Vegetarian Dining in Galway by Miguel Maza

Vegetarian Dining in Galway

t’s hard to believe that a city like Galway doesn’t have a dedicated vegetarian restaurant. However, there is no need to despair as there is a multitude of eateries in the city and surrounds offering excellent choices for ‘veggies’. In fact, you will be spoilt for choice! You can choose from Italian, Moroccan, Indian, Asian, European and Mexican to name a few. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to go for that special occasion or just a light brunch, Galway has it all. We’ve highlighted some of the best restaurants in this booklet to make your choice that little bit easier. Why not go on a veggie trail and try them all! Thanks to Liam Carroll Photography for the cover photo

Content European |

Dela | 5

Asian | Tamarind | 7 European |

Brassiere on the Corner |

Moroccon |

High CafĂŠ | 11

European |

McCambridges

European |

Taste Matters

| 15

European |

The Galleon | 17

9 13

Organic | The Three Towers | 19 Thai

Thai Garden | 21

Vina Mara | 27

Italian | Il Vicolo | 29

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Dela

51 Lower Dominick Street, Galway

ela Restaurant is relatively new in Galway, but has already made an impact among foodies and vegetarians alike. Located in the trendy heart of Galway, Dominick Street, it’s name aptly translates to ‘share and source’ and Dela does exactly that. It has created a food venue where people can meet, share and enjoy artisan food and wine. The mix of stone, wood, old style chairs and fresh greenery combine to create an earthy, cosy atmosphere. Dela produces its own eggs, micro herbs, salad leaves and a range of vegetables. For vegetarians, think brunch time poached eggs with wilted spinach, potato and hollandaise. For

lunch, expect delicious quiches and a mouth watering Valencia orange and goats’ cheese salad. It’s the perfect spot for a veggie mezze board with homemade falafel, aubergine, hummous, pickled olives with ciabatta and salad. The Sheridan’s Cheese Board, with chutney and crackers, is the perfect afternoon nibble that can be savoured with one of their carefully chosen handpicked wines sourced from small boutique vineyards. The evening menu does not disappoint either, with dishes such as the Bellingham blue cheese and porcini mushroom oatflake crumble, deep fried arancini, basil cream with a red pepper confit and pomegranate salad.

More Info Price Range €9-€12 Opening Hours Mon - Sun 12:00 - 11pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 44 92 52 For more info visit www.dela.ie facebook.com/DelaRestaurant

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Tamarind 157 Salthill, Galway

amarind restaurant has long been a Galway favourite and now has a new home in Salthill. The restaurant brings the best of Asian fusion to the city with delicious Thai food and many other Asian treats on the menu. The food is prepared by two highly skilled Thai chefs, whose home-grown expertise shines through in the way they prepare and deliver their dishes. And fear not – you can chose between spicy and not so spicy, as either way this place will set your taste buds alight. They combine ingredients in such a way that the meal is always memorable. It’s a great place to meet up with friends for a special event or just catching up.

You are guaranteed not to be disappointed and there is so much on offer. They use locally sourced produce and seasonal ingredients. They do not use any preservatives or MSG in the preparation of their food. Most of their main dishes have a vegetarian option such as Singapore Noodles, Nasi Goreng and Pad Thai Tofu. If you feel like a curry, you’ll be spoilt for choice. They do three main types, including a Thai Red, Thai Green and Thai Yellow. The latter is a rich and creamy curry infused with cumin, coriander and turmeric. If you’re after a tasty noodle dish, Tamarind is the place to go to.

More Info Price Range €9-€12 Opening Hours Wed - Sun 12:30 - 10:30pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 50 20 00 For more info visit www.tamarind.ie

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Brasserie on the Corner 17 Eglington Street, Galway

rasserie On the Corner is open just over a year and is a great place for a more upmarket, casual dining experience. Their dishes are highly creative using only the freshest seasonal ingredients. It comes as no surprise that they have been recently nominated as ‘Best Newcomer 2013’ at the 25th Annual Hotel and Catering Gold Medal Awards. They have Vegetarian Mezze boards consisting of a mouth watering dessert bar and a vast artisanal cheese offering. You’ll find yourself lusting after the Mediterranean Vegetable & Goats Cheese Lasagne served with tossed salad for lunch. Their seasonal soup is

always 100% vegetarian and is gluten free. For evening, try the Tamarind Roast Carrot and Aged Feta cheese, chickpea, tomoto & spinach. They also have Vegetarian boards consisting of the finest seasonal fresh produce like hummus, spiced polenta and mini samosa. Salad options include Super food, Middle Eastern style salad dishes. Personal dietary requirements for those with food allergies are also catered for as dishes can be made to order on request. Brasserie On the Corner have a New Early Bird/Pre Theatre menu 3 courses €24.95 with complimentary tea or coffee daily from 5-7pm!

More Info Price Range €4.45-€9.95 Opening Hours Mon - Sun 11am - 10pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 53 03 33 For more info visit www.brasseriegalway.com facebook.com/BrasserieGalway

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

High Café 2 High Street, Galway

ocated in Galway’s Latin Quarter, this upstairs restaurant/cafe is very popular for its’ tasty food and huge portions. It has a large menu and coupled with being very cheap, it does not disappoint in any respect. Their speciality is traditional Moroccan dishes with plenty to offer vegetarians. Many of the ingredients are sourced locally or home made, from salad dressings, sundried tomatoes and pickled peppers. They do the best falafel in town with pitta, salad and couscous on the side. It is seriously tasty. Try their

Vegetarian High Breakfast served with baby spinach and poached egg or one of their omelettes for brunch. They also do a ratatouille style bruschetta topped with shaved parmesan, tomato salsa and balsamic dressing if you’re after something light. Alongside this, they offer a large pizza menu. Though High Café doesn’t serve alcohol, they allow you to nip downstairs to The Bunch of Grapes and bring your favourite tipple to your table yourself. The staff are incredibly friendly and are more than happy to accommodate customer needs.

More Info Price Range €4-€15 Opening Hours Mon - Sun 12:00 - 11pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 53 26 48

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

McCambridges 38-39 Shop Street, Galway

cCambridges is one of Galway’s most popular haunts for foodies. Situated on the main shopping area known as Shop Street, it cannot be more convenient. It houses a day time cafe upstairs which often sees a queue of people lining up for their lunch. Arrive before 1pm to make sure you get a seat!

Head Chef Heather Flaherty produces casual delicious food using as many local, seasonal and fresh ingredients as possible, most of which are available to purchase in the shop. There is a good selection of vegetarian options on the menu that are easily made vegan with one or two small changes. The Vegetarian Mezze Platter includes McCambridge’s hummus, kalamata olives, marinated mediterranean vegetables all for €9.95 with fresh bread from Petite

Delice. If you’re after a light lunch, try their popular Frittata with a side order of sweet potato fries. Delicious and nutritious! For more hot options, McCambridge’s serve a delicious Caramelized onion and smoked corleggy cheese sandwich on toasted sour-dough bread as well as a vegetable Quesadilla. They also serve a delicious vegetarian breakfast. Also available is the 5-Mile Town Goat’s Cheese Salad with Dukkah. They also have a wide variety of sides such as Lebanese spiced potatoes, sweet potato fries, dukkah and bread, smoked almonds, hummus and bread and a vegetarian soup option available. If you feel like taking your lunch to the street, McCambridges has an excellent deli counter serving an array of take away sandwiches on ciabatta, baguettes and rolls. It is cheap and cheerful and it will certainly whet your appetite.

More Info Price Range €4-€15 Opening Hours Mon - Wed 9am - 5pm Thurs - Sat 9am - 8pm Sun 10:30am - 4:30pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 56 22 59 For more info visit www.McCambridges.com Facebook.com/McCambridges

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Taste Matters

Millennium House, West Bridge, Loughrea, Co. Galway

aste Matters situated in the centre of Loughrea, just 25 miles from Galway city, is an exquisite dining experience. Proprietors Michal and Jirka really know good food and have been awarded the No 1 place on Tripadvisor. Whether you stop by for lunch or an evening meal, you will delight in what they have to offer. The food is freshly made using local and organic produce as much as possible. The menu is small but the quality is of such a high standard that you can’t go wrong. They normally have one main dish option for vegetarians, however they have a few vegetarian starter

options which can be adapted to a main dish, if requested. They do a delicious Pappardelle pasta with mixed vegetable and tomato or creamy white wine sauce. There are also gorgeous salads to choose from. Their mantra is ‘ simple, honest, good food’ in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Alongside expert food, they offer natural, organic and biodynamic wines. As the name suggests, taste matters! If you’re not in the vicinity, it is well worth the drive to Loughrea to experience what this restaurant does. It’s been everyone’s best kept secret for a long time!

More Info Price Range €5-€23 Opening Hours Wed - Sun 12:00 - 3pm / 6pm - 9pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 88 00 10 For more info visit Facebook.com/TasteMatters3

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

The Galleon 210 Upper Salthill, Galway

he Galleon is a fantastic family restaurant in the heart of Salthill. It’s no coincidence that it has been around for 45 years. They offer delicious food served in a comfortable dining space that has a homely feel about it. The Galleon has a vast menu with a good choice for vegetarians. If you feel like a hearty meal, try their homemade lentil and olive burger which comes on a tasty bun with side salad and fries. Topped with a tangy tomato salsa, you’ll be licking your lips for more. It is wholesome and good food that will leave you more than satisfied. They also have a creamy wild mushroom parpadella pasta on their A La Carte menu. If you’re after an all day

breakfast, they have a large breakfast menu with choices ranging from savoury omelettes and potato cakes to a full vegetarian breakfast. The chefs vegetable soup is freshly prepared every day and is served with garlic croutons and bread roll. Try their golden fried breaded mushrooms for a light snack or choose from one of their open veggie sandwiches. There is such a lovely, friendly atmosphere in this restaurant. The staff are incredibly helpful and make you feel that nothing is a problem. It’s a fantastic place to bring kids who are more than catered for with the food and regular colouring competitions. Their daily special deal served between 12-5pm of two courses for €14.50 is excellent value.

More Info Price Range €4.50-€11 Opening Hours Mon - Sun 11am - 10pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 52 29 63 For more info visit www.TheGalleonRestaurant.ie Facebook.com/TheGalleonRestaurant

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

The Three Towers Kylebrack, Loughrea, Co. Galway

estled near the stunning surrounds of Kylebrack woods, Loughrea, The Three Towers is the kind of place where you could spend hours relaxing without noticing time going by. The lush green environment is in keeping with the fresh organic produce served at this local restaurant. It is one of only two certified organic restaurants in Ireland, offering food directly from their own organic garden. Getting back to nature has never been so easy! Expect an array of healthy vegetarian meals and treats including a delectable spinach lasagne, veggie pasta bake and

a tomato tagine. Raw food and vegan specialist, Diana Murray, is a part-time chef at the establishment, which is run by Merel and Esther Zyderlaan. Once a month, The Three Towers also has a special ‘service night’ catering for more alternative and vegetarian fare. With a warm ambiance inspired by Moroccan influences, it is well worth a drive to sample this special place. And if you become enchanted, you can even stay the night. They have amazing eco-houses on site, where you can turn nipping out for a bite to eat into an adventure!

More Info Price Range €8-€12 Opening Hours Mon - Sun 12:00 - 7pm For Bookings Call +353 (090) 974 52 46 For more info visit www.TheThreeTowers.com

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Thai Garden Spanish Parade, Galway

hai Garden is situated in the city centre at Spanish Parade, overlooking the beautiful Claddagh area of Galway. It is the only all Thai restaurant in Galway and it’s food certainly lives up to this reputation. The food is expertly prepared by authentic Thai chefs who infuse the five fundamental flavours of Thai food: hot, sour, sweet, salty and bitter. Traditional ingredients are used such as lemon grass, coriander, galangal, Thai basil and mint to create delicious, healthy dishes. They pride themselves on not using any MSG in any of their dishes and this really shows in the quality of their tasty food. Nearly all of the dishes they offer, can be offered in a vegetarian option. There are spicy stir fries, curries, noodle and rice dishes to choose from. The food sticks to its’ Thai roots and is

cooked in a traditional Thai way. Their stir fry dishes come in a variety of sauces including cashew nuts, oyster sauce or ginger and hot basil. You will want to keep coming back to try all of them! There is a choice of three vegetarian soups including the Tom Ka which is cooked with coconut milk , coriander and lime. It is simply delicious. One of their popular curries, the Gang Pa-nag is cooked with coconut, lime leaves and sweet basil. The restaurant itself is unassuming from the outside yet once inside you find yourself in a comfortable, attractive space. They have a separate dining area that can cater for larger groups also. The staff are attentive and overall you will thoroughly enjoy your experience at the Thai Garden, Galway. If you don’t feel like sitting in, avail of their extensive take-away menu!

More Info Price Range €5.65-€12.65 Opening Hours Tues - Sat 6pm - 11pm For Bookings Call +353 (091) 56 78 65 For more info visit www.ThaiGarden.ie

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Taqueria La Salsa 13 Mary Street, Galway

aqueria La Salsa is Galway’s most loved Mexican Restaurant. As its’ name suggests, it is a casual dining Mexican Restaurant. It has a small seating area upstairs where you can enjoy your food. You can find it in the city centre at Mary Street, situated across from Sally Long’s pub and on your way to Born Clothing store. They offer a large selection of divine Mexican dishes that all come in a vegetarian option. It is incredibly great value with large portions. Take your pick from veggie Burrito’s, Nachos, Tacos, Quesadillas and

Enchiladas. Not forgetting of course, their delicious taco fries. Pick your choice of filling from Mexican rice, refried beans, chillies, taco sauce, grilled onions, spinach, feta to name a few to make your own tasty concoction. Taqueria La Salsa is really a haven for vegetarians that like to create exactly what they want in their dishes. It is tasty and filling and you’ll find yourself popping in here more than once! And because you can choose what you want, everyone is satisfied. Mexican dining doesn’t get better than Taqueria La Salsa in Galway.

More Info Price Range €4-€12 Opening Hours Sun 1pm - 10pm / Mon - Wed 12 - 10pm Thurs - Sat 12 - 11pm For Bookings Call +353 (091) 53 01 60

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Cava

1 Middle St. Mews, Middle Street, Galway

ava Bodega have just newly reopened on Middle Street, Galway but has been in operation since 2008. It is probably one of the most loved restaurants in Galway. It serves the most delicious Spanish tapas with a wide variety that vegetarians can enjoy. Proprietors JP McMahon and Drigin Gaffey ensure that local, fresh produce is used so expect only the tastiest, high quality food. The restaurant has an authentic Spanish feel even with a Pinchos Bar which serves smaller tapas. The portions are quite big so are ideal for sharing which is the essence of tapas. Some of their more popular veggie dishes

are their Goats Cheese and Sweet Potato Croquettes, Catalan Spinach, Lentils with Saffron, Cumin and Organic Vegetables and Organic Beetroot with Pine Nuts and Sherry. You’ll devour their delicious Patatas Bravas which is big enough to share between two. All of this can be washed down with tasty Spanish wine, beer, cider, and sherry. The atmosphere is chilled out and relaxed and gives the sense that you’re hanging out in a Spanish Bodega. It is trendy and modern with a cool décor. If there’s a tapa they don’t have, just ask nicely and they’ll see what they can do. I highly recommend booking in advance as it is nearly always full!

More Info Price Range €3-€8.50 Opening Hours Mon - Thurs 5pm - 10pm / Fri 5pm - 11pm Sat 4pm - 11pm / Sun 3pm - 10pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 53 98 84 For more info visit www.CavasRestaurant.ie

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Vina Mara 19 Middle Street, Galway

ina Mara is ideally located on Middle Street, right in the heart of the city. This Mediterranean style restaurant is very popular with locals who appreciate excellent food. It is housed in a beautiful room with lovely décor that has an upmarket feel to it. It serves a great lunch and evening menu with diverse choices for vegetarians. Vina Mara doesn’t do things in half measures. The food and service is excellent. Even the delicious bread and butter given to you while you check the menu out will delight. Their evening menu has a choice of not one but three vegetarian dishes, two of which are vegan friendly. The choice alone

reveals the thought given to flavour and texture and the skill of head chef Rachel Lynch. A vegetarian herself, she has not relied on your typical veggie style dishes. Expect a delicious slow braised puy lentil casserole or a spiced 3 bean ragout on the evening menu. For lunch, a mixed bean salad with cumin seed cheese, tossed salad and home-made wedges will whet your appetite. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you can avail of any main meal for just €10 and there is a value menu from €23 in the evenings. Treat yourself and make sure to put this restaurant on your hit list!

More Info Price Range €4.50-€17.50 Opening Hours Mon - Fri 12:30 - 2:30pm / 6pm - 9:30pm Sat 12:30 - 3pm / 5:30pm - 10pm For Bookings Call +353 (91) 56 16 10 For more info visit www.VinaMara.ie

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Vegetarian Dining in Galway

Il Vicolo

5 Buttermilk Walk, Galway

l Vicolo is a hidden gem in Galway, situated on the corner of a quiet lane known as Buttermilk Walk, just off Augustine Street.

It’s a small (about 25 seats), busy and bustling restaurant that reminds you of a little slice of Italy. The food is exquisite and they cater for vegetarians very well. It’s the perfect little spot for an early brunch and a cup of Serio coffee. For lunch, choose between rustic vegetable soups, bruschettas and tasty Italian sandwiches. They also serve a daily vegetarian special. For the evening menu, there are always two vegetarian dishes to choose from, which changes daily. Examples include their delicious zucchini ripiene; baked courgettes filled with almonds, scamorza and parmigiana,

with a pesto cream and fresh leaves. This is the spot for a serious pasta dish in Galway! Does Farfelle pasta with pesto rocket, sundried tomatoes and pine nuts tickle your fancy? Be sure to indulge in one of their scrumptious desserts, such as elder flower panna cotta. In the evening, this small restaurant with the big heart transforms into a vibrant wine bar, as the after work crowd raise a glass of carefully selected wine from the menu. The outside terrace fills to capacity, especially on weekends. Proprietors Aoife and Gerry ensure a very smooth running of the place with excellent service and a friendly smile. It is casual dining at its best. Cool, trendy and delicious!

More Info Price Range €7-€12 Lunch | €15-€25 Dinner Opening Hours Mon 10am - 5pm / Tue - Sat 10am - Late For Bookings Call +353 (91) 53 59 22 For more info visit www.ilVicoloCafe.com