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Even if you’re
not a strict vegetarian, there’s plenty of fine non-carnivorous
tucker available in the capital...
You only have to
plop yourself down in either of The Gate eating houses to
realise this, particularly the one behind the Labatts Lager Bowl
(or whatever it’s called nowadays) at
51 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith
(020 8748 6932).
And by the way,
the more recently opened café stylee one is on Belsize Lane in NW3
land
(020 7435 7733).
The brothers who
set up The Gate provide grub from all over the globe and even the
heartiest of steak gobblers wouldn’t miss their animal proteins
at this joint.
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The Thai
Square restaurants are always good value, so tuck in to
coconut soup with mushrooms, Thai pot-steamed vegetables and
Gang Pa Jay – a hot jungle veggie curry.
 Their
set meals kick off at £20 for 4 courses and the original one
of the three in Trafalgar Square is housed in what was the
Norwegian Embassy @ 21 Cockspur Street (020 7839 4000).
The others
are at 136 Minories in the City and on Upper Street in Islington.
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Other
personal favourites are:
Carnevale, a tiny sandwich and dining emporium near the Barbican:
(135 Whitecross Street EC1/ 020 7250 3452).
One of the oldest veggie houses in town is Manna on Erskine
Road, a tiny side street off the main drag in Primrose Hill NW1/
020 7722 8028.
Byron III, a hairdresser in a former life, is still an Australian
and runs Blah Blah Blah at 78 Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush
W12/ 020 8746 1337, which is on 2 levels, with a floaty Bedouin
feel to the basement.
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Nigel
Barden
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For new age grunge,
you can’t beat Café on the Common in Clapham (2 Rookery Road
SW4/
020 7498 0770), sited in the former public lavatories - or tractor
shed, depending on who’s telling the story. It’s also great for
kids who want to play outside, as loads of toys are provided.
So lubricate your
laughing tackle and get ready to munch, while ruminating on the
fact that in 1996, 27 oil rigs off the coasts of Britain went veggie
for the week. There must have been some bemused Texans tucking into
their tofu chilli con carne….
The
Bardenmeister
More
Eating Out: where you live>>> 
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