Vegan food came a long way and Willow is a good example of how creative and delicious vegan food can be. With a menu crafted by Chef Guy Vaknin, who I discovered at Coletta, this vegan kosher place is a great address if you are vegan, vegetarian, dining with people who are vegan or vegetarian, or simply curious. With items like Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich ($26), double small burger ($24) or the double smoked cheese French dip ($30), you cannot not wonder if the kitchen can really pull it off. And they do! For sure it is not as good as the original, but I truly enjoyed these dishes that make you wonder how the ingredients are made and they surely have a way of describing the food in a way that makes you want to try it. For instance, the French dip is made with “Chunk Foods”™ grilled steak, smoked provolone, chili goat cheese, caramelized onions, and horseradish aioli on a toasted housemade demi-baguette. Served with au jus dip”. This dish was in fact my favorite for sure. The steak had hints of mushrooms and you would think it is meat for sure, not like a Beyond burger patty for instance. The whole experience was like having a French dip: it was delightfully messy, with a contrast of textures that made it so satisfying, from the crunch of the toasted French baguette giving way to tender, savory meat, smothered with cheese, all elevated by that rich, salty au jus that soaks into the bread. A must have. The Cobb salad ($22) looks also very appetizing and colorful, made with “baby gem lettuce, heirloom cherry tomatoes, red onion, avocado, housemade bacon, feta cheese, and blue cheese dressing”. Nice salad that also makes you forget that you are in a vegan restaurant!

For drinks, I enjoyed the Kentucky mocha ($16), made with bourbon, creme de cacao, espresso and spiced whipped cream, or the mocktails, especially the lychee Pom Pom ($11), made with pomegranate, lychee and lime, while Jodi loved the Dragon Den ($11), that is a mix of dragonfruit, cranberry, lemon. And of course, I had to have a double espresso ($7), but I will pass on the description as classic.

For dessert, I only tried the chocolate hazelnut dome ($18), a rich cake made with a dense hazelnut praline mousse, chocolate cake, salted fig caramel in a chocolate hazelnut shell. I would have never guessed it is vegan and was too focussed on eating it anyway. This is a must have!

Like Coletta, Willow Vegan Bistro is a nice place that I really do not mind going to: the food is delicious, the ambiance relaxed and the service on point.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Willow - 199 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Willow Vegan Bistro in NYC, NY

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