Veg Bar is now permanently closed.
Clockwise from top left: tacos, buffalo florets, scrambled tofu arepa, slaw
Veg Bar
Veg Bar is a new vegetarian restaurant just five minutes by bus from Brixton tube, toward Tulse Hill. The signage isn't obvious (they need one of those A-frame signs for the pavement), but it's the white building on the corner. Look closely and there's an A4 menu taped to the glass. The interior is a large space with a bar counter fronting an open kitchen area.
My grievance with most new vegetarian friendly businesses in London is they're often a rehash of the same old curries and burgers. Veg Bar is doing something a little bit different, but still with some comfortable favourites (their current best seller is the Junkyard Dog, a vegan hot dog with tangy slaw). The entire menu is vegetarian, and most of it is vegan.
What we ate
Don't Know Jack. Described on the menu as spicy jackfruit and mushroom tacos with almond and plantain sauce, this was the winning dish. Almond and plantain sauce, eh? Hey, it works, and kudos to a veggie restaurant for doing something a little different than the usual. The jackfruit is a balance of sweet, tart, and salty, topped with a slice of portabella and drizzled with sauce. My only complaint? The tortillas aren't corn.
Arepa's Delight: The description as homemade cornbread with black bean tofu scramble and guacamole was apt, except they ought to put in parenthesis the fact that they've managed to source avocados that don't taste like pain and strife. I hope that wasn't a one off, because it might be the most tolerable guacamole I've ever had in the UK. A little chilli sauce wouldn't go amiss on the scramble (or as a table condiment at least).
Buffalo florets: These pack a lot of heat and I love the flavour, but the cauli ought to be either fried or roasted. Still delicious as they are, but a simple change in preparation would make them out of this world.
Pickled chilli and fennel raw slaw: This tangy slaw comes in a large portion, and contrasted well with the spiciness of the cauliflower. Very good.
There is a lot of potential at Veg Bar, and I hope they do well. It isn't smack in the middle of town, but is easily accessible by foot or bus. It's worth the short haul outside of central Brixton.