Vegetarian fine dining in Boston

September 29, 2015 3:21 AM

Am looking for suggestions for a nice restaurant in Boston/Cambridge that is vegetarian friendly. Am looking to get a gift cert for dinner for 4, 2 of whom are vegetarian, so looking for somewhere with more than a token pasta primevera or grilled asparagus on the menu. Budget up to $100 per person including wine.

Ten Tables Cambridge used to do a wonderful veg tasting menu but I haven't been in years , anyone have more recent experience? If it's still good, would definitely do that, or anything similar.

posted by darsh to Food & Drink (14 answers total)

Either of Ana Sortun's places, Oleana or Sarma would work. I took my vegetarian mother to Sarma recently and she absolutely adored it. It's actually technically in Somerville, but so close to Cambridge that it might as well be there. My mother actually enjoyed the vegetarian food at Sofra bakery (another Sortun place) but that's a more casual place.
posted by peacheater at 4:16 AM on September 29, 2015 [2 favorites]

Oh I see that your heading was fine dining. Ignore Sofra, but Sarma could work, depending on your definition of "fine dining".
posted by peacheater at 4:18 AM on September 29, 2015

Best answer: Craigie on Main also has a vegetarian tasting menu option, which I've never specifically tried, but the vegetables in their non-vegetarian food tend to be delicious, so I can't imagine it would be bad.
posted by peacheater at 4:35 AM on September 29, 2015

I was also going to suggest Oleana.
posted by cider at 5:05 AM on September 29, 2015

SARMA!!!! I love Oleana too, but Sarma is so much fun and so delicious, especially for vegetarians.
posted by barnone at 6:35 AM on September 29, 2015 [2 favorites]

Ariana (Afghani cuisine) has a very elegant ambiance, good service and in my opinion, a delicious array of vegetarian options. Don't miss the Kaddo!
posted by Lisitasan at 6:46 AM on September 29, 2015

Yes, Oleana is your place. You might also want to look at Journeyman in Somerville's Union Square, or Bondir (also in Cambridge) -- tho I don't know how much vegetarian choice the latter will provide.
posted by AwkwardPause at 6:48 AM on September 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

True Bistro.
posted by papergirl at 6:48 AM on September 29, 2015

Myers + Chang also has a lot to offer vegetarians.

That being said, I vote Sarma- I jump at every opportunity to dine there.
posted by Lisitasan at 6:54 AM on September 29, 2015

If you're willing to go up to $100 per plate, True Bistro is the way to go.

I would eat there every day if it wasn't so expensive. It's the most delicious food I've ever had, and it's a vegan restaurant! I know you didn't ask for vegan, but it's better food than any non-vegan food I've ever had.

Now I've gotten hungry thinking about True Bistro food.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 8:44 AM on September 29, 2015

PS: True Bistro is around $30 per person, IIRC
posted by Salvor Hardin at 8:45 AM on September 29, 2015

Journeyman does do a vegetarian menu. We've been there several times and it's always delicious. I think the tasting menu is around $85 per person before drinks and tip. The last time we were there I didn't think the quality was *quite* as high but it was still delicious and a great experience. It's feasible with your budget if you assume they'll pay the difference for drinks and tip, and any extras (like the fruit and cheese plate at the end, which is totally optional but very delicious.) I'm not sure how a gift certificate would work since you pre-book and pre-pay for the dinners and the price depends on the reservation time and day of the week. If that's of interest, definitely call or email to ask how it would work.

Afghan food is good for vegetarians, but they probably go there for non-special occasions. It would be rather hard to spend $100 per person there. Myers + Chang really is not as good as Boston wants to think it is - it's fine but not delicious, and way too salty and overpowered for my tastes. Sarma, Oleana, Ten Tables and Journeyman make for a rather special night out. If they don't eat out often, they probably haven't been to Sarma, and they will have a delicious and fun dinner! We have taken almost all of our out of town guests there for the last 18 months and everyone has loved it! $100pp will give them a great meal and a bottle of two of wine. The other wonderful option is Tres Gatos in JP but if they're in Somerville or Cambridge, they will think it's too much of a trek.
posted by barnone at 11:45 AM on September 29, 2015

Best answer: I've done Craigie on Main's vegan tasting menu; it is indeed good. If you go with that, let your friends know they'll need to call ahead (a week, I think, though it might have just been a day).
posted by orangejenny at 3:43 PM on September 29, 2015

Journeyman. No question.
posted by Toddles at 9:06 PM on September 29, 2015