Neighborhood Eats: Westside

Hey y’all! Welcome to our blog. Our very first post is also the first post in our “Neighborhood Eats” series. We will be highlighting restaurants in each of Atlanta’s many neighborhoods that are strictly vegan, vegetarian, or just have some great veg options! When searching vegan restaurants in Atlanta, I seem to always come up with a list of the same few spots, and while these are some great spots, our goal of this series is to eat outside the box. Hope you enjoy!

View of ATL from Westside. Photo: @connorjpaton

• Verde Taqueria

• Description - Local taqueria with fun atmosphere

• Vegan Options - Two different vegan taco options, veggie quesadilla (minus cheese), vegan starters are guacamole and bean dip (minus cheese). Also they have natural margaritas with fun flavors like grapefruit.

• Our Favorite Dish(es) - Buffalo tofu tacos with diced celery (skip the jalapeno ranch). They rock my world.

• Comments - I go here a lot, especially in the warmer months when you can sit on the patio and chill with friends. A great, reasonably priced place to go with a big group of friends with a range of eating habits.

• Menu - http://verdetacos.com/tacos/menu/

• Amelie's

• ​Description - Cozy coffee shop / french bakery

• Vegan Options - Almond and soy milk options for coffee / tea drinks, wild mushroom tartine, and soups

• Our Favorite Dish(es) - The butternut squash vegan soup is awesome, but their soup selection changes daily so it's not a guarantee

• Comments - I go to Amelie's for the atmosphere. The decor features unique chandeliers and fake fire places. It's a great spot to read / do work on a rainy day or play a board game with friends.

• Menu - http://www.ameliesfrenchbakery.com/#!menu/cu5q

• Tom+Chee

• Description - Tomato soup and grilled cheese place

• Vegan Options - All breads are vegan, vegan cheese option for grilled cheese, two types of vegan tomato soups, and fresh veggies and hummus to add to grilled cheese sandwiches.

• Our Favorite Dish(es) - Traditional grilled chee with the classic tomato soup.

• Comments - This place is a great option to grab a quick lunch on a cold day. Nothing says comfort food and childhood like a warm melty grilled cheese with a hot bowl of tomato soup to dunk it in. However, I do think I can make a better vegan grilled cheese myself.

• Menu - http://production-current.outofagency.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/TomandChee-Menu.pdf

• DTox

• ​Description - Vegan juice (and a little more) bar

• Vegan Options - Everything, except a few things have honey in them

• Our Favorite Dish(es)- The raw macaroons

• Comments - DTox is tucked away in the walkway connecting Ormsby's to JCT Kitchen. It's a cool little window shop that is creative for a juice bar. They have different types of vegan milks for purchase and some neat treats.

• Menu - http://dtoxjuice.com/menu-1.html

• Yeah! Burger

• Description - A burger spot founded on using natural ingredients and "Keeping Food Real"

• Vegan Options - Lots of vegan options are available at Yeah! Burger, in fact a vegan menu is going to be available on their website shortly.

• Our Favorite Dish(es) - I normally either get the simple greens salad topped with a vegan burger or a vegan hot dog. Also they have vegan mayonnaise.

• Comments - I've never had a bad meal at Yeah! Burger and they are a pretty cool company. I'd like to see them continue to adding vegan options to their menu (maybe a vegan milkshake guys?!).

• Menu - http://www.yeahburger.com/uploads/_content/menus/pdf/2_YEAH!%20BURGER%20Menu.pdf

• West Egg

• Description - One of the best known brunch spots in ATL

• Vegan Options - Tofu scramble, vegan sausage, skillet potatoes, black bean cakes, hummus, portabella panini (minus cheese), black bean burger, house salad, all coffee drinks can be made with almond or soy milk

• Our Favorite Dish(es) - Tofu scramble is out of this world. I’ve had a lot of tofu scrambles in my day and this one takes the cake. Also I had a chocolate almond milk latte that was life changing.

• Comments - West Egg is a classic Atlanta spot that is well worth the long wait usually required to eat here.

• Menu - http://westeggcafe.com/menus

• ​5 Seasons Brewing

• ​Description - Brewpub with locally sourced food

• Vegan Options - Edamame, rice balls, organic farm green salad, balsamic beet salad (minus cheese, salads have an option to add a grilled portabella mushroom), portabella sandwich, black bean burger (not sure if this is vegan or vegetarian)

• Our Favorite Dish(es)- RICE BALLS. This is on the "soup and snack" part of the menu, but I would not recommend sharing them as an appetizer because they're too good to share.

• Comments - 5 seasons westside location is a great dinner spot, especially in the summer. Sit upstairs for a great skyline view.

• Menu - http://www.5seasonsbrewing.com/locations/westside-location/westside-menus