Brooklyn has it’s fair share of vegetarian restaurants, but when it comes to better dining options, the menus tend to be more carnivorous. If we want a nice meal at a place where we can choose from more than one option, we usually head into the city.

Well, that all changed this week. We tried  The Grocery on Smith Street. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are Green Plate Special nights. A four course vegetarian meal for 40 bucks. We ordered one tasting menu (which was actually vegan, not just veg) and shared an appetizer and entree from the menu. We started off with complimentary chilled corn soup and potato croquettes followed by tomato based mango gazpacho, bulgar and cucumber salad, barbeque tofu with succotash and fancy schmancy onion rings and then yummy peach cobbler for dessert. That was just the tasting menu. Our main menu starter was a cold noodle salad and entree of choice was a crispy farro cake minus the bacon.

Now, you know how sometimes you’re blown away by the appetizer at a restaurant and then the main course doesn’t hold up? Not the case here! Every. course. was. perfect. For reals.

When I called for reservations earlier in the day, I spoke to chef Charles who informed me that he and his staff would be happy to accommodate any vegetarian requests I might have. They did as he promised. So, no worries going back there on a weekend when the menu offers more flesh.

The atmosphere is totally laid back and the service impeccable. And I don’t often use words like “impeccable”. In fact, never. Ew, I’m kind of hating myself right now.

Reservations are suggested for indoors, but the garden seating is on a first come basis.