New Yorkers who are on the kinds of diets that include the words "free"—gluten, dairy, GMO, soy, animal product, etc.—can head over to Hell's Kitchen, where they'll find a new food "mall" boasting several outlets catering to their food needs. Food Bar by Otarian recently opened on Eighth Avenue, bringing with it a lineup of ready-to-eat foodstuffs catering to vegetarians. The operation includes a "bespoke burger" menu, a gluten-free bakery and a juice, smoothie and bubble tea station.
At the heart of things is the burger bar, which operates out of a to-go window on West 56th Street. It serves a variety of vegetable-based burgers (Tex Mex, Quinoa-Mushroom, Lentil, etc.) and wrap sandwiches served either on a whole wheat bun plus a variety of gluten-free options. Burgers can be customized and topped with over 21 condiments and sauces, plus eight different kinds of cheeses that are both vegetarian and vegan.
The kitchen also offers hot meals like a Roasted Vegetable Lasagna made with rice pasta and a Vegetable Pot Pie with squash, potatoes, carrots, peas and fennel in a cream sauce. Gluten-free treats from UES favorite Pip's Place, including cakes, muffins, bars and cookies and fresh juices like tomato-carrot-watermelon from TBaar round out the prepared food options.
947 Eighth Avenue, 212-489-3270; website
