Selina L

I stopped by early evening on the weekend out of curiosity. The cozy, stylish interior drew me in, so I ordered a Peach Toast and a cocktail (forgot the name). The cocktail was fine, but the mix of peach and nuts on the toast didn’t really work for me. Next time, I’d like to try their dinner menu instead.

+5

Kevin Costa

Just off Tompkins Square Park and on the second level, this enchanting vegan restaurant offers reprieve from the chaos of Ave A with its warm and inviting ambiance. The food is served family style—so expect to order a bunch—they recommended 9 for 4 people (which, be warned, can get really expensive quickly with most dishes being $20+). The toasts were yummy, as were the drinks and the cold items like the Hen of the Woods, but I’m coming back for the paella and the risotto—they both are must-haves and tasted DEVINE. It’s amazing how far vegan food has come. Overall, not a cheap night out, but the ambiance and service were great and the hot items (the paella and risotto) were even better. Pro tip: check them out on InKind and save some $.

Geetanjali Chugh

One of the most plant-forward and innovative menus in NYC I had been looking forward to trying Avant Garden for a while, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. We celebrated a birthday here and every dish we tried was bursting with unique, fresh flavors. From the mushroom toast to the avocado in the salad, the cauliflower entrée, and the molten lava cake — each plate was beautifully crafted and memorable. The celery root pasta was the only dish that didn’t quite work for me, but overall the experience was outstanding. Portions are generous, so I’d recommend starting small — contrary to the server’s suggestion. They also offer a great selection of drinks, including non-alcoholic wines, which was a thoughtful touch. The space is intimate with warm, cozy decor. It’s located on the first floor and can be a little tricky to find, but well worth it once you arrive. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates creative, plant-based cuisine.

Danielle Schaaf

THE FOOD WAS AMAZING! Out of this world, 100% recommend. And Paul was hands down one of the best bartenders and servers. He was very friendly and such a great conversationalist! Run don’t walk to this place.

A. Leigh

I really enjoyed my experience here. The food was quite delicious and so were the drinks. As a vegetarian, it was great to have food that was vegetarian friendly, but also still very creative and filling. Sometimes that combination can be difficult to find. My only complaint is that it’s very hard to see in the restaurant since it’s so dark. Also, I wouldn’t say that this restaurant is very accessibility-friendly as there’s no elevator or anything to the second floor and the staircase is quite narrow. Also, the actual space is very small so it would be hard to fit a wheelchair or any other accessibility devices, should you need them. Edit: the restaurant apparently has alternate, downstairs seating that is fully accessible for guests who use mobility devices. I would call in advance if that is a concern for you to make sure you get the correct seating.

Avant Garden is one of those Manhattan restaurants that completely changes your expectations of plant-based food. Located in the East Village, this place is creative, thoughtful, and genuinely exciting from the first dish to the last bite. The artichoke presentation alone is a showstopper. Perfectly cooked, layered with flavor, and plated beautifully. It’s rich without being heavy and balanced in a way that makes you slow down and actually appreciate what you’re eating. The cucumber and radish dish was bright, refreshing, and incredibly clean. Light but full of texture, with that subtle acidity that keeps you coming back for another forkful. One of the standouts for me was the roasted cauliflower. Deeply caramelized, crisp on the outside, tender inside, and sitting in that silky sauce that pulls everything together. It’s bold without being overpowering. Every dish feels intentional. You can tell the kitchen cares about composition, contrast, and presentation. Even the dessert was impressive. Not overly sweet, beautifully plated, and a perfect way to close out the meal. Beyond the food, the atmosphere feels intimate and refined without being stuffy. It’s the kind of East Village restaurant you’d confidently bring someone to, whether it’s a date night, dinner with friends, or an out-of-town guest who thinks Manhattan dining is all hype. As someone who spends most of his time walking through Manhattan neighborhoods for real estate, I’m always paying attention to the places that define a block. Restaurants like Avant Garden are part of what makes this area special. The energy, the creativity, the detail. It’s the same reason people fall in love with living in Manhattan in the first place. If you’re looking for one of the best plant-based restaurants in Manhattan, especially in the East Village, Avant Garden is absolutely worth experiencing.

+3

Eugene Platonov

I've been there twice (several months apart) and both times that was a hit. The food is amazingly delicious, it's hard to describe it, as you just need to taste it. Quite simple ingredients, but the outcome is fantastic. We had scorched cauliflower (twice), smoked carrot, different toasts and colds. Lava cake for dessert (yummy) and really good french Rosé. I'm very happy that people can experience vegan food of such taste and quality. It's a bit pricey, but hey, it's New York. Staff is very nice and helpful. Definitely coming back. Thank you! Update: been there many more times since original review. Tried almost all the dishes and ordered their holiday prepared dinners. They don't disappoint. Still probably the best vegan restaurant in American continent.

+12

Talia Swift

Absolutely excellent! This was one of the best food experiences I’ve had. Noah was an absolutely amazing server and their recommendations were unbelievable. Highlights were the artichoke, paella, risotto, Brussels, SPAGHETTI and carrots. The food looked like art and tasted even better! The drinks were really good as well! Loved the Manhattan. This is a MUST GO. Everything Overthrow Hospitality does is such an amazing experience, but this might take the cake as my favorite.

+5

Rohit Simic

I recently visited here and had a wonderful experience. The ambiance was cozy and welcoming, and the staff were attentive and friendly. The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I especially loved cauliflower , which was a real standout. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for great food and excellent service.

Pragati Singh

The food was good, though not great. The service felt rushed, with nearly all dishes being served at once, crowding the tables. They could have waited for guests to finish one course before bringing the next. That said, the take on plant-based cuisine was inspiring.

+3

Vicki

Very nice environment to be in. Almond cake turned out to be our favorite item of the evening, but I also enjoyed the fig toast and the hen of the woods.

+5

Divya Mishra

Its a beautiful andcharming place decorated with tree branches and vines. Seating is cozy and dimly lit. We ordered Fig and artichoke toast, paella ans tamale. Toasts were delicious and the presentation was excellent. Paella was good but the trumpet was really tough and chewy. Tamale was the only thing we did not enjoy much. The presentation was beautiful but the flavours were not that great. Recommend to visit atleast once. Vegan places are mostly hit or miss and here everything was hit except the tamales.we also tries tha lava cake for dessert ans it was delicious.

+3

presentations were great but it wasn’t enough to convince me that maybe my tastebuds were novice. flavors and textures were just okay. first time I’ve had to send a dish back- the pepper was undercooked and difficult to cut. By the time you get a piece, the filling was mixed into the huge amount of sauce you were hoping to not eat as soup. I found a lot of the dishes were difficult to eat without getting messy. dang, looking back even the dessert was underwhelming and flour-y to an easy chocolate lover despite us remaining positive! I am possibly spoiled coming from Chicago’s vegan landscape lol. I didn’t take photos of all the dishes, i realized I wasn’t coming back:/ We all know what it’s like to not agree with a dish that’s not for you, and to also go crazy over something that has never tasted so excellent. But we noticed a trend with every dish, a bit flavorless and always off with ratios of sauce or dryness. If you find yourself not exactly going crazy for anything here, me too.

+1

I had high expectations, but the food was a hit or miss. The Brussel sprouts and toast were wonderful. However, with the “paella”, we had issues (i put it in quotes because it was reimagined paella, not the real deal). There was a big piece of squash that was more or less uncooked and inedible. Also I’m not sure what the purpose of the piece of mushroom was either. I’m no Michelin star connoisseur, but putting a big piece of unseasoned mushroom doesn’t seem like it enhances the dish. Finally, the lava cake was a flop. The entire joy of eating a lava cake is the hot molten core surrounded by a moist gooey cake. We got neither. The cake was cold and plasticy. The “lava” wasn’t flowing. The additional things like banana, additional sauce, ice cream didn’t really do much to enhance the dish. Frankly Domino’s lava cake is better. I would not go there again.