Restaurant Review - Sprig & Vine

For lunch today, my daughter Melyssa and I decided to try out the new "pure vegetarian" (read: vegan) restaurant in New Hope, PA - Sprig & Vine. 

According to the manager, Sprig & Vine's menu is seasonal (changing every 3-4 months) and features as much local produce as possible. The chef is a dedicated vegan, but hopes his menu items appeal to all variety of eaters.

The upscale-casual establishment is decorated in earth tones with dark wooden accents and simple, modern furniture. Though the decor was pleasant enough, our chief criticism was the lack of interior lighting. It didn't help that the shades were drawn, keeping out the brilliant sunshine.

The lunch menu consists of only soup, salads, and sandwiches - perhaps a bit limited, with no hearty entree dishes available until dinnertime. Here is what we ordered and what we thought of everything:

French Lentil and Mushroom Soup $5

I was expecting a heavier, heartier soup. The broth was thin, more like a minestrone without the noodles. The lentils were a nice texture, but I didn't get any mushroom flavor as it was overpowered by excessive bay leaf and other herbs. My daughter says the word that springs to mind is "earthy - not really in a good way." Over-all a bit of a disappointment.

Roasted beet salad with fennel & frisee, grapefruit vinaigrette, toasted beet greens $8

This beautifully presented salad was tasty, bright, and colorful. I thought the vinaigrette was delightfully refreshing, although my daughter insists it lacked acidity and needed more of a citrus punch. The only downside was the toasted beet-greens, which I at first mistook for bits of plastic in my dish until my daughter figured out they were edible! Luckily there were not many of them on the plate. The restaurant is vegan, but I would add some soft goat cheese if I were to recreate this salad at home.

Reuben with caraway-crusted tempeh, thousand island, pickles, sauerkraut, grilled pumpernickel $9

Melyssa ordered this sandwich and said it was the best tempeh preparation she'd ever had. The tangy flavors complimented each other perfectly and were not overwhelmingly sour. The only addition I would make would be a slice of melted vegan or vegetarian Swiss-style cheese. I can't wait to recreate this sandwich at home. The side salad's dressing was overpowered by the taste of oregano, as if someone had been too heavy-handed with a jar of "Italian Seasoning."

Spicy Vietnamese cauliflower Banh Mi carrot, cilantro, mint & jalapeno,  lemongrass aïoli on baguette $9

This was a lovely, fresh spring sandwich. The bread was fresh, crusty, and delicious. The individual elements didn't stand out on their own, but the combination over-all was really flavorful and not too spicy. Melyssa thought the filling was delicious, but not quite substantial enough and wished it contained tofu, like a many traditional Vietnamese sandwiches.

Cookie plate $4

This was a bargain at $4 for 6 tasty cookies: Lavender Snicker-doodle, Cornmeal cookie with berry compote, and Orange-Pistachio balls dusted with powdered sugar. The orange pistachio balls were the standout on the plate - you would never guess these were vegan! The consistency of each cookie was delicate and "buttery." Melyssa thought the cornmeal cookies were a bit dry, but the addition of the sweet and spicy berry topping was delightful. The snicker-doodles were moist and not too sweet, with just a hint of lavender.

Chocolate mousse pie with cocoa crust, coffee ice cream, and "creme anglaise" $6

This decadent chocolate pie made with silken tofu was rich and velvety but a tad too sweet for me. The creme anglaise (made from cashew cream) was ok, but tasted typically "vegan" - Melyssa was not surprised, as there's really no vegan substitute for egg yolks and cream. The coffee ice cream made from coconut milk was a standout - strong coffee notes, creamy and refreshing. Both desserts were big enough to share!

We perused the dinner menu and it looked interesting - we will come back and try it soon.

Over-all ratings:

Leslie - 3 1/2 stars

Melyssa - 3 stars


Review written by Melyssa and Leslie Ahlborn