Vedge

Vedge has repeatedly been called the best vegan restaurant in the country, but it is truly one of the top overall restaurants in Philadelphia. Wife and husband team, Kate Jacoby and Rich Landau, don’t try to convince you that you’re eating meat. Here it is all about the vegetables. Jacoby was nominated for the James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2016 and Landau was nominated for Best Chef: Mid Atlantic in 2017. Landau has been at the forefront of meatless cuisine since opening Horizons in 1994, where Jacoby earned her pastry chops.

Sitting at the bar, I was greeted with a complimentary crudité with an avocado puree to go with my Goldeneye, a light and refreshing gin cocktail that stood up to the vegetables about to come out. Torn between the three sections on the menu, I went with the bartender’s recommendations. First out was the Portobello Carpaccio that featured a unique take on deviled eggs. Since there are no eggs in the kitchen, the center of the turnip was punched out and pureed with the traditional flavors of a deviled egg before being piped back into the turnip.

Next out was flash seared Pea Leaves with an incredibly flavorful smoked onion dashi that was perfectly paired with the Goldeneye. Finally, the carrot three ways: wood roasted, a carrot mustard, and a carrot kraut. Each bite was smoky and spicy and better than the last. Vedge is a must stop in Philadelphia for omnivores and vegans alike.