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Vegetarian Haven
Category: Restaurants Vegetarian Vegetarian
17 Baldwin StreetToronto, ON M5T 1L1
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 621-3636
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 12 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Vegetarian Haven
Review Highlights
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"By far, the best vegan restaurant I've been to in the city." In 14 reviews -
"...my favourite things about the Haven is their daily special." In 4 reviews -
"Oh and be sure to try the tofu drumsticks as a starter." In 3 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
45 reviews in English
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Review from Peggy W.
Markham, ON
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Third time's a charm may an incredibly cliched expression, but I found it to describe my experience at Vegetarian Haven. (Not that the first and second time wasn't wonderful, because otherwise I wouldn't be given Vegetarian Haven 5 stars--in fact, notwithstanding my two 5-star reviews today, don't expect me to give 5-star reviews all that often, and especially not for initial visits, no matter how good the initial visit may be.)
The first time I went to Vegetarian Haven was April 2011, as part of the Veggielicious promotion in Toronto. (Veggielicious was a promotion by the Toronto Vegetarian Association where restaurants in Toronto and surrounding areas would offere deals on selected vegetarian items). I went for the "buy an appetizer, salad or entree and get the 2nd of the same dish for half price" deal on the seared dumplings--and those are delicious dumplings indeed, filled with vegetables and rice noodles and wrapped in a chewy skin.
When I went there again at the beginning of January, I ordered the sizzling seitan steak because I remembered seeing someone else order it on my first visit and thinking that it looked delicious. And delicious it was! The seitan steak was served to me in a hot plate and had a considerably meaty texture. I especially loved the rich, flavourful mushroom gravy, the accompanying grilled vegetables and purple rice (Vegetarian Haven's trademark rice blend of white, red, brown, black and wild rice).
For my third visit, I had a light lunch--the soup of the day (kabocha carrot walnut soup), a garden salad, one tofu drumstick and two seared dumplings--as well as the California avocado temaki. The avocado temaki was a rice-less handroll filled with avocado and other vegetables/fruits such as carrots, cucumber, and apple. The avocado was very smooth and the apples pleasantly sweet, but I'd advise against ordering it if the soup of the day also features sweet vegetables (like the kabocha carrot walnut soup that I had). Garden salad included some grilled mushrooms and bell peppers that I didn't expect in a typical garden salad, which was a pleasant surprise. Finally, the tofu drumstick was crunchy on the outside and surprisingly felt like pulled tofu on the inside.
I would definitely visit Vegetarian Haven time and time again for days--they're officially my go-to choice for vegetarian food. Great eats, cozy atmosphere.
(A possible word of warning to potential Yelpers: Most of the protein offered at Vegetarian Haven is soy protein (tofu/tempeh) or fake meat (seitan). Your enjoyment of Vegetarian Haven may vary depending on whether you like these forms of protein (yep, it's obvious that I'm a major fan of the above-mentioned forms of protein :D ) ) -
Review from Shiv G.
Toronto, ON
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
So..everyone on my table seemed to have a great meal! Mine not so much..
I had the 'seafood' coconut soup. I am not a picky eater..but gosh..I could not get through this. It was a mix of random flavors..felt like every spice in my pantry was tossed into this soup! I left paying something like $15 and hungry.
I will give it another try just because everyone else on the table was satisfied, especially with the daily special.
I want to like this place so much..but did not work for me. -
Review from Winnie C.
Toronto, ON
5/6/2012
Many people recommended me to try Vegetarian Haven, I finally made it there last week.
I shared the lunch special combo with my frd: Stuffed phyllo pastry with side green salad, avocado/mango salad and stir-fried flat rice noodles + soup of the day (squash vegetable soup). The stuffings in the phyllo pastry was quite interesting, there were some celery/shredded carrots and tofu, it somewhat reminds me of turkey stuffings. Soup was quite yummy as well, they didn't completely blend the squash, it's kinda nice to have some squash chunks.
We also finished our meal with their vanilla cheesecake and a ginger almond milk. The cheesecake was well presented and it was quite light and smooth. The ginger almond milk was great too, love the ginger kick.
Enjoyed my meal there and would love to go back, but I guess... I ended up spending $ 18 for lunch... that seems a bit much... -
Review from Tong J.
Boring and bland are not part of Vegetarian Haven's vocabulary.
The Sizzling Eggplant Tempeh Spicy Coconut Curry was like party-in-my-mouth good. This wheat-free dish commands your attention from the moment it entered the room, the sizzling sound, the enticing aroma from the spices and the overall presentation of the dish ... oh man ... I'm hungry thinking about it (and I'm a carnivore!). After one bite, I instantly became a fan of this zesty dish. Eggplant was perfectly cooked. Loved the texture of tempeh, especially pieces that were soaked with curry.
The service that evening was stellar. The waitress was lively, knowledgable, personable and funny! -
Review from Jace E.
Wellington County, ON
5/23/2012
I've been eyeing Vegetarian Haven for a while and was excited to try a meal there. I ordered the Pad Thai Curry, I liked the soft soba noodle texture of the rice noodles. The flavour was kind of bland and they put kale stems in there?...blegh, why not spring for putting the kale leaves in, especially when you're paying 10+ for a meal. I did like the soya protein strips, tasted really yummy, like really meat.
The service was VERY slow we were there for maybe 2 hours? But it looks like they were just under staffed having 2 servers for a full house of hungry customers.
I would come back because the dishes my two other friends had looked and tasted good. Their desserts look really good, that's a reason to come back for sure.
I'm happy that there is a place like this open, we need more veggie restaurants! -
Review from Maheen M.
3/30/2012
I was at Vegetarian Haven this week for dinner with my SO and his sister. This is my first vegetarian restaurant experience (south indian restaurants are not included in this grouping). I have never been one to speak out vegetarian restaurants but since my SO's sister is a vegetarian I was up for trying something different.
When you first walk in, our server presented to us their bistro special. I was sold at hello, it looked delicious! They have a great deal for under $17 a two course dinner. They had a hearty lentil and tomato soup that I could not say no too.
The meal was outstanding, not only did it looked delicious but it tasted delicious as well! I was quite full after the two courses.
My SO's sister was craving something sweet after dinner and she had decided on their blueberry cheesecake. Note: all their desserts are vegan. I was a bit skeptical on a vegan cheesecake but it was surprisingly good. It was light and had a mousse-type of texture. It was a pleasant way to end the great meal.
Service was great, they are super friendly and have great recommendations if you are undecided on what you want to eat.
For the three of us, the bill was under $60! I will definitely be back to try out other items on their menu. -
Review from Denise S.
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Vegetarian Haven is a solid option if you are vegan/vegetarian or dining with people who are. It's also a safe bet for people on gluten-free diets, as there are several dishes marked "wf" - wheat free. I eat meat, but the dishes here are so flavourful, I don't miss it. I do wish they did more tofu as tofu vs. tofu as faux-meat. That would be my biggest complaint as an omnivore who happens to enjoy tofu and lots of vegetables.
Anyways, the patio is great in the summer and the indoor seating is warm and cozy too. The servers are easy-going and patient with explaining all the dishes. There's a daily soup and entree, and they have a display plate of it that they carry around and show each table. It's nice to be able to see exactly what you're getting. On the day I went, it was this tofu skin wrapped around some squash/yams, with a side green salad and flat rice noodles. A few people in my party tried it and said it was good. The portion-size was pretty generous. You can get the soup & entree special together for $17.
I opted for the fresh garden rolls, which I devoured - they were some of the best fresh rolls I've ever had. You get 2 huge rice paper rolls with mint, avocado, fresh mango, cucumber and some other veggies I can't remember. The spicy, oil-based dipping sauce adds just the perfect complimentary flavour. It's different from what you'd get at a Thai place (usually a creamier peanut-based sauce), but I liked it. I had the Shanghai noodles. The wheat noodles were skinnier than what you'd usually think of for Shanghai noodles. The light sesame-based sauce and heaps of veggies made it really yummy, and healthier than what you'd normally get from your typical Chinese restaurant.
I didn't get a dessert, but the menu is interesting. They classify their cookies as "wheat-free" and "lactose-free" etc., but they don't actually tell you what *kind* of cookies they are. I thought that was weird. They did have some tasty-looking tarts and pies on display, which can be served a la mode with soy ice cream. But, to be honest, I remain a little skeptical of dairy-free desserts.
Finally, there are lots of delicious shakes, juices and teas here. I went with the freshly pressed apple juice, which they serve in a wine glass. Delicious!
I'd be back. It's nice every now and then to eat out and not feel that the food is really unhealthy and heavy. This is my go-to place when eating with vegans. I prefer it to Fressen or Sadie's.Listed in: Patio Season!, An Apple a Day..., Hospital Row Lunch Spots
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Review from Emily M.
11/30/2011
Good vegan food that is for sure....
I was here over a year ago and just again last night with a group of 10 people. The menu is much reduced from my previous visit, but I dont think this is a bad thing. Sometimes I can't handle toooo many options!
But here are the things you should know:
1. Enough seating room to accommodate large groups. (there was another group of 10 there at the same time)
2. NO BOOZE (not a problem for me..but could be for some!)
3. The special seems to be where its at. If you dont know what to get, get the special.
4. General chaos and disorganization at check out/bill time which for me tainted the whole experience. I would like to preface this by saying that I eat out a LOT and that I organize group outings frequently, so I know how smoothly and awesome things can be for larger groups. Sadly paying the bill at this place was quite the ordeal!l!! They added 17% gratuity to the bill and then handed us a calculator so we could all *try* to figure out what we owe. After being demanding and bitchy they finally agreed to give us separate bills (which should have been done from the first place)
I will go back, but probably with a smaller group (under 6) as 17% gratuity is added for groups of 6+.Listed in: veg veg veg...!!!
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Review from Khai F.
Toronto, ON
12/30/2011
It's really great to have a vegan restaurant that takes their food very seriously. The ingredients are fresh and the preparation is thoughtful and high quality. I have been here twice and the food has been very good, though I think that it helps if you have a vegan or restrained vegetarian palate as some of the dishes are very subtle.
I can give them a solid four stars for all the great things about the restaurant - delicious specials, excellent, friendly service and a gourmet approach to vegetarian fare, but I what prevents them from getting five from me is that some of the dishes are a little "over done" (too much flavour) and others are "under done" (a touch too subtle).
I would recommend ordering something that has some variety on the plate - like the special. BTW they have a great way of "selling" the special - they bring one to the table to show you: really gets your mouth watering! -
Review from U U.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2011
I have been to this place a bunch of times now. It is consistently amazing:
Pros:
-The specials are always creative and delicious.
-I have been to so many places where the concept of fusion doesn't seem to work - this place has it down to an art form. They bring together many different types of food, with good presentation.
-Great staff
-Lovely, quiet atmosphere
Cons:
-Nothing immediate comes to mind here. I wish they would serve alcohol I guess. -
Review from Sandra T.
Toronto, ON
6/30/2011
I think eating healthy is an acquired taste ... I am not used to this type of cuisine but I really want to like it.
So, I ordered the quinoa and kelp salad with tempeh on the side. When it first came out I thought "how is this going to fill me up?" Well, surprisingly, it kept me full all throughout the night. I did not even require a snack before bedtime .... which surprised and delighted me since I am trying to cut back on my snacking.
The salad itself was a little too sour and weird tasting ... but I give it points because it is healthy and kept me full (which must mean it is packed with nutrients my body needs - otherwise my body would have told me it was hungry, right?)
My husband ordered the avocado salad ... this too was a little weird tasting to me ...
Our friend ordered one of the noodle dishes and this was definitely much better than our salads. It was spicy and it was yummy ... I wish I had ordered this instead.
We also ordered special drinks ... well, probably not going to order them again. They were a little warm and thick - in other words, not refreshing. Gave some to my little boy and his expression was classic.
And it may seem weird that I am giving this place 4 stars based on my review but I really do think it is because my palate is not geared towards healthier alternatives that I wasn't able to fully enjoy my meal. But, eating here made me reflect on my diet - in a positive way. I do want to incorporate more kelp and quinoa into my diet. I do want my son to be able to drink healthy - cholesterol busting, liver cleansing, kidney detoxing drinks without making a face ....
So, hopefully we will eat here again and become healthier for it.
By the way, service was incredibly friendly and wonderful :) -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
6/10/2011
I was full simply by watching my Yelp Friend flirt with the staff dude.
When did she become Vegetarian-friendly all of a sudden?
Good thing as that distracts her while I Yelp'd via Little Video Shop Wifi.
The Food did take some length of time to arrive unfortunately even when we're nearly the only ones dining while hoping to make the Yelp event on time. We were served some really clean looking water. Yay for reverse osmosis filtration.
Org. Lemon Lime Spritzer($4.00)
- Refreshing but ice packed
Bird's Nest w/Purple Rice($13.95)
Spicy Bali Stir-fried Rice Noodles($10.99)
Buddhist-style Asian, I'm all too familiar with eating the Seitan growing up. The execution of the dishes were done well with minimal oil residue. The Bird's Nest had a sweetness to the sauce that was less popular as we agreed the Spicy Bali Rice Noodles were better overall.
Hard for me not to compare to Chinese Vegetarian food and Chinese restaurant pricing. In terms of flavour, it doesn't lack. I just can't help but think the price can be more affordable overall.
It could be that I'm not fully considering the area(Baldwin) and the neighbourhood restaurants(Hua Sang, Wah Sing, Kowloon Dim Sum). Meat on the brain doesn't make me think/review straight.
Vegetarian Haven seems to do a good job satisfying various demands.
Sigh, the price I pay to be healthy. -
Review from Vivek S.
Meat-eaters take heed, you will like Vegetarian Haven.
VH is tucked away in Baldwin Village, and is pretty easy to miss. It has a lot of cred amongst hardcore veg-heads, and it doesn't hurt that it's right next door to the Toronto Vegetarian Association HQ. The space is long, calmly decorated, and has a very calm and serene atmosphere about it. With an abundance of two-tops it's a great place for a date.
They have a super eclectic menu that's mostly Asian-inspired with some Moroccan flavour as well. Their proteins du choix are tofu and seitan and they make it all in-house. For those who cannot tolerate gluten, there are a host of wheat-free options, and if those don't appeal to you, many of the options are tweakable. Do note this place seems to be Buddhist vegetarian: no onions, no garlic.
I have no complaints about the food, the service or the restaurant. On my last visit I had a mock Prawn tempura and their special which was a noodle and tofu medley. They actually brought out a plate so we could see the special which I thought was an interesting touch.
They have a wide assortment of vegan desserts also, but I have always been too stuffed to even entertain the thought. Someday.
Obligatory Title Pun: I'll have what's she's HAVEN.
Menu Readability: Not just well-designed, but it also includes a glossary.
Need to mention: In spite of the name, everything on the menu is VEGAN.
What this place teaches me about myself: If I had a personal chef, I could certainly give up meat. (NOW HIRING.)Listed in: No meat? No problem.
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Review from Aviva S.
5/1/2011
This place was orgasmic. First time I complimented the food to the waiters as much as I did. I felt SO compelled to write a review to urge others to try this place. After taking a bite of each item that I ordered, I kept telling my friend "this is SO good, SOOO good". Couldn't shut my mouth.
The food IS SO good. I'm talking there was ingredients I usually hate that tasted good and that I loved. EVERYTHING was so delicious, there was so much variety in the menu (I did not expect that from a vegetarian place) that I was happily overwhelmed. Perfect-sized portions. All that for extremely decent prices.
It was astounding how healthy and progressive this place is as it's fair-trade, organic, wheat-free, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant etc. etc. Yet, it all tasted so good! Usually healthy stuff is....more than lacking in flavour. Not the case here.
There is so many little touches that make this restaurant amazing from its comfortable atmosphere, candles and flowers on the tables, ordering tea and getting the entire kettle and cute little cups, getting chopsticks AND cutlery, bathrooms with folding doors etc. etc.
Service was very good as well. Very kind, knowledgeable, check on your more than a few times, and the food comes very quickly and efficently.
Only possible problem is that their desserts are not the best.
AMAZING place. Deserves being called Vegetarian place of the year.
CHECK IT OUT. :)Listed in: Places I Checked Out Due to…
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Review from Sahra G.
2/4/2011 ROTD 7/1/2011
This is honestly my fave vegetarian place in the city. I have yet to have one thing on the menu that was anything but delicious and again like other reviewers have mentioned the deserts are to die for.
Highlights: The wonton soup, Avocado Salad, and Fried Banana desert.
I took my dad who is a non vegetarian here for dinner last night and he really enjoyed it. In fact I have taken many non-vegetarians here and they really enjoyed their food. I also have found the service excellent every time I have ever been here. This is just an all around excellent restaurant that I suggest you check out vegetarian or not.
SAVE ROOM FOR DESERT!
Just remember: There is no alcohol here. But they serve my fave lemonade ever Santa Cruz organic!! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
How come I ended up at Vegetarian Haven?
How come I am not here with my Hot Vegetarian/Yoga Date instead with my "meat loving eat anything" Yelp friend?
- Local and certified organic ingredients used whenever possible
- purified drinking water using reverse osmosis filtration
- In-house made seitans, sauces & dressings
All come with a price my friend... a price that I might not able to pay on a regular bases.. Maybe I just boil some vegetables at home and just eat that... and cook some of my own blend of purple rice.
Bird's Nest with Purple Rice ($13.95) and Spicy Bali Stir-fried Rice Noodles($10.99) both highly recommended by our friendly waiter that I have a nice conservations with..sadly I don't think he is interested in me.. more in my yelp friend...
Without the use of garlic and onion and all these healthy options, making these asian dishes can be challenging. Both of the dishes were nicely done. Taste were subtle without being overpowering. Healthy without make you feel like eating too healthy...
The deco and ambiance at Vegetarian Haven is calm and zen. Definitely a great place to impress your vegetarian/vegan dates... shown them that you care!
Am I slowly being convert to vegetarian one meal at a time? -
Review from Susan G.
6/6/2011
Having lived with a vegetarian sister growing up, I have always found myself semi anti-vegetarian - I guess because I was forced to stick to that diet without choice! Because of that, in all my time of dining on Baldwin, I had never ventured to Vegetarian Haven.
So, on my first trip, I was slightly apprehensive, but ended up being totally surprised! There is tons of variety on the menu, which ranges from salads, to wraps, to soups, and noodle bowls. They also apparently have an array of vegan desserts on the counter inside, but as it was a sunny day I didn't leave the patio.
I had the Curry Pad Thai, which I really enjoyed (except the mushrooms - should have thought to ask for no mushrooms!) I also tried the Avocado Wrap, which was full of good things, but had RAISINS which totally disgusted me and eventually (though I tried to get over it) made it inedible.
The main drawback of this place to me is the addition of raisins to so many things!! Whyyyy you would choose to ruin such delicious food with raisins, I'll never know. But if you like raisins, I guess this won't be an issue for you.
So in summary, even for carnivores like me, this vegetarian place is definitely worth checking out!
P.S. They don't serve alcohol. -
Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
12/14/2010
I'm only a part-time vegetarian (i.e. I usually eat meat, but sometimes I'll skip it). I think I would be more of a vegetarian if I knew how to do it healthily. I wanted to steal the menu at Vegetarian Haven for just this reason. There's a handy glossary at the back of the menu that lists all the meat substitutes, what's actually in them and what nutrients you get from each of them. So useful!
I started with a mango smoothie, which ended up coming with strawberries and a banana too - bonus!
Then we chose the avocado rolls for our starter. I love avocado so I knew I would love these. Very refreshing!
For my main I went with the Sizzling Egglant Tempeh in Coconut Curry with Purple Rice (13.95). So yummy! I was worried that the Tempeh would have a weird texture or bad taste, but the way they cooked it was perfect. Great flavour and sauce.
Delicious food, excellent service. Also, we went here partly because they have great hours. Open until 10pm (for people like me who don't think about dinner until 9:30). -
Review from Michelle G.
Toronto, ON
First of all, this is probably the best Vegetarian restaurant I've been to in the Toronto area, and probably in my top ten of vegetarian restaurants I've been to in North America.
I took a big burly omnivore with me, and he loved everything we ordered, so I take that as a great sign.
We started things off with an order of crispy oyster mushrooms and seared dumplings. I wish we had ordered two orders of the crispy oyster mushrooms because I can never have enough, they are so rich and flavourful and the sweet slightly spiced sauce is a perfect compliment for it.
We both ordered the Special of the Day, which was a tofu skin wrapped taro root mash on a bed of greens, with a side of noodles, and a flavour explosion of a mango salad.
Our waitress totally sold it. Her description got my mouth watering from the very beginning. It adds so much to a meal when the server is friendly, and she was wonderful. Moreover, she clearly loved the place and the food, which is exactly the type of person I want advising me on what to order.
I was feeling pretty full after finishing my plate, but there is always room for dessert. My dining companion and I shared a piece of chocolate cake and a brownie sundae (but since they were out of brownie, they used lightly warmed chocolate cookies.) What can I say, other than delicious! delicious! delicious!
The chocolate cake was good, but not as good as the sundae. Though I'm glad our server made sure we took the left over chocolate cake home, because while it wasn't as awesome when it went head to head with the sundae, it was fantastic by itself at 3am.
In Short:
- order the crispy mushrooms, you wont be disappointed.
- And the Special; it's consistently amazing.Listed in: Awesome vegan food in the GTA
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Review from Laura M.
East York, ON
11/1/2011
Incredible! If I could give this place 6 stars, I would.
I must admit that I am a vegetarian & do love my veggies, but this place is great. The food is consistently good, and the staff are beyond welcoming. The first time I came in here I was actually taken back by how sweet the waitress was!
The tofu drumsticks are out of this world good, as is the miso soup starter. They have a great vegan pad thai, and wide variety of vegan desserts. I highly, highly recommend this place.
Also: if you are new to veggie cuisine, don't be afraid to ask questions. I've overheard other patrons asking for definitions of certain food items. and the staff have always been happy to answer (what an eavesdropper! lol). -
Review from slaman S.
Toronto, ON
1/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Since we ate an excess of meat this week, my fiancee and I decided to go vegetarian one Friday...we walked in and were immediately greeted with an enthusiastic description of the day's specials... All of which looked delicious.
We decided not to go with the specials and ordered off the menu. The flavours of the Moroccan spicy wrap seemed a bit conflicted but the sizzling seitan was as close to meat as you'll find. Delicious! For desert, the walnut apple pastry served with almond chocolate tofu I've cream was excellent, although a bit expensive at almost the same price as one of the meals. The mint tea was fresh and aromatic, and the service was friendly.
Nice atmosphere on the beautiful Baldwin Ave and the whole experience definitely wasn't bad for this meat eater! -
Review from Lauren T.
Toronto, ON
9/27/2010
By far, the best vegan restaurant I've been to in the city. This will now be a regular joint for me. It's called Vegetarian Haven, but it's 100% vegan with GF and WF options as well. There is an extensive menu of choices, which makes it a painfully hard decision to decide what to eat. But I guess I just have to keep coming back to try them all!
Everyday there is an AMAZING daily entree special as well as one or two non-alcoholic drink features. They have homemade pies, and many other desserts from Sweets of the Earth, as well as french pressed coffee! Mostly everything on the menu has a bit of an Asian inspired flare to it which is fine by me. The curry phad thai is incredible.
Servers are a bit spacey and don't do much to dismantle the "all vegans are hippies" stereotype, but that's ok. They're nice and there's nothing wrong with the service.
Whether your Vegan, Vegetarian, or open minded Omnivore or Carnivore, you'll love this place! -
Review from Larry L.
Toronto, ON
12/6/2010
First of all, I am not, by any means, a vegetarian or vegan - so that tells you alot about why I choose to rate this restaurant so highly and give it four stars.
Food quality and selection is amazing. I venture to Fresh and Fressen every so often, but this place makes produces lots of "stick to your gut" cuisine. Desserts and drink selection is also great. -
Review from tim w.
8/15/2011
I had the pleasure of dining at this establishment while I was in town for work. The atmosphere is cozy and zen. Not a huge place, but very quaint and cute. We noticed that it was quite warm inside, but we got used to it not long after sitting down.
There was a lime slushy special, which was perfectly refreshing after walking 20 minutes to get there. We had the dumplings and garden rolls for appetizers. Both were perfect in size and flavor. For my entree, I chose the sizziling eggplant with tempeh & curry. Delicious! Great flavors. Lots of veggies. My friend had the bird's nest with seitan and veggies, which she really enjoyed. The portions were quite large.
The pièce de résistance was our dessert. The "brownie banana split belt buster" will blow your mind! It has 2 scoops of ice cream (a handful of flavor choices), sliced bananas, sliced oranges, sliced apples, and blueberries over warm brownies with chocolate syrup drizzled all over. It's been a week and a half and I'm still thinking about it. -
Review from Tracy W.
Toronto, ON
7/22/2011
Yay, Vegetarian Haven! Amongst the many restaurants peppering the Baldwin strip, sits this little beauty. Stopped in for dinner this evening. Service was prompt and friendly. Staff were happy and welcoming - it must be all those veggies! I ordered the Artichoke, cucumber, and chuck pea salad. A heaping pile of greens sat nestled in with an assortment of chickpeas, artichoke hearts, cucumber spears, and strips of tempeh, topped with fresh sprouts for good measure. Dressing was a creamy dill get up, and although maybe a bit too generous, was quite tasty. This my friends, is what happy times are made of. Keep it up.
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Review from Jeff B.
10/30/2011
Fantastic restaurant. I started with an amazing drink that I highly recommend: the steamed almond milk with ginger. Perfect for a chilly night. then I had a great appetizer I also recommend, some kind of avocado and other vegies with a sauce wrapped in seaweed. Fantastic. the entree, sizzling eggplant tempeh in coconut curry, was really good if you like those earthy flavors. I certainly do. The only thing that didn't score a phenomenal rating from me was the chocolate fudge cake. It was good, but I expected it to be a little more rich. Probably better that it was not, though, since I was already full.
Also they don't serve alcohol, but i recommend their micro-brew ginger ale which does the job complementing spicy food, the same as beer.
Just wish they had a restaurant like this where I live in the US. I will go back any time I return to Toronto. -
Review from Angela L.
9/6/2009
"I know what you mean!" my sister agreed through a mouthful of avocado apple sprout wrap ($6). She was referring to my point that if delicious vegetarian fare was more accessible, we might never suffer from another meaty craving again. With a menu that's a booklet full of lovingly prepared dishes, Vegetarian Haven provides a plethora of healthy, unboring options.
The mushroom salad ($13) is a conservative, yet flavourful serving of sauteed assorted fungi atop of mixed greens. The daily special ($12) is a long plate consisting of a little bit of everything. On my last several visits, this included green salad, a pile of Shanghai noodles, a slice of savoury vegetable tart, and a puck of imitation meatloaf. The servers always bring a sample of the daily special to the table and this is often a great introduction for first timers to vegetarian fare.
Fresh juices ($5) and daily special drinks such as iced jasmine tea ($3.50) are refreshing ways to start any meal on a sunny day on the sidewalk patio. Beside the lovely opportunities for low key people watching, there are few other metal chairs that will leave quite the extensive grid marks on the back of your legs if you wear shorts. Get them while you still can! -
Review from Nicole H.
Toronto, ON
Let's cut to the chase - this place doesn't mess around with their desserts. Cake smoothies? Cookie smoothies? PIE SMOOTHIES? Oh be still my slowly becoming diabetic heart. If you're after something a little more traditional, they do stock the aforementioned treats (mostly Sweets of the Earth creations as far as I can tell) sans smoothie, as well as some other lovely in-house treats like apple fritters (take a deep breath in when these arrive at your table, it's like inhaling an apple pie).
Now i've got the afters out of the way, let me address the 'fores. There's always a daily chef's special and soup of the day - these always look fantastic and the staff really sell them. On more than one occasion they've lured me away from the set menu with their wiles. Appetisers lean toward a dim sum offering, with selections like dumplings, tempura, fresh rice paper rolls and - my favourite - crispy, savoury tofu drumsticks.
Mains have changed somewhat in 2010 at Veg Haven - the focus has shifted more toward asian (or asian-inspired) dishes (apart from, perhaps, the salads). Hearty tofu clay pot stews, stir-fried noodle dishes, sizzling seitan plates and a couple of curries. I miss the seitan burger, but there's still enough appeal that it takes me forever to decide what I want. And hopefully leave room for the desserts mentioned above!
The restaurant itself is clean and relaxed, the decor is classy without being overwhelmingly upmarket, and the patio affords a nice view of the lovely Baldwin street area. At just a short stroll away from the AGO, it's worth heading to the area to enjoy the relaxed vibe and sit out on Veg Haven's patio for some delicious eats.
Apart from the dining and food experience, Vegetarian Haven are supporters of Toronto's vegetarian community - Toronto Vegetarian Association is situated upstairs, and if you scan the noticeboard near the washrooms you'll see evidence of their continued contributions to animal charities. It's lovely to see that the owners have their heart in providing a cruelty-free environment and experience for diners.Listed in: Toronto Veg Eats!
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Review from Dishan W.
3/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
You just feel great and healthy walking out from this restaurant. Now, I love including meat in my diet, but Vegetarian Haven makes vegetarian/vegan diets look good! I was sort of dragged there by my roommate and I was very pleasently surprised from the variety in the menu to the super healthy (and tasty) drink options. I always get the "Souper Bowls" which are basically large bowls of soup filled with all sorts of stuff. I always get one that has "fake" or tofu meat in them and the "meat" tastes great!
I always thought that the people working there might see the meat eater in me and just shun me away, but that didn't happen, and far from it! They were very friendly and helpful when it came to deciding what to get. Our server also recalled that the last time my roommate had dined there she asked for no mushrooms in her soup, and we were both impressed with that!
They have a daily special and if I was not so in love with the souper bowls, almost every daily special I've seen looks amazing. I hear their wraps are very delightful as well!
In recent times, every time I've wanted to come here they've been closed, so I just wish they had longer hours of operation. -
Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
2/20/2009
Vegetarian Haven makes a great meal. They are quite accommodating to adjust to someone's dietary needs. The space itself is nothing too exciting, although people-watching outside on their patio during the summer is a lovely experience. Their servers are well-informed about the menu options & will do their best to explain the "veggie terminology" to any meat eaters.
Even if you never were a fan of seafood, I recommend their "King Prawns" in particular. I also recommend saving some room for their desserts - they are a blessing. -
Review from Ashley D.
Toronto, ON
8/24/2011
The service is friendly and SINCERE which makes it feel homey. The ambiance is calm and comfortable yet the experience feels like fine dining.
As a vegetarian I'm mostly underwhelmed by the veg options at other restaurants. I feel like I always end up with iceburg lettuce and ranch dressing.
Which is why this place is so aptly named. It is a haven! I loved reading the menu and thinking "I CAN EAT ANYTHING ON HERE!!"
The meals are presented so nicely, and the ingredients are so fresh. I had a butternut squash soup which I could probably eat all day for the rest of my life and something that resembled a birds nest and it was absolutely delicious.
I was so full after wards but my curiosity got the best of me "What does VEGAN cheesecake taste like"? (I was skeptical) I split a piece with my friend and it was so great.
I also love how accessible they make vegetarianism/veganism to those dining who have no clue what seitan is for example. The glossary was great.
I wouldn't change a thing. We are so lucky to have a place like this in T.O! -
Review from angela k.
Toronto, ON
4/17/2009
This place has a huge menu of tasty and healthy food.
However, I feel like the food at Vegetarian Haven has gone down hill over the last year or two. It seems a lot more hit or miss, even on the same dish from one visit to the next.
The focus on service has also gone down... it used to be excellent but lately the servers seem distracted and abrupt.
When the food is good, though, it's good! The menu is huge so it offers a lot of choice.
Probably not the best place to take your meat-eater friends to. -
Review from Daniella F.
Vancouver, BC
10/4/2009 1 photo
After having icky conference food for a week, I was dying for a great veggie meal with some serious protein!! I ordered a chile bean wrap, and it was delicious! It came with a side salad, which was tasty, too. My eating companion ordered two appetizers - tempeh (I don't like tempeh at all, but it looked and smelled very appetizing!) and a beautiful seaweed wrap that had mushrooms, tofu, and avocado in it! The food presentation was impeccable, and the seaweed wrap looked like a miniature fantasy island.
My only concern is that I have a pretty severe soy allergy, and after asking the server about what I could eat that didn't have soy (most of the menu items have soy, tempeh, tvp, fake ham, and other veggie delights!!), I think there was soy in my salad dressing, because I still got a reaction :( -
Review from Heather W.
Etobicoke, ON
2/15/2011
I LOVE this restaurant! They offer delicious vegan food that even my non-vegan friends enjoy. The service has always been friendly, and the food is delicious. The only problem is I have had trouble sampling much of their menu because the daily special always looks so good! The "seafood" soup is delicious, as is their mushroom soup when they make it as their soup of the day. The others are good too but those two are my favourites of what I've tried. The one thing I don't like as much at this place is their seitan. It's still good, but not as good as their other items, or as good as seitan from other places.
They have a delicious-looking selection of desserts, but so far I've always been too full to try any.
Overall, I recommend this place 100%. -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
10/9/2008 1 photo
Vegetarian Haven is a Buddist Vegetarian joint. That's code for, "completely devoid of flavor". They don't use onions or garlic in anything which kinda sucks. It's a nice place to have a sit down vegetarian meal, but in the face of so many great veggie spot in Toronto, it just doesn't measure up.
However, they have great cakes. All the veggie joints use the same bakery for their cakes, but as far as I know Vegetarian Haven is the only place you can order a whole one from.
They also have great hand-prepared frozen dinners and ice cream that you can buy to take home with you and the people who run it are so nice. -
Review from Polls E.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2008
Vegetarian Haven is truly the best veg restaurant I've been to in Toronto.
The menu provides you with an incredible selection of vegetarian yumminess. It feels like Grandmas home cooking!
I recomend the Miso soup. It's a huge bowl filled with cabbage, sea veggies, mushrooms. YUM! Perfect on a cold Winter day!
2 thumbs up! -
Review from Bryce G.
Stewiacke, NS
3/20/2010
I really, really want to love this restaurant. Sadly, I'm disappointed every single time. I try to stick to a vegetarian diet so I can eat just about anywhere but I go to this place with my vegan friends to ensure they can get some reasonable food.
The first time I went I got the special. It looked great. It had some salad, some citrus flavored seitan, and a heap of taro puree. I think taro should be illegal, but the other ingrediants outweighed it so I went with it. The citrusy sauce was very flat, it had the citrus note and nothing else. The setain was also way too spongey like it had been boiled at too high of a temperature or braised improperly. I tried my friend's sizzling seitan and the texture was much better.
The second time I've blocked out of my mind for the most part but I got the special again and it also had taro mush. I'm a sucker for punishment.
The third time I got smart and thought maybe the specials are just bits and pieces that have seen better days and I ordered the pad thai off the regular menu. It wasn't offensive but it was incredibly bland and nothing like the pad thai I've had in China Town or even Hamilton or Halifax really (and yes, I know real pad thai isn't vegetarian, but I always get the vegetarian version so that's what I'm comparing). Not impressed again. I actually got the dessert this time though and it was redeeming. I sampled a lot of the desserts around the table and they were good. Thumbs up for that at least.
I'll probably go back, I just wish that their chef would review the recipes, maybe even start from scratch. I know vegan food can be great. There's lot of potential here but a long way to go. -
Review from Todd G.
Toronto, ON
3/9/2011
The special is always the way to go. Good vegan food that you could take your meat eating friends or family to. Items like the "Drum Sticks" are sure to fool the non veg heads and the other dishes have enough flavour to please the vegetarians and vegans.
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Review from Elizabeth L.
Toronto, ON
6/12/2009
Easily one of the best vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Toronto. Vegetarian Haven boasts a healthy and tasty asian-inspired menu.
It's a nice restaurant with familiar faces and a quaint patio for warm days.
One of my favourite things about the Haven is their daily special. Always something offbeat that you might never think to try if only seen in print, you'll most likely jump at the chance to order it. All mains come with either purple rice or noodles and steamed vegetables.
Don't be discouraged by all the mock-meat - I would say everything save for the seafood is worth trying, but then again, I was never a fan of seafood anyway.
I've brought many friends who enjoy a full diet and they loved Vegetarian Haven. Oh and be sure to try the tofu drumsticks as a starter!
Also on the menu - a wide range of dessert. Must haves include the banana split, chocolate cake (which is decadent and massive!) and my fave, the cheesecake. Again, all is vegan, and still, very, very good.
I think my only problem with the Haven is that they don't serve any alcohol - strange for a relatively nice restaurant. I think they should apply for a liquor license - they might get more groups coming in for birthdays, etc. -
Review from Kat T.
3/29/2009
Vegetarian with a menu full of fake meat. I'm all for fake meat, but don't just shape some balls of vegetable protein into different animals and call it a day. I could hardly eat my "seafood" dish. Maybe it looks too real? But the texture and flavor were all the same. Vaguely fishy, but it was the texture that made me gag. As others have said if it's Buddist Veg, there isn't any garlic or onion. I can't tell you what was missing, but I've been there one other time for 'ham' and pineapple dish that also lacked any particular taste.
