Veg in the Slope

Ask a non-Park Slope resident to name three things about the neighborhood’s residents. Chances are, some version of “crunchy” or “granola” will be on the list, right behind “baby-obsessed” and “fond of totalitarian food co-ops.”

But as anyone who’s attended a liberal arts college can tell you, the crunchy are also  often vegetarians. So why aren’t there more vegetarian spots in the Slope?

Sure, there are plenty of vegetarian-friendly omnivorous spots (more on this next week) and sure, but right now, we’re talking about meat-free restaurants in Park Slope proper. Not to play amateur restaurateur or anything, but this seems like a slam-dunk business idea.

While waiting for entrepreneurial types to heed our advice en masse, however, vegetarians in the Slope still have some options. Here are three of the best.

As you undoubtedly know if you’ve ever tried to find a seat during peak hours, is crazy popular among everyone from hipsters to the stroller set. While the killer location across from and the undoubtedly helps, the real attraction here is the breadth of selection: eighteen meat-free sandwiches from the expected (goat cheese and roasted vegetables - it’s a cliche because it’s really delicious) to the offbeat (tofurkey, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, and mushroom gravy). For the carb-phobic, there’s a good list of salads. Don’t miss the Autumn, piled high with pears, apple, fennel, walnuts, blue cheese, and cranberries.

It’s hard to find a more charming spot for brunch than the cozy, sun-drenched Sun In Bloom. Everything at the cafe is vegan, but options are hearty enough to satisfy even hardened carnivores. As a bonus, much of it is gluten-free, including the luxurious pancakes. Other standouts include the tempeh Reuben and the carrot cupcakes. Memo to meat-eaters: baked goods (still astonishingly moist and fluffy) are the gateway drug of veganism.

Sure, ’s sexualization of veganism is groan-inducing (the website’s address is spreadvegan.com), but devotees adore the animal product-free comfort food. The California burger, piled high with avocado, sauteed onions, and vegan mayo, is the stuff of legends, as are the hearty empanadas (which the Park Slope Food Coop now carries, we hear). The latter are included in the Sunday night prix-fixe, which is a pretty astonishing deal: every week, $10 gets you a small soup, an empanada, and the entree of the day.