Avant Garden

Open since 2015, this little jewel box of a restaurant courtesy of Ravi DeRossi aims to give vegan food some well-deserved polish. Channeling all the coziness of a treehouse, this East Village mainstay offers a variety of dishes that are thoughtful and attractive. Recent highlights include deep-fried sushi rice topped with carrot, ginger, and avocado as well as artichoke and spinach toast garnished with green beans, jicama, and truffled potato chips. At times, the nicely curated menu goes a bit far in promising Spanish “paella” or Mexican “mole” but for those who appreciate strictly vegan fare in a stylish setting, this intimate restaurant certainly fits the bill.