Zen Palate — Theatre District

663 9th Ave
Zen Palate got its start in 1990 by a group of Buddhist vegetarians living in New York who noted the absence of any quality Asian-based vegetarian restaurants in the city. Believing that great health, great taste and great dining experience could all... more
Zen Palate got its start in 1990 by a group of Buddhist vegetarians living in New York who noted the absence of any quality Asian-based vegetarian restaurants in the city. Believing that great health, great taste and great dining experience could all be obtained at the same time, they opened the first Zen Palate at 46th street and 9th Ave. in the year 1991 in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle. The restaurant did not offer any alcoholic beverages based on the owners’ Buddhist belief not to make profits on items that may cause harm to its patrons. The restaurant struggled through its first six months, but after much publicity from the media, coupled with a growing, favorable trend towards healthy, vegetarian dining, it finally began to see its first profits. Three years later in 1994, the Union Square location was opened. This award-winning location designed by internationally renowned architect—Tony Chi—has been hailed as “the Rolls-Royce of vegetarians restaurants" with 3 floors (7,000 sq ft. of space) and a spectacular view of the Union Square Park. The 1st floor caters to those interested in café-style dining while the 2nd and 3rd floors cater to those looking for a... more

Zen Palate got its start in 1990 by a group of Buddhist vegetarians living in New York who noted the absence of any quality Asian-based vegetarian restaurants in the city. Believing that great health, great taste and great dining experience could all be obtained at the same time, they opened the first Zen Palate at 46th street and 9th Ave. in the year 1991 in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle.

The restaurant did not offer any alcoholic beverages based on the owners’ Buddhist belief not to make profits on items that may cause harm to its patrons. The restaurant struggled through its first six months, but after much publicity from the media, coupled with a growing, favorable trend towards healthy, vegetarian dining, it finally began to see its first profits.

Three years later in 1994, the Union Square location was opened. This award-winning location designed by internationally renowned architect—Tony Chi—has been hailed as “the Rolls-Royce of vegetarians restaurants" with 3 floors (7,000 sq ft. of space) and a spectacular view of the Union Square Park. The 1st floor caters to those interested in café-style dining while the 2nd and 3rd floors cater to those looking for a more fine-dining experience.

Zen Palate's menu is composed of a diverse mixture of Eastern and Western ingredients and New York fusion cooking. Rather than buying processed ingredients from manufacturers, we produce most of our foods on site from daily-fresh, top quality vegetables and fruits.


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Meatpacking District Description

Zen Palate — Theatre District is located in the Meatpacking District neighborhood of Manhattan. The Meatpacking District owes its name to the meat distribution companies that once dominated the area. While some meatpacking houses still exist, nowadays you are more likely to find meat of the celebrity variety, twirling around the Bermuda Triangle of SoHo House, Spice Market, and the uber-swanky Hotel Gansevoort. The signature feature of this luxurious hotel is its rooftop, featuring a richly landscaped roof garden and an expansive loft with soaring 20-foot ceilings that offers breathtaking city views in three directions. A 45-foot outdoor heated pool with underwater music anchors the roof's other side; it is unique in New York and reflects the ultra-trendiness that the district prides itself on. If it's Asian cuisine you’re craving you’ll definitely want to dine at Spice Market. The interior of the restaurant is as exotic as the cuisine: with a collection of artifacts imported from Rajastan, South India, Burma and Malaysia creating an interior of Eastern exotica including antique wall carvings, screens and pagodas. Spice Market provides a feast for all sense. Some art galleries have opened here, but the area is dominated by late-night establishments, high-end furniture stores, and fabulously expensive hairdressers. If you seek thrilling nightlife and pulsating action on the streets with traffic jams over century-old cobblestone streets, head here Cielo is one of hottest nightclubs. Its intimate size, impressive sound and sunken dance-floor make it perfect for catching a set by the latest hipster DJ. But given its notorious reputation as one of New York's toughest club to enter, good luck getting by the door. Speaking of tough doors, you might miss APT's door entirely, as the swanky lounge resides in a nondescript building that could easily be mistaken for a butcher shop. For more nightlife action, try the glittery, subterranean club that is 675 Bar. If you're looking for a quieter, more low-key way to spend time in the district, keep in mind that one of the most pleasant times of day to visit this neighborhood is between 10 and 11 in the morning. As you wander around the district, do head down Gansevoort Street to get a feel for how this neighborhood evolved. The now-defunct Florent restaurant was the first trendy place to open, and as you pass its old location on Gansevoort Street, you'll see the remnants of the old dilapidated elevated railway, which has been turned into America's first overhead park, called the High Line. West 14th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues should not be missed, replete with stylish boutiques such as Jeffrey, a few bakeries, and an enormous Bodum store as well. And then there's the legendary Old Homestead Steakhouse directly across from the new Apple Store on Ninth Avenue at West 14th Street. If you're curious about the intriguing new architecture and glass houses juxtaposed with meatpacking houses, you'll definitely want to follow this section of our new architecture of Manhattan walking tour.

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Info

663 9th Ave
New York, NY 10036
(212) 582-1669
Website

Editorial Rating

Category

Vegetarian

Price

$$$$$

Ambience

Business Casual

Payment

All Major

This Week's Hours

DINING ROOM
Mon-Sat: 11:30am-10:45pm
Sunday: 11:30am-10:30pm

CAFÉ
Mon-Sat: 11:30am-10:45pm
Sunday: 11:30am-10:30pm

Nearby Subway

  • to 42nd St
  • to 50th St -- 0.3

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