Vedge is the kind of restaurant you want to be dining at right now: fun and pushing culinary boundaries around every corner.
This is a fantastic restaurant that’s doing very inventive things with both usual and unusual ingredients. The dishes surprise and delight. Eating here is a privilege that everyone should have. And it is one of my favorite spots in the city.
Oh, did I fail to mention this is a vegan restaurant? Well, now you know. Leave your preconceptions at the door. If you’re expecting bland and boring based on the “vegan” label, you’ve obviously never been here.
Owners Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, both James Beard Aware nominees, are charting new ground with a wildly inventive menu that just happens to be plant based. Some dishes, like the charred carrot, lay out the feature ingredient in simplistic perfection. It doesn’t pretend to be something else. It is what it is: an absolutely incredible carrot.
Other dishes transform the feature ingredient into something…else. This isn’t vegetables playing dress up – they still stand on their own. But they become truly remarkable. Such is the case of the Rutabaga Fondue or even the Stuffed Avocado.
If you think vegan food isn’t for you, you are not alone. I had mixed feelings and a great deal of skepticism coming here. I’m an unapologetic carnivore. Yet, I’ve had the pleasure of dining at Vedge nearly a dozen times and have never once missed the meat. If I can love it, anyone can.
Vedge isn’t a vegan restaurant. It is an excellent dining experience, that just happens to be vegan.
For lovers of the Vedge concept, you can also check out their sister restaurant, Ground Provisions in West Chester.
The Menu
It’s all vegetables all the time at Vedge. Yes, this is a truly vegan restaurant – everything from the pretzel bread to the buttery sauces is made without any animal products.
The menu at Vedge is highly seasonal. They use the vegetables they can get at the time. The menu is divided into three sections based on size of portions. They have traditional appetizers, vegetable charcuterie, and inspiring starters (or what was historically called The Vedge Bar). The other items are more traditional entrée sized, or what the restaurant calls “composed plates,” most featuring seasonal vegetable selections.
And finally, what meal would be complete without dessert: items which defy culinary tradition and prove once-and-for-all time that desserts can be healthy…kind of. At least that’s what we tell ourselves each time we dine here.
Some of the more notable dishes include the Rutabaga Fondue. What’s a rutabaga? I have no idea. But it makes an incredible creamy dipping sauce for the amazing soft pretzel and yesterday’s pickles. It sounds unusual and maybe it is. But it is also the one dish that I look forward to and one where will be no discussion, we are absolutely getting it.
Add to that a perfectly Charred Carrot. It sounds so simple, but the reality is anything but.
It’s hard to believe there’s not cheese or cream in the Stuffed Avocado. The tangy Romesco is the perfect addition to the sweetness of the avocado. The Spicy Dan Dan Noodles (emphasis on spicy) are one of the best versions of this dish we’ve ever had – vegan or otherwise. But they are SPICY and we routinely hear other guests comment that it is spicier than they expected. And the Fingerling Potatoes are just plain delicious.
The grilled tofu is one of the heartier entrée items and one of the larger portions. And while I really enjoy it, it’s still just a block of tofu. It lacks some of the transformative vision that infuses other menu items, such as the Eggplant Braciole. It looks like a sausage and tastes like heaven.
But our favorite items on the menu are the mushrooms. Whether it is the Portobello carpaccio or the absolutely sublime maitake with lentils, you can’t go wrong.
One final note, the menu is highly seasonal and changes constantly. Dishes mentioned here may not be available if out of season.
The Vibe
Located on Locust in the heart of the Midtown Village and The Gayborhood (what some are calling Center City East), Vedge occupies two Victorian townhomes, which have been combined into a single, romantic setting. The location was once home to the very popular Deux Cheminees restaurant.
First built as private residences by the famed Philadelphia architect Frank Furness, the townhomes were later repurposed into the Princeton Club – an elite meeting room where the men of the Ivy League could socialize and smoke. The window in the main dining room still has the Princeton University crest in the glass (and is our favorite dining room because of the views out onto Locust Street).
Stepping inside, Vedge still feels true to its townhouse roots. The cozy accents, dark wood and very low-key service remind you of dining at a friend’s home. And just like at a friend’s, you can’t wait to dive into the delicious food.
Price Range
Most diners will spend about $80-100 per person. There’s a dozen+ menu items, all priced $14-24. Most guests order 3-4 dishes per person and then share bites of everything. We tend to order more than most people so we can sample more (and take home leftovers for lunch!).
There’s also a small happy hour menu with 3-5 snack items (substantially discounted) and their stellar cocktails.
Reservations
Reservations at Vedge are usually essential and book out weeks in advance. Some walk-ins are taken, particularly during the week, and you might be able to score seats at their cozy bar (particularly if you arrive late – note that happy hours goes until 7pm). But if you are looking for the full experience, you’ll need to book ahead.
Note that there is not a large foyer or bar area. If you arrive at peak times, the entrance can get quite crowded, but guests are seated quickly.
Location
Vedge is located at in 1221 Locust Street in the Midtown Village neighborhood (or, what is known to the Gayborhood to locals). There is a small parking lot at the corner of 13th and Locust (with the famous Philadelphia Muses mural towering above it). The closest parking garage is the Hamilton Garage at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital which is 3 blocks away (and quite expensive). Finding street parking along Locust is not unheard of, although pay careful attention to the parking zone signs!
The restaurant is particularly well served by public transit. Bus #12 and 45 both stop at the corner of 12th and Locust, 1 block away. And if you are coming from New Jersey, the 13th & Locust PATCO stop is just 1 block away.
