A plant-based, organic restaurant is bringing New York City diners an option for healthful, vegan fare that is both delicious and nourishing.
Le Botaniste has been a staple in Manhattan’s plant-based community since it first opened in 2015 on the Upper East Side.
“What we wanted to do is really bring the vegetables forward, like organic wholesome vegetables, and not being focused on anything other than really making the vegetable important again and making it tasteful, making it fun to eat, healthy, indulgent, and craveable,” said Laurent Francois, cofounder and CEO of Le Botaniste.
Le Botaniste has five locations across Manhattan (Upper East Side, Soho, Bryant Park, Upper West Side and Midtown East), plus a few locations you can find in Belgium. Though not a vegan himself, Francois feels that having a sustainable plant-based menu can allow for a more well-rounded diet.
“I’m a part-time vegetarian, part-time vegan. It’s about having a balanced diet and about making sure that what you eat and what you do goes along with what you’re having at Le Botaniste,” said Francois.
Le Botaniste’s menu consists of curated and custom bowls, dips, hummus and spreads, and sweet treats, all of which are completely plant-based. Guests who come into the eatery can go down the line and order from the menu or make something up with the ingredients available.
Some popular options on the menu include the Tibetan Mama, a warm bowl with brown rice, coconut peanut curry, steamed greens, and kimchi; Pasta Bolo made with quinoa fusilli, Bolognese, and fresh herbs; and Spicy Chili Sin Carne filled with brown rice, beans, quinoa, coconut sour cream and turmeric onions.
A main focus of the menu is not so much about replacing meat, but showcasing vegetables as a main ingredient.
“We’re about showing what we can do with vegetables, surprising people that vegetables can be really amazing,” said Francois. “Yes, we are plant-based, yes, we are organic, but the main essence is showing that you don’t actually need meat all the time. That’s what we’re focusing on, making sure that whatever dish we’re doing is actually satisfying without the need for any animal products.”
Dishes can be paired with a variety of juices or natural wine to enjoy alongside the meal.
“It’s part of the whole organic sustainable movement. We’re so clean and pure on the vegetables that we’re giving, so we’re going to be doing the same thing with the wines,” said Francois. “We’re going to be focusing on providing wines that have no additives, just fermented grape juice.”
Francois says that what makes Le Botaniste on the minds of New Yorkers, plant-based and non-plant-based alike, is that the food has quality ingredients that can be customized, allowing diners to try something new every time without having to commit to a super heavy meal.
“I think it’s mainly the surprise of, hey, I can actually eat this on multiple occasions, I don’t need to always have the meat ingredient. Le Botaniste has this consistency that we’re known for across the locations that we have here in New York that you always have the same experience, the same quality of the food and you can mix and match” said Francois. “We have endless opportunities to DIY. I think the availability of being able to create your desire and also pick from our curated bowls keeps people coming back.”
For more information, visit lebotaniste.us.
