Mediterranean Platter at Merge // Step Out Buffalo
Updated January 2019
Vegetarians and vegans, you’ve all been there. You go to a restaurant, excited to try it out, only to find out the few things you can eat are salad…salad…. and another salad.
Though going meatless can be hard, there has never been a better time to dive in. With options popping up left and right, and more restaurants adapting to your dietary needs, here is a list of restaurants and cafes that will not only accommodate you but leave you feeling oh-so-satisfied.
The City
Amy’s Place // Photo x Facebook
Amy’s Place
3234 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
Amy’s Place is one of the go-to vegan restaurants in the city. Located in University Heights, Amy’s offers a menu full of healthy breakfast options, sandwiches, soups and salads. Amy’s is a Lebanese and American restaurant so they have classic options as well as unique dishes such as falafel and shwarma. They even have a whole section of their menu called “Buffalo classics gone vegan.”
Grindhaus Cafe
160 Allen St, Buffalo, NY 14201
Grindhaus, located on Allen St., boasts an all-vegan menu full of tofu, vegetables, mock-tuna and specially made vegan condiments. They take new flavor spins on regular items such as a slaw with dried cranberries, edemame, “haus-made” vegan mayo and BBQ sauce. They also have interesting desserts like a chocolate avocado mousse made with avocados, dark cocoa powder, almond milk and maple syrup.
Merge // Photo x Facebook
Merge // CLOSED…for now
Merge is a delicious dinner option for non-meat eaters and health nuts alike. They have lots of different vegan entrees and appetizers and they even do vegan brunch. Their dessert menu sounds incredible too, so if you’re looking for vegan cocktails and desserts, this is your place. The atmosphere is cozy and adorable, with lit up stars lining the entire space. They have a stage for live acoustic and jazz bands which makes this the cutest vegan date restaurant in Buffalo.
Root & Bloom
The owners of this adorable place spent years living in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Boston, all the while appreciating vegan food in those cities, so you can imagine what the food/vibe are like. Root + Bloom is located inside the old Thinking Elvish space on Elmwood Ave near Bryant and also has a large, open-air gazebo in the back as well. Picture it: mac n cheese, nachos, tacos, sliders, and milkshakes with 1000% of the flavor and none of the guilt. This place is a ~dream~.
Root & Bloom / Photo x Christopher Lestak
The Healthy Scratch
75 Main St #4, Buffalo, NY 14203
This centrally located cafe is the perfect spot for healthy grab-and-go, but if you’re specifically looking for vegan or vegetarian eats, their menus is stocked with options. Pretty much the entire menu is either already vegetarian or can easily be made vegetarian including several toast options, bowls, smoothies, sandwiches, etc. When it comes to vegan choices, Healthy Scratch has a variety of fresh juices, smoothies, and make-your-own bowl options that fit the bill. Plus you can make any of their salads vegan. Did we mention they have a food truck too?
Bettys // Step Out Buffalo
Betty’s
370 Virginia St, Buffalo, NY 14201
Betty’s is another go-to dinner spot for vegetarians, but they also offer dishes with meat too, which makes this the perfect restaurant to bring your meat eating friend or family member to, if they can’t sacrifice meat for a meal.
Taste of Siam
810 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
The Taste of Siam is as beautiful as it is delicious. Located on Elmwood, this authentic Thai restaurant has floor to ceiling windows with an adorable view of the heart of the Elmwood Village. Oh yeah, and the food, the Pad Thai is incredible. You can choose your meat, and vegetarians can opt for tofu or veggies in their noodles, along with other Thai dishes.
Vegetarian pro tip: order a Thai iced tea or iced coffee, you won’t regret it.
Vegan Nachos // Photo x Sweet_ness 7
Sweet_ness 7 Cafe
220 Grant St, Buffalo, NY 14213
Website // Menu
Originally, we didn’t have this Grant Street staple on our list, but after they poured their heart out on Instagram about their Vegan options, we just had to add them. While the kitchen here is not strictly vegan, they have a vegan chef and are serving up options like Housemade Vegan Nachos with queso, jalapeno tomato salsa, and corn chips. Plus they just “get it”, and we love them for that.
Dosa Place
3500 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14226
Dosa Place serves up authentic Indian cuisine prepared fresh daily. Their menu is mostly vegetarian and vegan with dishes that are bursting with flavor. They serve brunch, lunch and dinner and are open every day.
Photo courtesy of Nature’s Apothecary
Nature’s Apothecary // CLOSED but taking custom orders
Per their latest Instagram post: “Natures Apothecary is on the move! We’ve loved our time as part of the Hertel and North Buffalo community, but we are currently looking for a new space for our expanding business. In the meantime, we are still taking special orders for those much needed spring cleanses 😉, personalized meal plans, cakes, and collaborations on special events. You can email us at naturesapothecarybuffalo@gmail.com or text (716)866-9513.” Fingers crossed they open up another store soon!
Ashker’s Juice Bar and Cafe
414 Amherst St. Buffalo, NY, 14207
Ashker’s (and their summer pop-up in Delaware Park) is a go-to spot for vegetarians. While they don’t offer quite as many vegan options, Ashker’s is perfect vegetarians since their menu is full of delicious veggie options. Plus they have a full smoothie and juice bar!
Photo x Fry Baby Donut Co.
Fry Baby Donut Co.
336 S Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14201
This donut shop is completely devoted to making vegan donuts. And not just any donuts either, hardcore donuts with flavors you can only dream of. We’re talking Chai Tiger 
, Strawberry Shortcake🍓, and mojitooo. They opened in June 2017 and have been selling out product what seems like regularly. They have funky hours so make sure to check if they’re open before you go.
India Gate
1116 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
India Gate describes themselves as “exotic healthy Indian cuisine” and while they have meat options, they offer many vegan/vegetarian alternatives and dishes that wouldn’t have meat in them anyway. (The mango chutney and veggie curry sound amazing).
VilaVerde Cafe / Photo x Christopher Lestak for Step Out Buffalo
Vila Verde Cafe
388 Porter Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14201
Buffalo’s newest cafe on the West Side is not only vegan and vegetarian but also strives to be sustainable, organic, and cruelty-free as well. The menu takes a lot of influence from the Mediterranean and the coffee is fair trade, plus in the spring and summer these guys will be having outdoor yoga classes – aka you can totally spend the day here getting your feel-good on.
Northtowns
Photo courtesy of CoreLife Eatery
CoreLife Eatery
5175 Transit Rd, Buffalo, NY 14221
CoreLife recently opened on Transit Road in Clarence, and since opening has gained quite a bit of popularity with healthy eaters on the go. They’re a great lunch option, with reasonable prices, a large dining area, and an assembly line full of workers who make your salad or grain bowl in record speed. Though not entirely vegetarian, they offer lots of options and have a lot of protein-packed healthy food.
Organic 3 Cafe // Photo x Facebook
Organic 3 Cafe
4446 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14226
This cafe (and juice bar) located in Snyder is rolling in healthy options. Their wraps, paninis, and soups are all delicious, especially when paired with a freshly made juice or smoothie. Feeling extra healthy? Take a wheatgrass shot to jumpstart your day.
Personal recommendation: Omega 3 salad (mixed organic greens, cranberries, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, pepitas, red onion, crumbled bleu cheese, apple, organic tomato & cucumber w/ house vinaigrette) or avocado toast.
Squeeze Juicery
5419 Main St, Williamsville, NY 14221
Website // Menu
Squeeze Juicery, home of the smoothie bowl. With two locations, one on Elmwood and one in Williamsville, Squeeze is a great choice for anyone looking for something super healthy on the go. They have an extensive menu of juices, smoothies, and salads but their bowls steal the show (try the pink cadillac).
Southtowns:
Rachel’s Mediterranean
Website // Menu
Rachel’s offers a great alternative to fast food, they have fast, healthy and vegetarian bowls and wraps. They’re a little Chipotle-like in style, but they’re local and have many locations around WNY, in Williamsville, Downtown, Cheektowaga, Hamburg, and University Heights.
Green Eats Kitchen and Juice Bar
6445 W Quaker St, Orchard Park, NY 14127
Not only does Green Eats have many tasty smoothies on their menu, but they offer meal plan packages, something that has been catching on lately. If you have a busy life, trying to make your own healthy food from scratch can be hard, so pick up one of their meal plan packages and have food for up to three days. They also have juice cleanses, for when you need to get back on track.
Elm Street Bakery // Step Out Buffalo
Elm Street Bakery
72 Elm St, East Aurora, NY 14052
Elm Street’s menu will make your mouth water instantly, everything sounds so good. From interesting variations of toast to wood-fired pizzas, Elm Street offers more upscale fare for decent prices and have many meatless choices.
Poppyseed // Photo x Facebook
Poppyseed
Poppyseed serves up healthy but innovative entrees that you’ll love. This restaurant has interesting flavor combinations, some with meat, but quite a few vegetarian options and they have vegetarian/vegan specials. Pictured above: the One Eyed Jack, handmade jalapeno lentil burgers paired with a sweet pineapple pico, guacamole and quinoa salad.
I also think Pitchforks at Canisius is open to the public, but I’m not sure of the details. Anyway this is a fantastic resource! Thanks so much for this!