Nowadays, you can find decent vegetarian options at just about any lunch or dinner spot in Liberty Village. Hell, even Harvey’s has a pretty decent veggie burger. However, there are a few places that do veggies REALLY well and one that ONLY does veggie.
Oats & Ivy
A relatively new addition to Liberty Village in the Liberty Market Building, Oats & Ivy focuses on fresh and healthy food, fast. Although not strictly vegetarian, Oats & Ivy has a strong veggie following and offers a selection of delicious cold-pressed juices, snacks, lunch boxes, smoothies, nut milks and healthful shots.
Our favourite is the Arugula Cobb with arugula, cherry tomatoes, avocado, hard-boiled egg, chèvre, pickled red onion, micro greens, coconut bacon, yogurt herb dressing. $11.
We love this spot but fresh, local and sustainable ingredients don’t come cheap and neither does Oats & Ivy.
Live Market
Live Market (134 Atlantic Ave) a collaboration between Jennifer Italiano, who owns Live Organic Food Bar in the Annex, and Ezra Braves, who owns the Dundas West and Dupont St coffee house Ezra’s Pound, at the corner of King Street and Atlantic Avenue. They clearly know what they are doing and understand the clientèle they are catering to.
Living up to their name, Live Market has a number of display cases that offer read-made veggie fare including prepared salads, wraps, and breakfast foods like oatmeal and sandwiches. They are also popular for their smoothies made with cold pressed juices.
Live Market is mostly vegan and has attracted a lot of the post-gym Goodlife crowd. It has also become a popular lunch spot for those taking a break from the near-by poutine. Instead, they are going for the variety of burritos and veggie bowls. The burdock burrito and trainer’s bowl are popular choices.
Coffee fans will love that Ezra’s Pound is selling their superb coffee-based drinks out of this location, along with their wholesome baked goods with many gluten-free options.
Freshii
Freshii is a popular Toronto salad chain that opened up a Liberty Village location last winter in the Shops at King Liberty (super convenient for GoodLife members!). Freshii offers a good selection of vegetarian options like salads, wraps, juices and smoothies, bowls, burritos and more.
Our favourite is the fresh and tangy Metaboost salad consisting of spinach, kale & field greens, goat cheese, mango, almonds, carrots, edamame, balsamic vinaigrette.
Liberty Shawarma
Liberty Shawarma (114 Atlantic Ave) isn’t a vegetarian restaurant but it is a Middle Eastern fast-food restaurant catering to the lunch crowd and it does serve a pretty good falafel with accompanying salads. The key to any good falafel is that it must be served fresh, right out of the fryer. If any falafel establishment attempts to serve you ready-fried falafel balls ask for fresh ones. It’s worth the wait.
These guy have a good selection of salads and pickles and some pretty wicked hot sauce.
Mi
ldred’s Temple Kitchen
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen (85 Hanna Ave) is not considered a vegetarian restaurant but do not overlook this one for some well-executed meatless cuisine. Although not ideal for vegans, they have some great options for those looking for something heartier (i.e comfort food) whether it be brunch, lunch or dinner.
Some of our current favourites are any of their salads, their pancakes (contains eggs) and for dinner, the roast curried cauliflower tossed with quinoa, caramelized onion and wilted spinach.
