Veggie Planet Pizza
47 Palmer St
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-1513
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-1513
Veggie Planet Pizza
Restaurants, Pizza Restaurants
Green Tags: All Organic /local,All Vegetarian, composting, Enviornmentally Friendly, fair trade organic, fair-trade coffee, green ethics, local, organic, recycling, vegan, Vegan Options, vegetarian
Good Tags: affordable, and price, cheap, delicious, excellent quality, fresh, funky, iced tea, large portions, local, Organic, pizza, rice, salad, satisfying, taste, tasty, Unique, variety, vegan options, vegetarian, vegetarian options
This isn't the place to take your parents when they are in town visiting, but it's a great restaurant that does a lot of things right. It's cheap, the portions are very large, it's got tons of (obviously) vegetarian, vegan, and healthy options, it's good, satisfying food, and it gets lots of green points.
There is a bin to compost food waste, recycling options, real silverware and water out of a cooler, the to-go containers are not styrofoam, the coffee is fair-trade, the pizza dough is organic and local, and there is no meat served, cutting down on the greenhouse gases produced with that product.
I also like the variety on the menu--it's cool that you can get everything on the menu either over rice (with brown rice or coconut rice as options) or on a pizza--and all the flavor combination are interesting and different. Butternut squash, different kinds of cheeses (asiago, ricotta, etc), sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, portobello mushrooms, spinach, etc., etc. It's nice to eat healthy without feeling like you have to eat a bowl of plain brown rice and tofu.
In short, the atmosphere is a little funky and it's in a basement, but the food and the values are good, and you can always take your food outside and sit on a bench in Cambridge Common, as I usually do.
I always look forward to attending shows at Club Passim, because it means I will be getting an order of "Henry's Lunch", an amazing pizza with butternut squash and savory cheese, and a cup of addictively bitter iced herbal tea from Veggie Planet.
While I am unsure about the nuts and bolts of the restaurant's enviro activity, I'm fairly confident that the chef, Didi Emmons, is as on top of it as she can be, given her many projects. Emmons is a force when it comes to creating healthy menus, which she has done for Veggie Planet, Delux, Pho Republique and the the Haley House Bakery in Roxbury, which supports the community by offering healthy food at affordable prices and by employing at-risk teens and adults. She has also reached out to the vegetarian community in Boston by hosting a series of all-veggie cooking classes at cut rates via the Boston Vegetarian Society (BVS). So I see Veggie Planet not just as a venue for food, but as a headquarters for a one-person movement that is decidedly environmentally friendly (it even has its own cookbook).
Regardless though, you should try the Henry's Lunch pizza. You won't regret it.
Considering how many times I have visited Veggie Planet and had a great experience, I would love to give the place a positive review. The food is pretty good, the live bands at Club Passim are occasionally decent, and the vegan options are also not bad. However, I am extremely put off by the fact that the last time that I was in there, I saw a mouse running around on the floor.
Had there been bugs, I probably would not have cared very much, but a mouse? No, thank you. I'm pretty positive that I am never coming back to this place again.
I do give them props, however, for being extremely eco-friendly for a casual restaurant. I appreciate the fact that they use real plates and silverware, keep a water cooler instead of using bottles, and have a bin in which bottles and cans can be recycled. Also, their pizza dough is organic and locally made.
Honestly, I liked this place for a long time. This review would have been a good one if it weren't for that mouse.
Veggie Planet is a small pizza joint tucked away in an 'alley' between Church and Brattle Streets (I guess thats Palmer St..?) in Harvard Square. Other than the slightly edgy wait staff, this place serves some pretty good food. I opted for the Unsafe 'N Sound small pizza pie which was quite, well, Safe
'N Sound, believe it or not. They don't use any meat at veggie planet and have quite a few vegan options. Pretty green joint, for sure.
Veggie Planet is such a mixed bag. For years, I only ate here because I was seeing a show at Club Passim. However, befriending a born-and-raised vegetarian has changed my world, as well as my dining options. I went to Veggie Planent recently just to eat, and it wasn't half bad.
Veggie Planet serves all of their dishes as either a pizza or a rice dish. This blows my mind. There are somethings that go on pizza, some on rice, maybe not both. The pizza is not the best pizza I've ever had, but it is super green and healthy. The pesto pizza is actually quite tasty, add feta for extra yum. Many of the dishes come with optional extra veggies, free of charge.
Veggie Planet is way green. Everything is local and organic. Even the soda they serve is local and organic. Obviously there is no meat involved. Dishes are all reusable. Water is from the tap.
I don't know if I would tell you to go out of your way to get to Veggie Planet, but if you're in Harvard Sq. and you need a bite, it could be worth it. It's a funky little place, that's for sure.
I've always felt like Veggie Planet was a mixed bag due to the unfortunate combination of delicious food and an often cranky waitstaff, but my last two trips have turned me into a believer. Perhaps it has just been the luck of the draw, but I really do feel like the service has improved significantly. My last two dining experiences were outstanding, actually; low key, but totally friendly and speedy. I suggest you hit up Veggie Planet for lunch instead of dinner, though, as it's less busy, and overall, much more pleasant.
If you haven't tried their Sunday brunch yet, you need to do so as soon as possible. Not only is it one of the few vegan-friendly brunch spots in Boston (damn you, Boston!), but it is absolutely fantastic too. I had the cinnamon-soy waffles, which were covered with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, and coconut shavings, and were served with a side of delightfully garlicky home fries. The coffee ($2) is bottomless, organic, fair trade, and excellent; Equal Exchange's Love Buzz blend is the cat's meow, and the perfect addition to your brunch.
The pizza is really outstanding too. It's the only vegan pizza I've had around here that doesn't make me wish I'd stayed home and made my own. The dough is ridiculously good; without exaggeration, I can honestly say it is some of the best I have ever tasted. If I lived closer to Cambridge, I would officially be addicted to the the Portobello Redhead (with basil-tofu mash instead of ricotta), with the Vegan Oddlot and Vegan Peanut Curry as close runners-up. For about $6.50, the pizza is a really great, belt-busting deal.
Veggie Planet really couldn't be much more socially- and environmentally-conscious. The first, being the most obvious given the restaurant's name, is that they don't serve any meat; seeing as factory farming is one of the leading causes of climate change, I think this fact is incredibly important. Veggie Planet also uses organic, local ingredients, including their fabulous pizza dough, which is prepared at Haley House in Roxbury; they serve Equal Exchange coffee, tea, and sugar; and they provide customers with reusable, metal utensils, instead of cheap, plastic throwaways.
PS: The lemonade is out of this world. I don't know what they put in that stuff, but it's pure magic.
I love love Veggie Planet. This all vegetarian restaurant in Harvard Square offers fantastic pizza, salad, and rice dishes made from local ingredients. All staff earn a living wage (this might mean you have to wait a bit longer for your food, but relax and enjoy your vegan, organic, sustainably produced pizza). Pizza Dough is provided by the folks at Haley House, a local shelter/job skills organization. It goes without saying that this place recycles.
Fair Trade coffees and teas are served at breakfast/brunch.
Brunch is probably the best meal to check out - lines can be long so get there early - and be sure to bring your green (money that is) - Veggie Planet is a cash only establishment.
This restaurant doubles as a venue (Club Passim) where you’ll be seated if there isn’t a show going on. Club Passim isn’t super clean, but it’s a venue so I didn’t expect much. While I was eating, no joke, I saw a mouse run by… UH. I guess seeing the mouse should have grossed me out, but I let it go since I didn’t see anything incriminating in the portion of the restaurant where food is prepared. The vegetables were fresh and the food was unique and delicious. I ordered a small vegan pizza, which was actually very large and small vegan Caesar salad which was also very large and very tasty. The pizza was actually really interesting and flavorful. The prices were reasonable and as an all vegetarian restaurant, there was a lot of vegan options. I’ve actually attempted to eat at this restaurant before this occasion, but left because I went on the night of a show and the wait was simply too long. Although, this time, there wasn’t too many people and the service was fast. I guess I’d recommend this restaurant for a night that you’re not expecting too much but are looking to be well-fed and healthy. They seem very conscious of green ideas by discouraging bag usage and using all organic/local products. I also appreciate the fact that they donate a lot of money to local and social causes.
Pizza
Big Picture
Pizza: a food that holds a special place in the hearts of many. However pleasing pizza is to the palate, it may be the offspring of entirely un-green actions! If it's not delivery, and it's not DiGiorno, then you've taken a positive step. Let's delve into thinking green when grabbing a slice of pizza pie!
Factoids n' Stuff
- Pizza is a $20 billion industry in the US. (source)
- 93 percent of Americans eat a slice at least once a month. (source)
- Nearly 70 percent of Super Bowl viewers eat pizza while watching the game. (source)
- The average American puts away about 23 pounds of pizza per year. (source)
- In Feltham, London, a record for the farthest food delivery was achieved by Lucy Clough of Domino’s. A vegetarian supreme pizza was cooked on November 17, 2004 and traveled a distance of 10,532 miles to its delivery point in Melbourne, Australia on November 19. (source)
- The most expensive pizza ever created was made by Scottish restaurateur Domenico Crolla, who cooked a pizza that included toppings such as sunblush-tomato sauce, Scottish smoked salmon, medallions of venison, edible gold, and lobster marinated in the finest cognac and champagne-soaked caviar. The pizza was sold at auction for charity for £2,150. (source)
What Goes In?
Think about where the pizza ingredients come from. Dough and tomato sauce are often made in-house, but they had to get the flour and tomatoes from somewhere. Fresh ingredients are preferable to those shipped in a can. Where does the cheese come from? Does it come from cows not treated by growth hormones? What kinds of chemicals or drugs are already in the pizza's ingredients? Or are the ingredients organic? Are there steroids, antibiotics, or hormones in the meat toppings?
What Comes Out?
Leftover pizza can be great for breakfast the next day; it can also sit in the fridge forever and then end up in a dumpster. Think about the portions and if any food is wasted. How does the establishment dispose of the leftover food? It is thrown it away or is it composted?
Look at the way the food is being served? Does the to-go packaging minimize waste? Do they use paper or linens for tablecloths, napkins, and place mats? Are the utensils plastic, made from potatoes or corn, or are they reusable? Do they recycle? Do they encourage patrons to recycle?
How's it Run?
When you think pizza, you think delivery. Consider how the pizzeria makes its deliveries, even if you are walking there to pick up your pie (you are, after all, still giving them your dollars). Do they motor around in trucks or wheel on bicycles? Do they coordinate deliveries to make fewer trips and save gas?
What is their dishwashing process? How do they clean the restaurant? What do they use to wipe down the tables? How do they wash their linens? Do they buy ingredients in bulk?
What They Care About
Do they understand the interest in organic and local foods and do they know why that’s important? Do the employees seem happy? Do they know where their ingredients come from? Are they happy and eager to divulge this information? Are they proud of their supply chain? Is the establishment concerned with quality or quantity?
What to Ask
- Have you considered reusable pizza boxes for take-out or delivery?
- Are the pizza boxes made from recycled materials?
- What types of vehicles do you use to deliver?
- Do you minimize waste?
- Does this pepperoni/sausage/Canadian bacon come from a factory farm, or was it naturally raised?
- How was my pizza prepared?
- What do you do with the leftover pizza? Do you compost it?
- What kinds of chemicals do you use to wash dishes and clean the restaurant?
- What are you doing to conserve the energy, water, and resources your restaurant uses?
What to Do
- Buy local or organic – find out which menu items use locally-sourced, organic ingredients and order those.
- Going easy on the pepperoni is easier on the planet. Choose a vegetable or non-meat topping more often than not.
- Walk to your local pizza joint. You'll get some fresh air, save money on gas, and prevent more carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.
- If dining in, take your own bag or container to bring leftovers home.
- Split your pizza with friends or family members. Since a lot of restaurants serve super-sized portions, more waste is generated. Split more, waste less!
- Ask the folks behind the counter a lot of questions. This will show them you, as a customer, care about sustainability!
