Habana Outpost, Fort Greene
Lucky for eco-conscious foodies, New York City is a hub of sustainable dining experiences not just limited to an organic menu.
Habana Outpost
Habana Outpost in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood offers the most eco-friendly and unique way to work out in all of New York with the Bike Blender, a bicycle-powered, smoothie-making machine. The colorful eatery is a hodge-podge of sustainable efforts, from it's eclectic decor to its organic Cuban cuisine. And if you're curious about trying the Bike Blender, just be prepared to wait behind eager kids more than happy to pedal and then hand over their smoothies to anyone who wants one.
757 Fulton Street; 718.858.9500; cafehabana.com
Angelica Kitchen
Angelica Kitchen is an East Village eatery that offers a green dining experience that is also a healthy one.Their website details their food philosophy, highlighting local, fresh, and organic ingredients. This philosophy is found not only in the food Angelica Kitchen offers, but also carries into the more logistical aspects of the restaurant business. For instance, they are involved in active composting and have partnered with City Harvest, a city-based food distribution program.
300 East 12th Street; 212.228.2909; angelicakitchen.com
Gobo
Gobo, a restaurant in the West Village that offers world vegetarian cuisine, is distinct from the many other vegan-vegetarian restaurants in the area because they offer a more substantially green experience than just meatless dining. One of Gobo's main attractions is their organic juice bar, which uses mostly local fruits and vegetables. The restaurant's teas, coffee, and alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, are organic.
401 Avenue of the Americas; 212.255.3242; goborestaurant.com
Hearth
Jordan Frosolone, who has been the head chef at Hearth since its opening, said, "We don't necessarily market ourselves as a green restaurant, but we are very conscientious and huge advocates of the green movement." This is apparent in their commitment to a seasonal menu, which allows the incorporation of more local ingredients. Over the past six years the upscale eatery in the East Village has developed a strong relationship with the farmers they purchase from.
403 East 12th Street; 646.602.1300; restauranthearth.com
iCi
iCi is all things good: cozy, romantic, and eco-friendly. The French bistro serves up a menu that is fresh, seasonal, and organic in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Tucked away from the busy Dekalb Avenue behind a cast iron fence, iCi can be identified in the warmer months by the bicycles parked outside.
246 Dekalb Avenue; 718.789.2778; icirestaurant.com
GustOrganics
GustOrganics bills itself as the greenest restaurant in the world, and that may very well be true. The most impressive aspect of the restaurant, aside from its commitment to applying a green standard across the board, is the way in which it makes their methods transparent to consumers. Sitting down to dine at one of their tables, made from reclaimed wood, the diner is presented with a recyclable place mat detailing the restaurant's mission and the ways in which they strive to be sustainable. It also defines what being organic really means.
519 Sixth Avenue; 212.242.5800; gustorganics.com
