Update: being a pescatarian hasn't killed me yet and I'm somewhat
shocked.
In fact, I'm considering continuing this lifestyle
past the lent season. Excluding meat (for the exception of seafood) has made me
feel better, lighter, and cleared my skin. Honestly, it hasn't been nearly as
hard as I expected it to be. However, the red meat-loving texan in me is still
strong, and with rodeo season kicking off today, I feel the urge to limit my pescatarian
journey to a weekday lifestyle.
That being said, my new eating habits have made me
branch out to new restaurants in the city. I've driven down Almeda more times
than I can count (I used to work on the
street at a local radio station) and I've noticed the influx of new
restaurant spaces. Located on the corner of Almeda and Wheeler Avenue, a small
raw and vegan eatery has been holding down the space for a few years and I've wanted
to try it out. I took a half-day off work for business and ended up in the area
so I stopped in for a late lunch.
Green Seed Vegan + Elixir Bar offers
Houstonians filling meals made with fresh ingredients and fresh pressed raw
juices and clean smoothies to enjoy. They also offer desserts like vegan
brownies to satisfy any plant lover's sweet tooth.
My
meal:
The menu has a lot of options, but the dirty burque
stood out to me. This was a flavorful combination of a buckwheat patty, green
chiles, avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, mustard and mayo. Im also avoiding
bread so I got my sandwich in a collard wrap instead of on a bun. The $1 up
charge was worth having the option. Surprisingly, the buckwheat patty was a
delicious meat substitute. The collards had an "earthy" taste that
took some getting used to but it wasn't too overpowering. With the upgrade, and
a side of DELICIOUS sweet potato fries, my meal totaled out at $10. Not bad.
After reading the yelp reviews, I knew I couldn't
stop by without enjoying one of their raw juices. I ordered two flavors; Pina
Verde for myself and Green Zing to give Brandon later to try. Pina Verde is an
AMAZING blend of mint, pineapple, wheatgrass and apple juices. Im no stranger
to wheatgrass so I expected it to be the standout flavor in the blend but it
was actually the refreshing mint that made this some of the best juice I've
ever had in my life. Within two sips, I already made the decision to buy
another bottle.
When I left, I dropped off the green zing juice with
brandon. The ginger added a "spicy" kick to the juice that neither of
us really like but I'm sure other people would enjoy. Their fresh pressed
"innerg" juices run $6, which is a little steep for me to incorporate
into my daily health habits, but I definitely will be back to buy a bulk order
of pina verde.
The little details you care about:
The
service:
I think the staff could tell I'd never been there
before, and they were extremely accommodating. They answered all of my
questions with ease, brought out my food in a timely manner, although the late
lunch/early dinner crowd was filling the place.
The
building:
The building is low-lit and small, but the design
and bright pops of green add to the buildings "cute factor"
Parking:
Okay, parking isn't the best. I found a spot with
ease, but it was also 3:30pm on a Wednesday. I assume the Saturday crowd is a
lot busier. The lot is small so parking is limited to about 10 spots, but the
quality of the food is worth the "hassle" of finding a spot.
Overall:
I'll be back here to try their veggie burger (voted
best in Houston by the Houston Press) even if I decide to start eating more red
meat than a caveman again. And next time, I'll bring friends and family. Trust
me, if you or someone you know doubt that vegan food can be good AND filling,
take a trip to 3rd ward for some green seed vegan and turn them into
believers.
Warning: There is 96.7% chance you will run into a hipster with a vintage camera wearing an old band shirt eating here during your lunch or dinner. But that shouldn't stop you from visiting :)
Visit their website at www.greenseedvegan.com and stop by the
restaurant located at 4320
Almeda Rd from 11am-8pm Monday-Saturday to grab some grub!
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