It has to be said that London is perhaps one of the best cities in the world where vegetarians can eat out. But what about the Christmas season, when most of the population seems to be gorging themselves on roast turkey, goose and gammon ham?
Well, being as vegetarianism in all of its forms is now en vogue, you can be sure that London has lots of options to choose from.
And Christmas is an exciting time for chefs who cater for vegetarians, as they really can let their creative juices flow in designing wonderful menus with those extra special little Christmas touches. Below are 5 great choices for vegetarians in the upcoming festivities:
The Rosebury at The Mandarin Oriental
For a festive afternoon tea, The Rosebury at the Mandarin Oriental offers a wonderful vegetarian option of their famous teatime offering. And being located opposite Harrods and Harvey Nichols, it’s the perfect place to rest your tired feet after a hard day’s Christmas shopping.
Expect all the staples, such as mince pies and luxuriously fruity Christmas cake, combined with wonderful Asian fusion touches such as rose petal jam and Japanese green tea.
Riverside Vegetaria
Location, location, location definitely springs to mind when you stumble across Riverside Vegetaria. Overlooking the scenic River Thames in Kingston, this is only one of the reasons this restaurant has been a resounding success since its opening in 1989.
Proudly run seven days a week by owner, Ritchie Sakthivel, this ethically run restaurant prides itself in providing tasty, natural, healthy and delicious dishes to its army of loyal (and new) customers.
In addition to the best selling dishes on the menu, there’s always something new to try, and they’re quite happy to serve you a sample before you commit to a dish. Enjoy a meal here anytime in the run up to Christmas, but if you book early enough, you might even secure a table for the big day itself!
One Twenty One Two
Okay, so if you want to push the boat out, then why not treat yourself (and your nearest and dearest) to one of the most prestigious locations in the city – One Whitehall Place and The Royal Horseguards Hotel.
From late November through to late December, it’s possible to eat either in the award winning restaurant or in one of the Private Dining Rooms (suitable for parties of up to 30 people).
Set menus begin from £29.00 per person, and of course, if you choose the private dining option, then the menu could be completely vegetarian if you so wish. If you want to experience the pomp and circumstance that the British are famed for, then look no further…
Gymkhana
Michelin starred Indian restaurant, Gymkhana, always offers a superb festive menu in the run up to the big event. And it’s possibly one of the best choices a vegetarian could make at any time of the year, let alone Christmas.
Inspired by the time of the British Raj and the Colonial Indian gymkhana clubs, you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped back in time when you enter the restaurant. Superbly located in Mayfair, you can choose from a set festive menu, or simply plump for whatever you fancy from the a la carte. And bring your non-veggie friends along too, because they’ll be spoilt for choice as well (and you may well find they go for the vegetarian options anyway, as they’re so delicious!)
Las Iguanas
You may be a little surprised that a chain restaurant has hit our list. But Las Iguanas has put so much effort into providing superb vegetarian options that we though it would be churlish not to include them.
And with prices ranging from as low as £12 per person, it’s an eatery that’s affordable for all pockets. If you’ve not yet tried eating here, you’ll be delighted to find out that they offer a special meat free menu that’s been approved by the Vegetarian Society. And at Christmas they go all out to ensure that veggies eat as well (if not better) than their carnivore pals.
Expect a Mexican and Brazilian inspired menu, with plenty of fresh fruits, crunchy vegetables, delightful cheeses (for those who eat cheese) and delicious salads. And don’t forget to try the fajitas…! Branches of Las Iguanas can be found in Spitalfields, Stratford, at the terrace at the Royal Festival Hall on Southbank and at the O2.
Whatever your eating choice, be it vegan, pescatarian, lacto or lacto-ovo vegetarian, you’ll find a huge amount of choice to eat out in London around the Christmas period.
And, what’s even more exciting is the amount of ‘pop-up’ eateries that appear around this time. To find more out about these, be sure to pick up copies of London newspapers such as The Evening Standard and The Metro (both free and handed out at tube stations), where you’ll find adverts detailing these in late November and December.
