Vegetarian restaurants

King’s Cafe (192 Augusta Ave, s. of Baldwin, 416-591-1340) has finally re-opened after a major renovation. The beautiful interior incorporates stone and dark wood. The space is now one large dining room with a boutique off to the side selling a wide selection of exotic teas and some frozen mock meats. Everything including the menu is more upscale and fancy. Gone are the messy brochures and newspapers. The new menu includes dim sum, soups, sushi, mock meat dishes and combination specials. Many dishes are the same, but the serving presentation is more fancy. New is a whole page of different teas. They served me a delicious pot of Lychee Black Tea. I ordered the $13 combo special of tofu seaweed strips with steamed bok choy, purple rice (brown, wild and red rice), organic salad, tofu nuggets (ask for the vegan nuggets if you avoid dairy), a spring roll and soup of the day. Other dishes include: Sweet 'n' Sour Lappa (battered burdock balls), Curry with Mushrooms, Enoki Mushroom Balls, and Schezuan Style Spicy Tofu. There is also a kid's combo for $9.50. Vegetarian cardholders still receive a 10% discount. –Steve

Update (April 22): Bangali Sweet House has openned a second location in Etobicoke at 2651 Islington Ave (second plaza north of Albion Rd, 416-746-9393). Tom reports that the menu is "typical of the Bangali and Punjabi styles at neighbouring restaurants, Indian Gate (formerly Gagan Sweets), Brar Sweets and, directly across the street at Rajdhani. I had a vegan thali with plain salad, rice, eggplant with cashew nuts, cauliflower, chickpeas, spinach (happily absent of cheese!), and plain roti. It was all delicious with pleasant spicing (including a whole cardamom pod in one of the items), and quite filling." They offer sit-down and takeout service with a full Bangail vegetarian menu. Their other location is in North York.

Hot Yam! (33 St George St, n. of College) had their last regular vegan, local, organic lunch for the school year at the International Student Centre on April 8. They will be back in September, and maybe during the summer.

Indian Spice Kitchen Restaurant (748 Markham Rd, n. of Lawrence, 416-850-7781) is a new North Indian pure vegetarian (no meat or eggs) restaurant with lunch and dinner buffets, thali, a la carte, samosas and Indian sweets. Tracy writes, "I highly recommend them. The ambiance, food and owners are wonderful. You can either order from the menu per curry or have the buffet like we did ($7.99 lunch or $8.99 dinner). On the buffet, there were at least 10 curries, rice, soup, chat papparis, fresh garlic or regular naan (frankly the lightest and tastiest I have ever eaten) and two desserts – you can also order a separate dessert from their small bakery section. I am always on the look out for the best chai tea and frankly I believe I have found it!..."

Update (April 24): Pulp Kitchen Juicebar & Eatery (898 Queen St E, at Logan, 416-461-4612) has now closed, but are "in the process of finding new digs." Search for them on Facebook if you want to stay informed.

Komala's Restaurant at 5651 Steeles Ave E (at Middlefield) is closed. April 23: There was a breach of lease notice taped to the door.

Pure Vegetarian at 668 Dundas closed a few weeks ago.

Kosher restaurants

Thanks to Hagit, we now have a whole page of vegetarian-friendly kosher restaurants posted. Along Bathurst Ave (north of Eglinton) and in Thornhill, there are a number of kosher (dairy) restaurants. One is vegetarian and the rest are close to being vegetarian, but they serve some fish. Many include vegan options.

Vegetarian-friendly restaurants

Antoine, Eliana and Steve were invited by Alecia (who is vegan herself) to sample Rancho's new vegan offerings.

	Rancho's deep fried vegan ice cream is a first in the city and maybe even North America.

Rancho Relaxo (300 College St, w. of Spadina, 416-920-0366 ) is a Mexican dinner restaurant with a new vegan-friendly menu that includes such dishes as Tofu Borrache, a delicious combination of tofu, tequila and cactus, stuffed chili rellano peppers with spinach and tofu, Burrito con Guacamole, quesadillas, fajitas and enchiladas available with vegetarian (no meat stock) rice and refried beans! Save room for dessert, their deep-fried soy ice cream – battered, deep fried and topped with cinnamon and raspberry syrup – is a first in the city. Vegan cheese and sour cream available as an option. And discount cardholders receive a 10% discount!

Adam Wilson writes April 14: "I can confirm: vegan heaven! ...our wonderful waitress says that something like 50% of their customers are vegetarian. Oh, and by "wonderful" I mean probably the best waitress that I've ever had. From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, she was not only warm and friendly, but expressed real passion about both Rancho Relaxo and its vegan options. She was sooo excited about their TVA discount. Her name is Ileana."

Mocha Mocha Cafe (489 Danforth Ave, e. of Chester, 416-778-7896) is a semi-counter service, multi-ethnic cafe restaurant. Maydianne writes: "It's one of our favourite places for lunch/brunch. It has many delicious vegetarian options (my favourite is their brown rice salad)."

Vegetarian cooking classes

Vegetarian & Raw Classes by Hearty Catering (www.HeartyCatering.com, 416-410-2928) now offers raw meal preparation, vegetarian cooking workshops and food demos. See their website for details about classes scheduled to take place over the next several months.

Shri's Indian Vegetarian Cooking Lessons (East end of Mississauga, at Dixie Rd and Rathburn Rd, 416-824-6023) offers $200 Indian cooking courses that run for 5 Saturdays or Sundays. Each 3 hour class includes a meal. "Learn how to cook healthy North and South Indian vegetarian foods like Naan Bread, Paneer, Chappati, Roti, Channa, Dosa, Poori, Upma... The classes are very hands-on and small in size (max of 5 people) so that you will get individual attention during the class."

Raw foods

Make It Raw Catering and Meal Delivery (www.makeitraw.com, 416-629-2529) provides raw/vegan/fusion high energy gourmet cuisine, specializing in raw vegan lasagna, pizza's, burgers, flax crackers, cakes and more; available for local pick up (around Bathurst north of Steeles) and full service catering for any occasion. They also do weekly or monthly meal delivery in the GTA, and sell from the Organic Village Market every Saturday morning at 9100 Bathurst St, in Thornhill.

Toronto Sprouts (formerly at 720 Bathurst St, 416-535-3111) is moving to Etobicoke by the end of April.

Discount updates

Organics on Bloor (468 Bloor St W, e. of Bathurst, 416-538-1333) has reinstated their discount to cardholders of 10% ($20 min).

Panacea (588 Bloor St W, w. of Bathurst, 647-350-3269) is Toronto's only all-vegan grocery and eco store. They are offering 5% off to cardholders.

Rancho Relaxo mentioned above is offering 10% off to cardholders.