WE LOVE THE VEGGIES AT THESE RESTAURANTS!

By SUVARNA SHASTRI

It’s become so much easier to be vegetarian or even vegan with all the meat alternatives that are available these days. The best part about desi cuisine though, is that with the mind-boggling variety of authentic vegetarian dishes, one doesn’t need to seek alternatives!

Here’s a list of restaurants serving a good selection of heart-friendly vegetarian dishes in the GTA:

A-1 Sweets and Restaurant. All-vegetarian menu. 3300 McNicoll Avenue, unit 18 A, Scarborough. (416-299-9424) and 2345 Trafalgar Road, Oakville (905-257-0808).

Annlakshmi. Home-style South Indian dishes. Buffet on weekends. 10086 Hurontario St., unit 3, Brampton. 905-230-3672.

Annapurna. The oldest vegetarian restaurant in Toronto, serving vegan/vegetarian South Indian and macrobiotic dishes since 1974. 1085 Bathurst Street, Toronto. 416-537-8513.

Annapurna’s Mithai Shoppe. There’s a line up for their authentic Bengali and North Indian sweets and snacks. 1544 Warden Avenue, Scarborough. 416-449-0157.

Aroma Fine Indian Cuisine. Buffet and a la carte menu include vegetarian dishes. 287 King St. West, Toronto. 416-971-7242.

Avani. Though paneer-heavy, the menu offers many vegetarian choices. Also a vegetarian executive lunch. 801 Matheson Blvd. West, unit 1, Mississauga. 905-501-0021.

Bhai’s. All-vegetarian menu in a fun “canteen” setting. Unit # 8, 115 York Blvd., Richmond Hill. 905-731-7272.

Bhojan Bhandar. Vegetarian dishes on the menu. 15 Jevlan Dr., unit E, Woodbridge. 905-856-9099.

Brar’s Eats and Sweets. All the sweets Brar’s is famous for and mouth-watering “street sides” of popular chaat items. Located at Trinity Commons mall, 126-140 Great Lakes Dr., Brampton. 905-789-8887.

Brar’s Sweets & Restaurant. Strictly vegetarian all-you-can-eat buffet with Italian and Chinese sections. 199 Advance Boulevard, unit 12, Brampton. 905-799-1625.

Gagan Sweets. Strictly vegetarian. 3175 Rutherford Road, units 43-44, Vaughan. 905-532-0126.

Godavari. South Indian vegetarian. 3215 Derry Rd. East, Mississauga. 905-956-5444.

Govardhan Thal. Authentic Gujarati vegetarian dishes. 840 Markham Road. 416-850-0046. Recommended for takeout.

Govinda’s Dining Room. 243 Avenue Road (at the Hare Krishna temple). 12-3 pm and 6-8 pm. 416-922-5415. www.iskon.ca/toronto.

Gurulukshmi. A wide range of traditional South Indian dishes. 7070 Saint Barbara Blvd., units 48-50, Mississauga. 905-795-2299.

Jaipur Grille. Contemporary Indian cuisine which incorporates many vegetarian dishes on the menu. Also vegetarian business lunch options. 2066 Yonge Street. 416-322-5678.

Kailash Parbat. The chain known for vegetarian fare brings chaats and appetizers to Toronto, as well as mains and sides. 1200 Derry Road East, units 1 and 2, Mississauga. 905-593-4400 / 416-565-7460.

Magic Oven. A selection of over 20 vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free and organic choices. Several locations across the city. For address and telephone numbers, visit www.MagicOven.com.

Madras Dosa Hut. South Indian appetizers and main dishes. 416-677-3672.

Nirvana Flavours of India. Extensive vegetarian choices on the a la carte menu plus a vegetarian executive lunch. 35 Brunel Road, Mississauga. 905-501-5500.

Parathewali Gali. A huge selection of parathas with 43 vegetarian options. Two locations. 143 Clarence St., Brampton (365-788-5678) and 2452 Queen St. E., Brampton (905-458-0048).

Punjaabi Grand Indian Buffet. A good choice of vegetarian appetizers and main dishes in the buffet. 150 Windflower Gate in Woodbridge. 905-265-2292.

Samosas & Sweets Factory. A large variety of samosas. Also alu tikki-chhole, samosa-chhole and various pakoras. Matar paneer, palak paneer, baingan bharta, etc. 1850 Albion Road, unit 8, Etobicoke. 416-992-5515.

Saravanaa Bhavan. An authentic taste of Chennai. Scarborough (416-293-7755) and Mississauga (905-290-0769).

Shriji Catering and Takeout. One hundred per cent vegetarian. Gujarati snacks and mains. 71 West Drive, unit 34, Brampton. 905-451-4050.

The Nilgiris. South Indian restaurant. Many varieties of dosas and uthappams, etc. Specializing in idlis. 3021 Markham Road, unit 50, Scarborough. 416-412-0024 and 4525 Ebenezer Rd., Brampton.

Udupi Madras Cafe. South Indian snacks plus vada pav, etc. 265 Enfield Place, unit 202, Mississauga. 905-277-0010.

Udupi Palace. South Indian dishes. Some north Indian, a few Chinese, too. All vegetarian. 1460 Gerrard Street East. 416-405-8189.

Veda Healthy Indian Take-Out. Several locations in Toronto. Visit www.vedatakeout.com for locations or call the delivery hot-line at 416-961-9797.

Village of India. A wide variety of pure vegetarian dishes. 114 Kennedy Road South, Brampton. Call 905-450-3333.

With info from Vegetarian Directory published by the Toronto Vegetarian Association.