Vegan-friendly restaurant near Times Square for a party of 10-15
March 7, 2016 3:18 PM Subscribe
The wife and I are visiting NYC next week, and we haven't been for more than 10 years. Unfortunately, we've only got one evening to spend before we move onto another city, but there are a lot of friends we'd like to see. I want to invite my friends to have a sit-down dinner with us to catch up, since there won't be time for anything else, but I have a few criteria...
1. Must be within easy walking or public transport (15-20 min) of Times Square.
2. Must be large enough to hold a party of 10-15 people, with a few people possibly dropping in a bit late or dropping out early. (So, not the type of establishment where you are expected to sit a full 5-course meal.)
3. Must be able to hold a conversation with my friends without shouting. (So, not a rowdy or overcrowded bar.)
4. Vegan friendly, meaning they'll have more than just a salad for my vegan friend.
5. Not a giant chain, preferably. (No McDonald's or Olive Garden.)
We're not too picky about cuisine, but we currently live in the UK, so would prefer to get something that we can't find around here. (Oaxacan and Cuban are impossible in the UK, for example.) Bonus points for the availability of craft beer.
Does such a place exist? Please tell me it does, hivemind.
1. Must be within easy walking or public transport (15-20 min) of Times Square.
2. Must be large enough to hold a party of 10-15 people, with a few people possibly dropping in a bit late or dropping out early. (So, not the type of establishment where you are expected to sit a full 5-course meal.)
3. Must be able to hold a conversation with my friends without shouting. (So, not a rowdy or overcrowded bar.)
4. Vegan friendly, meaning they'll have more than just a salad for my vegan friend.
5. Not a giant chain, preferably. (No McDonald's or Olive Garden.)
We're not too picky about cuisine, but we currently live in the UK, so would prefer to get something that we can't find around here. (Oaxacan and Cuban are impossible in the UK, for example.) Bonus points for the availability of craft beer.
Does such a place exist? Please tell me it does, hivemind.
Chevys is a decent choice. It's a chain, but not a crappy one. It's Mexican. They have veggie fajitas, and I believe they do vegetarian beans. You can ask for a quiet section and they have happy hour.
I'm picky about Mexicsn and I never mind going to Chevys.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:02 PM on March 7, 2016
I'm picky about Mexicsn and I never mind going to Chevys.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:02 PM on March 7, 2016
Toloache might work for you--there's one at 50th and 8th, not too far from Times Square--but I'd have the vegan friend take a look at the vegetarian menu first.
posted by praemunire at 4:38 PM on March 7, 2016
posted by praemunire at 4:38 PM on March 7, 2016
I always wind up at Hangawi for catch-up meals with vegan friends in NYC, but you'll want to call to make sure they can accommodate 15. It is elegant and quiet and surely not something you can easily find in the UK.
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:59 PM on March 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:59 PM on March 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Indian is going to have the most variety, veg-wise and Chennai Garden on Lex is pretty tasty (although if you're from the UK, you have better food there). Hangawi is also good. I think you'd need reservations for either place.
posted by vivzan at 9:13 PM on March 7, 2016
posted by vivzan at 9:13 PM on March 7, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks for all the responses so far. I realized I should have specified that we're omnivores and our vegan friends are in the minority, so is there a place that's both meat and veg-friendly?
We're not really feeling Indian, because it's so easy to get quality Indian in the UK.
posted by the_wintry_mizzenmast at 11:41 PM on March 7, 2016
We're not really feeling Indian, because it's so easy to get quality Indian in the UK.
posted by the_wintry_mizzenmast at 11:41 PM on March 7, 2016
Best answer: I recommend one of the Ethiopian places in Midtown - excellent for meat eaters and (speaking as a vegetarian) for vegetarians and vegans. I went to a birthday party at Queen of Sheba that was exactly what you're looking for - flexible accommodation for 20+ people who didn't all arrive at the same time, nice peaceful atmosphere but also way cheaper than the fancy veg-specific places folks are recommending, and realistically 15-20 mins from Times Square (unlike any restaurant that requires a subway ride).
posted by kalapierson at 12:09 AM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by kalapierson at 12:09 AM on March 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
15-20 Minutes by Subway from Times Square is literally anywhere on the west side and midtown east.
Honestly your biggest problem is the "10-15" part. Generally at any place half decent they'll want you to prearrange things a bit. Otherwise your choices are limited to places set up to churn big groups. But I can't off hand think of one that meets your qualifications for vegan-friendliness.
posted by JPD at 6:46 AM on March 8, 2016
Honestly your biggest problem is the "10-15" part. Generally at any place half decent they'll want you to prearrange things a bit. Otherwise your choices are limited to places set up to churn big groups. But I can't off hand think of one that meets your qualifications for vegan-friendliness.
posted by JPD at 6:46 AM on March 8, 2016
It might be easier to grab dinner by yourselves or a smaller group and then meet up with the 10-15 people at a bar that has the craft beer you're into. In the area that you're specifying, perhaps Rattle N Hum or The Ginger Man would satisfy the craft beer request.
posted by vivzan at 9:20 AM on March 8, 2016
posted by vivzan at 9:20 AM on March 8, 2016
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posted by jourman2 at 3:26 PM on March 7, 2016