Green goodness smoothie bowl on the left, strawberries and cream on the right | Courtesy of Eat Drink Raw
On a quest to improve the health of sedentary office workers, Eat Drink Raw have been delivering raw vegan delights to offices across the metropolitan area since the beginning of 2016. They also deliver to homes or you can takeaway or dine in too.
The strawberries and cream smoothie bowl, kale slaw with a smokey BBQ walnut crumble, raw Pad Thai and raw pizzas are favourites. You won’t undo all that goodness even if you indulge in a raw vegan Snickers bar or peanut butter cup for dessert. Expect to find healthy serves of kombucha, coconut water, raw cold pressed juices and organic coffee on the drinks menu.
The Raw Kitchen is a one-stop healthy shop, and includes a plant-based restaurant, ethical store Zero, a Kombucha microbrewery and yoga school Yogalab.
Set within a industrial-style space, you won’t find dairy, gluten, sugar or additives on the menu. Start with a herbal elixir shot, followed by an artisan cheese board or Asian bowl, salad greens or pulled jackfruit burger. Boost your smoothie with protein powder or coconut oil or try a cold-pressed juice. The restaurant is fully licensed and serves a fine selection of South Australian and local wines, as well as sustainable ciders and gluten-free beers. It’s also worth trying the handcrafted elixirs brewed onsite designed to boost the immune system, digestion, joy and longevity.
Time it right and join a yoga session beneath the high-pitched ceiling at the Yogalab. Or sample one of the workshops, lectures or film nights to learn the art of creating your own raw vegan creations and lifestyle.
If all mums served their cauliflower like Meeka Restaurant they might not have to cajole their children into eating their vegetables. With its blend of Middle Eastern and Australian flavours, Meeka isn’t strictly a vegetarian restaurant but it has such a fine selection of vegetarian options that it’ll be easy to lure (and potentially convert) even the most die-hard carnivores, if only for a night.
Vegetarian favourites include tagines, house-made ricotta, dukkah, hummus, edamame salad and more. Dessert options will test your commitment to vegetarianism, with apple-lemon-cardamom-sour cherry doughnuts and Meeka chocolate mousse pyramid.
As one of their many awards includes the Australian Wine List of the Year Award, there’s a wonderful selection of drops to complement those exotic flavours. And, you can even leave it up to sommelier Navneet Singh to make those all important decisions.
Healthy for the body and the soul, Annalakshmi serves up an opportunity to help others alongside its Indian menu. All meals are paid for by donation only, and proceeds go towards individuals who are less fortunate. Founded in 1991 by Swami Shatanand Saraswathi–and with Annalakshmi restaurants also in India, Singapore and Malaysia–this place follows the philosophy of serving your guest before yourself, a concept called athiti devo bhava (guest is God).
As well as an Indian buffet based on traditional recipes, the food is vegetarian, with some options suitable for vegans and gluten free diets (although inquire before digging in). There are cooking courses, music, performances and festivals throughout the year, and even if you can’t afford to make a donation or sponsor a meal, anyone with a generous spirit can become a volunteer.
Always a hive of health nuts spilling out onto pavement dining, as the name suggests the Veggie Mama serves up a vegetarian menu with a healthy range of gluten-egg-dairy free options too. Dedicated to clean living, the protein pattie burgers, vegan bagels, salads, coconut curries and sweet treats feature regularly on the seasonal menu. Dogs and little people add to the wholesome vibe.
With their unprocessed, organic, locally sourced, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options, the misspelling of our fair city is forgivable at Pearth Organic Kitchen. Styled in crisp white, you already feel healthier even before sampling the menu. Start the day with a coconut and beetroot pancake or Bombay chickpea omelette; lunch consists of macro bowls and healthy burgers with a side of sweet potato chips. Naturally, there’s plenty of cleansing smoothies and organic juices to wash down all that goodness.
