If you are a vegetarian or vegan and consciously avoid meat,
poultry, fish and dairy products, then you might have trouble
finding a menu item that accommodates your tastes in Madison. Of
course, restaurants offer meat-alternative options, but how likely
is it to find tofu replacing the ubiquitous hamburger and a Philly
Cheesesteak without the meat or cheese? At Peacemeal Vegetarian
Restaurant (115 State St.) diners are lured to Madison’s only
vegetarian restaurant by vegan food items and a socially
responsible dedication to the community and environment.

The menu is wide and varied. My taste-testing team arrived while
brunch was still being served (11 a.m.- 2 p.m.). One of my greatest
disappointments with the restaurants on State Street has been the
lack of places that serve quality breakfast foods. Peacemeal offers
French toast, a tofu scrambler, vegan pancakes and a variety of
other dishes. The vegan pancake ($3.50 for one, $5.50 for two) was
delicious. One pancake was filling due to its large size. Sweet
enough with powdered sugar alone, it did not need added syrup. The
pancake tasted so good that it was hard to believe the batter did
not contain any eggs.

The sandwiches on the menu mirror traditional favorites but do
so in a vegetarian manner. The Tempeh Reuben is made with marinated
tempeh, sauerkraut and soy cheese stacked on rye bread (contains
honey), with special Thousand Island dressing. All sandwiches are
served a la carte ($5.75) or as a platter ($6.75) that includes a
side of blue corn chips and salsa.

The falafel pita sounded mouth-watering from the menu
description, but we were disappointed with the sandwich. The
falafel ball lacked seasoning and seemed very bland. The pita was
fresh and soft, but a little too thick for my liking. A cool and
creamy cucumber sauce accompanied the sandwich and added flavor,
but the extra side of hummus I ordered seemed grainy — which is
not necessarily a bad thing.

From the Specialties section of the menu I ordered the Gado
Gado. The Gado Gado arrived as a plate of brown rice topped with
steamed broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and raisins topped with a
peanut ginger sauce. The rice and vegetables alone were tasty but
the sauce was thick, and the tangy aftertaste made my lips pucker.
A vegetarian friend who accompanied me on the review said the
specialty tasted just as it was supposed to; she enjoyed it.

Peacemeal offers a variety of portion sizes in an effort to
reduce the amount of packaging associated with dining. The smaller
the portion, the less likely it will be that you need to take
leftovers home.

I came to the conclusion that Peacemeal is a restaurant that you
will love or hate based on your own personal preferences. The
restaurant did not appeal to me because I prefer the substantial
protein of chicken and beef to tofu and beans. The average diner
might not be intrigued, but if you are a vegetarian there is a lot
to choose from.

Peacemeal Vegetarian Restaurant wants to act as a community
resource rather than just another business along State Street. For
this reason, Peacemeal gives away 5 percent of Monday sales to
groups striving for social change. Discounts are also given to
those who live in co-op situations. Also, each month the restaurant
hosts the work of a different area artist. In the past it has
showcased photographic art, watercolors and mixed media. All of the
art on display is for sale, and Peacemeal takes no commission.

The walls are adorned with framed pictures of fruits and
vegetables that seem well in accordance with the simplistic
atmosphere. The walls look antiqued with two-toned splotchy gold
paint. The tables and wall framing are in dark cherry wood. The
room has a slight Mediterranean feel with a red velvet bench and
pillows lining the window area. The room is fairly quiet and
creates a relaxing meal and environment.

The service is nothing to rave about. It took a very long time
for our food to arrive. Our waitress did not refill our water
glasses, and we were given the check before we were asked if we
would be interested in dessert. I was also discouraged by the fact
that the restaurant did not accept credit cards, which was a
drawback. However, I found my visit to be a fairly good experience.
I tasted food that I had never tried before, and, although
Peacemeal is not my favorite restaurant along State Street, my
friends enjoyed it. You should stop in for a meal and create your
own opinion. Until next week, happy dining!