Good livin’: Back-to-nature dining | Metromix Detroit

Good livin’: Back-to-nature dining

Ann Arbor for Outdoor Herbivores

by Keith N. Dusenberry

Special to Metromix
June 23, 2008

Good livin’: Back-to-nature dining
(Credit: Emiliana Sandoval/Special to Metromix)

Tofu by twilight; seitan under sunny skies — alfresco ethical eating is easy in Ann Arbor. It’s a back-to-nature sort of town, and there are plenty of vegetarian (no meat) and vegan (no animal-derived foods of any type) restaurant options. But the ideal scenario is when those two qualities converge in the form of outdoor dining for animal-conscious consumers. There’s nothing quite like enjoying guilt-free fare in the open air. Below, a selection of Ann Arbor’s best bets for outside eats, hold the meat.

Jerusalem Garden

Jerusalem Garden

Possibly the most sensational (vegetarian/vegan) lentil soup ever, plus other great dishes

Earthen Jar Vegetarian Cuisine

Earthen Jar Vegetarian Cuisine

The“mostly vegan” buffet for only $4.99 per pound sounds like the ethical-eater’s Nirvana

Seva Restaurant

Seva Restaurant

Serving health-conscious, meat-free food since 1973, Seva is the long-standing Grand Old Hippie Haven of the Ann Arbor foodie set

People’s Food Co-Op/Café Verde

People’s Food Co-Op/Café Verde

People’s Food Co-Op stands strong as the indie anti-Whole Foods

Zingerman’s Delicatessen

Zingerman’s Delicatessen

A deli, world-famous for its gourmet selection of meats and cheeses, might not seem like a prime stop for the anti-animal-eats lot, but Zingerman’s doesn’t play to expectations...

Red Hot Lovers

Red Hot Lovers

A vegetarian and vegan hot dog stand?!? Yes!

Café Zola

Café Zola

The Parisian café-inspired outdoor tables offers an attractive mixed-diet date destination

Raja Rani Restaurant

Raja Rani Restaurant

Whther lunch or dinner, head for Raja Rani’s deck to enjoy Indian delicacies in a fresh set of surroundings

Diag Party Shoppe

Diag Party Shoppe

Everyone has a favorite pizza place for flavor, but the Diag Party Shoppe is the winner for location if you have independent alfresco dining in mind

Dominick’s

Dominick’s

Tucked behind the Law Quad, this homey Italian spot with double-front decks and a giant back patio has some veggie and vegan-able menu nods

Fleetwood Diner

Fleetwood Diner

Long known to weird Goths, tramps, punks, drunks and die hards, the Fleetwood Diner ranks among the greasiest of spoons

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