Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant in Boulder

A nice, comfortable restaurant

It is a beautiful thing to see so many people exploring vegetarianism and considering new ways of thinking about food.  It is even more beautiful to find a restaurant like Leaf in Boulder that not only serves great vegetarian food but also supports local farms and businesses while doing it.  

I am embarrassed to admit I never knew of this restaurant and only found it after looking for vegetarian options for Christmas dinner dining out.  I am also embarrassed to have excluded dining options in Boulder for so long.  This is the first Boulder restaurant I have reviewed, but it will certainly not be the last, if I can pull myself away from Leaf.  

Good house wine at Happy Hour

Originally, the website attracted my interest in Leaf.  There are full menus posted, including prices, and the variety is very good.  There is something vegetarian on the menu for just about any taste, even carnivores.  I also like the daily 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Happy Hour featuring $3.50 house wine, $5.00 martinis and reduced prices on appetizers and salads.  Leaf offers organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines from around the country and the world, and Boulder’s own Vodka 14 premium vodka.  Being a vegetarian who likes a good martini and loves to support Colorado and American business, I had to visit, but I came for the food, not the beverage, at least this time.  

We started dinner with a very adequate glass of red house wine.  I cannot tell you what it was, because I do not remember.  I just remember that there was one red and one white offered at happy hour and I opted for the red.  It was good and especially nice at $3.50 during happy hour.  Next, we sampled an appetizer and happy hour must have ended because the Mediterranean Plate appetizer we had is priced at $4.00 during happy hour, but we were charged the regular $7.00 price. 

The Barbecue Seitan

The Mediterranean Plate came in a nice presentation and was beautiful to look at, but, even at $4.00, you do not get much for the money.  Everything was very tasty, and the small quantities are fine as an appetizer for two, but, if you are hungry, this will do little to satisfy your cravings and will only pique your hunger.  That is what an appetizer is supposed to do, right?  I want to mention that the baba ganoush on the appetizer was different than any I have tasted anywhere.  I could detect no tahini in it at all and it seemed more like an eggplant puree than baba ganoush.  Nonetheless, it had a good flavor, I liked it, and I like to explore creative variations.  

For my entrée, I chose the Barbecue Seitan, and I was not disappointed.  I was very pleased with the flavor and texture of the Seitan and would not hesitate to serve this entrée to any of my carnivore friends.  The entrée comes with garlic mashed potatoes, red pepper corn slaw and jalapeno corn bread.  The potatoes and the slaw were fantastic taste treats, but they did not taste as if they were low in fat.  Yet, only the cornbread really disappointed me.  I could not detect any jalapeno in there, either in flavor or in pieces.  Overall, it was very dry, ordinary, and took more away from the meal than it added.  
 

The Squash Tower rules!

The second entrée was Butternut Squash Tower featuring squash from the 63rd Street Farm in Louisville.  This sweet and savory combination featured squash, eggplant, caramelized onions served with collard greens and a slice of grilled green apple in cranberry-cashew “cream”.  I am not a big fan of squash, but this one rules!  It is an excellent mixing of flavors and textures in gorgeous presentation.  This entrée will even turn the heads and light up the taste buds of people who claim they do not like squash.  It is a winner.  

Although we did not try it, they also offer a “Prix Fixe Trio” on the menu.  What that means is $26 gets you your choice of any two appetizers, (called small plates), soups, or salads and one entrée.  It’s a good deal.  They also have a Monday Night Wine Special featuring 25% of any wine purchased by the bottle.  The restaurant is very clean and nicely decorated, the staff we encountered were all very professional and very good, and the food was excellent.  It is no wonder they claim to be Boulder’s favorite vegetarian restaurant.  They just took over the top spot as my favorite vegetarian restaurant and I am kicking myself for not discovering them sooner.  
 

The Mediterranean appetizer

Texture!