Nûrish: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Nûrish calls itself a vegetarian and vegan friendly cafe, and its Prospect Heights menu fits that claim. Tofu, tempeh, hummus, and vegetable bowls appear in nearly every section, although the cooks also serve chicken sausage, turkey bacon, salmon, shrimp, and roasted chicken. No dish carries a vegetarian tag, so you read each description before you order. This profile covers the Brooklyn cafe at 637 Washington Avenue. A second cafe operates at 346 Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City, and this profile skips that address.

Breakfast suits vegetarians who eat eggs, and the plates run $14 to $16 each. Scrambled Eggs on Brioche brings Vermont cheddar, chives, and crème fraiche, and Waffles take caramelized bananas as an add-on. Nuritta Breakfast Burrito wraps sauteed greens, organic eggs, tofu, mushrooms, bell peppers, and shallots in a tomato basil wrap. La Frittata bakes three organic eggs with spinach, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, and parmesan. Tempeh bacon replaces turkey bacon in the Nûrish croissant sandwich, and Bragging Rights lets you choose portobello bacon. Ask for the meatless swap when you order. Several plates default to turkey bacon or chicken sausage. The toast section adds waffles, an avocado toast called The Most, a Roasted Kale Sandwich with Vermont cheddar, and an acai bowl. Vegan Booster is steel cut oats with chia seeds, granola, berry compote, and oat milk.

At lunch, most salads need no changes. Nature v. Nurture mixes baby spinach, pickled beets, quinoa, fried chickpeas, and garlic tahini. Tell It All pairs arugula with avocado and tabbouleh. Cranberry Kale adds roasted sweet potato and goat cheese. I’m There uses kale, red cabbage, peas, sunflower seeds, and tahini dressing. Crispy Farro comes with a sunny side up egg. Queen Caesar carries roasted chicken. Skip it.

Warm bowls split into two camps. Farro and Roasted Veg, the Quinoa Bowl with pan-seared tofu, and the Amaranth and Lentil Bowl with a hard boiled egg all work as written. Other bowls list shrimp, roasted chicken, or salmon as add-ons, and Asian Shrimp Barley and Winter Harvest build on seafood or chicken from the start. For a sandwich, try Hummuna Hummuna, which stacks hummus, avocado, carrots, cucumbers, olives, and greens. Hummus on Sourdough and a BLT with tempeh bacon also work. The soup of the day comes vegan or nonvegan, so ask your server which pot is on the stove today. Fresh juices and smoothies fill out the drink list. If nothing fits, build your own. The Make Your Own Bowl starts with a grain of brown rice, quinoa, barley, farro, or lentils, then adds three toppings and a protein for $21. The Make Your Own Salad starts with arugula, spinach, kale, or mixed greens, then adds three toppings, a protein, and a cheese.

Food plates mostly run $12 to $22, and the kitchen weaves eggs, fish, and poultry through the menu and the cafe says nothing about cross-contact. Ask first if you avoid fish or meat for strict reasons. Per its site, the cafe offers work space and thoughtful conversation, so you can bring a laptop and stay a while.

Hours run Monday through Saturday from 7am to 8pm and Sunday from 7am to 6pm. Call (718) 484-1122.

Order the Nuritta burrito in the morning. Come back at lunch for Nature v. Nurture and a fresh juice.