Weekly Lunch Pick: a healthy, filling vegan meal in a mall food court (no, really)
Some things you don’t expect to find in a food court: reusable dishware, stainless steel cutlery, a vegan restaurant. The new Urban Eatery at the Eaton Centre has all three. The shiny outpost of Kensington Market vegan mecca Urban Herbivore in the food court has a short yet highly customizable menu with five vegan sandwiches, each available on one of three choices of bread.
Panini-pressed to order, the barbecue tofu sandwich ($7.96) is two hunks of black olive ciabatta stuffed with spongy grilled tofu, tender alfalfa sprouts, olive oil–marinated tomatoes and crisp romaine lettuce. Zippy lemon tahini binds the filling and flavourful, if somewhat crumbly, construction together, which also comes with a small side salad of mixed greens, shredded carrots and beets in a tart raspberry balsamic dressing. For an extra dose of chlorophyll, the green juice ($4.42) is a refreshing, slightly sour blend of apple, cucumber, kale, spinach, ginger and lemon juices.
The cost: $14 including tax.
The time: Six minutes from order to pickup.
Urban Herbivore, Eaton Centre, 220 Yonge St., 416-847-1007, fressenrestaurant.com.
