Arts&Culture

Photo/ERIC MARKS Writer Anna Hart chooses from vegetarian options on the menu at Miguel’s in Reno

Great veGGie Grub at local restaurants you miGht not expect to be veGetarian friendly

by anna hart

If you’re a vegetarian, you’ve been there: Everyone wants to go out to eat and they take you to a place where your options are between a bowl of lettuce, a side of fries, or eating beforehand because even the salads are covered in bacon and apparently entrees without meat don’t exist. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Here are some unexpected restaurants with some great vegetarian choices.

Miguel’s

1415 S. Virginia St., 322-2722

www.miguelsmexicanrestaurantreno.com

Miguel’s has been a local favorite and landmark for ages, opening in 1959. It’s a family business known for authentic Mexican dishes. I ordered the cheese enchilada and chile relleno lunch special ($9.50), and I wasn’t disappointed. There was a sinful amount of cheese and it was a glorious thing. The enchilada was pretty mild, and the Ortega pepper was savory. It also came with a side of rice and beans that really tied together the meal. Miguel’s is great because they have a few enchiladas, appetizers and even a vegetarian burrito that you can order without having to ask for changes to make it vegetarian.

BJ’s Restau R ant and BR ewhouse

13999 S. Virginia St., 853-7575

www.bjsbrewhouse.com

Since going vegetarian, BJ’s has been one of my favorite restaurants. It has a ton of vegetarian options, and it’s a chain, with locations nationwide that I’m often able to find when I travel. It has a diverse menu, with plenty of meatless choices. The avocado eggrolls ($10.50) are a great way to start off a meal. The creamy, mild taste of the avocado really balances the bolder flavors of the spices and chipotle. BJ’s also has spinach stuffed mushrooms ($5.25) that are perfect for no-guilt snacking. The last time I went, I had the garden vegetable baked potato and tomato bisque lunch special ($8). The bisque was creamy and thick, which made it really satisfying, while the baked potato was equally good. It had loads of vegetables and was smothered in cheese, which made it the perfect comfort food for a chilly afternoon.

Bully’s s po Rts Ba R and gR ill

2005 Sierra Hig H land S d ri V e, 746-8006

www.bullyssportsbar.com

Just because you’ve stopped eating meat doesn’t mean you’ve stopped watching sports. At Bully’s, you can watch the Giants without having to eat the obligatory hot wings with your beer. There are several locations around the valley, but I like the one in the northwest, off Mae Anne Avenue. For your finger foods, there’s a classic selection of fried foods ($4.50-$10) like shoestring fries, mozzarella sticks and fried zucchini. Or if you’ve got a hankering for a bigger meal, you can also get a veggie burger ($8). I had “The J” sandwich along with a side of steamed vegetables. While the steamed veggies were a little on the soggy side, the sandwich definitely made up for it. Layered with spinach, artichoke hearts, avocado, tomatoes and onions, and drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette, “The J” ($8) was actually pretty tasty, and definitely not something I’d expect to find at a sports bar. The great thing about Bully’s is the menu has a varied selection, so there are vegetarian options whether you want to carb-load, have a big meal, or want something lighter.

Kei s ushi

3220 U.S. Hig H way 50, Car S on City, 841-1102

www.keisushi.com

Kei is a little gem in Carson City. It’s got a chic ambience with great service to boot. I got the lunch all-you-can-eat special ($17.95). Normally I stop at three rolls, but I had to try the tempura asparagus, tempura veggie, two of the veggie heaven rolls, and two of the garden rolls. Of course, there are only a few rolls that are vegetarian, but they were delicious. The veggie heaven roll and the tempura asparagus rolls were crunchy and fantastic. Normally, asparagus is way too potent and stringy, and just offends my senses, but in the roll, it was savory and tender. Compared to the cooked rolls, the garden rolls with raw veggies really held their own. They were crisp, fresh, and the flavor from the vegetables really popped because of it. I had Michael as a sushi chef and on my last garden roll, he topped it off with pico de gallo. Mind blown—that’s allowed in Sushi? It definitely put an unexpected twist on a regular roll.

Red Ro Bin g ou RM et Bu R ge Rs

4999 Kietz K e l ane, 825-4246

www.redrobin.com

With burgers in the name, you might think it’s a safe bet that you shouldn’t take a vegetarian there. But at Red Robin, any burger they make can be substituted with a Gardenburger or Boca vegan patty for no extra charge. From there, you can order one of their creations or build your own. To start off, I had an order of guac, chips and salsa ($5). It all tasted really fresh and I wouldn’t dare complain about endless warm tortilla chips. Then I had the ‘shroom and Swiss burger ($10) with a Boca vegan patty. Now, I knew what I was getting into. A veggie patty will never be the prettiest sight and will also tend to look pale and uncomfortable. But that just doesn’t detract from the taste. The burger as a whole was a winner. The sautéed mushrooms were really flavorful and the garlic Parmesan spread really took the burger to the top. I also had a side of steamed broccoli ($1.29) that was tender, but firm enough to stay away from being a soggy mess. To tie it all together, the bottomless fries that came with the burger made sure there was no way I was going home hungry.

Old Range Steakh OuSe

7081 N. Lake B Lvd., Tahoe v is Ta, Ca L if., (530) 546-4800

www.steakhousetahoe.com

I knew that finding a steakhouse with meatless dishes would be the ultimate challenge. But then I came across Old Range Steakhouse and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s on the pricey side, but you can have dinner in a cozy, rustic ambience with a killer view of Lake Tahoe. All of their salads ($14) are huge and can be a meal in themselves. The Greek Spinach salad was my personal favorite. It had such a fresh flavor that was amped up by the tanginess of the feta cheese. They’ve also got vegetarian sides ($8-$9) and you can order a few of them to make a meal. The sautéed mushrooms I ordered were earthy and flavorful, and I swear I could live off them. I also ordered the cream spinach, which normally isn’t my style, considering I leave creamed vegetables for infants and the elderly. But I was pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted and how it complemented the whole meal. For the main course, I had the artichoke sauté ($24). It was full of artichoke hearts as well as broccolini, red peppers and other veggies. It wasn’t overly seasoned, which really let the natural flavors of the different vegetables blend and speak for themselves. The dish also came with a side of garlic mashed potatoes which were the perfect amount of rich and chunky. Old Range Steakhouse also offers gnocchi ($22), a potato pasta dish that is ridiculously popular and incredibly filling. With plenty of options, for once, taking a vegetarian to a steakhouse isn’t the start to a bad joke. Ω VOTE NOW!

IT’S TIME TO VOTE

for your favorite people, businesses and things in the RN&R’s Best of Northern Nevada reader survey! As the region’s most credible and most thorough survey of its kind, we once again have lots of categories! Look through these and come up with some ideas on who you’ll vote for, then go online to www.newsreview.com/reno and click on the “Best of Northern Nevada” icon to vote!

Culture

Best 4th of July fireworks Best animal shelter Best art gallery Best mural Best charity race or walk Best church Best day trip Best dog park Best drag queen Best independent art gallery Best kept secret Best local band Best local band album Best dance instructor Best local dance company Best local theater company Best monthly event Best neighborhood Best non-casino thing to do downtown Best place to meet gay singles Best place to meet straight singles Best place to people watch Best radio station Best talk show host Best scandal Best reason to live in Reno Most environmentally conscious company Best local farm Best non-profit group Best green event Best green store Best special event in downtown Reno Best special event in downtown Sparks Food & drink Best cooking school Best hot dog Best frozen yogurt Best French fries Best smoothie Best chicken wings Best salad Best salad bar Best Mexican Best Italian Best Indian Best Basque Best Japanese Best Greek Best Thai Best Chinese Best Salvadoran Best sandwich shop Best French restaurant Best Vietnamese Best sushi Best vegetarian Best burger Best doughnuts/pastries Best bagel Best bakery Best fresh bread Best coffee Best coffee roaster Best seafood Best steak Best pizza parlor Best breakfast Best business lunch Best greasy spoon Best Reno restaurant Best Carson restaurant Best Truckee restaurant Best Sparks restaurant Best Tahoe restaurant Most romantic restaurant Best new restaurant Best fine dining Best wine list Best wine bar Best cheap eats Best dessert Best martini Best Margarita Best solo dining Best outdoor dining Best late-night dining Best food truck Best ambience Best restaurant view Best restaurant worth the long wait Best chef Best server Best tequila selection Best vodka selection Best whiskey/bourbon/Scotch selection Best Bloody Mary Best local beer Best barbecue restaurant Best catering company Best appetizers Best soups Best place to eat when drunk Best juice Best fondue Best produce Casinos & GamblinG Best casino Best casino hotel Best casino restaurant Best casino bar Best casino arcade games Best female casino bartender Best male casino bartender Best casino buffet Best casino comedy club Best casino game dealer Best casino dance club Best casino promotion Best casino show Best casino band Most eco-friendly casino Best sportsbook Best poker room Best place to cash your check Best customer service Best casino wedding planning Best casino to hear quiet music Best casino spa Best casino security Best casino-hotel for romantic getaway Best casino color scheme Best casino carpet Goods & serviCes Best thrift store Best local place to work Best landscaping company Best house cleaning service Best video game store Best gadget store Best wine shop Best cheap liquor store Best women’s clothing boutique Best men’s clothing store Best children’s clothing boutique Best place to buy a firearm Best place to shoot firearms Best jewelry store Best mall Best tanning salon Best frame shop Best spa Best dry cleaners Best bookstore Best place to get an auto smogged Best place to buy a musical instrument Best gym Best place to buy CDs Best specialty foods store Best adult-themed store Best computer store Best place to buy vintage clothes Best used clothing store Best antique store Best bicycle shop Best flower shop Best beauty salon Best hair stylist Best aesthetician Best nail technician Best barber Best barber shop Best garden nursery Best car wash Best home furnishings store Best apartment complex Best place to get a car repaired Best tattoo parlor Best tattoo artist

’13 Best place to get pierced Best shoe selection Best boutique clothing store Best hotel for a romantic getaway Best bank Best credit union Best mortgage company Best grocery store Best specialty ice cream store Best pet store Best pet supply store Best pet boarding Best skateboard store Best wireless phone service coverage Best brothel Best motorcycle dealer, shop Best new car dealership Best used car dealership Best place for photo prints Best photography supply store Best Pilates studio Best Pilates instructor Best yoga studio Best yoga instructor Best outdoor outfitter Best optical shop Best hospital Best doggy daycare Best athletic shoe selection Best business Facebook page Best independent bookstore Best independent CD music store Best independent coffee shop Best independent computer store Best independent grocery store Best independent used bookstore Best local non-casino business Best new business Best newspaper Best outdoor gear selection Best place for music lessons Best place to buy playa garb Best print shop Best public relations agency Best publication (that’s not us) Best selection of local art Best spectator sport Best sunglasses selection Best wedding event planner Best wedding reception site Best workout wear selection Best independent hardware store Best veterinarian Best Pawnbroker

innovations

Best local innovation: activism Best local innovation: collaboration Best local innovation: living space Best local innovation: service Best local innovation: technology Best local innovation: working space Most innovative local artist Most innovative local casino Most innovative local cocktails Most innovative local company Most innovative local menu Most innovative local music Most innovative local nonprofit Most innovative local promotion Most innovative local startup business Most innovative local teacher

kids & Family

Best arcade games Best charter school Best family outing Best local library Best park Best place to introduce kids to nature Best place to picnic with kids Best place to take the kids Best things to do on a Friday night Best toy store Best weekend activity Best weeknight activity Most kid-friendly restaurant

niGhtliFe

Best all-ages spot Best bar Best beer selection Best bowling alley Best club DJ Best comedy club Best concert venue Best dance club Best dive bar Best gay hangout Best happy hour Best karaoke Best microbrewery Best neighborhood bar Best open-mic night Best place for a first date Best place for live music Best place to buy sexy underwear Best place to cure your hangover Best place to have sex in public Best place to hear loud music Best place to hear quiet music Best place to see a concert Best place to watch Monday Night Football Best place to watch movies Best sports bar Best strip club Best trivia night Most romantic bar

outdoors

Best golf course Best local hot springs Best mountain biking Best outdoor beer garden Best picnic spot Best place to ride a personal watercraft Best place to swim Best ski resort Best skiing Best snowboarding Best spot to hike Best spot to run around naked Best spot to smooch under the stars

Personalities

Best athletic coach Best attorney Best barista Best bartender, female Best bartender, male Best beard Best chiropractor Best club doorman/bouncer Best cocktail server Best college instructor Best creative writer Best dentist Best elementary school teacher Best gynecologist Best high school teacher Best interior designer Best local actor/actress Best local athlete Best local columnist Best local comedian Best local filmmaker Best local musician Best local politician Best local radio DJ or DJ team Best local rapper Best local songwriter Best local TV news Best local TV news anchor Best local TV news hairstyle Best massage therapist Best middle school teacher Best minister/spiritual advisor Best muralist Best music teacher Best naturopathic practioner Best pet groomer Best photographer Best plastic surgeon Best police officer Best politician Best principal Best public figure to fantasize about Best public relations professional Best real estate agent Best social networker Best visual artist Best volunteer