EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Gobo Inspires with Vegetarian Goodness & Crispy PB Tofu

Gobo Inspires with Vegetarian Goodness & Crispy PB Tofu

I appreciate the calm each time I tuck into Gobo, a vegetarian retreat with convenient locations in the West Village and  UES, NYC. The mostly blond and spacious interior is simply appointed with undressed wooden tables and comfortable cushioned seating. Plenty of space between tables encourages good conversation and lingering.  There is a Zen simplicity that is intentional here and it carries through to the deceptively simple, Asian inspired dishes on the menu.

 

There is a broad selection suitable to all tastes; ranging from lighter plates mounded with veggies and soy or seitan proteins to heavier stir-fries and rice dishes for those with heartier appetites.  For vegetarians, those who are Kosher Like Me, and gluten free eaters, Gobo is a perfect choice.

Here’s what I recommend:

Pine nut vegetable medley w lettuce wrap

 Pine nut vegetable medley in lettuce wraps was a delicious mix of finely diced jicama, roasted to bring out some natural sugar, scallions, rich pine nuts and crispy rice toppers. Texture was a player here with crisp lettuce wraps enhancing the pleasing sensation. This dish was one of my faves.

 braised tofu in black bean sauce over Asian Kale

Braised tofu in black bean sauce over kale was a generous portion of creamy thick slabs of soybean curd, crispy on the outside and and moistened with chunky, roasted tomato wedges and zucchini slices over a bed of simply steamed kale. Brown rice, coconut rice with raisins and yam fries are available as reasonable side dishes ($2-$6) if you’d like a bed underneath it all to sop up the Asian deliciousness.

Chakra Rolls

 Chakra Rolls, are light and raw with plenty of cabbage, red peppers, alfalfa sprouts and lemongrass wrapped neatly and enhanced by the cashew cilantro dipping sauce.

 For those with heartier appetites, there are plenty of hot dishes including butternut squash risotto with toasted almonds, smoked Bejing- style seitan with Chinese broccoli,  and a few stir -fries. My favorite was the Vietnamese spicy stir fry with rice noodles, carrots, cabbage and bean sprouts.

 mini veggie burger sliders

Kids may enjoy the spaghetti with wheat balls with zucchini and zingy tomato sauce or mini veggie burger sliders, which hit the mark on a rainy eve when a burger would have been tempting.

 Everything is vegan except for select breads and chips where eggs and dairy are used. Sauces are rich, varied and sometimes nut based. The onion fonduta (lots o’ onion slowly caramelized and reduced to a golden, sweet paste) added a zippy chunky layer of flavor to the truffled wild mushroom panino we enjoyed.

  Ruby beet salad w baby green beans

Salads are simple, fresh and pleasing. The beet salad with steamed baby green beans and walnuts over greens with a light mustard dressing  would be a great accompaniment to any of the  4-5 soups offered. Spinach wonton soup or organic white bean with root veggies and pumpkin would be my choice until the weather heats up.

 The dessert menu is concise and all dishes are vegan, adding to the appeal for kosher keepers or those with dairy sensitivities.

 Juices and smoothies are all organic as are most teas. Shots of wheat grass, flax seed, ginseng, or protein are available to enhance a full page of selections including house made ginger ale with fresh ginger and tempting smoothies like the “awakening” with blended mango, passion fruit and apple juice.

 A full page of mostly organic sake, sparkling wines and champagnes, white, red and dessert wines is impressive.  I was thrilled to see at least four kosher wines on the list, two from Israel and two from Ankara, Turkey. A concise list of beers is offered, although I was disappointed to not find any local brews on the list.

 For diners with gluten sensitivities, the menu is clearly marked.

 

Gobo is open 7 days a week in these locations:

 *1426 Third Ave (at 81st), NYC

212-288-4686

* 401 Avenue of the Americas (between Waverly Place and 8th st), NYC

212-255-3242

Hankering for some crispy tofu over spring greens?

I turned to Hannah Kaminsky, my brilliant blogging gal pal, vegan expert , cookbook author and recipe developer and here’s what she had whipped up that fit the bill. Interestingly, I had just bumped into Betty Lou’s powdered peanut butter at Whole Foods, where I sampled and fell hard for it.

Read more about it on Hannah’s vegan blog, Bittersweet or on Betty Lou’s site. I throw a tablespoon of Betty Lou’s chocolate peanut butter powder into my smoothie and it transforms it into a high protein, decadent without the fat, shake.

18 Comments

    • So glad you are inspired! You’ll find the pb powder at Whole Foods. I’m going to take the cue from Hannah Kaminsky and use it w some wokked lo mein and veggies. Why not dust chunks of chicken and do the same? The possibilities are endless.

      Reply to this comment

    • Definitely add Gobo to your list of great spots for vegetarians, vegans and those who are klm. Taking the cue from you and ready to whip up some other dishes using this pb powder . Have you made other dishes with it yet? Please share!

      Reply to this comment

  6. What a precise and inspired post…and I can vouch for it because I had the pleasure of sampling many of the dishes with you! Delicious meal and beautiful pictures, too. Can’t wait to go back!

    Reply to this comment

    • Glad you feel I represented our experience accurately. I also had dinner there numerous times and found the food to be consistently good. What fun to have the whole menu to roam and chose from! Perfect for anyone veg or klm.

      Reply to this comment

    • So glad you appreciate the recipes at the end of my restaurant reviews.Re: the powdered peanut butter, I think this particular product is what makes this recipe so wonderful. But of course, the flavor from finely ground nuts would be very close. Give it a try and let us know here.

      Reply to this comment

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SIDE DISH
Photo by Jerri Graham Photography

Hi. I’m Liz and I welcome you to Kosher Like Me.

When I’m not caressing fruits and veggies at my local farmers’ market you’ll likely find me chatting with like-minded eaters, probing the scene in NYC or seeking inspiration in my spice cabinet. Life outside of this blog is all about my family, tasty travel adventures and power walks deep in the CT woods or along the shore.

Please brew a fragrant cup of tea, grab a nosh and stay a while.