I visited tibits restaurant in London for the first time a while ago and have been keen to go back ever since, all the more so since they’ve recently started holding “Vegan Days” every 11th day. I finally managed to get to London for a few days at the end of last week and took the opportunity to have a meal at tibits and a catch-up with my Mum at the same time.
Tibits is an all-vegetarian restaurant in the heart of London, just off busy Regent’s Street. It’s a big space, clearly needed, since it’s very popular and was packed the evening we went. I think the interior design is pretty stylish and rather funky with its night-time lighting.
It works a little differently to most restaurants in that you don’t order off a menu but help yourself from the “food boat”. You fill your plate with all the goodies you like (hot dishes, salads, soups, breads and desserts) and pay by weight. About 80% of the dishes are vegan on normal days but on Vegan Days almost everything is vegan, including all the hot dishes. The selection is regularly topped up so everything is fresh.
I was pleased to see an emphasis on seasonal ingredients too and for those with allergies or other specific dietary requirements everything is clearly marked with a symbol or letter (containing gluten, nuts, soy, onions, garlic etc.)
It was the ideal system for someone like me who can never decide what to have when faced with a menu. This way we could try lots of things. I love eating out with my Mum as we always share so we can maximise the number of dishes we get to taste!
On to the food! As it was dark in the restaurant and I was just using my iPhone to take pictures they’re pretty poor-quality. For some better pictures of the dishes on offer you can take a look at the tibits site.
I started with a freshly-squeezed juice while my Mum had wine. This was the “Juice of the Month”- Blueberry, Orange, Apple & Grape.
We thought we should pace ourselves as neither of us were especially starving. I think we still managed to do pretty well though! We got a starter plate to share with a selection of cold salads- carrot and beetroot, greens, falafel, a curried quinoa & cranberry dish, a lentil salad and, what I’ve been told is one of tibit’s signature dishes, their dried bean and walnut salad. We also got two little gluten-free linseed and soya rolls, cutely named “glutinis”. Everything was delicious and I was particularly taken with the dried bean salad.
We then got two plates of hot dishes and shared again. As you’re paying by weight rather than per plate you can go up as many times as you like. Pictured above is a chickpea tagine and couscous, we both agreed this was a bit too spicy, though perhaps we’re wimps! The lemony braised fennel was divine, and just like the mangetout it was perfectly cooked. It might sound strange to rave about such simply prepared vegetables but I don’t think I’ve ever had such tender, crisp mangetout before! The autumn roasted vegetables with figs and pears also went down very well with both of us.
As tibits has a Swiss chef (as well as several restaurants in Switzerland), there’s a decidedly Swiss feel to some of the dishes. These hearty pasta dishes reminded me of something I might have had in the mountains skiing when I was younger. There was spaetzle with oyster mushrooms and tomatoes and a pumpkin and chard lasagne with a hazelnut sauce (my favourite).
For dessert there wasn’t a huge selection of vegan options, but enough for us both to get something different. I chose the berry cream and topped it with a little toasted coconut. My Mum opted for the sticky toffee pudding. We were apprehensive about this one but wrongly so as it was very good- sweet, moist and perfectly spiced. I only had a little bite but it was a memorable one.
We finished up with fresh mint teas.
The staff were lovely, very friendly but not intrusive, and efficient clearing plates and keeping the “food boat” topped up.
If you’re paying a visit to London I would definitely say tibits is a must-visit. They’ve got the dates for the next Vegan Days up on their website so you can plan accordingly. There’s a wide selection of vegan dishes even on non-designated “Vegan Days” so I’d be perfectly happy to visit any time.
Have you eaten at tibits yet? If you’re vegan or vegetarian, do you prefer to eat at exclusively vegan/vegetarian restaurants?
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Disclaimer: The meal was complimentary, but, as always, all opinions are my own.
I’ll certainly remember to go there next time I’m in London, sounds wonderful!
I’ve never eaten at Tibits (though if they’d like to open a restaurant in the North East then I would definitely like to…hint hint!), but everything pictured looks absolutely gorgeous. I particularly like the sound of the dried bean salad.
I would never eat at a non veggie/vegan restaurant because the idea of anything being prepared on a surface/with utensils that have touched meat is just something I can’t deal with (I have separate utensils at home…yes, I am ‘that’ vegan - plus I can’t risk gluten contamination anyway).
It’s great that Tibits labels things as onion/garlic free! That makes a nice change, as usually I can’t eat out anywhere at all owing to the presence of those particular ingredients. I wish more places would do that!
xxx
I most definitely thought of you when I noticed the onion/garlic labelling! I’m sure you’d like tibits. When you come down South we’ll have to go together
Looks lovely! I’ll definitely visit when I have an opportunity though. I noticed they haven’t put up their December dates yet (if they are planning to, that is) but I’ll keep an eye out for them. That chard lasagne with hazelnut sauce sounds particularly appetising.
I’ve been told they’re being held every 11th day so you should be able to plan accordingly even if the December dates aren’t up yet. Another restaurant trip for when you’re back in London over Christmas
This restaurant sounds wonderful and I will definitely make a visit next time in London. It’s funny, but only recently have I started seeking out vegan-only restaurants. I guess I was trying to “wing it” at regular places but now I’m really interested in supporting places that cater specifically to vegans. When I have been to some, it’s been overwhelming (in a good way) to have choices!
Next time you’re in London?! Do you visit often? We’ll have to go for a meal together
I find I do a bit of both- I like to eat at non-vegan restaurants to show them that there’s a demand for vegan food, but also like to support specifically vegetarian/vegan restaurants.
I wouldn’t say “often,” but we did go to London last year and had the best time ever! We would gladly come yearly if not for the long flight. But certainly I’ll be back one day and so I like to make a mental note of places to eat. At that point though, I’ll probably just ask you for all your current recommendations, and will want to meet you for a meal for sure!
I’m sad I didn’t “know” you then! You’ll have to keep me updated on your travel plans”
It’s especially unfortunate I didn’t know you then, as we were not only in London, but spent a day each in Bath and in Oxford — I’d catch you one place or another! London is one of our favorite places so we’ll be back for sure.
What great looking food! This sounds like a wonderful eating option and I like the idea of choosing from a selection rather than being tied to one dish. My husband and I are hoping to move to London next year - so I’m adding this to the ‘to visit’ list
I loved Tibits. It’s hard for us because Nick is a meat eater, and although he’ll come to places that are just veggie/vegan he does prefer somewhere he can get meat when we go out as we don’t have it in the house. He was really won over by Tibits though.
I was invited here a couple of months ago too and I loved it. That sticky toffee pudding was divine!
This restaurant and food are so good, I wish I can persuade my family go over there next time, but they’re neither vegetarian nor vegan. So, it always so difficult for me to choose a restaurant that for both vegan and for meat eater.
I’ve heard that many a meat-eater has been won over by tibits! Hope you get to try it!
Thanks, I wish I can go for at least once.
I love hearing about veg restaurants around the globe! This sounds lovely!
Me too! It was a lovely meal, and fun getting to choose from so many different options.
I loved Tibits when I visited, they got James to eat vegetarian food which is a feat in itself!
I can’t see how anyone wouldn’t like tibits! Great that it could win over a skeptical meat-eater
This looks like a fabulous restaurant with delicious food! The food boat sounds like a great system.
It definitely added to the experience. It was fun to be able to pick a selection of dishes from such a variety.
I had dinner at Tibits last night! It’s one of my favourite restaurants, the food is all so good - I’m in love with the bean salad! I wish I hadn’t been too full for dessert, they look so delicious. And their cocktails are yum!
I like buffet-style restaurants (for example the salad bar at wholefoods), it’s nice to be able to get a taste of different things, but it is dangerous if you’re a bit of an overeater like me, especially a dessert-buffet. I’m an avid user of Happy Cow when I go on holidays and I do like to seek out all vegan places just because the options are more inventive. But there are but few exclusive vegan places in Belgium. There are more vegetarian places though, and I hope that from there on out vegan options will keep on growing.
I guess as it’s pay by weight rather than plate it can keep you in check. I think one girl didn’t realize and seriously piled up her plate high. She looked pretty shocked when the waitress indicated that she had to go and weigh her plate!
There are definitely more vegan options popping up. We went out to a vegetarian café this afternoon for tea and I think almost all the cakes were vegan- not usually the case with sweets.
I want to try the Juice of the Month - mmmm grapes in the juice - I should use grapes more often in my juice. All of these vegan dishes look so tasty , the spicy chickpea tagine/couscous look delicious! And I love mint teas! I prefer to eat at places that offer vegan options! Yum!
I’ve never had grapes in juice either. I was worried it would be really sweet but was actually quite light and really refreshing.
I always have mint tea after dinner
I didn’t know they had an all vegan day - I’ll have to make a note to haul myself down there next 11th. I know what you mean about the desserts - if I had one criticism, it would be that there aren’t enough puddings (but then again, I would say that about almost anywhere - I love a good pudding!)
It is still sadly the case in most places. Not that I don’t like sorbet or fruit salad…but when everyone else is eating some ooey gooey chocolate pudding you can feel a little left out :S
I haven’t made it to the Tibits restaurant yet, but will definitely go as soon as I get the opportunity. Really pleased to hear that they’re holding vegan days
I was thrilled to hear! It’s definitely worth a visit and great to go to with non-vegans too as there’s so much choice they can’t complain!