Veggie Galaxy: An Out-of-this-world Diner

with All Vegetarian Comfort Food

Veggie Galaxy’s mouth-watering Kendall Square Burger (Orso, Christina).

By Olivia Maas | Published on December 6th, 2020

Rating:

As you open up the jam-packed take-out box, you’re greeted with the irresistible sight of Veggie
Galaxy's classic American comfort food. You wonder, how can it be completely meat-free? Even
vegan, if you so choose. Although their take-out-only menu is limited during this trying COVID-
19 pandemic, the options still feel endless for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Veggie Galaxy offers
numerous dishes with a delicious, flavor-packed taste and a soul-soothing satisfaction that
satisfies both non-meat-eaters and meat-eaters alike. They even have a 100% vegan bakery on-
site.
Overall, Veggie Galaxy’s modern twist on traditional American diner food welcomes everyone
to their restaurant, even when food has to be enjoyed at home during this unprecedented time.

This meat-free spot opened on September 5th, 2011 in the vibrant neighborhood of Central
Square, Cambridge, MA. Their goal was to create an all-vegetarian destination with a "friendly
old-time diner hospitality to all of our guests" which they certainly exhibit through their handling
of the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, they are only accepting online takeout orders for a
limited menu. Also, they detail specific contactless pick-up instructions to ensure the safety of
both their staff and customers. They are working on a contact-free delivery system too.

Veggie Galaxy transcends past the comfortable, plain dishes of most vegetarian restaurants. They
offer exciting, creative plates which challenge the traditional, unimaginative meat-free options
within the vegetarian food industry.

Photographed by Aaron Peipert, the picture above illustrates Veggie Galaxy’s retro storefront
pre-pandemic.

As I took the red line to Central Square, my stomach rumbled in anticipation of the mouth-
watering food I was about to pick up. After arriving, it was a quick, efficient, and socially distant
pick-up of my food. From 6 feet away and although the staff was (appropriately) masked, I could
still feel the friendliness from staff members. Just a peak of the vintage red bar stools, the
chrome accents, and the overall classic 1950's diner interior made me wish I could enjoy my
meal inside this casual and comforting restaurant.
But, as you know, the global pandemic is ongoing.

The Famous Mac n’ Stack photographed by Malinda.

After the never-ending ride back to the Westin Copley Hotel, I finally was able to indulge in the
variety of dishes I ordered. First up was the Great Galaxy Breakfast Sandwich: crispy hash
browns, fried eggs, savory tempeh bacon, cheddar cheese, baby arugula, and garlic mayo
sandwiched between a griddled bun. Although it was only slightly warm due to my 20-minute
trip back, this hearty meal was nonetheless difficult to stop eating. It would be a great start to
anyone’s day. Next I tried the “Meat”ball Sub, an imaginative spin on the traditional meatball
sub. In substitution of the beef in the meatball, Veggie Galaxy makes a from-scratch seitan
“meat”ball. These “meat”balls are mixed in a garlicky marinara sauce on a house-made roll with
melted asiago cheese on top. It was messy, but heavenly. Its meaty flavor would be enjoyed by
meat-eaters too. The last dish I tried was their popular Mac n’ Stack; a unique sandwich featured
on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Between two creamy vegan mac & cheese waffles,
there are thick layers of fried seitan chick’n, tempeh bacon, fresh lettuce, and siracha mayo.
Biting into this flavor-packed, juicy meatless sandwich, I knew immediately why it was one of
their signature dishes. It honors greasy Americana diner food that comforts and satisfies, but its
unusual plant-based ingredients make this dish sustainable and enjoyable to a variety of diets.

Veggie Galaxy’s food, which offers exceptional flavors and an out-of-this-world taste, excelled
past my dreams of meatless comfort food. The quality of the diverse ingredients used and the
inspiring originality in the way they merge them to create their distinctive dishes makes this
restaurant unparalleled in Boston's vegetarian and vegan food destinations.

A personal pie version of the vegan Lemon Meringue (Samuels, Brian).

Guy Fieri in the Unique Eats episode of his well-liked food reality television show Diners,
Drive-Ins and Dives, says the Mac N’ Stack has “a lot of great flavor, a lot of texture, [and] a lot
of creativity.” He also argues that people uninformed on Veggie Galaxy’s meatless style would
not even know the sandwich is vegan from its smoky taste. In addition, Veggie Galaxy is
included in Boston Magazine’s "Where to Find the Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in
Boston Right Now" and their vegan Lemon Meringue Pie won Massachusetts’s Best Pie in
People’s "The Best Pie in Every State and Washington, D.C.".

So, indulge in Veggie Galaxy’s impressive old-school comfort food! Order online and pick up
your meal for take-out only (delivery is launching soon) to enjoy their dreamy plant-based food.

Veggie Galaxy’s hours of operation:

Monday-Friday: 11:00am to 8:00pm

Saturday-Sunday: 9:30am to 8:00pm

(Pick-up until 8:00pm)

Works Cited

“About: Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge, MA.” Veggie Galaxy | Veggie Restaurant in Cambridge,
MA, www.veggiegalaxy.com/about/.

Addison, Bill. “What Would a Game-Changing L.A. Vegetarian Restaurant Look like?” Los
Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2019, www.latimes.com/food/story/2019-10-
19/tasting-notes-newsletter-vegetarian-restaurants-bill-addison-20191019.

“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Food Network, www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-

and-dives.

Hatic, Dana. “Where to Eat Vegetarian and Vegan Food Around Boston.” Eater Boston, Eater
Boston, 18 July 2019, https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-vegetarian-vegan-restaurants-
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Malinda. “The Famous Mac n’ Stack.” Instragram, 1 Oct. 2019,

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FuVwdn3q6/.

“Ordering Instructions: Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge, MA.” Veggie Galaxy | Veggie Restaurant
in Cambridge, MA, www.veggiegalaxy.com/order-online/.

Orso, Christina. “The Kendall Square Burger.” Instagram, 4 Sept. 2020,

www.instagram.com/p/CEuksMonMcv/.

Peipert, Aaron. “Veggie Galaxy’s retro storefront pre-pandemic.” Instagram, 22 May 2020,
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAf9dBuHAbr/.

Pfeffer, Stephanie Emma. “The Best Pie in Every State and Washington, D.C.” People.com, 27
Sept. 2019, https://people.com/food/the-best-pie-in-every-state-and-washington-d-c/?
slide=7324906.

Samuels, Brian. “A Personal Pie Version of the Vegan Lemon Meringue .” People.com, 27 Sept.
2019, https://people.com/food/the-best-pie-in-every-state-and-washington-d-c/?
slide=7318186#7318186.

“Unique Eats.” Food Network, 18 Oct. 2019, www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-

and-dives/episodes/unique-eats.

“Vegan Bakery: Veggie Galaxy: Veggie Restaurant in Cambridge, MA.” Veggie Galaxy |
Veggie Restaurant in Cambridge, MA, www.veggiegalaxy.com/menu/vegan-bakery/.
“Veggie Galaxy Online Order.” Veggie Galaxy, https://veggie-galaxy.square.site/.

“Veggie Galaxy: Veggie Restaurant in Cambridge, MA.” Veggie Galaxy | Veggie Restaurant in
Cambridge, MA, www.veggiegalaxy.com/.

Zuniga, Cristian. “Old-School Diner in Queens.” QNS.com, 18 May 2016,

https://qns.com/2016/05/enter-nostalgia-with-the-5-best-old-school-queens-diners/.