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Vegan-friendly
Lacto
American
Organic
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Bakery
Vegetarian restaurant est. 2011 originally on Rogers St then moved to the square. Offers coffee and a variety of savory dishes such as lasagna, tofu-chicken, tempeh, and vege meatballs. Sunday is brunch. Hosts art shows, acoustic music, and poetry reading. Open Mon-Sat 11:00am-9:00pm, Sun 10:00am-2:00pm.
55 Reviews
First Review by Sprout
almondeyes
Points +478
Clean and friendly - Edit
How does this one town have so many vegetarian/friendly places? I was at Owlery on a Sunday, so the menu options are small as they only have brunch Sundays. Hopefully I can get back to try other foods another time. I ordered Chicken Fried Steak and was not impressed. It just was not yummy. The home fries were fine and I like that they do not over season the food as I want to taste food, not have it covered.
Read moreParking is easy, at least on a Sunday (free as well Sundays). They do have some outdoor seating in the sun and plenty of indoor seating. They do play music indoors and it was too loud for my taste; if you’re an HSP I would order for pick up and eat elsewhere. The two women with whom I spoke to order and pick up were friendly and helpful.
Pros: vegetarian; so full menu is open to me, easy to find
Cons: music volume, lack of options on a Sunday
Guest
CAC
Points +160
Yummy pancakes & tofu bacon! - Edit
Glad to see the Owlery is still open and serving great vegan food!
Read moreGuest
Verdant
Points +155
Vegan Options Impress until you try them - Edit
Service: 2/5, Quality: 3/5, Value: 3/5
Read moreVegetarian/Vegan Options: 3/5
In short, good vegan options, but sub-par service and okay quality/value. I'd go here again but might try some other places instead next time I'm in town
Further:
I've been here twice while visiting town. It's OK. Both times I was not thrilled about service. Off-peak hours service was still slow, I often found myself waiting for a refill of my water and in one instance asked if i wanted my water refilled, then the server goes gets a pitcher and refills someone else drink on the way to my table and runs out of water in the pitcher and never comes back to refill my drink. Um. ok. That's just one example but basically I don't understand what service I'm tipping for when stuff like this happens.
Quality of food was just OK. I've tried the nachos which were pretty good, but the seitan bbq sandwich was completely boring and uninspired with a mediocre taste. I also had another entree on my other visit but I forget what it was so let's just say it was unremarkable (otherwise I would've left a review the first time I visited in praise of it).
Value wise, your portions are about what you'd expect. They're neither great, nor bad. Can't really complain here.
Vegan options the menu has many vegan options available though you do need to watch that they do use dairy in some items so ask for non-dairy.
Pros: menu clearly labelled, great vibe
Cons: disappointing service, food unremarkable
Guest
DeaG.Peralejo
Points +175
Vegan sandwich place - Edit
Vegan options are good. I find the bread too dry though. I miss their fish and chips. I wish they would bring it back.
Read morePros: Vegan ranch dressing is top notch. , Amazing french fries. , Staff is very knowledgeable of their menu.
Cons: Bread slices for the BLT is too dry., Corn tortilla used in fish taco is not fresh. , Chicken patty was bland and needs seasoning
Guest
neilvermillion
Points +35
Love this place - Edit
This is my favorite spot in Bloomington, for sure. I’ve been here twice (so far) and both times the food and service have been amazing.
Read morePros: Wide range of options (you can bring anybody here), Small, quaint, and chic , Happy belly
Cons: Parking might be tough, It’s located in Indiana, unfortunately
Guest
kkuk3178
Points +46
Overpriced - Edit
Great place for vegan food in Indiana. However the last two years the prices dramatically increased and food quality decreased. The rebeun is delicious but still not worth the price.
Read morePros: Great variety, Decent portions
Cons: Over priced, Decreased quality
Guest
lazwright
Points +101
Fabulous atmosphere, even better food! - Edit
Had the “Chicken” wrap with buffalo sauce and avocado. Our sweet waiter recommended the lemon garlic sauce. It was PHENOMENAL!!! Our waiter was extra attentive and made our visit extra pleasant. Definitely coming back next time in town.
Read morePros: Friendly staff, Excellent options, Fabulous flavor
Cons: Everything was great!
Guest
tonitoeltigre
Points +36
Decent vegan options - Edit
Ordered a chicken fried steak (breaded tempeh) with potatoes and arugula, and cold brew coffee with almond milk. Steak and coffee were delicious. Roasted potatoes could be crispier. Partner got vegan poutine with tofu scramble, which was good but the scramble could use more spice/flavor.
Read morePros: Chicken fried steak was tasty and crispy, Good strong coffee
Cons: Potatoes not very crispy, Tofu scramble a little bland
Guest
ShligorTastes
Points +46
Our go to - Edit
My husband and I LOVE this place. The food is always amazing and they have plenty of vegan and gf options. The place is cute and is in a great location for a nice walk afterwards. They serve delicious dinner, but our all time favorite is to go for their sunday brunch! I have trouble getting anything but the vegan breakfast sandwich because it’s so good I don’t want to try anything else! They do their best to have a lot of locally sourced products and eco friendly practices. Love this place.
Read moreGuest
supertonya
Points +160
My Favorite Spot in Bloomington - Edit
Nice cafe to have coffee and vegan food. A vegetarian restaurant with loads of vegan options. Don’t skip the poutine!
Read morePros: Many vegan options , Charming decor, Unsurpassed service
Guest
JennieBohlman
Points +218
Fantastic Sunday Brunch - Edit
Best breakfast in Bloomington. So many choices! Breakfast sandwich and southwest skillet were tasty and filling. Definitely try the breakfast potatoes!
Read moreGuest
bvankampen
Points +643
Fav vegan btown spot! - Edit
My wife and I love The Owlery! We live in Indy but make frequent day trips to Bloomington to visit all our fav vegan spots. The fried chicken ranch wrap is definitely our go-to!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-07-24
Pros: All veg/vegan restaurant, Sweet potato fries, Reasonably priced
Guest
Collins’s
Points +111
October bike ride and lunch - Edit
Nice variety of vegan/vegetarian options. We’re eating vegan and sometimes find it hard to get beyond impossible or black bean burgers. I had the mushroom banh mi and my husband had the meatball sub. Both delicious!
Read morePros: Unique and well made vegan options, Beer and locally-made soft drinks available., Quiet, clean decor… and clean bathrooms.
Cons: None, Na, Na
Guest
aewilson
Points +84
Best vegan restaurant in Btown! - Edit
I’ve been going to the Owlery for several years now. I no longer live in Bloomington so when I visited for the first time in a while, I made sure to stop by the Owlery. The tempeh Rueben is still just as incredible as it’s always been! I do feel like the Mac and cheese isn’t quite as flavorful as it used to be (before change of ownership) but still soo delicious! Tried the poutine for the first time and it was mind blowing!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Warm atmosphere , Affordable
Guest
DonaldMcAninch
Points +740
All-time favorite restaurant - Edit
The first place I take anyone who visits Bloomington. Lots of fantastic options; a biweekly tradition in our house is the tempeh reuben and BLT.
Read moreGuest
badgirlsvegan
Points +2092
Good! - Edit
I thought this place was legit! All vegetarian and staff is very knowledgeable about veganism. Most items are actually vegan!
Read moreGuest
SaraConrad
Points +436
Veg Capital of Btown - Edit
My son always got the BLT and judges all BLTs to this standard of excellence. I love the cob salad with vegan cheeze and tahini dressing. Really can’t go wrong here though.
Read morePros: Vegan!!
Guest
eamoore333
Points +133
overrated for lunch/dinner; great brunch though - Edit
I went to the Owlery a few times while living in Bloomington. It is the only restaurant in Bloomington that doesn't serve flesh so I really wanted to love this place. But the food is dry and really bland, and I tried a lot of different things on the menu. I think my favorite was the chicken sandwich, and my husband is a fan of the poutine. Not the best place to get a vegan meal in Bloomington (I recommend Anyetsang's, Aver's, or Bangkok Thai Cuisine). I will say that the brunch food was fantastic, I think I had the vegan benedict. I'm not much of a breakfast person but years later, I still think about that meal! The staff seemed annoyed by my question about if there are enzymes in the bread, but just because it is a vegetarian restaurant doesn't mean everything is vegan! They said it was "farm bread" and wanted to leave it at that...
Read morePros: variety, fantastic breakfast food, they do not serve flesh
Cons: bland lunch/dinner, serves dairy and honey, expensive for what it is
Guest
ethicalveganfoodie
Points +26
Bloomington’s Vegan Paradise - Edit
I love this place! I’ve been quite a few times now and most of the food I’ve ordered has been tasty. It’s a cute spot to hang out centrally located downtown. There’s nice indoor and outdoor seating. If you’re a vegan stopping in town and only have time to eat at one place, eat here.
Read morePros: Almost entirely vegan , Delicious Reuben, potato salad, Rice crispy treats are too good!
Cons: Sometimes slow , Mac and cheese isn’t very good
Guest
Cdcgwa
Points +20
Came to move kiddo in for college at IU and found one of the best Vegan places we've ever been.... - Edit
The place is right on the town square across from the County Courthouse, so location is central and lovely. The place is small and efficient. Staff are welcoming and extremely helpful. food options for Vegans and Vegetarians are plentiful. We ordered the "fish" tacos and pierogies. Both were wonderful. Next time we will try the "fish" and chips. They had beer on tap with a variety of options. This place was fun to hang out in and talk, watch the activity inside and on the street. They obviously strive to be a great Vegan option place for us PB folks and our friends and family. Will definitely be back anytime we are in Bloomington.
Read morePros: great selections, great location, great staff
Cons: nothing
Guest
MirandaEber
Points +304
Great Brunch and Lunch Stop - Edit
This restaurant got me through college. This is the only vegan/vegetarian restaurant in Bloomington and it’s a solid option for delicious vegan meals
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-06-11
Pros: Fully vegan options , Staple foods, Sweets!
Guest
highgenevieve
Points +157
Amazing Food!! - Edit
This place is amazing. I love the chili, chicken ranch wrap, and the BLT! You can’t forget about the homemade pastries, either.
Read moreGuest
courtpline
Points +1180
Best veg restaurant I've ever been to - Edit
Amazing. My little sister, who's not vegan, said her BLT was the best she's ever had. My other sister and I split the pesto portabella & ranch chicken wrap, which were both delicious. The poutine was also amazing! I hope I pass through Bloomington again just to go to this restaurant.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-10-16
Pros: countless vegan options, alcohol served, vegan baked goods
Cons: queso was disappointing, no hard cider or non-beer options
Guest
reflynn
Points +55
Consistently awesome - Edit
We have been Owlery fans since its early days on Rogers Street. Once it moved to the square we became regulars. Now, during the pandemic, it is in the small queue of local restaurants we order from each week.
Read moreThe food here is always fantastic. My personal favorite is the BLT with avocado. There is only one choice of sides and that is the amazing sweet potato fries. I'm also a big fan of the peanut veggie bowl. The coconut macadamia tofu appetizer is eye-rollilngly delicious. I don't know what's in that peanut sauce that comes with it, but we find ourselves digging the last bits of it out of the dish with our fingers after the tofu is gone.
During normal times they have a lunch menu that is slightly different from the dinner menu. The lunch menu included a peanut tempeh wrap that was wonderful. I yearn for the day we see that back on the menu.
The restaurant itself has a really lively feel when indoor dining is allowed. It is packed with families, college kids, older couples of every shade and style. It is full of life nearly every night of the week and a joyful place to be.
Pros: Excellent food, Reasonably priced, Friendly staff
Cons: There can we a wait on weekends, More limited menu right now (during pandemic)
Guest
TanyaSean
Points +85
Great food; even in a pandemic! - Edit
Hard to find among all the buildings in that block, but we'll worth the hunt!
Read moreMy husband had the Chili with chips and the Poutine. I had the vegan mac & cheese with the coconut macadamian nut tofu with peanut sauce.
Pros: Lots of options and all of them looked delicious!
Cons: Hard to locate, no large signage.
Guest
damonsedam
Points +1009
Delicious vegan options - Edit
Nachos were bomb & cupcake was great as well. Vegan Mac was very different tasting but good.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Vegan baked items
Guest
Sammie129
Points +1134
So good! - Edit
I lived in Bloomington for years and loved this place. I would always get the peanut veggie bowl for dinner and it was amazing! They also have really gluten vegan & gluten free desserts in the case by the front but they always run out too quickly!
Read morePros: Good value, Friendly staff, Excellent food
Guest
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