Name: Otarian
Address: 181 - 183 Wardour Street, London, Soho, W1V 3FB, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7734 0219

After proving successful in New York and with a London branch on Shaftesbury Avenue, Otarian have decided to open another veggie fast food outlet on Wardour Street.

Otarian bills itself as the planet’s first low-carbon restaurant. They take this mission so seriously their menu lists the carbon footprint of their meals compared the equivalent elsewhere. Conscientious diners can eat safe in the knowledge that a field mushroom burger with pesto and cheese makes a carbon footprint of 1.51kgs, compared to a standard Tex Mex burger that uses 2.55kg.

Furthermore, the menu lists the calorie content of each dish and all food is free from MSG. They buy bottled water from sources that are as close to the restaurants as possible and are looking into producing their own filtered water for customers.

So far, so eco-friendly, but what of the food? The gazpacho (£3.25) is thick, flavoursome and served the traditional way, with ice cubes. The pea and spinach soup (£3.25) is equally good, gloopy, green and tasty.

The burger buns are covered in seeds and add to the flavour. Spiced coconut curry with lime rice (£5.95) contains courgettes and crunchy broccoli amongst other veggies, the result is mildly spicy and filling thanks to a large serving of rice.

Elsewhere there are vegetarian lasagnes, noodles, tarts and salads. Amongst the desserts the pannacotta (£3.25) is laden with berries, making it fruity and zesty as the pannacotta itself is less creamy than average.

The crème brulee (£3.25) is a thick custard with a thin caramelised top. Whilst the desserts may not be saccharine-heaven for those with a sweet tooth they are more than decent comfort food.

There is plenty of seating though this isn’t really somewhere to linger over a meal, however vegetarians wanting a simple bite to eat that won’t break the bank will find their hunger appeased.

Otarian

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