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Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
Western
Beer/Wine
Catering
Re-opened here in early-2015. Serves original and experimental dishes in a trendy, fine atmosphere. Open Tue-Sat 5:30pm-11:00pm.
84 Reviews
First Review by nitekrawler527
kgattoni
Points +12
Creative and flavorful - Edit
The creativity in Dirt Candy’s dishes is unparalleled. The ability to experience mushroom pate to smoked guacamole to Korean bbq broccoli (and that is just a fraction) in one sitting brings you on a palatable journey vs. “just dinner”.
Read moreGuest
JillianNicole
Points +84
Incredible! - Edit
One of my new favorite restaurants! I love a place that can get creative with veggies and Dirt Candy does not disappoint! My boyfriend and I did the 5 course vegetable patch option with wine pairing. Each course was so flavorful and the wine was perfect. I can’t wait to come back.
Read moreGuest
DebGee
Points +169
Best vegan food I’ve had in New York - Edit
It’s all in the details and Dirt Candy pays attention to everything. Chef Amanda Cohen’s menu is simple—5 courses or 9. We went for the 9 course vegan option with wine pairings and we were wowed. The flavors and presentation were outstanding, not to mention the attentive service (which is included in the price). I will come back here every time I’m in New York. My only regret is that I didn’t buy the book.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Creative dishes that taste good, Great ambience
Guest
Brendan.Wilson
Points +87
Amazing night out for two! - Edit
My girlfriend and I came here and it is so warm and nice. We got the 5 course meal which was made vegan and it was fantastic. Will come back here again for sure!
Read moreGuest
fourguitars
Points +57
Veg food for beginners (not recommended for vegans) - Edit
What a disappointment. My partner and I have had Dirt Candy on our list for years. We finally made it for the weekend after Valentine's Day. They featured a prix fixe menu (I'm not sure if this is a permanent feature now or if it was only because of the holiday weekend). We selected the "Vegetable Patch," which was the smaller of the two options. Full disclosure: we are vegan and this apparently demands some adjustment of their standard fare. Everything started off OK, but as the five-course meal wore on, we got tired of the same brasica vegetables contrasted with some of the same spices (a mustard-based olive oil seemed to figure prominently in three of the courses). By the third and fourth course we were literally exhausted and tired of eating. Everything seemed very salty and unappealing by the end. It seemed like our primary server couldn't have cared less about our experience: she delivered the food and rattled off the descriptions in a staccato monotone that was thoroughly unengaging. We left entirely dissatisfied and not feeling so great - exactly the opposite of what I would expect from such highly-touted vegetarian fare. It seems as if the vegan explosion of the past five years has passed entirely unnoticed by this place. There was very little use of nuts and seeds, juices for flavorings, etc. Just brussel sprouts and cauliflower and loads of bread and salt. This is vegetarian food for beginners. I would not recommend for others (especially vegans) as there are several much better options within walking distance of this restaurant and at a fraction of the price!
Read morePros: Fancy atmosphere, Good non-alcoholic cocktails
Cons: Salty, Expensive
Guest
suzagord
Points +801
Dream Birthday - Edit
A good friend took me here for my birthday and I gorged myself. And we chose the smaller number of courses!! Everything was ingenious and creative and beautiful and the most delicious thing you ever ate. One more thing - I didn't care for the cocktail I ordered off the menu so they quickly brought me something simpler with so little fuss I thought I was doing them a favor. You don't find service like that every day.
Read morePros: Some of the best food you'll ever eat, You will never be bored with the offerings, Staff is very friendly
Cons: It's a little dark for good instagram potential
Guest
JordynMary
Points +141
Worth every penny - Edit
I’ve been hesitant about coming here due to the very high prices, but for a special occasion we splurged and my oh my. Everything about this place was exceptional.. from the waitstaff being just so friendly and attentive but not overtly, to the food.. we got the patch since 90$/pp is a bit tooooo steep for the garden. The first course was this crispy fried Korean broccoli that was out of this world.. the Brussels sprout tacos were hands down the best Brussels I’ve ever had. Even the mushroom cauliflower chocolate although sounds weird was divine. You need to mention your vegan FYI. I mentioned it when I confirmed the reservation and the waiter already knew and had told the kitchen before we even opened our mouths when we sat down. And they remembered it was our anniversary (I had clicked it on open table) and gave us complimentary champagne. High class all around.
Read moreGuest
Chella
Points +189
It was an experience - Edit
This place was unbelievable! Our table consisted of a vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore. We decided on the 9 course Vegetable Garden since our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. Every dish was creative, well presented, and most importantly delicious. Doesn’t matter if you are veg or not, this place is outstanding!
Read morePros: Easy to accommodate vegans, Great service, Creative presentation
Guest
JJones315
Points +2383
Vegetarian Haute Cuisine - Edit
Excellent cusine in a fabulous space.
Read moreIf you are looking for a change from the ubiquitous veg/vegan “comfort food” establishments, this place is for you...this is a dining experience with a capital D. There is a small, but well-stocked bar, a dining bar facing the open kitchen, and traditional tables with plenty of space between them. You can even have a conversation with the other people at your table.
The food is innovative, artfully presented, and ultimately, satiating. Ultimately, because the pace of the multicourse dinners is certainly leisurely; however, your patience will be rewarded.
Every dish can be made vegan.
I am looking forward to trying the weekend brunch once it resumes after a summer break.
Pros: Excellent haute cusine style veg/vegan fare, Civilized dining experience, Accomodates special dietary needs
Guest
Worldvegkitchen
Points +1458
Stuff yourself brunch options - Edit
Chose the $30 set brunch menu and was not disappointed. Came with coffee, mimosa, a pastry, and entree. Had the tomato biscuit (so flaky!), the carrot coffee cake (not overly sweet), the California Cracker (avocado lovers dream), and the layered omelette (garlic, tomato galore). Fantastic experience, want to go back now for their dinner.
Read morePros: Great experience, Good food, but come hungry as it’s a lot
Guest
PabloofGramercy
Points +269
Great meal - Edit
The food is very creative and the presentation is fun and different. All of the ingredients were fresh and varied. In fact, the variety of ingredients and cooking methods is impressive. The meal itself (9 course) was a little uneven. Some dishes (broccoli, soup, spetzl, sponge cake) were absolutely delicious. Others were a little bland or relied too much on raw greens (i.e., too much salad). The staff could not be any nicer. They do both vegan and vegetarian meals, and they can accommodate one’s schedule (we had a show after dinner and they timed the courses to fit our schedule.) All in all, this place is a must.
Read moreGuest
veganrunning
Points +828
needs improvement - Edit
I ordered the Brussel sprouts Tacos. Nothing special as I felt like I could easily make this meal at home.
Read moreGuest
ashwinn
Points +806
World Class Veg*n food. - Edit
Aside from the use of Eggs, this place is spectacular. They substituted eggs as an ingredients for my meal (why not all?) and it was great.
Read moreI am dreaming about the broccoli and the desserts which were off the hook.
New location is more accommodating and the service was great.
Veg*n food can be world class, a great business, and service oriented. This place proves it and deserves 5 stars as the hallmark for what the rest of the veg*n world can aspire to.
Pros: creative food
Cons: prices can be steep, difficulty to secure a table , eggs
Guest
crturner25
Points +127
Exquisite food and Presentation - Edit
Dirt Candy just blew me away! I have never seen or eaten anything so beautiful. Everything is so delicate yet has such powerful flavors, in the best way possible. It is a beautiful interior with very friendly staff. The drinks are so unique and fresh. The small sharing courses make for a fun evening with friends or your partner to try lots of things! The desserts are a must have as well!
Read moreFor dinner my boyfriend and I ordered the surprise menu where the chef pairs and creates a number of courses from the menu especially for you! I highly recommend doing this, as you cannot go wrong with anything you order here!
For brunch I shared the red pepper fritters with my table and I ordered the zucchini blossom pancakes! They were incredible and just right. Highly recommend these!
Pros: Flavorful Food , Presentation , Great Service
Cons: Pricey
Guest
NikiMullin
Points +34
A brilliant experience - Edit
We ate here late last Saturday night, and it did not disappoint.
Read moreThe service was truly exceptional, our waiter (sorry, I wish I caught his name) was attentive, knowledgable and super efficient). Most dishes could be 'veganized' and his personal recommendations (the Korean Fried Broccoli and the Brussel Sprouts) were just amazing.
All of the dishes were fresh and really creative, small in size, so I'd recommend getting a few and sharing.
If you're vegan and/ or vegetarian and in New York (even if you're not even close), you have to visit this restaurant!
Pros: Exceptional service, Excellent food, Friendly staff
Cons: location, Restaurant sign (almost didn't come in!)
Guest
baruchadam
Points +446
Nice place - Edit
Creative cookery and fun place to eat. Friendly staff.
Read moreNot all the dishes came together as well as they could have, but these folks are not afraid to experiment. Kudos for that.
Guest
Nourished
Points +124
One of my all time favorite upscale veg spots - Edit
A delightful dining experience! Such an original and delicious menu!
Read moreGuest
VeggieGrrrl
Points +29
Loved it!!! - Edit
I am a vegetarian and my boyfriend is a carnivore chef. He was reluctant to go there because we have had bad experiences at all vegetarian restaurants before. We were both amazed by the food!
Read moreGuest
jackie.r.7289
Points +141
Creative food, if a bit lackluster - Edit
We went for brunch last time we visited NYC. It was honestly more of a 3.5 experience. I love the spaciousness and brightness of their new location, though I don't love the new spot. It's a bit deep into the Lower East Side. We were seated without a reservation - unheard of at the old, smaller Dirt Candy location in the East Village. Service was friendly and attentive. We thought brunch food prices were very reasonable, however, cocktails were borderline outrageously priced. A brunch drink shouldn't be the same price as food. We decided to forego cocktails and just split a few dishes. We ordered:
Read more- Zucchini Pancakes (for sweet) - These were about 7 or so silver dollar pancakes, dusted with powdered sugar. They were fun, but almost more snack-sized. They had good flavor and certainly no overwhelming zucchini scent. However, they felt a bit oiled/fried, which seems unnecessary with pancakes.
- The Greens Sandwich (for savory) - This was a very large sandwich, which is a plus, especially considering the size of the pancakes. It mostly tasted like salad on bread to me though. My fiancé liked it a lot though (he did layer on a fair bit of hot sauce though).
We were still a bit hungry (and were trying to stretch this meal for breakfast and lunch), so we ordered the carrot granola too.
- Carrot Granola - This was a thick labneh yogurt with carrot marmalade and super crunchy granola. Again, not a massive serving size, but the perfect thing to top us off. The marmalade had a good tang to it, though this, like a few other dishes at Dirt Candy, was almost too inventive, if that's a thing. Sometimes a chef can still be inventive without going soo far out of the box, and it seems like sometimes Dirt Candy is quite far out. Still, food is generally good.
We may go back next time we're in NYC, but considering there are so many other restaurants we love there, we wouldn't run back.
Guest
Jack+2
Points +44
Dirt Candy, plays beautifully with flavours ... - Edit
We had an exemplary experience! The staff was efficient, attentive, and informative. I love to know the details of the earthly delights that will be nourishing my body and soul. As a vegan lover of food; Dirt Candy filled that yearning for a devine dining experience. The medley of flavours danced and melded together, complimenting each other in delightful pairings. From start to finish; Dirt Candy provided a respite from the "at times" mundane experience of vegan dining.
Read moreGuest
MrBlacksmith
Points +11
Fantastic - and 96% on menu vegan - Edit
Party of 4, wife and 2 teenagers, picked 8 dishes and tried to pick top 3 after enjoying a great dinner. We came to a consensus that the eggplant was not well balanced (too heavy, too spicy/hot) but the rest was awesome! Not cheap, but rather have a memory for long and see it a a great memory on a vacation (spent a week in NYc) and it will most def be the best meal on this trip (one day left, might change ;). We will recommended this to our friends, and I will recommend it to you all too. Friendly staff and great drinks too :)
Read moreGuest
newsomz
Points +96
Creative vegetarian - Edit
I really loved our meal here. The menu changes based on season and we went in early summer. The food was very inventive and excellent. The dishes are all small and our waiter explained they are for sharing so you should get several dishes each. I was expecting this to be a fine dining experience so I wasn't surprised by the bill (large) or the portion sizes (small). Our wait staff were lovely and gave great suggestions. I'd definitely return if I was planning a special occasion dinner or night out.
Read morePros: great food, friendly staff
Cons: expensive
Guest
RocketGomez
Points +393
tiny portions, massive bill - Edit
A party of four dined here. The dishes all beautiful to look at, but taste-wise, were hit and miss. More misses than hits. The radish appetizer was bland and the broccoli hotdog was a stalk of broccoli in a stale bun. The cauliflower dish was also weak. The hush puppies and broccoli balls were very tasty. The portions were unbelievably small, given their expense. There is an additional mandatory 20% fee, but it is not a gratuity. This makes me wonder what it is for. Our tab, for four diners, was over $300. We all agreed we were still very hungry and needed to get pizza after we left the restaurant. My partner and I are both vegan, the other couple are omnivores. I inadvertently gave my omnivore friends a poor introduction to veganism by taking them here.
Read morePros: beautiful presentation
Cons: small portions, extremely expensive (even for NYC), mysterious 20% fee
Guest
Hjveg
Points +28
exciting vegan food - Edit
I was able to go to the original location and had a wonderful experience. We asked for help with ordering and received amazing dishes full of flavor. The chef is able to pull off something exciting, which can be rare at vegan/vegetarian restaurants. Service was great and the chef was lovely. We went back the next day to buy her cookbook after my brain was hurting trying to figure out how she made broccoli taste like a hot dog.
Read moreThe new location is much bigger and the food is still an interesting mix of flavors and textures. As a group we shared the cauliflower tacos and it was our favorite. Dirt Candy is a magical treat.
Pros: food, drinks, service
Cons: can be hard to get a table
Guest
VegHeadNYC
Points +302
Don't Believe the Hype - Edit
My husband and I ate at the original Dirt Candy before they moved into their larger space on Allen Street. Reservations were hard to come by, and we had waited months to secure one. We had really high expectations once we arrived, with their dishes focused on a single food, and unfortunately Dirt Candy did not live up to the hype. My husband (who is vegan) did very much enjoy his Cucumber (coconut poached tofu, shiso galangal sauce, salsify & hearts of palm), and they were able to make the Popcorn Pudding dessert vegan. However, the apps and entrees were small and the taste was nothing extraordinary - I did not like the Cauliflower dish at all. Prices are expensive, and service was rushed to have quick turnover in the tables. Maybe things have changed at the new location, though we were unimpressed with the original Dirt Candy.
Read morePros: Desserts
Cons: Expensive, Mediocre Food
Guest
tauberl
Points +472
Inventive but not the restaurant highlight of the trip - Edit
I was really excited to go here given all the hype and how incredibly difficult it was to get a reservation! We ordered a lot of things: the Korean broccoli and jalapeño hush puppy appetizers/"snacks", the curry fries, the carrot entree and eggplant entree. Everything was really beautiful and inventive, but other than the two "snacks", I wasn't blown away by the tastes- maybe it's just a bit too fancy (eg the eggplant "mousse" did nothing for me) for my tastes :-). They also didn't seem super savvy to the whole vegan thing- maybe we just had a newer waiter, but there were a few times he brought something to the table and seems unsure whether it was vegan- once with the complimentary bread and butter, which was fine since we hadn't actually ordered that, but then again with the maple butter with the jalapeño hush puppies (which I had specifically ordered vegan). So, everyone was very nice and the idea is interesting, and I'm very happy for them that they're so busy- but I won't necessarily be rushing back myself.
Read moreGuest
Mr Jefferson
Points +65
A restaurant on the rise - Edit
For its size, this is a place full of surprises, not least because we mistook the owner for a waitress. All in all the the food was fantastic and we had a thoroughly enjoyable night. As a rule of thumb, I judge a restaurant on whether I walk away with a copy of the cookbook. On this occasion I bought 3!
Read moreDirt Candy is destined for greater things if they can find a premises more suitable to meet the demand.
Lasting memories are the rosemary candy floss.
Pros: Friendly owner, Innovative food
Cons: Very tight fit, Mushroom pate perhaps too rich for me
Guest
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