6 Venues for a Vegan Comfort Food Fix

We all crave a certain comfort food when we are feeling down, under the weather or just looking for a pick-me-up. It is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value and is quite often characterised by its high-caloric nature and association to childhood or home cooking.

It is no different if you happen to follow a vegan diet – there are plant-based dishes that just scream comfort from mushroom stroganoff to BBQ cauliflower and pineapple pizza. Here are six venues to find your vegan comfort food fix: 

No Bones about it! This Byron Bay plant-powered tapas and cocktail bar is on a mission to save the Earth one Brussel sprout at a time. Nestled on Fletcher Street not far from the salty sea air of Main Beach, take to the alfresco area at night where fairy lights twinkle, setting a chilled-out vibe in keeping with the Byron lifestyle.

 

No Bones prides itself on making whatever is possible in-house, using as much local produce and as many local suppliers as possible; don’t go past the longest-lasting dish on the menu – konjac calamari strips with nori salt, furikake and miso aioli.

Discover Carlton’s first vego pub at the Green Man’s Arms Hotel on Lygon Street. Delight your senses in a great atmosphere with outstanding service and a menu that is healthy, sustainable and local producing dishes that are full of bold, unexpected flavours, enjoyed in surrounds of polished subway tiles, a cosy fireplace for cooler months and trailing greenery.

 

 

Dishes celebrate all things vegetarian and complement the Australian seasons, expect starters like King oyster calamari – mushroom cured with red cabbage, Szechuan chilli salt, tofu Kewpie mayo and herb salad – before pasta specials such as porcini casarecce with almond cashew feta.

Born out of a love of good vegan food, Veggie Vie Cafe on McHenry Street in the heart of Adelaide city was created with the vision to entice people of all walks of life to eat, drink and relax in a humble, warm and accepting atmosphere.

 

Step into an oasis of green with plant wallpaper covering the walls, recycled timber and trailing plants, setting the ideal vibe for 100% plant-based dining from a menu that is always veggie-centric; expect simple, honest and uncomplicated choices like the Beet-nic pizza with beetroot hummus base, pumpkin, feta-style cheese, spinach, caramelised onions and pine nuts.

Offering an holistic approach to dining and nightlife for locals and travellers visiting Maroochydore is Elixiba Herbal Alchemy Bar & Restaurant on Ocean Street. Escape the rush of modern society and step into a magical interior, where timbers twist into bar stools, lights hypnotise with purple and green hues and diners feel nourished and revived by the warmth of Mother Nature’s delights.

 

The menu holds a list of surprises, drinks infused with rare active botanicals and alcohol, custom brewed and distilled using herbs, superfoods and bush tuckers; indulge yourself with a hemp and black bean burger on a fluffy bread roll with Southwest sauce, onion, tomato and local greens.

Be transported to ancient Egypt while discovering a dining experience like no other at Kings Valley Egyptian Cuisine on Beaumont Street in Hamilton. This Newcastle restaurant greets guests with large Pharoah statues, authentic artefacts and an elegant décor imported directly from Egypt.

 

The journey is not complete until you explore the menu inspired by generations of family recipes straight from the heart to the palate – think starters like authentic falafels made with fava beans and served with tahini, before layers of eggplant, slow-cooked with onion, garlic and capsicum, served with rice.

Sunshine, share plates, cocktails and live music await at community-minded Anglesea restaurant the Love House on Great Ocean Road. For every guest who eats at this diner with stunning water views and sea breezes, one meal is donated to feed an insecure Australian child; kick back, enjoy the vista, sip a cocktail and enjoy knowing you have put a smile on a child’s face that needed it.

 

From the vegan menu, start with charred street corn, with vegan miso butter, gochugaru, coriander and lime, before crispy cauliflower tacos with beetroot hummus, slaw, herbs and pickled red onion, or Asian vegetable dumplings with black vinegar, sesame oil and spring onion.