Restaurants In New York That Are Going Green

The trend towards sustainable, locally grown food is growing. In New York City alone, 329 restaurants are currently listed in the Eat Well Guide, a hand-picked list of eateries that meet high standards for providing their guests with locally grown ingredients and focusing on sustainable food sourcing.

Ranging from vegan take-out to fine dining, these restaurants all hold in common a commitment to supporting local farmers and producing the best food New York has to offer using local ingredients and focusing on the unique flavors the region has to offer. To stand out in the always competitive New York City restaurant world, some green restaurants are going the extra mile to meet the most stringent standards of environmental sustainability, animal welfare standards and fair treatment for their workers. Here are three New York City restaurants who are working hard to raise the bar on sustainable fare.
 
Gustorganics Restaurant And Bar
519 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011
(212) 242-5800
gustorganics.com

Gustorganics is the first and only certified organic restaurant in New York City. Certified under the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, all ingredients used at the restaurant are locally sourced, sustainable and certified organic. A trailblazer in the city, Gustorganics also boasts of having the only 100-percent USDA certified bar on the planet.

The environmentally friendly model also extends into all aspects of Gustorganics' business. All employees wear organic uniforms, the restaurant is powered using only wind power and all paper products are biodegradable, recycled or otherwise sustainable. Even the flowers at the table must be organic to meet Gustorganics' high environmental standards.

Terri Vegetarian Organic Café
60 West 23rd St.
New York, NY 10010
(212) 647-8810
terrinyc.com

Terri's is a quick-service, organic café that features vegan wraps, sandwiches, cupcakes and a wide variety of smoothies that recently expanded to a new location at 100 Maiden Lane, in New York's busy financial district. All ingredients are 100-percent vegan and certified kosher under the International Rabbinical Council supervision. A quick and healthier alternative to fast food or takeout, Terri's management does its best to source all products locally, although conventional ingredients may be substituted when a local alternative is not available.

In addition to keeping its products to high standards, Terri's has also earned the Tav HaYosher ethical seal, a designation offered to restaurants who create a just working environment for all employees, including fair pay, safe working conditions and reasonable scheduling and accounting of employees' time.

Print Restaurant
653 11th Ave.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 757-2224
printrestaurant.com

Located in Hell's Kitchen, adjacent to the Ink48 Hotel, Print Restaurant employs a full-time forager to make sure only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients reach its diners' plates. Appealing to locavores and those interested in high-end sustainable dining, Print's executive chef Charles Rodriguez and executive pastry chef Geoff Koo challenge themselves to highlight the flavors of the season while retaining a fine dining experience for their guests.

Committed to both sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients, Print Restaurant uses only Animal Welfare Approved meat products and sources its meat from Grazin' Angus Acres, a Ghent, NY farm that raises 100 percent, grass-fed and pasture-raised beef and holds to the most stringent animal welfare and organic guidelines.

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Tamar Auber is a freelance writer whose work can be found on Examiner.com.