Attention veggie lovers: Zen Palate, the new Pan-Asian restaurant at 105th Street and Broadway, is worth the walk. Its meat-substitute and vegan-friendly fare are enjoyable for carnivores and herbivores alike, and with enough bulk to each dish that makes sharing as fun as they told us it was in pre-school—it won’t leave you weeping over your wallet when the afterglow fades.
Open for lunch and late dinner on both weekdays and weekends (hours are Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m., Friday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.), Zen Palate has a classy atmosphere lacking at other on-campus vegetarian spots like Amir’s or Maoz. This is first and foremost a product of the food itself: the dishes include artistically “shredded” vegetables and soy-meat meat substitutes as well as sandwiches, soups, and rolls garnished and laid out on square white plates that reek of sophistication. The dining room is dimly lit, spare, and wood-paneled to the nines, including a front room with a window view of 105th Street, a larger area in back that holds longer tables for big parties, and a very scenic courtyard for the outdoorsy types.
