Why: Laughing Planet, which has several locations in the Pacific Northwest and Reno, Nev., recently opened in Vancouver. It caters to vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb and paleo dietary preferences without compromising flavor. Laughing Planet says it buys from local growers — bringing fresh, healthy and delicious food to diners.
Atmosphere: The ample-sized space provides plenty of seating options at large booths, tables and chairs, and bar stools at several counters. A cool color palette of green and blue is paired with light wood tones and brown. Live plants are generously used and bring a sense of wholesomeness to the space. Lighting comes from a variety of fixtures. A mural is painted on one of the walls, and various plastic dinosaurs and figurines rest on shelves all around, adding interest and providing children with some playthings.
What I tried: I had the Winter Bounty Bowl, which is currently the seasonal special, comprised of pulled pork or baked tofu, orange-miso yam and butternut squash puree, spinach, chili-maple roasted Brussels sprouts, Korean barbecue sauce and ginger-apple-cauliflower relish. I opted for the pulled pork and found the bowl to possess an interesting assortment of flavors from savory and sweet to tangy. It also had more than the usual layers of textures. I also tried the veggie chili, which was delicious and hearty even without meat, and the garden salad with quinoa, which was healthful tasting, though a bit lackluster. I drank the mango-lemon smoothie, which was tart and slightly sweet. My dining companions tried the Thai Bowl, which was authentic tasting, and the Moroccan Bowl, which comes with a sweet chutney that pairs well with the savory roasted vegetables and creamy coconut curry sauce. To drink, they tried the loganberry cider and fresh ABC (apple, beet and carrot) juice. They found both beverages agreeable.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: The Zappatista salad is a bed of romaine lettuce topped with black beans, jack cheese, pico de gallo, tortilla chips and either avocado lime dressing or salsa. Quesadillas come in several options: grilled veggie, barbecue chicken, grilled chicken, cheese and pico de gallo, and one that combines corn, jack cheese, house-roasted green chilies, pico de gallo and “killer green” sauce. Burritos include eight different choices. Among them is a spinach and black bean, a bean and cheese, and a Cuban. Bowls offer a variety of flavors, ranging from mashed potatoes topped with broccoli, corn and cheddar cheese to Korean barbecue. Smoothies include a green dream, peach berry chia, PB&J and Marionberry ginger.
