World Vegetarian Day was founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) to help kick off October as Vegetarian Awareness Month. During this month, NAVS hopes to inform people about the benefits of eating a vegetarian diet.
Whether already following a vegetarian diet or wanting to explore vegetarian cuisine for the day, here are some local restaurants with many vegetarian options, all within walking distance from campus.
Roly Poly
Roly Poly is located on Park Place along the way from Langdale Hall to the Aderhold Learning Center. Their menu consists of vegetarian options for salads, soups and cold and toasted sandwiches. The cold-rolled sandwiches, which are essentially wraps, are packed with veggies that are guaranteed to keep veggie lovers filled up and avoid a rumbling stomach during lecture. This is a good speedy lunch option with an order-ahead service, so food can be picked up without wasting any time during lunch. To really fall in love with this place, stop by and grab the Walnut Spinach Salad or the Nutty Avocado.
BUENOS DIAS
Right around the corner from Roly Poly off of Decatur Street is Buenos Dias Café. This restaurant specializes in Latin American cuisine and offers traditional favorites with fresh, local ingredients. Buenos Dias Café stands out by offering made-to-order pupusas that let their customers truly customize their meal, starting at just $3. It’s no surprise that one of the top three most popular menu items is the Veggie Pupusa that comes stuffed with cheese, spinach and squash. Their menu also consists of vegetarian sandwiches, quesadillas, tacos, rice bowls and sweet plantains. To really be wowed, order the Original Café Con Leche as the beverage. Online ordering is also available to skip the line during the lunch rush.
CAFE DELIGHT
Tucked away on Broad Street near the Aderhold Learning Center is Café Delight. This restaurant charges based on the weight of the filled plate and is set up in a buffet style, allowing customers to make their meal with plenty of sides from which to choose. Vegetarian-friendly options are abundant with a wide selection of everything. Vegetables range from steamed carrots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and green beans to mixed greens to build the base of a salad. The buffet menu changes daily, so one will never get bored of the selection. One day they might have sweet and sour tofu while the next they’re serving chickpea salad. This place is a hidden gem, as it is currently one of the only places on campus with a big selection of fresh-cut fruit with the types varying by season. Typically, a pound is charged at $6.99, but students get a 15% discount, and everyone gets a 30% discount after 3 p.m.
In the mood for a burger but still want to participate in World Vegetarian Day? Grab a veggie burger made of black beans, chickpeas, quinoa, onions and carrots, or an Impossible Burger, which is made from a meat-substitute at Grindhouse Burgers located at the Sweet Auburn Market. This restaurant also conveniently offers online ordering to help save time on lunch break.
If all else fails, a cheese pizza from Pizza Hut or some Chick-Fil-A fries still technically count as eating vegetarian today.
The above image is owned by Trainer Academy.
