Restaurants In Boston That Are Going Green
There are many restaurants in and around Boston that are going green by serving locally sourced meal options and making their facilities more energy efficient. In October, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) decided to honor restaurants leading the way in this trend through the Nature's Plate Awards. TNC named five finalists in its Massachusetts chapter of the Nature's Plate Awards. The awards honor restaurants that take action to combat climate change while also providing delicious healthy food. Here are a few standout restaurants, recognized by the TNC, that are going green in more ways than one.
(Credit, Cameron Bruns)
Area Four
500 Technology Square
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 758-4444
areafour.com
Area Four specializes in using ingredients raised and harvested locally and in a sustainable manner. It believe that these ingredients will not only make food taste better, but will also be better for the environment, the local economy and human health.
Evoo
350 3rd St.
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 661-3866
evoorestaurant.com
This popular restaurant features meals made from organic, local and sustainable ingredients. The building itself is also a U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified Restaurant.
Nourish
1727 Massachusetts Ave.
Lexington, MA 02420
(781) 674-2400
nourishlexington.com
Nourish's mission is to serve food that is "responsibly sourced and respectfully priced." This restaurant pairs up with local farms and other small business to turn out some of the most local and organic food you can find in the Boston area. It does all of this while still maintaining prices that allow a broad range of people to afford to visit the restaurant.
Red Lentil
600 Mt. Auburn St.
Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 972-9188
theredlentil.com
Vegetarian restaurant Red Lentil was the winner of this year's Nature's Plate Award. The winner was determined by popular vote and the poll was conducted online and drew thousands of participants. It's easy to see that Red Lentil is well loved by Bostonions.
Taranta
210 Hanover St.
Boston, MA 02113
(617) 720-0052
tarantarist.com
Taranta is making strides in green restaurant practices. It "composts, has organic menu options and serves biodynamic wines." Offering a combination of Peruvian and Italian flavors, all dishes are unique yet perfectly constructed for a delightful meal every time.
In addition to restaurants recognized by The Nature Conservancy, there are also other venues around the city that are making changes to become green restaurants. One such restaurant that is going green is 75 Chestnut in Beacon Hill. It features local and in-season ingredients, organic wines and liquors and has a recycling seminar every Thursday. This spot also provides a list of "green libations" at each table - cocktails made with certified organic ingredients. Its motto is "The path to a more sustainable life can be delicious."
There are also restaurants that cater specifically to people with low-carbon diets by boasting completely vegan and vegetarian menus. A few particularly delicious vegan and vegetarian options include the following.
Veggie Planet
47 Palmer St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-1513
veggieplanet.net
Veggie Planet is one of the most well-known green restaurants in the Boston area. It has provided great vegetarian and vegan food in Harvard Square since 2001. People love Veggie Planet because of its affordable prices and unassuming, friendly atmosphere. The veggie pizzas are fantastic!
Root
487 Cambridge St.
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 208-6091
rootboston.com
Root is a new restaurant in Allston serving conscious, feel-good, friendly food. Its menu is vegan with a focus on locally sourced ingredients.
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Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
