VANILLA BLACK

17-18 Took's Court, London, EC4A 1LB

Originally opened in York 2004, and relocated to London in 2008, Vanilla Black is possibly the country's most upmarket vegetarian restaurant.

Serving a gourmet vegetarian and vegan menu, in an unassuming side street near Chancery Lane, owner Andrew Dargue is proud to be confounding people's expectations of plant-based food. “When we first opened, vegetarian offerings consisted of pasta bake and vegetable curry, and vegetarian restaurants looked more like cafés. We wanted to flip that around.” Their high-end food and elegant decor attract an eclectic clientele, “At any one time our diners could include a politician, a rock star, and a couple of students.”

Half of the menu at Vanilla Black is vegan, and Andrew says that the movement towards vegan food has prompted them to explore new ingredients and processes. “A lot of people think the whole world is going to become vegan. I personally don't. What I do believe is that plantbased eating will enter the mainstream more heavily, and not be seen as a sub-standard choice.”