Despite being partial to a good nut roast, we must admit that it leaves a little to the imagination. However, Brighton has always been ahead of the game when it comes to catering for the meat-free among us, and this Christmas the veggie capital has truly outdone itself. We’ve compiled a list of our top 5 vegetarian Christmas dinners to tantalize your festive taste buds.
Food for Friends (3 courses for £38)
Image credit: Food for Friends/ via Facebook
If you’re looking for sophistication at an affordable price, head down to Brighton’s original vegetarian restaurant, Food for Friends. Since its conception in 1981, the award-winning restaurant has been driven by a passion to deliver locally sourced, beautifully presented top-notch veggie grub, and boy, do they deliver. This year, the veggie haven proudly offers a decadent Christmas menu with an innovative twist; a steaming bowl of broccoli and cavolo nero soup with puffed rice and crispy tofu for starters, a leaning stack of mushroom mille fueille for mains, and, if you can fit it in, a moreish chocolate delice for dessert. These are just a few of the marvelous dishes which you can expect to tuck in to, and you can wash it all down with a merry cup of mulled wine or warm spiced pear.
Food for Friends is located at 17-18 Prince Albert St.
Sussex Yeoman (2 courses for £25, 3 courses for £32)
Image credit: The Sussex Yeoman/ via Facebook
Although The Sussex Yeoman is not exclusively vegetarian, the Green-King pub is home to award-winning Sunday roasts and offers creative meat-free options and alternatives this Christmas. If you and your friends have eclectic diets and difficulty finding a truly appetite-appeasing x-mas dinner which caters for you all, hop to the Yeoman as they offer vegan, vegetarian, fish and meaty choices. Options include a goat’s cheese, artichoke and red pepper filo parcel for veggies and a double layered sweet potato, beetroot and cashew cream bake for vegans. This is the perfect spot for those who want a more traditional chrimbo dinner, as all options come served with roast potatoes, glazed carrots, winter greens, chestnut sprout hash, homemade cranberry sauce and, of course, lots of gravy.
The Sussex Yeoman is located at 7 Guildford Rd.
Terre a Terre (3 courses for £34.50 - only available for parties of less than 8)
Image credit: Terre a Terre/ via Facebook
With an ethos based on indulgence and a wonderful world-inspired menu to boot, the self-proclaimed ‘culinary globetrotters’ at Terre a Terre have earned their iconic status as a must-visit for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Their truly unique Christmas menu comprises original and amusing dish names such as ‘KFC’ (Korean Fried Cauliflower), ‘Sneaky Peeking Steamers’ (steamed rice buns stuffed with Szechaun marinated halloumi with a vegan option available) and an aptly seasonal ‘What’s Going Down in Christmas Town?” (a figgy pudding with salty sweet walnut snow). When choosing a wine to compliment your meal fear not as their list is not only 100% organic but also includes vegetarian and vegan options (as, for those who do not know, most wines are not usually so).
Terre a Terre is located at 71 East St.
Semolina (2 courses for £24, 3 courses for £28)
Image credit: Semolina/ via Facebook
If you’re heading to Semolina for an evening of culinary merriment, you’re sure to have a memorable night which your taste buds won’t forget (well, until next Christmas). The power couple team behind the café, Orson and Linda Whitfrield, put an emphasis on unpretentious, intimate dining while still making everything from scratch using local ingredients from Sussex suppliers. The only downside of Semolina as a veggie option is there is only one choice for each course but - as the café has a history of serving consistently delicious meat-free cuisine - we believe that their Christmas dinner is in line to be a winner. Feast on a lovely meal of roasted root veg tarte tatin with kale, hazelnut and traditional seasonal sides, and choose a tipple from their interesting selection of wines or cocktails of the month.
Semolina is located at 15 Baker St.
The independent Pub (2 courses for £25, 3 courses for £30 - pre order only)
Image credit: @chefsamireland2/ via Twitter
Have you ever been with your pals in the pub and thought about how great it would be if you could open your own? You’d create the kind of place that you’d be more than happy to have as your local, wouldn’t you? Well, Matt and James did exactly that (but perhaps with more sober conviction) and opened a homely but elegant pub - The Independent. If the name isn’t too much of a giveaway, this is a completely independent pub with a rotating menu, beer list and playlist, all chosen by the staff. As one of this year’s Bravo Award winners for Brighton’s Best Sunday Roast, we’re sure that their veggie Christmas option of chestnut mushroom, leek and walnut en croute with roast potatoes, seasonal veg and a red wine gravy will not disappoint. So, come for the food, then sit back and relax in the cosy atmosphere with a couple of beers from one of their guest breweries.
The Independent Pub is located 95 Queen's Park Rd.