Vegetarian and vegan eating habits have frequently been the leading players when it comes to eating sustainably. Personally, however I’ve always been someone that has had a hard time with not having meat, eggs, or dairy in my diet. Just thinking about biting into a huge, juicy burger with crispy bacon, melted cheese, and a fried egg on top is enough to have my mouth watering as I write this post.
Fortunately, having a diet that is healthy and sustainable doesn’t have to be as drastic as cutting certain food groups out of your everyday eating. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization. along with Bioversity International define a sustainable diet as, “protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; while optimizing natural and human resources.”
With this definition in mind, many times it can be difficult to find places to eat that fulfill these requirements. This is especially true when there are limited food options for students, faculty, and staff that are staying on campus for the summer. Fear not, however as I have 3 delicious, local restaurants that feature sustainability as the main course on their menus and would make an excellent location for your next meal this summer.
Lento 
Having been there myself, one is quickly surprised by how environmentally conscious the menu’s contents are and by the diverse, delicious sounding entrees that are offered. From Duck Fat Frites to Cheeses obtained locally, an appetizer is a definite must. The entrée menu varies often and is filled with fruits and vegetables that are in season. This means that the restaurant isn’t importing ingredients from far away (more transportation = more fossil fuels), is providing options that are fresh and local, and is actively supporting the local economy. The menu also shows the food suppliers where food is brought from and the online menu even highlights that Lento makes its own condiments, procures its meat locally, and bakes its breads and desserts daily. If you want to satisfy your taste buds and support an eatery that is making a difference, I would definitely head on over to Lento. My recommendation is getting the coffee ice cream for dessert!
-http://www.lentorestaurant.com/
The Owl House 
As a visitor of this fine establishment as well, my first impression of The Owl House was a cozy, little restaurant that has some great vibrant flavors! Boasting made-from-scratch New American food, this eatery looks to source ingredients locally when able and provides a large selection of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The house-made ketchup with their fries made for a lip smacking appetizer and the Tacos, which can be either BBQ pulled pork or tempeh chorizo, were garnished with cilantro and simply divine. A great spot for going on a sustainable date! And don’t forget to pick up a slice of lactose free cheesecake.
– http://www.owlhouserochester.com/
Green House Café 
Although having not been there personally, I have consistently been suggested the Green House Café as a potential spot for a sustainable meal. The café is owned by Coffee Connections, a not-for-profit business that sells fair trade, organic coffee to retail and wholesale customers. Taking a prior Greenhouse that used to house Phelps Florists, Coffee Connections converted it into the eatery. Having not only repurposed the greenhouse, Coffee Connections also chose to utilize a small portion of it to continue growing organic fruits and vegetables, which it uses in the dishes that are served. Using natural light from outside, the establishment makes a perfect destination to try during the summer and I can’t wait to go!
– http://ourcoffeeconnection.net/coffee-shops/green-house-cafe/
Also, don’t forget to check-out Tasty Tuesdays on Wilson Quadrangle from 11:30am-1:30pm every Tuesday this summer. 2 food trucks, such as Marty’s Meats, Macarollin’, and Le Petit Poutine, will be there with all kinds of delectable treats that won’t require you to drive off campus for lunch. Check out the schedule at this link:
– http://www.rochester.edu/College/osp/summer/tastytuesdays/index.html
Take a lunch or dinner trip to these places to fill your stomach with fantastic, sustainable food this summer! You’ll find eating sustainably isn’t as difficult as you might think.
Know of a place that serves up sustainability on a silver platter? Let me know in the comment section below!
Written by Jacob Post, Class of 2017
i have been to green house cafe and i really the food that i had there. though it was a salad (don’t remember the name) but it was mouthwatering. i also have reviewed it on yelp. thank you so much for sharing other good options as well.
cheers to your post!