South Lake Avenue Appreciation Week wraps up today at VeggieGrill, a west coast chain serving meatless fare in a bright and airy fast-casual setting. My mom, who occasionally abstains from meat based on the Buddhist calendar, and I came in for a weekday lunch.
After placing our order at the front counter, we snagged a table and plopped down our number (and bums). I gathered a few condiments from near the drinks station just in case any additional seasoning was needed. Blandness is sadness.
The first dish to arrive at the table was the “Chill Out Wings” ($6.95), battered and deep-fried wheat gluten served with house-made ranch and roasted pepper sauce. Both Mom and I were big fans of the crisp-golden seitan rods. She dipped hers in ranch dressing, while the roasted red pepper sauce was more my speed.
For my main course, I ordered VeggieGrill’s signature “All Hail Kale™” salad ($9.25), a healthful collection of marinated kale, quinoa, red cabbage slaw, corn salsa, and agave-roasted walnuts in a ginger-papaya vinaigrette. I added Blackened Chickin’ ($2.85) to bulk it up a bit, if you know what I mean.
While I quite enjoyed my bowl of well seasoned and composed greens, I felt a wee bit hungry upon completion. Salad-based meals are admittedly tough for this carbohydrate fiend. Perhaps an additional appetizer will be in order next time. Or maybe dessert.
Mom dug into the “Chargrilled Veggie & Penne” ($9.45), one of VeggieGrill’s newer menu items. Served cold, the dish included charred eggplant, red bell peppers and escarole, roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, marinated kale, pepitas, and penne pasta in a citrus vinaigrette. Mom was pleased with her selection, which pleased me.
Even though I left the restaurant a teensy bit hungry, I still enjoyed my meatless meal at VeggieGrill. Mom had a good time too. In fact, she returned this past week for more “wings” and some asparagus.
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VeggieGrill
200 South Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: 626-535-9561
One year ago: Avec – Chicago
Two years ago: Steel City Pops – Birmingham
Three years ago: See | Hear | Taste | Transmission LA: A/V Club
Four years ago: Salt’s Cure – Los Angeles (West Hollywood)
Five years ago: Salumi Artisan Cured Meats – Seattle
Six years ago: The French Laundry – Yountville
Seven years ago: Afternoon Tea at the Park Hyatt Saigon
Eight years ago: Lacroix at the Rittenhouse – Philadelphia
So happy you went there! One of my favorite health(ier) fast food eateries. Try the fried “chicken” with kale, mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy if you need some carbs up in there 🙂
Thanks for the carbo tip, Tsz! I will definitely get it on my next visit.
I’m disappointed that you gave that place a good review. It is terrible and there is nothing fresh tasting or delicious about that place unless you were just being polite and I was reading it wrong. I look to your blog to give me good insights into places and that gave me some metric of what your taste is.