… is Cafe Blossom on the Upper West Side.  Don’t take my word for it – Time Out New York rated Blossom – the best vegetarian restaurant in NYC two years in a row (2008 and 2009).  I know, I know – vegetarian and vegan are different, but Time Out Magazine probably does not have a category for Vegan restaurants when they do their annual evaluation of restaurants.

I went to Cafe Blossom on the Upper West side for lunch a few weeks ago on a rainy summer afternoon with a vegetarian friend.  We both left with full stomachs and heavy hearts (we could not eat any more of their delicious dishes that day 😦 ).

Cafe Blossom is a quiet place on a week day for lunch.

Cafe Blossom NYC – as you enter

I was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness of the Field of Greens juice that I had while I was waiting for my friend.  It had just the right amount of spinach to make it look green and healthy, a reasonable amount of ginger to make it spicy, just the right amount of apple to make it sweet enough for me, lemon juice to make it tart, and cucumber to make it very fresh!!  I wish the other green juices of the world (Hint: Juice Press, Blue Print Cleanse) would learn from this combination to recreate the perfect taste and to let people in the world know that healthy = tasty too!

Cafe Blossom NYC UWS – Field of Greens juice – includes spinach, apple, lemon juice, ginger, and cucumber

We shared the following:

• Black-eyed pea cakes:  I am an ardent potato lover and I relish black eyed peas.  The soft, cooked black-eyed peas were stuffed in the steamed, mashed and spiced potatoes that were crisp on the outside and super soft inside.  The garlic aioli (am assuming this is soy aioli, did not confirm with the server, sorry) was wonderful as was the flavorful red pepper coulis on the plate.

Cafe Blossom NYC – Black-eyed pea cakes with Yukon potatoes, red pepper coulis, and garlic aioli

• Kale salad:  If you do not like eating kale, you will become a convert after eating this salad.  With avocado and ginger-almond dressing – this is absolutely delicious!!  At the restaurant, you can order a side of kale – raw or steamed. If it’s kale you want to eat, please eat this salad instead of the raw or steamed kale.  When I ate this salad, I was reminded of a couple of kale salads that I make, although I must admit that those are very different.  Watch out for a future post on the kale salads I make (and love!).

Cafe Blossom NYC – Kale salad with scallions, creamy avocado, peppers and ginger-almond dressing

• Autumn Sweet potato rolls: Did I mention that I am ardent lover of potatoes?  But am not one of sweet potatoes.  This dish convinced me to try eating sweet potatoes a few more times.  The sweet potato is the orange colored savory wrap around the coconut noodles, jicama, red and yellow peppers, carrots, scallions, and avocado.  Yum!

Cafe Blossom NYC – Sweet potato rolls with coconut noodles, jicama, carrot, red and yellow pepper, scallions, and avocado

These 3 dishes were perfect as lunch for us – not too large and yet very filling appetizers.  I am now struggling to pick one favorite dish from these listed above.   Please go to Cafe Blossom, try these and tell me what is your favorite dish?

At Cafe Blossom, a few dishes are raw and a few are live.  My friend and I were intrigued by the raw Beet ravioli (with herbed cashew cheese, sprout and carrot salad) – how can ravioli be raw?  The server mentioned that the cashew cheese was wrapped in thin, raw beet slices.  I made a note to try this dish the next time I eat there.

The portions at Cafe Blossom are by no means small at the restaurant; one appetizer and one main course will make for a hearty meal for anyone.  Many Yelpers have stated that although they are not vegetarian or vegan, they have enjoyed their meals here.  For the vegetarian and the vegan – you now have the entire menu to order from!!

More on Cafe Blossom:

• Cafe Blossom is also open in the West Village at 41 Carmine Street, but I have not been to the  West Village location
• Blossom is another restaurant in Chelsea (187 Ninth Avenue) and is part of the same family of restaurants as Cafe Blossom.   I ate at this Chelsea location about 5 years ago, when I ordered a couple of dishes with seitan and tempeh and came to the realization that I do not enjoy these.
• V-Note is an organic wine bar and vegan bistro in the Upper East Side (1522 First Avenue)
• If you want Blossom to-go, there are 3 outlets of Blossom du Jour in NYC, all serving healthy, organic food and beverages.
• These restaurants and Bistro seem to be kosher too

Are there other vegan restaurants in NYC?

This is New York City!  Of course there are many other vegan restaurants.  Check out the following links besides Menu Pages, to lists of vegan restaurants in the city

• Super Vegan
• Happy Cow