Vegan in Prospect Heights
What this foodstroll is
Our favorite Vegan food in Prospect Heights and things to do in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
Why this foodstroll works
It never occurred to us one could spend an entire afternoon eating vegan food in Prospect Heights. Perhaps NYC has become one big vegan playground and we just weren’t paying attention, or maybe the neighborhood is an anomaly. Either way, Vanderbilt Avenue between Atlantic and Grand Army Plaza has several excellent Vegan spots, in addition to all its shops, cafe’s, and bookstores. The section is closed to traffic on weekends, and you can chow down right there on the street. If you prefer, grab takeout and bring it to Prospect Park just a few blocks away, but don’t visit the neighborhood without strolling around the Prospect Heights Historic District, home to some of Brooklyn’s most architecturally beautiful blocks.
Strolling
Vanderbilt Ave in Prospect Heights is small, but Prospect Park is big, and if you want to extend your Foodstroll the surrounding area is loaded with attractions, like The Barclays Center, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Prospect Park Zoo.
The streets adjoining Vanderbilt near Grand Army Plaza are packed with 1890s Brownstones, Limestones, and Row Houses rivaling those anyplace in NYC. Built in a variety of Neo-classical styles, each block has a distinctly different design.
Although the neighborhood is relatively small, the Prospect Heights Historic District is the fifth largest historic district in all of NYC. It’s also recognized federally in the United States’ National Register of Historic Places.
The Bailey Fountain sits in the middle of Grand Army Plaza, and it’s the first thing you’ll see when approaching Prospect Park from Vanderbilt Ave. The Plaza has several monuments, memorials, and statues, including one for JFK that dates back to 1965, two years after his assassination.
The next thing you’ll see is the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arc, a tribute “To the Defenders of the Union” during the Civil War. It’s location was intended by the architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to be the main entrance to Prospect Park. Olmsted actually played a major role in the War, orchestrating medical services for the Union Army.
Just east of Grand Army Plaza is the Brooklyn Museum. Designed in the Beaux-Arts style by the venerable architecture firm of McKim, Mead, and finished in 1895, it was intended to be the largest museum in the world at a time when the City of Brooklyn was competing with New York City for global prominence. Just three years later in 1898 the two cities would be consolidated.
Upon entering the Prospect Park, you’ll want to keep an eye out for its five famous arches. The Endale Arch, dating back to 1868, recently underwent a five year restoration, and the results are stunning.
A bit further in, the Boathouse on the Lullwater of the Lake in Prospect Park, as it’s known, is one of our favorite places to meet friends for an afternoon. The Italian Renaissance structure was built in 1904 by architects Helmle & Huberty, proteges of the aforementioned McKim, Mead, and White. The architects designed it to resemble the original Pennsylvania Station (1910). The station was demolished in 1968, but the boathouse should stick around for a while, being on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972.
The Prospect Park Zoo makes for a great beginning or end to any Prospect Park related adventure. It’s small, inexpensive, and in-season the Prospect Park Carousel, which dates back to 1912, operates right next door.
Food Spots
1. Little Cupcake Bakeshop
Little Cupcake Bakeshop is a well known café, once said to be home of the “Best Chocolate Cake in the U.S.” by Food and Wine magazine. Pictured is their Vegan Raspberry Coconut Almond Bar.
They have lots of Vegan options, including cupcakes, doughnuts, cookies, and this Vegan Salted Caramel Bar. Their coffee and espresso aren’t bad either.
2. American Vegan
We're far from experts on vegan food, but do know more than average about food generally, and the food at American Vegan is friggin delicious. The BBQ Bacon Burger is our favorite thing. It’s neither burger, nor bacon, but the Waffle Fries are real.
Even if they’re not technically chicken, a nugget is a nugget, and kids love them. Other non chicken menu items include the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.
Maya Taqueria prepares California style Mexican dishes, and while they aren’t a vegan restaurant, each section of the menu has a vegan option. Guacamole, which we think is vegan by nature (bear with us we’re learning), is a great way to start.
Substitute a “Special Veggie” for meat in any of their menu items, and so long as you don’t smear it with sour cream, which our kids tried to do, it is 100% vegan. Our favorite is the Burrito with Fire Roasted Corn.
Ample Hills Creamery started in Brooklyn and is now a nationally famous artisanal ice cream brand. They always have a few vegan options at their retail locations, including several different sorbets, like mango.
The Fudge (right) is also Vegan, made with coconut milk and other non-dairy ingredients. We apologize that the Cookies and Cream (left) is not. That’s the flavor he wanted and there was nothing to be done about it.
Transportation
Vanderbilt Ave is conveniently located near most NYC subways, including the B/Q at 7th Ave and 2/3 at Grand Army Plaza. The Barclays Center/Atlantic Terminal is just a few blocks further and 4, 5, D, N, and R trains all stop there.
Streetside parking is possible in Prospect Heights, especially the further you go from the park.