Are you vegan or vegan-curious? Are you looking for delicious and inventive vegetable-forward dishes? Or are you looking for a cute spot to relax and take photos with your friends? If this sounds like you, then put Planta on your list! Here’s a look inside Planta: where the food is so good, you’ll forget it’s vegan.
The Mission
At Planta, you can feel good about your tastebuds and your conscience! All of Planta’s menu items are 100% vegan (and I promise you won’t feel like anything’s missing).
Eating plant-based is extremely environmentally friendly. It’s not just fossil fuels that contribute to global warming—the production of animal products like beef and dairy has a big carbon footprint.
Planta is also dedicated to environmental sustainability. They don’t use paper products, and they won’t even waste paper printing your receipt!
The Atmosphere
Planta is simply beautiful. Its soft lighting and colorful walls transport you to a tropical oasis. The service is excellent as well. My table ordered a ton of small plates, and they brought them out one or two at a time. It’s a great spot for a celebration or special event; you’ll have a great photo op and even better food!
The Menu
The menu is extensive, drawing on Japanese and Southeast Asian cuisines. I would recommend going with a big group so that you can try everything! My friends and I did just that, so here is a tour of the menu.
First, we started with the Dragon Roll, a vegetarian sushi roll filled with tempura broccoli, spinach, avocado, and spicy unagi sauce. The spicy sauce perfectly complemented the creamy avocado, and the tempura broccoli was the delicious, crispy center of the dish.
Next up, we had the Queen Caesar, a twist on a classic kale caesar with green papaya, mushroom “bacon,” and almond parmesan. The kale was fresh and crisp, and the creamy dressing was impressive considering it was dairy-free.
Next, we tried the Wonton Soup. This was the least crazy thing we ordered. It was good but nothing special. I think next time I would try the Dan Dan Noodles instead.
Then, we tried the Cauliflower Tots. The cauliflower was mashed, fried, and topped with truffle almond “parmesan” and truffle aioli. Although the almond parm didn’t taste like cheese, the whole dish together was excellent and very easy to share.
Next up, we had the Singapore Rice Noodles. While it was a pretty standard version of this classic dish, the addition of the kale was well executed. The kale added a nice crunch and lightened up the dish.
On a whim, we decided to order the Bang Bang Broccoli as we were still a little hungry. This was our best decision by far. As soon as I took a bite, I understood why the bang bang broccoli has a cult following (and merch!) If you love broccoli, or even if you hate it, you have to try this dish.
While we made a dent in the menu, there were still so many dishes left to try. I will definitely be returning to Planta in New York! Use this link to find a Planta near you.