Now more than ever, plant-based eating is on the rise across the globe. Chefs and restaurants are responding to a huge demand from diners to serve up innovative, tantalizing, and - above all else - delicious meals made without any animal products.
Big 7 Travel, a travel site geared towards mobile-using millennials, has just named their picks for the 50 Best Vegan Restaurants in the World for 2020, and two well-known eateries in Vancouver are in the ranks.
The Acorn, which is undoubtedly one of the city's most celebrated vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants, took the number one spot in 2019, and for 2020 they've landed just below in number two.
Here's how Big 7 describes the Main Street spot: "The Acorn is easily one of the best vegan restaurants in the world, year after year. Their passion and dedication to providing visitors with a truly tantalising array of fresh, plant-based plates is unparalleled. The presentation is impeccable and the fine dining atmosphere makes the spot a fantastic, relaxing place to spend the evening. Feast on dishes that centre around one main ingredient, such as their Beet, Tomato and Harvest plates."
The Acorn is certainly no stranger to success here in Vancouver among the vegetarian, vegan, and flexitarian. They've been lauded locally by writers and publications and received several dining awards, as well as coverage in Conde Nast Traveller and Bon Appetit, to name just a couple.
"We are honoured. And a big thank you to everyone who makes the Acorn what it is - the Chefs, the staff, the farmers, the suppliers and yes, you customers! Let’s keep celebrating vegetables, shall we?" said The Acorn team on their Instagram page in response to the ranking.
Joining The Acorn is Meet, which now boasts locations on Main Street and in Yaletown and in Gastown, ranking 25th on the list of 50 restaurants. Known for their comfort eats, like Mac N' Cheez and loaded double burgers, the restaurant shares ownership with Vegan Supply, the grocer with an online presence as well as storefronts in South Surrey and Chinatown - so no wonder they've got a line on the latest in plant-based food products.
"Meet Restaurants in Vancouver consistently take home awards for the quality and excellence they serve on a daily basis. Recognised as being one of the best places for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and all-around wonderful food, these veggie hotspots are a great place for some world-class food. Not only will you encounter uber-trendy vibes, but you’ll be able to enjoy vegan poutine, healthy bowls, loaded fries and everything in between," says Big 7.
Canada is well-represented on the list, with spots in Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto also joining in the rankings (though, to be totally fair, the Toronto one is an outpost of a longstanding L.A.-born and based vegan restaurant, Doomie's). But then, Vancouver is also a standout for being one of just two cities with more than one restaurant on the list of just 50 spots. Nice!
Need to (re)visit these terrific Vancouver veggie restaurants? The Acorn is located at 3995 Main St., and they don't take reservations (parties of 6-8 people may call to book their "family table") so plan ahead to get there early to line up and/or wait for a table - it's definitely worth the wait. You'll find details about each of Meet's three Vancouver locations on their website, and take note, there are no reservations for their restaurants, either.
