“Give Peas a Chance” and other Veg Adventures

I have had the opportunity to try a few really delicious veg restaurants in London—and cheap too! Here is my guide to the Top 3 ones. What are your suggestions?

Food for ThoughtNeal Street

Almost hidden on the Neal Street shopper’s haven, Food for Thought is another one of those Bring Your Own Booze(BYOB) restaurants—though I didn’t actually realize this until my 3rd or 4th visit (yes, it’s that good). With a daily changing menu of different quiches, salads and mains you can strive for your 5 vegetables a day without getting bored and without burning a hole in your wallet (Lunch for under £5 and dinner for under £8). All the food is scooped up in front of you, a feature I always like when trying to decide what I want to eat! I even talked a couple carnivore friends into coming here—they were pleasantly surprised by the taste and are now half the reason I keep coming back. There are a couple options for seating, including the cosy downstairs and upstairs stools for Neal Street people watching. If you fancy the take away option, Covent Garden Market is right around the corner, perfect for visiting friends and family if they want to catch a free court yard show.

Bonus: Get there right at noon and catch their scones right out of the oven. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but clotted crème might not even be necessary!

SagarCovent Garden, Hammersmith, West End

Probably the most reasonably priced AND delicious Indian restaurant in Central London, the South Indian dishes are all veg. The service is great, with patient waiters willing to give recommendations to suit your mood and the portions are definitely filling. Dosas, Uthappams, and all the chuntney’s your heart desires—If you haven’t tried South Indian food yet, eat it first here so you’re not disappointed.

Bonus: The lunch takeaway option was under £5 the last time I checked. Definitely a bargain!

VitaOWardour Street

In the heart of Soho, Vitao is another vegan gem with quite a large selection of salads, curries, grains, etc. that don’t include any animal or dairy products (examples: Vegan Shiitake Stroganof or for those fainter of heart the Vegetable Paella). One eating option is to pay by the scoop, my preference, as you can try as much or as little as you like. Again, you have a chance to see everything you choose, which can even be a bit overwhelming given the selection. During the weekdays they also have a buffet option, where you can fill your plate or box once completely to the top—which, believe me, is enough to satisfyingly stuffed. Another plus: if you or a loved one have a nut, gluten, wheat, sugar or daily allergy/intolerance/imbalance,Vitao is one of few places that can cater specifically to your need.

Bonus: If you’re also in the mood for a juice, a smoothie, or even some coffee, Vitao provides a wide selection including the “Rosehip and Rose Living Latte” and Green Rejuvenator Juice.