Tucked away on Carmine Street, Ellary’s Greens is bringing healthy and affordable gourmet dining to the West Village.
The ingredients used in this contemporary cafe are local, organic, and/or natural, with an emphasis on high quality and nutrition.
The stylish interior showcases a casual vibe with exposed brick walls, green-leaf ceiling decor, recessed lighting, and tufted banquettes. The expansive menu employs symbols to denote vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free items.
Start with one of the daily soup selections or fresh salads, like our pick of nori seaweed with sliced cucumber, daikon, and Napa cabbage dressed with a citrus vinaigrette.
Other light fare includes paninis and sandwiches, including a BLT (with house-cured, smoked bacon) and a crumbly manchego cheese layered with chestnut puree, orange marmalade and frisée (lettuce) on whole wheat bread.
Protein entrees, vegetable dishes, and seasonal sides round out the savory offerings. Our grilled salmon filet arrived nicely cooked but was overpowered by a too-tart lemon confit emulsion.
However, we were delighted by the green Thai curry: the flavorful, spice-hinted sauce coating a bowl of tofu, tender sweet potatoes, and green beans was exceptional. Vietnamese brown rice noodles tossed with halved poached shrimp and egg ribbons in garlicky Nuoc Cham sauce was a refreshing gluten-free pasta alternative, and the Lebanese-style quinoa-stuffed zucchini rounds over tomato-yogurt purée proved a flavorsome accompaniment.
Refreshments range from cold-pressed juices and Brooklyn-brewed kombucha to biodynamic wine and gluten-free beers. Early risers can wake up to Ellary’s weekday breakfast with cage-free eggs and tofu scrambles, house-made biscuits and almond pancakes with blueberries and coconut cream.
Try to snag a sidewalk seat during warmer months or settle into a sun-drenched table by the windows for a naturally delicious experience.
Ellary’s Greens
33 Carmine St. (Bleecker St. and Bedford St.)
212 920-5072
ellarysgreens.com
Hours
Mon–Fri: 9a.m.–11 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.–11 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Reviewed by:
Best practices/nutrition: Ashley Spivak
Food critic: Megan Murphy
Clean Plates reviews are the only restaurant reviews that combine the expertise of a nutritional consultant and a food writer/critic. In addition to each restaurant being visited, Clean Plates employs a rigorous multistep assessment process including thorough research into ingredient sourcing; quality of cooking oils; preparation techniques; eco-friendly, sustainable practices; and ability to accommodate specific dietary needs.
Visit www.cleanplates.com to get healthy, clean eating tips and recipes—plus, dish with the chefs and pioneers leading the sustainable charge to a table near you.
