Last night I had the opportunity to try the “planet’s first low-carbon, vegetarian restaurant” called Otarian. I won a gift certificate from Foodbuzz to visit the restaurant during it’s opening week. A few things that make Otarian different:
- Locally sourced ingredients with a no-air freight policy.
- All-vegetarian menu to reduce CO2 emissions.
- Used oil is turned into bio-fuel.
- All packaging is recyclable or compostable.
- Everything in the restaurant, down to the floor and seating, is made from reclaimed materials.
I went with Monique since I remembered that she told me she entered the contest and few weeks ago and was dying to try it out for herself! We went around 5:00 on a Sunday night so the restaurant was pretty empty. The decor was really modern and unique.
Before we walked in, we got to try samples of the Potato Onion O Dill (filled with potatoes, cheese, onions and dill). It was delicious! I thought about taking a 2nd sample but Mo reminded me not to be greedy 
We checked out the menu and wanted pretty much everything! We decided to order a few things to share.
We were wondering why they didn’t use dishes and silverware but then saw that all of the containers were compostable. I guess running a dishwasher all day would be worse for the environment!
We chose 3 items:
The Avocado Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Pesto Dressing:
The Roasted Vegetable Lasagna:
And the Portobello Mushroom Burger:
I started with half of the salad and half of the lasagna.
They were both delicious! The salad was especially amazing because of the pesto dressing. Mo and I both wanted to buy a big bottle to take home! I love that the menu tells you what items are vegan, gluten-free, kid-friendly! The menu also tells you the Otarian Carbon Saving, the amount of Otarian carbon, and a meat comparison. For example, beef lasagna uses 5.21 kg carbon, the veggie lasagna uses 2.58 kg, so the saving is 2.63 kg. Definitely makes you feel good about eating there!
The star of the dinner was the Portobello Mushroom burger. Check this out:
It was layered in the delicious pesto and mayo, and topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, and cheese. Amazing! We found out later that we could have requested vegan mayo! I would come back anytime just for this burger.
We finished everything and threw out our containers in the special compost bin
We were both very impressed with Otarian. The food came out super quick, the prices were reasonable, and the food was delicious. I love what they are doing to help the environment. Hopefully many more restaurants will follow their model. They have one location in London and two in New York. Hopefully I can make it there every now and then during my lunch break!
After dinner we decided to find a Lite Choice for some dessert! Luckily there was one a few blocks away. I got a mix of Dark Chocolate Truffle and French Vanilla with crunchies.
I always get very excited to see my sign in the stores! I post a “Weekly Wellness Tip” at the start of every week.
Mo told the girl behind the counter that I was Missy from the sign and she got all excited! She asked if she could have her picture with me. I felt all special lol.
We used the special “TLC Twitter code” and got a free water bottle too! Little things like that are exciting! P.S- Don’t forget to take the TLC Survey for a chance to win a $20.00 gift certificate!
Stay tuned for a Greenworks Cleaners giveaway tomorrow!
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That restaurant looks wicked cool. I love that it’s all vegetarian and everything is recyclable! The portobello burger looks delicious!
That’s pretty sweet that you write trips for TLC!
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i had such an amazing time with you!!!
I have already told like 5 ppl at work and they are dying to go! and in just 2 short hours i will be diving into my pesto salad! LOL
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That’s so neat that you have a tip posted at TLC every week, I’ve never seen it but I’ll have to stay on the lookout next time I’m there!! This is the second blog I’ve seen Otarian on, and it looks great!
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I’m so jealous that you post tips at that place each week! I wish we had more places like that in Jax. I’d LOVE to try that low-carbon restaurant, too. Everything looked amazing!
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ah! i need to get there in life
i read about it on vital juice like 5,000 times hahaha. i sense a low carbon date coming up..
look at you being the tlc tip!!!! that’s so celeb of you i love it
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My boyfriend would love that restaurant. He’s an environmental scientist and is working on a study for the city of Boston right now about the effects restaurants have on pollution and is making recommendations to the city on how to improve in this area. I’m going to send him a link to that restaurant!
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that restaurant looks so cool!! thats awsome you that you went with a fellow blogger too so you could really take the experience all in!!
the food looks awesome too!! happy monday, missy!!
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That restaurant looks so good! I am dying to try it this summer
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This place had Mari written allllll over it!!!!! Everything looks great and I love the decor! I need to go there with you….SOOOOON!
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That rest. is wonderful! The salad looked yummy!
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wow, that avocado salad looks fantastic!
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Wow what a delicious way to help the environment
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still so sad I don’t live somewhere that has restaurants like this! that burger looks amazing. MMMM.
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WOW – that restaurant looked really cool, Missy!
Loved the concept (and the food, obviously! Haha).
The Lite Choice looks so good!
You´re so lucky
Have an amazing week, girl!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
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I heard about that new restaurant! That lasagna makes me want to go now!
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Isn’t the food at Otarian good?! The opening party was so fun – I’ll def. be going back there for a full meal. Next time you MUST get the sweet potato fries!!!
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