Take A BITE Out Of Sheepshead: 11 Spots For Vegetarians That Are Worth The Trip

With a location by the water, Sheepshead Bay is known for its many seafood options — as well as for its unique variety of ethnic cuisines from across Europe and Central Asia. But vegetarians are also well represented, whether it be in Georgian cuisine (that’s Georgia, the country, not the state), Italian classics, or Peruvian specialties. And this Thursday, May 28, you can get a taste of what the neighborhood has to offer all in one spot, at The BITE 2015: Sheepshead — an event hosted by Sheepshead Bites and our publisher, Corner Media.

Here are 11 participants that have great vegetarian options on the menu. Check them out, and let us know which ones are your favorites!

Masal Cafe, 1901 Emmons Avenue (The Lundy’s Building), (718) 891-7090 As the granddaddy of Emmons Avenue’s Turkish cafes, Masal’s greatest accomplishments are bringing back life to the struggling Lundy’s building with a vibrant, sprawling cafe, and introducing neighbors to the gut-busting kumpir – the Turkish version of a loaded baked potato that makes ours looks silly and diminutive. Packed full of black olives, green olives, peas, corn, pickles and Russian salad, all topped with ketchup and mayonnaise, this makes for more than a meal. There’s also an expansive dessert menu, but but after this potato, you might not have room.

Coney Island Taste, 2580 Coney Island Avenue, (718) 339-8371. Cash only. Papa a la Huancaina combines some of the most prominent ingredients of Peru’s palette – potatoes, aji amarillo (a yellow pepper native to Peru), queso fresca and a boiled egg — to create a creamy and refreshing dish that feels oddly comforting for a dish that is also served with lettuce. Get this, and you’ll be spending a bit of time trying to make sure each bite of potato is smothered in the sauce – and then searching the table for whatever else you can find to soak up the remainders.

Taci’s Beyti Turkish Restaurant, 1953-55 Coney Island Avenue, (718) 627-5750. Middle Eastern cuisine isn’t all kebabs; the sheer number of dips, spreads, and other cold and hot appetizers make for a delightful picnic on their own and a delicious complement when paired with entrees. This is the case at Taci’s Beyti, where eggplant with spicy tomato sauce, red kidney bean stew, and stuffed grape leaves are at home next to hummus, tabuli, mushroom salad, and tarama — a red caviar spread that stands out from the crowd.

David’s Restaurant, 539 Kings Highway, (718) 998-8600. In addition to the appetizer spreads, David’s traditional lentil and vegetable soups warm you right up, as will the shakshuka (breakfast!) and cous cous (lunch! dinner!).

Tone Cafe Georgian Bread, 265 Neptune Avenue, (718) 332-8082. Tone is best known for its khachipuri, a traditional Georgian bread filled with cheese — see, vegetarians still get amazing and ridiculously good food! This must-try bakery also features loads of other freshly baked breads every day, and all at reasonable prices for filling portions.

Yiasou Restaurant 2003 Emmons Avenue, (718) 332-6064. Named one of the city’s 10 best seafood joints by the Village Voice, Yiasou also features spinach-filled spanakopita, beet salad, grilled and fried eggplant and zucchini, and gigantes fournou — baked lima beans with tomatoes. Enjoy the sidewalk seating when there’s a cool breeze.

Il Fornetto 2902 Emmons Avenue, (718) 332-8494 Italian food is known for having plenty of dishes where vegetables and grains are the star. It is no different at il Fornetto. Are you looking for a romantic meal right on the waterfront? This is the spot for you, with windows that open onto the bay. They’ve got a wide seafood selection for vegetarians and fish-eaters alike on the dinner menu, from Mozzarella in Carrozza and minestrone soup to kale salad, fresh pasta dishes and wood-oven pizzas.

Maria’s Italian Cuisine, 3073 Emmons Avenue, (718) 646-6665. With stuffed artichoke, eggplant parmigiana, baked ziti, pasta primavera, and more, Maria’s is like your favorite Italian grandmother, not letting you leave without a stomach full of good food.

Cherry Hill, 1901 Emmons Avenue, (718) 616-1900. Ravaged by Superstorm Sandy’s floodwaters, the gourmet market was the first business to reopen inside the historic Lundy’s building, stocked with desserts, pastries, sandwiches, breads and prepared foods that cater to American, European and Russian palettes, perfect for a snack on-the-go or at one of their sidewalk tables.

Jimmy’s Famous Heros, 1786 Sheepshead Bay Road, (718) 648-8001. The Fresh Mozzarella Hero, Vegetarian Hero, and Egg Salad Hero at Jimmy’s are so chock full of fillings that you won’t leave feeling like you got shortchanged on your sandwich choice just because there’s no meat. Add four types of peppers and two types of cheese to go for broke and your taste buds will thank you.

My House Burgers & Shakes, 1650 Sheepshead Bay Road, (718) 934-0400 For a place that handcrafts freshly ground beef patties, My House also pays a surprising amount of attention to their veggie burger offerings. My House has three veggie burgers – the classic ($3.95), the “My House” ($5.95) and the Chipotle Black Bean Burger ($5.95). You can add homemade hummus and other toppings and sides — not least of which is the jalapeño poppers ($4.95). Classic Americana!

Tickets are on now sale now for the event, taking place this Thursday, May 28 at 7pm at the waterfront venue Baron DeKalb – Knights of Columbus, 3000 Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay. Our readers can access a discount by using promo code “Bite35″ at checkout, bringing the cost of admission down to just $35, or get two tickets for $45 by using the promo code “Bite2.” There are limited tickets available, so get yours before it’s too late!