Price HKD 110 for a set meal that includes soup, main and coffee or tea.

Food rating Very good. Simple, light fare that is tasty. HK Magazine’s restaurant review gave it a 4-star rating (out of 5). The chef was previously a volunteer at World Peace Cafe. The veggie soups are great, not thick like the puree most western restaurants serve and not watery like most Chinese soups.

Green rating Quite green. Vegetarian. Organic.

Location Eastern Street, Western District, near Second Street. Call 2559 9098.

A vegetarian friend highly recommended the hamburger at Light to us, so we decided to drop by and give it a try. The cafe is located on the steep slope of Eastern Street. It is separated from the busy road by several large planters placed at the entrance. After we were seated, the waiter presented us with the menu which was written on a small blackboard.

The salad we ordered was very colorful and made from a selection of quality ingredients, such as artichoke and olives. The main dressing is a little sweet and slightly sour. Pesto which is a little salty is also used, giving the salad an interesting mix of flavors. It also had some cubed potatoes making it just right if you’d like to order a salad but are concerned you won’t be full after.

The black bean burger tasted much better than it looked. The bun is made of whole wheat and has a hard crust like country bread. The patty is spiced with cumin and reminded me of a falafel. The whole thing comes together in a very satisfying package.

The fried rice is made of red and brown rice and homemade vegetarian sausage. The sausage was quite good, especially since I haven’t eaten one in quite a while. Although it was highly recommended by the waiter, we found the flavor a little too salty and presentation a somewhat dull.

A great place for a Light meal.

Restaurant Rating Delicious food. Great service. Comfortable, understated ambiance. Quality without being fussy.

Green Rating Deep Green. Vegetarian. Organic. Local. The kitchen minimizes food waste in imaginative ways. For example, the pulp from making juices is used in the burgers. Short of installing some solar panels on the roof, dining doesn’t  get much more sustainable than this in Hong Kong.

Price (per person) Dinner HK$200-300 / Lunch HK$100-150

Location Sai Ying Pun. Near HKU at the intersection of Pok Fu Lam and Third St. Call for reservations – they’ve been getting a lot of media buzz so it’s often full.

Hidden on a side street surrounded by traditional shops, the first thing you notice about Grassroots Pantry is there is nothing grassroots about it. The design gives you a distinct feel of quality and you can see the attention in every detail. The ambiance is understated with none of the fussiness of high-end dining or the kitsch many mid-range places.

Our party of three shared a variety of dishes and drinks. We started with the quinoa salad which was light and simple. For mains, we had the Thai veggie green curry with brown rice, cold soba with marinated tofu and miso, and mixed mushroom linguine with truffle oil. The cold soba was outstanding with a great balance flavors and textures. It’s a perfect meal during the summer when our appetites may not be at their peak. The mixed mushroom linguine was also very tasty but has a heavier, creamy sauce that is quite filling. Be sure to savor the aroma of the truffle oil. The Thai veggie curry had a mix of seasonal veggies and hedgehog mushrooms that have a nice meaty texture.

For desert we tried a coconut “cheese” cake, rice pudding and a Chocolate Dream smoothie. The cheese cake had a creamy texture. The smoothie though was too thick and didn’t really have the chocolate kick I was expecting. The rice pudding came in a fantastic decorative Indian bowl and had some nice spice flavors. It’s quite a generous portion that is easily shared by two.

Overall the meal was thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable. However, I did have a small nit to pick. An undercurrent of coconut milk ran through too many dishes from the curry to the cheese cake, smoothie and pudding. I would probably skip the chocolate smoothie and go with a fresh fruit smoothie instead.

Grassroots Pantry is definitely a great choice for a sustainable and enjoyable meal with friends.