On Friday night, Kyle and I met up with Marisa for dinner in SOHO.
I have a long list of to-try restaurants in NYC, so being back for the weekend is a nice chance to cross some more off.
Spring Street Natural has been around for over four decades, serving natural cuisine with an emphasis on fresh and healthy fare.
The menu is really diverse, with choices in each course ranging from completely vegan and macrobiotic plates to innovative to seafood and poultry entrees. This makes it a perfect place to take your non-vegan friends for a nice meal. Or a casual one. The outside seating is mellow – perfect for a summer evening or weekend lunch. The inside is more upscale and even has a bar off to the side.
They make their own organic whole wheat flour pie crusts, house made breads, fresh pasta, organic seitan and free range chicken sausages in-house from fresh natural ingredients. Additionally, they make the effort to ensure their produce and grains are certified organic whenever possible and all poultry is free range and naturally farmed without hormones.
Enticing starters, sandwiches, salads, and entrees galore…with vegan and gluten free options noted. I like.
Pinot grigio for me, brewskie for Kyle, coconut pineapple mojito for Marisa.
Marisa’s drink was outstanding. I don’t like mint, but it was the most refreshing, tropical drink ever. Like a clean, light pina colada (sans dairy). It was definitely the best choice.
We got vegetable spring rolls to start. They were hot on the inside, crispy on the outside, and sitting in the most wonderful sauce. Really yummy.
It felt appropriate that we were eating spring rolls on Spring Street at Spring Street Natural. Too bad it’s summer – otherwise I could’ve made that sentence even better more obnoxious.
Marisa’s seared ahi tuna with whipped potatoes and sautéed greens.
Kyle’s baked cod with wasabi potatoes. <— clean plates club.
I made a few substitutions for my rice & veggie entree. I wasn’t feeling like tofu so I subbed in seitan. The rest of the bowl was filled with brown rice, an arame, kale & carrot salad, and black beans.
Truthfully, it was a little bland. The tahini sauce on the brown rice was the best part, so I tried to spread it to coat the rest of the food. And the seitan wasn’t seasoned at all really (I think my own home-made seitan is way better). As for the seaweed and kale salad? Well, I had a completely stellar salad earlier in the day with similar ingredients, so the fact that it had such high standards to live up to wasn’t any help.
These are the kind of mediocre meals that make macrobiotic so unappealing. Clean doesn’t have to mean blah. I was actually worried about this very issue when I was ordering, but I thought the simplicity of the dish would be good for my stomach. My inner debate wasn’t all for naught though, because my GI system did handle dinner with ease…and I left full and happy. And my company enjoyed their food. So I still think Spring Street Natural is worth recommending (just stick to the special entrees, salads, burgers or sandwiches – unless you are a fan of macrobiotic style eats).
Have you ever had a macrobiotic fare? What did you think?
I want that mojito so badly. Gah, it looks like heaven! I’ve never had macrobiotic fare, but would LOVE to. I’m going to search for a place in Denver and force Meeker to go with me. Or just come out and visit you – that sounds easier. 🙂
Oh wait, you were in NYC. I’m scattered today…but I’m sure there is a good restaurant near you, right? If not, we’ll just have to visit NYC together.
I’ve never tried macrobiotic foods, but I’m really intrigued by them! I’d love to try it. That cocktail your friend had sounds awesome.
Spring Street Natural is one of my favorite vegetarian-friendly places in NYC, though I hardly ever make it down there. I tend to like macrobiotic food—Souen is another NYC restaurant that I’ve had really delicious macrobiotic meals at.
I’m so glad you’re having a nice time in NYC! I see that you were in my Upper West Side hood, too bad I didn’t bump into you guys. Spring Street Natural can be pretty hit or miss. They’re salads are quite good though. They’re actually opening an outpost right on the Upper West Side soon!
Hope you enjoy the rest of your time here!!!
I had a macrobiotic meal at a restaurant near the boyfriend, and we felt the same way! Such a bummer when vegan/clean food is bland. What’s that teach the rest of the world about how delicious it can be? In the restaurant’s defense, we were hungry and didn’t take full advantage of the menu’s urging to make substitutions to our liking, and their smoothies were amazing (and vegan).
I don’t understand macrobiotics!! I’m Vegan, gluten-free, and high raw, which feels really good. I don’t want to add any other diet lol. So I’m sticking with the ignorance thing.
spring street natural was my go-to place when i lived in nyc but now that i live in la i find places that can do that similar type of cooking a lot better (and cheaper)
I have been to Spring Street Natural a few times and thought it was decent. The tomato bread is the best thing there! I really like Souen, as Jess said and Quantum Leap. Do you have any NYC rec’s? I’m looking for a new place.
hey ashley! i am working on updating them (because theyre kinda a mess right now) but under my restaurants review page there are a bunch for nyc. stay tuned though bc its in the process of becoming far more organized.
we can def visit nyc together…but in the meantime, come to CA!!!!
oh wow, thats so cool. the salads all sounded great, and i was very tempted, but i had a salad for lunch and wanted something more homey. it was a great visit, im just sorry i didnt get to see you. take care of the uws while im back in ca 🙂
i agree. i should have asked them to guide my vegan choice because marisa and kyle took the waiters recs and were completely pleased with their food. ah well, you live and learn.
ok, im going to be totally honest here…i dont entirely know what macrobiotic means or is. but ive eaten at 3 macrobiotic restaurants before – 2 were bland and turned me off, the other was exceptional (the good one was m cafe).
ie: m cafe (so good!!)