August 14, 2012 | Food & Drink
Vedge, the gold standard of green eats.
Jar Bar
Jennifer VanHeeswyk and Joel Odhner, founders of Philadelphia’s Catalyst Cleanse all-juice diet, have opened a shop where the health-conscious can source their raw juices every day. In addition to these veggie-packed beverages, the menu includes smoothie-like, enzyme-rich elixirs (think hemp milk and protein powders) and raw foods like kale chips, sprouted hummus wraps, and sweet potato pasta. 113 S. 12th St., 215-923-1600
Freshii
A wholesome grab-and-go eatery tucked into The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Freshii’s menu of salads, noodle and rice bowls, and wraps are topped and stuffed with all manner of produce. Tofu and chicken are popular protein-packed additions. Try the new Kale Effect bowl or salad, featuring the iron- and calcium-rich super green. 1414 S. Penn Sq., 215-977-7123
Hip City Veg
General manager of the now-shuttered Horizons vegan restaurant, Nicole Marquis has brought her expertise to Rittenhouse Square with a fast-food vegan restaurant. Veggie burgers, meatless sandwiches, salads, and desserts round out the entirely plant-based menu. The eatery stays open till 10 PM daily. 127 S. 18th St., 215-278-7605
Khyber Pass Pub
While the Southern-inspired menu here features Cajun-spiced popcorn dripping with bacon grease and plenty of meaty barbecue items, the Khyber also satiates its vegan clientele with seitan sausage and a meatless sandwich doused in spicy vinegar sauce that rivals the pub’s famous pulled pork. There’s also freshly popped vegan buttered popcorn. 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888
Fuel
For the weight conscious, Fuel provides low-calorie (everything is under 500 calories), organic meals high in nutritional value. Favorite plates are sweet pea wontons and toasted hummus, and rotating specials reflect the bounty of the seasons. With locations in Center City and South Philly, the company opens its third outpost on Arch Street this summer. 1225 Walnut St., 215-922-3835
a.kitchen
The small plates menu at this Rittenhouse Square meeting spot features artful presentations dreamed up by veteran chef Bryan Sikora. Vegetables shine in dishes such as asparagus and roasted shiitakes with radish and pecorino fondue, and a roasted maitake mushroom dish with squash consommé and creamy polenta. 135 S. 18th St., 215-825-7030
Square 1682
Chef Guillermo Tellez’s six-course vegetable tasting menu is offered nightly with or without wine pairings, and the courses vary with the season and the best-quality produce. Recent menus have included roasted vegetable lasagna with puff pastry, quinoa salad, and freshly grown arugula from the restaurant’s pop-up garden. 121 S. 17th St., 215-563-5008
Isabella
The quaint Conshohocken Mediterranean tapas spot offers a special vegetarian feature menu, which changes monthly and highlights the best of the seasonal harvest. This summer, chef Michael Cappon to featured a sweet corn menu in July and a tomato menu in August, with upscale bites including arroz con maiz—bomba rice with sweet corn, fresh cream, and mushrooms. 382 E. Elm St., Conshohocken, 484-532-7470
Vedge
Yes, Rich Landau’s (famous for the popular Horizons, previously off of South Street) vegetable-focused restaurant is vegan, but his creative menu transcends plain-Jane tofu with plates that present the freshest vegetables in reimagined ways. The ever-revolving Dirt List highlights the day’s harvest, and the artisanal cocktails are both inventive and vegan-friendly. 1221 Locust St., 215-320-7500
