Green Haven
Green Haven serves a totally vegan menu with Asian influences.
This includes plant-based interpretations of takoyaki, curries, pho and pad thai accompanied by a list of beer, wine and cocktails.
Furnished with roughly 24 plush velvet seats, decor is minimal but still evokes a connection to nature with images of the outdoors and flowers on every table.
A dish called Thai Seaweed Crispy ($7) is your first indication that this is not going to be your average vegan menu.
Ribbons of sliced dry bean curd, seaweed and tempura are tossed in a tasty homemade sauce, topped with sesame seeds and plated on greens for a crunchy, salty salad-like creation.
Takoyaki, chicken nuggets, fish bites and Japanese curry fries are all priced at $8. Without their traditional signature ingredient of octopus, takoyaki are basically potato croquettes.
A mixture of mashed potato, wasabi and king oyster mushroom is crusted with corn flake and topped with vegan mayo, teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds and seaweed and plated on sriracha mayo for a satisfying blend of soft and crispy textures.
A chicken salad ($15) tops mixed greens and crunchy purple cabbage with cucumber, slivered almonds, lots of crispy noodles, juicy mandarin orange segments and spongy, flavourful soy based chicken strips, all dressed with a sesame soy vinaigrette.
Thai red curry ($14) presents veggies, bean curd and bean sprouts in a peanut coconut sauce with a scoop of purple rice. I'd highly recommend adding konjac shrimp for $3, slippery, chewy and sweet almost like the real thing.
Japanese curry ($15) is your typical warmly spiced, golden brown, thick curry with purple rice and veggies like zucchini, eggplant and sweet potato.
Smoothies are $7 across the board, a frosty and sweet Tropical Sunshine variety made with pineapple, dragon fruit and passion fruit.
A turmeric latte ($4) has the bold flavour of healthy turmeric while still being well balanced.
A tight list of $10 cocktails includes a Thai Lemongrass Smash, a middle-of-the-road but very easy drinking combination of gin, soda, lime, lemongrass and Thai basil.
Draft beer and cider ($6) from local producers like Anderson and Side Launch is available on tap.
Green Haven also stocks baked goods made by their neighbours over at Bunner's.
Hector Vasquez