The Grange

I updated this to a five star review as I've finally gotten the chance to eat the food & wow.

We rolled up on a busy Friday night, half expecting to go somewhere else since it looked very crowded. Although we were not allowed to sit on the swing seat (for cocktails only, no table service!), the host suggested the bar since all other tables were taken and we weren't looking to wait. The two others in my party had been here the week before and insisted we take the bar seats, which I was kind of sour about since, in my opinion, if you're paying for table service you should have the amenity of a table--but I went with it as they have been talking about the poutine ever since they went and neither are vegan or even vegetarian.

When at the bar, you might as well order a drink, right? They had a small but solid cocktail list with enough choices that I couldn't decide. My friend said that last time he came, the bartender whipped up a drink with fresh ginger beer (which I guess they make in house) so, knowing that information, I ordered a dark and stormy to see what they could do for me. No exaggeration, this is the best Dark and Stormy I've had in a long time and possibly ever. The ginger beer is hot, not too sweet, which really brings out the sweetness of the rum itself. Not only that, it just looked beautiful with a simple garnish on the thin tumbler and the colors contrasting and bleeding together. Our bartender was awesome and, even when her friends (fan club!? she might!) came by and sat at the bar, she was still helpful and attentive to everyone else.

I ordered the quinoa salad as my entree. There was also poutine and korean bbq tacos at my table. Everything was delightful. At first, I was disappointed that the quinoa salad didn't have more greens in it but I got over it after I tasted it. The avocado and quinoa together is a heavenly texture and all of the flavors really came together. I had a bite of the tacos and they were awesome - I almost regretted not ordering them myself! I believe the "pork" is made of a seitan and the sauce they marinate it with is AWESOME - sweet but not too much. Two tacos come on a plate but these tacos are big and meaty. Definitely enough for a meal. The poutine was ridiculous; I've had vegetarian poutine before in my ten plus years of vegetarianism but I think their liberal use of mushrooms (all different kinds!) really helps the gravy feel hearty.

I have to say this, especially as someone who does not really subscribe to sweets: the chocolate plate stole the show though.

The chocolate plate is a long elegant dish of chocolate sauce and placed on this bed of chocolate sauce is: a chocolate brownie, chocolate mousse, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate.  It was hard to believe that this entire thing was vegan and I think we probably would have licked the plate clean, had we not been in public.

We split up the checks but for my boyfriend and I to have two awesome entrees, an appetizer, a dessert, and drinks, the bill came to $50. $25 dollars a head for all that food, how full we were, and how pleased we were with everything? Worth every penny.

Rude staff. Didn't stay for food.

Finally, a vegetarian restaurant that gets it right. Even though I cook a lot of vegetarian meals at home, I have never exactly been satisfied by the food at vegetarian-specific restaurants or caterers. Somehow, the Grange gets it right. They serve up thoughtful, high quality, light meals that just happen to not have meat in them. They're not judgey about the vegetarianism, but there is little touch of pretension in the air.

It's a great place to go when you want a relaxing, breezy, no-rush meal with friends. I emphasize the no-rush part, because things just happen a little more slowly here.

I'm so glad they've finally been able to anchor this corner of Broadway.