In case you weren't aware, last week was National Vegetarian Week and myself and a handful of other local bloggers were invited down to The Engine Room in Sunderland to see what their menu had to offer for anyone is Vegetarian or Vegan and even some Gluten Free options! It's so wonderful to see so many restaurants and eateries now catering their menus for everyone and being more mindful of people's food choices and requirements.
Located just around the corner from the Empire Theatre, The Engine Room was once a fully functioning Fire Station which has now been restored, and remodelled into a spacious restaurant and bar, which also has a lovely little outdoor seating area should you want to enjoy some sunshine whilst grabbing a bite to eat and drink.
So, let's take a look at what Vegetarian (V) and Vegan (VG) options you can find on their menu..
Grilled Halloumi Burger (V)
I'm actually going to start with my favourite of the night (shock, it contains Halloumi) which was the Grilled Halloumi Burger. Out of the two burgers we sampled, this one was actually by far my favourite. Made up of Paprika dusted Halloumi burger, with Rocket, Tomato and generous side of Seasoned Fries and Hummus, this was absolutely delicious. It was cooked to perfection, and was very light and enjoyable to eat.
Sweet Potato & Aubergine Katsu Curry (V,VG)
Next up is the Sweet Potato & Aubergine Katsu Curry which is also priced at £11 and is both Vegetarian and Vegan. Now I'll be the first to admit I'm not a big fan of Aubergines so was a little nervous about this one. However, I do absolutely love anything Sweet Potato, so it was only fair I give it a go! The Panko fried Sweet Potato was cooked beautifully, definitely no complaints here! Accompanied by steamed rice, and Asian Salad (which was also very yummy), this makes for a great warm, hearty meal!
Spinach & Ricotta Tortellini (V)
Moving onto my second favourite of the night, which was the Spinach & Ricotta Tortellini. Now we all know how much of a huge pasta lover I am, so it's really no surprise that I was going to love this, but wow was I impressed! Priced at £11, this dish is homemade classic, served in a creamy roast pepper and rosemary sauce which I could not get enough of! If I had to recommend only on thing from this list, it would have to be this dish purely for how delicious the sauce was!
Moving Mountains Burger (V,VG)
The thing I wanted to try out the most when visiting The Engine Room was their burgers. I was eager to check out the selection they had on offer. I feel like Vegetarian/Vegan burgers are one of those things that are either going to be done very well, or very badly. Thankfully, the Moving Mountains Burger was done very well! Priced at £11.50 this 100% plant based burger contains both vegan cheddar and vegan mayo, alongside beef tomato, and baby gem lettuce with a generous portion of sweet potato fries on the side!
Grilled Halloumi Marinaded in Lemon Pesto (V)
If you know me at all, you'll know how much I love Halloumi, so I was very happy to see that it was incorporated into a lot of their dishes. The Grilled Halloumi Marinaded in Lemon Pesto, was also one of my most favourites from the night. Made up of Skewered Halloumi and Roast Vegetables, served with Rice, House Salad and Red Pepper Hummus, this is delicious, and fresh dish to enjoy in the summertime!
Meat Free Dirty Chips (V,VG)
Next up is the Meat Free Dirty Chips, which are priced at £12, which may seem a little steep. However, the portion size would suggest that this is one for sharing! Made up of Homemade Chips topped with Moving Mountains Burger, Vegan Hot Dog, Vegan Cheddar and a coating of Vegan Mayo to finish up! Personally, I found this to be a little too heavy for my liking, but I guess that's the whole point of the 'Dirty Chips'.
Veggie Dog (V,VG)
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Veggie Dog, I would never have guessed this was both Vegetarian and Vegan! Priced at £11 this is a beast of a hot dog, topped with Vegan Mozzarella, BBQ Mustard, Slow Cooked Jackfruit and Crispy Onions. This was definitely a winner in my opinion, the flavours combined were delicious, with a nice little kick to it!
Pulled Jackfruit Nachos (V,VG)
One of the most unusual dishes of the night had to be the Pulled Jackfruit Nachos. I have to admit, I had no clue what Jackfruit even was prior to trying this dish! But I gave it a go, and was surprisingly impressed. The Nachos were deliciously crunchy, and topped with Jalapenos, Vegan Cheese and Salsa. Priced at £10, this again is a perfect to dish to share!
Popcorn Cauliflower (V,VG)
Next up is the Popcorn Cauliflower with Madras Mayonnaise. I have to admit I wasn't overly wowed by this one, as their really isn't much to them. They were cooked well however, and had that lovely crunch to them. I also really enjoyed the Madras Mayo! Priced at £7, I can't help but feel that the price is a little steep for what you're getting.
Artichoke Flatbread Pizza (V,VG)
And finally, we tried out two of the Flatbread Pizza's that were on offer. First up was the Artichoke Pizza which was topped with Artichoke, Roast Red Peppers, Mushrooms and Vegan Mozzarella. Out of the two, this was my least favourite purely for the fact I really dislike Mushrooms, but that's just personal preference! However, it was cooked beautifully, and the base was perfect!
Spicy Veggie Sausage Flatbread Pizza (V)
The second Flatbread Pizza option we had was the Spicy Veggie Sausage Pizza, which was much more up my street! Topped with Jalapenos, Tomato and Mozzarella, I couldn't get enough of the flavours! I would definitely recommend trying out their Flatbread Pizza's. They are priced at £8 for a Regular, or £13 for a Large - perfect for sharing!
As someone, who isn't Vegetarian nor Vegan, I have to say I was for the majority pretty impressed with the large selection of dishes they have to offer. Everything was presented beautifully, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is very homely, and inviting. I will definitely be visiting again!
Which dish would you most like to try?
*AD - This post includes complimentary meals from The Engine Room. All words and opinions are my own. Please refer to my Disclaimer page for more info.