Reader’s Choice
Uru-Swati
The best vegetarian restaurant ought to be one that not only pleases vegetarians but makes meat eaters happy enough to stop grumbling about being taken there. With a coffeehouse look that’s hipper than the usual Devon Avenue banquet hall decor and brightly spiced, fresh-tasting food, Uru-Swati fits the bill. Fried items like samosas and pakoras as well as the extensive array of chaat (snacks) like bhel puri are lighter and less greasy than at most Indian spots. Vegetable curries are hearty, and even better if you solicit the staff’s advice about pairing them with particular breads—try the cheese-and-pea paneer bhurji with the fiery vegetable uttapam, dotted with tiny diced chiles, and order a fresh lime soda to cool the heat. The only problem seems to be persistent doubt on the part of staff that non-South Asians will really want food as hot and authentic as they it enjoy themselves; talk your way past that and whether or not you leave healed, as the new-agey slogan (“Healing through food”) promises, you’ll certainly leave well fed.  2629 W. Devon, 773-262-5280, uru-swati.net. —Mike Gebert
Readers’ Choice
Lake Side Cafe
1418 W. Howard, 773-262-9503, lake-side-cafe.com. Send a letter to the editor.
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Kandiss at 9:01 AM on 6/26/2008
"The best vegetarian restaurant ought to be one that not only pleases vegetarians but makes meat eaters happy."
Seriously? I thought the best vegetarian restaurant should be one with the um, best vegetarian food and the most vegetarian options. Otherwise you're really saying "Best Regular Restaurant That A Non-Strict Vegetarian Can Find A Few Things To Eat At". Ask vegetarians and vegans you know and I'm sure that they'd rather go to Soul Vegetarian East, The Balanced Kitchen, Handlebar, Chicago Diner, Yummy Yummy, etc. over Uru-Swati. Do they even have any options for vegans? Give me a restaurant with an extensive vegan dessert menu or a selection of vegetarian items that takes up the ENTIRE breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner menu or just as much, if not more space than the animal-parts-and-byproducts dishes, and then you've got a candidate for best vegetarian.
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GoVeggie at 9:52 AM on 6/26/2008
I like Lake Side Cafe. But I never heard of Uru-Swati...
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Mike G at 11:22 AM on 6/26/2008
The food at Handlebar is EXACTLY why Uru-Swati is a better choice.
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Skillet Doux at 12:48 PM on 6/26/2008
Kandiss...
"The best vegetarian restaurant ought to be one that not only pleases vegetarians but makes meat eaters happy."
"Seriously? I thought the best vegetarian restaurant should be one with the um, best vegetarian food..."
You're saying the same thing, albeit in different ways. Good food is good food, regardless of whether it's made with meat. But people have this funny tendency to like what they feel they're supposed to like. Many carnivores will instinctively dismiss a vegetable entree no matter how good it is, and many vegetarians will instinctively praise something made with seitan, no matter how bad it is. When the two meet in approval, it's a pretty good indication that the food transcends the biases.
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Veghound at 1:44 PM on 6/27/2008
I'm not sure about Uru Swati's vegan options, but all the items are vegetarian. I enjoy a lot of the other places you listed, but love Uru Swati. I like fake meat as a lark now and again, but really prefer getting food that isn't trying to be something it isn't.
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Brien Comerford at 9:40 PM on 6/27/2008
The Chicago Diner, Soul Vegetarian East and any cruelty-free meatless eatery that serves booze is cool with me.
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Shira at 9:01 AM on 6/28/2008
When I read food reviews I have to skim past most entries as there's no indication that the reviewer "considered the vegetarians". So while I see what you're getting at, it grates that in the in the one entry specifically for vegetarians, in the 1st sentence you're asking us to "consider the meat eaters." Eff the meat eaters. Really.
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KlezMom at 9:44 PM on 6/28/2008
We love both of those places! While you're in the hood, check out the Mexican restaurant with the unlikely name of Wholly Frijoles Grill on Touhy just east of Crawford. (Parking lot west of the restaurant or on side streets.) They offer amazing grilled veggies in addition to the usual cheese and beans, and everything they make is three times better than any Mexican food you've ever tasted. In the summer, they have wonderful cold fruit-salsa soups. Caveat: They don't take reservations, aren't open Sundays, and there's always a wait. That should tell you something.
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KlezMom at 9:46 PM on 6/28/2008
PS: I wasn't clear about the grilled veggies--you can get a tostada (for example) or a burrito or taco, etc. with grilled veggies inside instead of meat, cheese or beans. A vegan delight!
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lvoffender at 11:19 PM on 6/28/2008
As A vegetarian, The Lake Side Cafe is the best. It has a large selection and all the deserts are vegan (vegan chocolate cake!).
Not only is it mostly vegan but it also mostly organic and there food is way more balanced than any other "vegan/vegetarian" restaurant.
The Lake Side Cafe is also very Eco friendly! Its the perfect combo.
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Kusmati at 2:16 AM on 6/29/2008
Interesting discussions indeed. I have never eaten at Lakeside Cafe but Chicago diner was a disastrous experience all 3 times I tried it. The food wasn't well seasoned and gave me heartburn all 3 times. Their drinks were good but their food left me so angry I even considered eating meat! To me, here is nothing worse than spending money to have a bad unsatisfying meals.
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Maria D. at 10:25 AM on 7/2/2008
Uru-Swati is wonderful and has become my favorite restaurant: over the past year I've beenm there about 10 times. I am really glad that it was voted the best vegetarian restaurant, because it truly deserves it--the food is authentic and very tasty. The menu is so extensive you won't have to try the same thing twice for a long time. And it's all vegetarian. Check it out, it's on Devon ave.
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Maria D. at 10:30 AM on 7/2/2008
Also my other top recommendation for vegetarians is Green Zebra located on Chicago ave. The food there is art. It's a 100% gourmet experience. You choose a sequence of small portions to share, all of them use wonderful yummy fresh ingredients. It's quite pricey so save this for a special occasion. But it's completely worth it, you will experience happiness in your mouth.
Go Vegetarians!!!
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