The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Miami: The Last Carrot
Sometimes, it’s hard being plant-based. Don’t get me wrong: I love being plant-based. I love the way it makes my body feel, and I love how sustainable it is. However, I don’t like having to order a bland salad consisting only of wilted romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers every time I go out to eat.
Vegan food is more than just plain jane vegetables. It’s fun. It’s flavorful, and it can be some of the best food you’ll ever have...even if you’re not vegan. But, good vegan restaurants can be hard to find.
So, I thought it would be helpful to all my plant-based babes to write some more about my favorite vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Miami. I already wrote The Top 5 Best Vegan Restaurants in Miami, but there are so many great vegan options in Miami that it’s a crime to only mention five.
The Last Carrot in Coconut Grove
This week, I wanted to highlight The Last Carrot. I thought I should start with this one because it hits close to home, or rather it is home.
My dad started The Last Carrot in 1975 with a vision to create simple, healthy food that actually tastes good, and now my sister, Erin, runs it. It’s a business that’s been passed down from one generation to the next. And I’m proud to say that it hasn’t lost any of its flair throughout the years. Every time I walk in, memories of great meals, laughs, good times, and friendships, all come rushing back from twenty years ago to last week. I swear every time I’m there I see someone who tells me they remember me as a little girl sitting on the counter eating strawberries.
#miamivegan
Note The Last Carrot isn’t completely vegan, but it serves a variety of vegan-friendly options. Their smoothies are light and refreshing. Think frozen bananas blended with juicy pineapple and locally-grown papaya, the perfect treat for a hot summer day. But smoothies aren’t just it. The Last Carrot also serves a variety of salads and pita sandwiches.
My favorite things to order are the Mixed Veggie and Peanut Butter Sandwich and the Baked Tofu Salad. I know veggies, peanut butter, and pita bread might not sound like a great combination, but trust me. Once you try, you’ll be convincing all your friends that really it’s not as weird as it sounds. And the Baked Tofu Salad. Oh, the Baked Tofu Salad. It’s simplistic. It’s fresh. And it's not the complexity of the dish that makes it so good, but the quality of the ingredients that really do it. As well as the dressings that are so delicious.. and actually famous at this point.
#miamivegetarian
To me, the Last Carrot has a special significance, and I may be biased. But it is a Coconut Grove staple for 45 years, a unique community where everyone knows your name.. (think Cheers), and more than that, it should definitely be on your list of vegan restaurants to try. My sister still operates the restaurant with the same values my dad had in mind. Have a simple menu and focus on perfecting the items you do serve. Only use the best quality ingredients, and serve people delicious food that’s healthy and fresh without all the preservatives, GMOs, etc.
Be sure to visit next time you’re looking for a chill, casual health foods cafe. You can stop by and grab a ginger shot to liven up your day, make a lunch date with friends, or buy vegan-friendly health foods from local vendors. I’m talking turmeric coffee, and maybe not so healthy vegan brownies—chocolatey, gooey, and everything a brownie should be.
The Last Carrot is open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Sunday. And on Sunday, it’s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Like I said, stop by, grab some food, and relax knowing that you’re having a nutritious meal that doesn’t taste blah.
The family business
