Vegetarian Restaurants in Tempe, Arizona

We spent a month in Scottsdale in early 2000. We found the "Valley of the Sun" (Phoenix metro area) to be pretty bland - shopping malls, strip malls, suburbs and condo complexes dominate the landscape. The area we liked best was Tempe. There we found a veggie restaurant, interesting music, used book stores, espresso and such, on Mill Avenue. This is right near Arizona State University, which probably explains why it's so lively.

Thanks to Nancy Ryan for additional information.

Vegetarian Restaurant

• Gentle Strength Cooperative, 9 East Southern - #102, Tempe, 480-968-4831. The Valley's only complete organic food store since 1971. It also features an organic food deli offering vegan, vegetarian and raw dishes on order or prepared, as well as an all-organic hot and cold salad bar. (NR)
  This is basically a healthy food grocery store with an attached café. The food there was pretty good, although the veggie burger I had was too dry. Shelly's entree was excellent, though I forget what they called it. This place is just around the corner from the main Mill Avenue drag.

We found folk, jazz and original pop music at Beeloe's at the corner of Mill and Fifth. It's below the local Hooter's. In Phoenix, visit the Fiddler's Dream for gritty folk music.

Additions welcomed - send email.