 2022
My list of vegan eats in Rochester, New York continues to grow. So allow me to dive right into sharing some food highlights from my most recent stay.
Eden Cafe & Bakeshop in Batavia is just a quick drive from Rochester. They’ve got a selection of carrot dogs on their menu that I wanted to check out. Truth be told, I wanted to order their “Three Dog Flight,” any 3 of their dogs served flight-style, but the waitress talked me out of it. I selected the The Maui Waui dog–that smoky carrot topped with teriyaki sauce, cilantro-lime aioli, grilled pineapple, fresh jalapeño and pickled red onion. It was a nice few bites that would have benefit from more fat and a bit of texture variance. I guess in my head the dog was roasted–oiled and seasoned like the time I made them myself. These were flavor-packed, indeed, but more like a boiled dog. The mac salad was very yummy with great textures, cooling after bites of jalapeño.
The carrot!
Take-out at Mamasans was a very delicious highlight. It is an Asia fusion spot that focuses on Thai and Vietnamese noodle dishes. I was so pleased to see clearly labeled vegan options as the ubiquitous fish sauce often rears in these cuisines. I ordered the Phat Kari–rice noodles tossed with a mixture of vegetables and a sweet curry sauce, topped with peanuts. Though I really enjoyed it, the curry needed a bit more depth to blow my mind. Also yummy was their Garden Rolls, rice paper wrapped herbs, veggies and tofu. And to end it, something I devoured as often as I could during my two month stay in Thailand years ago, sweet coconut milk drenched sticky rice. I really appreciate an Asian eatery that offers traditional desserts and not Americanized version of their cuisine.
Tree Town Cafe in Penfield offers a wide selection of vegan sandwiches in their cute space. I left the place kind of annoyed with the experience however. First off, they were out of avocado. I mean, come on. Secondly, the counter girl noted the wrong name on my order and so my order sat for like 20 minutes. I was really hungry and had lots to do, so it was particularly annoying that the counter girl, whom I was in view of the entire time I waited, didn’t even alert me of my order being ready. Just bad service. When I finally got my Vegan Inwood Club, the “homemade vegan bacon” that, in my head, was at least crispy, turned out to be a flimsy addition of packaged yuba. And their turkey, another packages item. Meh overall.
Hitting up the sights at the Port of Rochester we stopped at California Rollin’ II because of proximity. A vegan sushi option is easy, but the vibe there was a bit too Thirsty Thursday. Overall, the sushi was acceptable, but nothing special. As far as value, it was two thumbs down. Skimpy avocado roll for $8 is unheard of even in New York City. I did enjoy the dessert sushi with mango, banana and raspberry but it was missing its toasted coconut topping.
Though it makes no mention of it on the website, The Crumpet Lady‘s crumpets are all-vegan. And they are uniquely delicious–pillowy and rich and perfect with a simple topping like their killer local-made raspberry jam and some Earth Balance. They also offer monthly vegan specials you’ll need to check Instagram for. What is so lovely about their darling space is the quality of the crumpets, which I have never encountered before in my 20+ years of being vegan, and the many partnerships they have with other local vegan businesses. I will definitely be returning.
Gorgeous.
Quick coffee stop Ugly Duck Coffee… two oat milk lattes.
Most vegans understand the worth of a good Ethiopian spot to hit all the notes. Tons of protein and soft rolls of slightly sour Injera as a vessel of veggie heaven. Luckily Rochester has several Ethiopian eateries to choose from. This time, Addis Ababa. Their Vegan Combo plate has Miser (Lentils stewed in a rich berbere sauce, onions, garlic, and ginger), Ater (Split peas stewed in a special sauce, onions, garlic, and ginger), Dinech Wot (Potatoes simmered with berbere, onions, garlic, and other spices), Gomen (Fresh collard greens sauteed with onions, garlic, and ginger), Tikel Gomen (Fresh cabbage sauteed with onions, garlic, carrots, and turmeric), and Fassolia (Fresh green beans sauteed with onions, garlic, and carrots).
Where I get some protein.
You know I always have to go to Swillburger. Their beet-based veggie burger kicks ass. But here is just a quick picture of it since I have reported on it multiple times!
I will go anywhere Rochester’s Black Cat Baking Co. tells me to. Their sublime pastry is delivered to some local hot spots on a regular basis and I eagerly track their Instagram while I am in town. This time it was Happy Gut Sanctuary for their Pain au chocolat and a Rapini Chili Crunch Danish I intended to give my guy… but ate in its entirety. (Of course another oat milk latte, too) Their pastry is really good–and not just “good” for vegan pastry because they actually make non-vegan sweet treats as well–but it is their imaginative flavors that set them above even a lot of what’s happening here in Brooklyn. The flavor combinations are smart and they don’t get nuts with garnish. I guess it’s hard to know what I mean by that, but for an example, I often think that the Brooklyn-based Terms of Endearment do things that embarrass traditional pastry. Black Cat Baking Co. does not embarrass pastry.
I just happened to stumble across this vegan option by chance and was so pleased to have found it. Crisp is a new spot across from Swillburger was some labeled vegan options about their menu. I chose the South Wedge “Meat” Loaf for my maiden visit. This really delectable option is quinoa-based and not Beyond or Impossible-based, thank goodness, though they do have a Beyond burger on the menu. The asparagus was perfectly cooked, an important indicator of the technical skills in the kitchen. I look forward to returning to Crisp as they grow and perhaps their vegan options do too!
Finally, Voula’s Greek Sweets. Sure, I had seen this option come up with my initial searches of vegan eats about Rochester, but I had dismissed it foolishly. Perhaps I just thought it’d be a hummus-fest and not much else. Once I explored their menu further it went straight to the top of my list.
As it turns out, Voula’s Greek Sweets is one of the best vegan options in the city. Just peep this Vegan Combo plate… house-made seitan gyro, spanakopita (I added for extra $ because I simply had to taste their vegan version), lemon potatoes, and an amazing Greek salad with vegan Kafteri, a cheesy spread of deliciousness. Each component alone knocked my socks off–but all together? The best vegan meal I’ve had in Rochester so far.
They are “read deal” and that means so much to me.
And they also do vegan version of traditional Greek Sweets. My mind is completely blown.
I got the Kataifi, Saragli and Baklava.
The Saragli, a small bite of rolled baklava drizzled with chocolate.
Baklava. You know what that is right? Well this was perfectly executed.
Kataifi is chopped walnuts rolled in shredded phyllo pastry in a lemon rosewater syrup. It was my favorite. Not too floral and the lemon paired well with the sweetness.
Even after 5 separate reports on area vegan food, my Rochester list is still pretty long. What’s your favorite Rochester spot? I want to make sure I have it on my list. Happy Eating, ROC.