Orchard Grocer
78 Orchard St., New York, N.Y.
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Menu: https://www.orchardgrocer.com
Suitable for: Vegetarians, vegans, anybody who loves a good breakfast (or lunch or dinner).
Tucked away on the outskirts of the Bowery on the Lower East Side, a plant-based paradise awaits. Orchard Grocer, nestled into a relatively small strip of Orchard Street, is much more than a cult classic nowadays – it’s a mainstream success, bringing in locals and far-flung pilgrims alike with its menu of faithful standbys and daily specials.
LeeLee and I were in New York at Christmastime, and days before we arrived to town I had already messaged Orchard Grocer to make sure they would be open at the holidays. They were, blessedly, and as a result we found ourselves on their doorstep on Christmas Eve, bellies empty, ready for a big breakfast.
When you walk into the shop, it’s instantly clear how Orchard Grocer gets its name. The floor-to-ceiling shelves on either side of the store are teeming with vegan and vegetarian goodies, ranging from quesos to pastas to a refrigerated case of deli meats and cheeses to much more. It made me wish we’d had a way to store some perishable items as we toured the city for the day before heading back to our rental that evening! Alas, we didn’t, so I ogled the merchandise but didn’t touch.
At the far end of the store is the counter and kitchen, with its menu held aloft for perusal. And there were all the names I’d seen featured on Instagram for so long – the Monty. The Edith. And the Bowery. Among many others.
I settled on the Miles, a croissant sliced in two and filled with Just Egg, Violife provolone, Seitan’s Helper maple bacon, mayo and scallions. It was scalding hot when I got it but still I couldn’t help but plunge in teeth-first, and I was rewarded by the most amazing breakfast sandwich I’d had in ages. (And as longtime readers of the blog may recall, I am a breakfast sandwich aficionado.) The Just Egg was cooked perfectly, the provolone beautifully melted, the maple bacon at once sweet and savory. One bite in and I was already lamenting that soon breakfast would be over! But in the end I enjoyed the journey, morsel after blessed morsel.
LeeLee, meanwhile, took advantage of our mid-morning arrival to make use of the lunch side of the menu, ordering up a Francis, which surprised us both in its heft! We both adore a Cuban sandwich, and this was one we both had to try. Stuffed full of Seitan’s Helper ham, pickles, cheese, mayo and spicy mustard, it made for a meal in itself, and despite help from yours truly, we couldn’t finish it! But that is not a referendum on the sandwich, which was in this native Floridian’s view a pitch-perfect Cuban. It made a perfect Hungry Man’s (or Woman’s) lunch, and sure enough, two hours later, when we had walked off a portion of our calories, I was pining for it, wishing we had kept the rest for later. Alas, refrigerators were sparse on our journey, despite the wintry temperatures.
So it’s fair to say that we left Orchard Grocer full, both physically and (for me, at least), emotionally! My heart was so full from having finally made it to an eatery whose Instagram I’d stalked – perhaps “followed” is the more polite way of putting it – for years, and our souls and stomachs were full from such a wonderful plant-based breakfast! Our only lament is that MooShoes, situated just next door, wasn’t open … but in the end it was better for our wallets this way.
Orchard Grocer, thanks for helping make our Christmas journey to New York so special! We’ll certainly be back at the counter just as soon as we’re able.
:)