Vegetarian in Boston

Who wants donuts for breakfast? You may wonder.

Would you not rather have eggs Benedict with seasonal vegetables and avocado toast?

Well, I do. And the Donut Villa in Arlington, Massachusetts has them! May it be said this is not a paid post. We were hungry, it was there, and this blog is also happening, so why not.

Eaters easily miss this trendy spot

A sleek and very intentional twist on retro design, the Donut Villa is not a villa, and has only some donuts. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for drinks, as the steampunk neon sign is — seemingly intentionally — lit all day, making one think it’s a bar.

And it is! Looking up more closely, the passer-by spots the tagline “brunch club and bar”. Yes, this eatery not exactly tucked away on Mass ave in Arlington, in the Boston area, is a breakfast and brunch place, teeming with people on weekends. It has two identically named siblings nearby, and the triplets also offer catering.

The food is great, but the place is worth visiting for the vibes. A humorous, Miami maximalist neon sun and a large bar greet the viewer. And this cheerful, tastefully decorated diner not far from where I live certainly has something for everyone, including vegetarians and vegans.

Full disclosure: Yes, they do have donuts – and waffles, and pancakes, and French toast, but there is more than sugar and sweetness at this table.

Vegan breakfast in America

This morning, hungry and thirsty for a change from plant yogurt and berries, but equally famished for relative newness and adventure, we walked past the mysterious front door again, and rediscovered this contemporary, welcoming and chic neighborhood eatery. (I asked for permission to take pictures but wasn’t asked why, so I didn’t volunteer information, and we got down to eating business.)

The Donut Villa’s menu is an innovative take on American breakfast classics, and offers an eclectic and unmistakably non-continental array of vegetarian wraps, grilled cinnamon rolls, open-face sandwiches, Eggs Benedict, and more. (It would be easy to imagine a vintage jukebox here! Their mix was playing Bruce Springsteen when we entered).

Speaking of which, many times here I’ve chosen the Florentine Benny — eggs with spinach and other vegetarian goodies, with extra sautéed mushrooms. This time, I elected the delectable-sounding scrambled tofu with rye bread and home fries. My date (hubby), opted for the strawberries- and-cream- topped Belgian waffles.

And coffee. The mugs are all rather funny. A curator for details has been at work here!

About the food yesterday? Did I tell you it’s usually amazing? Just making sure.

I’d love to write an eloquent essay on the tofu presented in a delightful yellow turmeric dress with extra avocado and yummy home fries. It used to be my favorite home-cooked breakfast back when I was still vegan, and not merely vegetarian.

But, you know, some days are just « des jours sans », days when some things just don’t add up, and that’s just as well. As it happened, Thursday tofu was just bright and nice-looking but only okay, and I ended up wondering whether I should send it back, if the slight aftertaste was from vegan butter or the sautéed onions. I didn’t. That’s not my style. And everything else was great and we had a good time away from home for a while, important when you both work partly from home.

I ended up eating all my perfect potatoes and nibbling on hubby’s wonderful waffles. The coffee is rather good. Service is casual, friendly personable, and never feels artificial. For those who eat eggs, there are omelettes made to measure that looked amazing on our friends’ plate two weekends ago. One can also enjoy a veggie burger, French toast with a variety of toppings (big yum for the banana-Nutella variety we’ve had a few times) and Boston cream pancakes. The vegan menu takes up a whole page, so while technically this isn’t a veg*n brunch place, there’s definitely a lot of choice for non-meat eaters.

Try this place if you’re in the neighborhood and hungry for a trendy, yet fun, and non-precious vegetarian brunch. You won’t leave hungry or thirsty, as the drink menus are long as well, and coffee flows freely.

You can find The Donut Villa at 319 Broadway in Arlington, MA, and its siblings (not yet visited) listed are listed as located in Malden and Cambridge. The Arlington Donut Villa place and more information about the restaurants can be found here.

I hope you’re having a wonder-filled and delicious Friday! If you feel like sharing, what did you have for breakfast or brunch protein today? Do you go out for brunch often? I would be happy to read about your fave flavors and brunch styles in the comments!