Occasionally I receive E-mails from hungry readers seeking recommendations. This post is for the vegetarian East Sider who was looking for an inexpensive lunch.
- Zen Burger (CLOSED as of 12/12/08. I hope they reopen somewhere!) This environmentally-friendly answer to McDonald's serves an entirely vegetarian menu of "burgers," "hot dogs," and "chicken" sandwiches. The sandwich buns contain whole wheat flour, the coffee is fair trade, the napkins are 100% recycled, and all after-tax profits on bottled water are donated to the environment. A meal, which includes a sandwich, fries and drink, runs about $7. Personally, I found the burger to be more convincing than the grilled ZenChicken breast - the soy chicken had a strange texture. But after they slapped some cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato and special sauce on top of a Zenburger, I was hard-pressed to distinguish it from a "real" fast-food burger. (Aren't McD's burgers half-soy anyway?) (465 Lexington Ave., 212-661-6080.)
- Lan Cafe. To my knowledge, this tiny Vietnamese joint is the only place in the city where you can order totally veggie banh mi ($5.50). There are lots of rice vermicelli entrees (one question: why is the grilled lemongrass seitan on rice vermicelli $7.95 while the grilled lemongrass seitan on steamed rice vermicelli is $8.95? Random.). My rice vermicelli sauteed with little strips of seitan, bamboo shoots and straw mushrooms was wonderfully peppery. (342 East 6th St., 212-228-8325.)
- Dang Lai Palace. A newcomer to the East Side, this kosher dairy "world vegetarian" restaurant serves a lunch special for only $8, which includes an entree, taro spring roll and beverage. I have to confess that I haven't eaten here yet, but it falls under the $8-or-less criterion that my E-mail friend specified. So if you try it, let me know how it is! (180 3rd Ave., 212-505-2000.)
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