With the rise of veggie-forward restaurants — Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park having recently gone entirely vegan — Downtown Manhattan has plenty of top-tier destinations for vegan food. Lekka Burger is Chef Amanda Cohen’s casual follow-up to Dirt Candy, serving up veggie patties made from scratch and vegan milkshakes. The Lower East Side’s Jajaja Plantas Mexicana is an airy space featuring vegan Mexican fare like tacos and fish-free ceviche. Avant Garden is a standout, offering upscale vegan dining that aims to show the world just how delicious vegan food can be. Find refined dishes, like Cremini mushroom with grape, onion marmalade, herbs de Provence, walnut purée and Scorched cauliflower with toasted garlic, fried capers, cauliflower puree alongside global wines served in a snug, brick-walled eatery complete with a branch chandelier.
