PRESIDIO EATS: Three Vegan Favorites in the Park

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2017 Category Food and Drink

Hello, there!

I'm Sarah – a former Presidio Trust intern and current employee. I've been vegan for six years and understand the struggle of finding a place to eat with a limited diet. Since I started working in the Presidio, I've had a lot of time to discover all the park has to offer for my vegan diet. Here are my top three favorite vegan dishes in the Presidio.

1. Roasted Veggie Sandwich or Apple Salad at Café RX

The Roasted Veggie Sandwich, a special on Café RX's rotating menu, is a deliciously hearty lunch choice at only $8.95. With tomatoes, squash, peppers, broccoli, and mushrooms on focaccia with a side of greens, you'll be left feeling full and satisfied. Be sure to ask for this dish without cheese! Don't worry if this special isn't available when you stop by – the Apple Salad, a menu staple at $9.50, is a great alternative. Ask for this dish without the goat cheese and they'll usually offer to add avocado for no additional cost.

Hidden within the Tides Converge campus in the Letterman District, see the Café RX website for hours and specials.

2. Roasted Squash & Mushroom Sandwich at Presidio Palms Cafe

The Roasted Squash & Mushroom Sandwich at Presidio Palms Café – located within the San Francisco Film Centre on the Main Post – is the perfect choice for an afternoon treat. Sweet squash, robust mushrooms, spinach, and garlic on ciabatta bread make up this $10.50 treat. On the lighter side, this dish pairs well with one of Palms' daily veggie soup specials. If the weather's warm enough, take your meal up the stairs to the covered patio on the second floor and enjoy views of scenic Funston Avenue.

Presidio Palms is open weekdays only. Check their website for hours.

3. Beet Salad at Arguello Restaurant

While most of the menu items contain meat or seafood, Arguello – a Mexican restaurant located inside the Presidio Officers' Club museum and cultural center – has vegetarian dishes that won't leave you disappointed. These dishes can be made vegan with a few substitutions. One dish that doesn't need substitutions is the Beet Salad, costing $12. This flavorful salad comes with gold and purple beets, arugula, pistachios, orange slices, and sesame seeds, all coated in a light shallot vinaigrette. Another dish that needs no substitutions are the chips, salsa, and guacamole. This generously-portioned side order, $9, is so good that you can make it your whole meal.

Arguello Restaurant is open Tuesdays to Sundays. Check the website for hours.

Sarah Kaufman is a Program Assistant on the Park Programs team at the Presidio Trust and a former intern. Sarah likes music festivals, photography, cooking up her favorite vegan specialties, and crafts – like pumpkin carving.