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By Kelly Tenny Published: October 01 2014

You couldn’t ask for a better time to try out a Long Island vegan or vegetarian restaurant!

Not only is October National Vegetarian Month, today, October 1st, is World Vegetarian Day! World Vegetarian Day was originally coined by the North American Vegetarian Society, a non-profit educational organization formed with two simple goals: to educate people on the positive benefits that a vegetarian lifestyle can give and to act as a support system for fellow vegetarians of the world. The day itself, as stated by the North American Vegetarian Society, was established in 1977 to create, “an annual celebration to promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.”



There are many reasons why an individual would choose to convert to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. For some it is moral motivation, an objection to the killing and use of other sentient life. For others it is health-related, religious, or environmental reasons. Vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, though very similar in name, are quite different from one another and often get mixed up. The main difference between someone who practices veganism and someone who practices vegetarianism is vegans do not consume or use any sort of animal products or animal by-products. Vegetarians on the other hand abstain from consuming meat but continue to eat products like dairy and sometimes eggs.



Now that you’ve had a quick lesson on the history of National Vegetarian Month/World Vegetarian Day and know the difference between veganism/vegetarianism, it’s time to move on to where you can actually find these enticing Long Island vegan eateries and delicious vegetarian restaurants!



Tiger Lily Café – Vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian options!

156 E Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777

631-476-7080



House of Dosas – All vegetarian menu!

416 S Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801

516-938-7517



3 Brothers Pizza Café – Separate vegan and non-vegetarian menus!

75 Merritts Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735

516-755-1100



Tula Kitchen – Vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian options!

41 East Main Street, Bay Shore, NY 11706

631-539-7183



Z Pita – Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options!

217 Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777

631-475-7508



Tullulah’s – Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options!

12 Fourth Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706

631-969-9800

BBD's – Vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian options!

49 Route 25A, Rocky Point, NY 11778

631-849-1620

Love Lane Kitchen – Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options!

240 Love Lane, Mattituck, NY 11952

631-298-8989



Witch’s Brew – Vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian options!

311 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead, NY 11552

516-489-9482

Granny's – All vegan desserts!

1153 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, NY 11725

631-543-7501



Sweet To Lick – All vegan desserts!

78 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596

516-385-8833

[Source: North American Vegetarian Society]

Photo by Kelly Tenny