Hailing from Southern California, where vegetarianism is not only accepted but also a way of life, I gave into my stereotypes of the conservative East Coast mentality when I believed that this type of lifestyle would be shunned.
Fortunately, when I arrived on campus last year, I slowly but surely made my way around Nassau Street to the local eateries and discovered that this stereotype was indeed fallacious. With the financial support of the "Prince," I was able to go around to many of the more popular Princeton restaurants to see what, if any, vegetarian fare they offered. I was not disappointed.
I should first define my type of vegetarianism, as there are many levels and classifications. I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian, which means that I drink milk, eat eggs, and other dairy products. Vegans, however, choose to forego eating or even wearing anything containing animal products or bi-products; leather shoes and jello are equally off-limits. Within my more modest parameters, I would like to offer my top five restaurants for vegetarians in Princeton.
THAI VILLAGE
With ethnic restaurants always a good bet for vegetarian food, as many cultures find animals sacred or have historically lived on a diet low in meat protein, I turned to the many such restaurants in our vicinity.
Thai Village, at 235 Nassau Street provides fast and affordable food for all types. I was able to go with a group of friends, many of whom were not vegetarians, and we all enjoyed our meals. The menu is laid out so that vegetarians will not have a hard time finding any number of appealing dishes. I tried the Sweet and Sour Vegetable (Prew Wan Puck), which was excellent and was even preferred among several of the meat-eaters in the group. They also had a vegetable Pad Tai noodle dish, which includes an assortment of vegetables in place of chicken, beef, or shrimp. The Hot and Sour Soup with mixed vegetables (Tom Yam Puck) as well as the Spring Rolls (Po Pia Tod) were also great choices for appetizers.
MASALA GRILL
I preferred the Indian restaurant Masala Grill, located at 19 Chambers Street, to Kalluri Korner, although either side can argue the pluses and minuses of each restaurant. At Masala Grill, however, the great mix of Indian spices and curries engages your senses the moment you enter the eatery. The menu boasts a colorful variety of items that tempt even the most discriminating of taste buds. I would highly recommend any of the mushroom medleys or the chickpea dishes. What is fantastic about Masala Grill is their ability to adapt the spiciness of their dishes to the needs of the patron. So whether you really like your food hot, or more on the tame side, Masala Grill is able to catar to your requests.
ZORBA'S BROTHER
I also ventured out to try the food at the new Zorba's Brother, which replaced Ebenezer's Coffee on Nassau Street just outside the campus gates. Both the Mediterranean Wrap and the Grilled Vegetable Wrap distinguished themselves from the usual wraps one can get from Frist because they were served warm. I did, however, feel the need to request the addition of hummus to the Grilled Vegetable Wrap to add a touch of flavor to the somewhat bland mixture of zucchini, squash, and carrots. All in all, my experience at Zorba's Brother as well as those of my companions, were all very enthusiastic and complimentary of their individuals selections. We also considered the price of the dishes to be extremely reasonable, given the amount of food that was served. I would even recommend going to Zorba's Brother with a group of people so that you could sample some of the dishes.
MOONDOGGIE CAFE
Moondoggie Café offers a variety of options for vegetarians, including salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, and other light fare. The "California upscale" menu reminded me a lot of the many places I would find back home. Every category in their menu offers a vegetarian alternative; for example, there is a "Moondoggie Gardner" Signature Sandwich, as well as a "Veggienini" hot Panini Sandwich. My favorites include the Humus Wrap, if you like the chickpea mixture, and the Veggie Wrap, both of which come in a flavored tortilla such as sundried tomato or spinach. Moondoggie also offers wonderful salads, a juice bar, a breakfast menu and smoothies — enough variety to satisfy anyone.
Like Zorba's Brother, Moondog-gie's menu is easily catered to the vegetarian palate, and the prices are all very reasonable. The wraps were huge, and one could even choose to bring the leftovers home for lunch the following day. At Moondoggie, you are sure to get what you pay for.
ICHIBAN
Finally, one of my favorite local places offering vegetarian fare is the Japanese restaurant, Ichiban 66 Witherspoon Street. One of the highlights of my meal at Ichiban was the fried tofu appetizer, which came in a tasty sauce and was devoured in minutes by both my meat-eating roommate and me.
The soba noodle bowls, filled with tofu, vegetables, noodles and a savory broth, provide a hearty meal that will warm you up on the cold winter nights looming ahead. The vegetable rolls are great, though the cucumber roll was a little bland for my taste.
The Mochi ice cream, ice cream encrusted in rice cake (mochi) or the green tea ice cream for dessert are both bound to please for their unique contrasts in textures; the hard crunch of the fried batter and the smooth consistency of the ice cream are a culinary oxymoron.
Unfortunately, Ichiban is on the more expensive side. Especially since it is rather difficult to satisfy your apetite on one roll alone, you must plan accordingly. Expect to pay a little bit more at Ichiban, especially if you are tempted to try one of their many appetizers or indulge in a great dessert.
This list is definitely not exhaustive, and I must assert that Princeton offers many fine restaurants that also offer vegetarian options on their menus. In fact, in this day and age, with vegetarianism becoming more popular and widely accepted, it is likely that even a restaurant that does not have an option specifically for vegetarians on the menu will accommodate these dietary preferences.
Some other options include: Soonja's, Nassau Bagel and Sushi, Triumph Brewery, Olive's, Mezzaluna, and Panera Bread Company.
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