Red Lentil Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant in Dedham

My favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurant for lunch in the Watertown/Cambridge area — an unassuming storefront on Mt Auburn Street with a wonderful menu and good service. The offerings are all reasonably priced and the servings are generous. The Zen Veggie Burger with sweet potato fries is particularly good. Try some of the sides or starters if you just want a snack — the Brussel sprouts and Gobi Manchurian (wow).

Terrific anytime of the day, but their breakfasts/brunches are our favorite! Fantastic food options and friendly service.

The food and service are superb! I am not a vegetarian, but my partner is. I know Ill be able to get something Ill enjoy here, and she has the freedom of ordering anything on the menu. The drinks are also really good, and the beer selection is good.

I had high hopes for this place after reading the reviews and perusing the menu on their website. We ordered some ciders and the waitress came back and told us that they didn’t have the one we ordered. I then ordered a different cider, which they had but it wasn’t cold. So I finally asked which ones they DID have that were cold and it was only a few of them. The food had large portions, but was disappointing taste-wise. I got the Jamaican jerk tempeh which came with yams, coleslaw and brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts were cold, the coleslaw was bland and the tempeh was underwhelming. The one good dish was the oyster mushroom “calamari”, which was delicious. The paella was okay but again, underwhelming.

Went with a group of pals from work. Two of us got the shepherds pie and it was delicious. I love when I can order something unique that I dont know how to make or make well myself. Nice selection of IPAs, as well. Great vegan options.

My enchilada was supposed to come with mole sauce....the sauce on it was definitely not mole, but more like chipotle. And there was hardly any sauce. On top of that, it barely had any sweet potato -- just some very small diced cubes. It was advertised as a sweet potato enchilada so I expected the filling to have a lot. The filling was mostly grilled onions. I was really disappointed and didnt finish this meal. I ended up eating something else for lunch. Total waste of money (it was $14 plus tax for a veggie enchilada!and I would not order from here again.

First and foremost: why are you charging $4 additional dollars for each dish that substitutes vegan cheese? I’ve been going to Red Lentil for many years and this recent hike for vegan cheese is upsetting and exclusionary. A bag of violife vegan cheese costs $4.99 (daiya is even cheaper), much less than a bag is used on each dish, and wholesale prices for vegan cheeses are cheaper. I understand inflation but how can you be a vegetarian/vegan restaurant and charge this much for vegan cheese?That aside, the food is amazing. I just don’t know how often I’d be willing to spend that much additional money for vegan food when no other restaurants I go to upcharge this way.

Im not exactly a vegetarian/vegan kind of person, but this place is simply superb. In my opinion, one of the best restaurants in the Greater Boston area. Highly recommend!

Average food. Gobi Manchurian left much to be desired.

The food was very good and the staff is pleasant. If you are a wheelchair user, you might be confused there is a handicap symbol in the window, and a step at the front door. There isnt another entrance, you need to call in to them, and ask for their portable ramp. Whether you use their narrow metal, not easy to use ramp is up to you I guess. They made an effort by getting the ramp, but I would much prefer the step be demolished and replaced with a ramp that is part of the sidewalk.

Some of the best seitan I have ever had, it was so delish and fork tender. All of our meals were amazing. The Oyster Mushroom Calamari was a perfect start to our meals. Cant wait to go back and try the rest of the dishes.

I went to Red Lentil for the first time today (even though I once lived in Watertown for over two decades). I never knew what I was missing. The food was amazing. I went to a party there with a brunch. The food was so brightly colored and fresh. I had the scrambled eggs, fruit salad, and vegetable salad that had roasted chickpeas, carrots, avocado and other yumminess. They also had options like french toast and roasted potatoes, but I tried to stay healthy. Everyone seemed to love the food. The nice long tables they set up were great for a gathering. Whether you are vegetarian or not, I recommend checking it out.

Vegan Shepherds Pie? Dont mind if I do.The flavor was epic and a wonderful mixture of fresh ingredients. Absolutely loved it and would definitely eat this again.

Pretty oily for how punchy the flavor was but it is pretty yum. Would try again

The vegan waffles are 10/10, so creamy, soft and delicious. Incredible that they’re also gluten free. We came here for brunch after having ordered takeout for many years and we were not disappointed. It’s a small, unassuming location. Very low key. Delicious everything. Such a creative menu

We loved our experience at Red Lentil! We were actually headed to Salem and accidentally picked this place for vegan thinking it was closer to to our destination… but we definitely consider it a happy accident to have found such a delicious vegan brunch. Also the Cava and Prosecco were yum and possibly I am feeling ‘em now. 😛

My girlfriend and I stopped in for dinner recently after wanting to try out Red Lentil for a while. We’re both vegetarian so we had high hopes for the quality of the food. Unfortunately, I was rather underwhelmed by my order, the “paella.” This dish has almost no flavor, likely because instead of rice it was made with orzo. It tasted as if the orzo had been cooked in unsalted water and then strewn with random cooked vegetables. Really needed a more substantial sauce or more seasoning. I could have made this at home, but better. My girlfriend like her tofu though.

I came in Thursday night (dinner time). There were a lot of empty tables.I ordered red lentils soup and Jamaican jerk Tempeh. They both were very tasty and flavorful.The lentils soup reminded me of my trip in India (highly recommended).The tempeh was flavorful, but its side dish Brussels Sprouts were burned and the yam is overcooked.

We had lunch catered for a graduation party for 32 people by Red Lentil in Watertown. Food arrived on time and it was piping hot. And the food was excellent. Friends and family members who do not have much experience with vegan food were very impressed. I cannot say enough about the quality of the food it’s preparation and presentation.

I love this place so much. Ive been going here since they opened when I was still living in Watertown. Now not as much as I moved but it is always the best treat when I can go there. For context, I am a meat eater, and the food is so tasty and satisfying. I believe Red Lentil is the best vegetarian restaurant in the Boston area. They do such a great job. Its one of those restaurants for me that Ill get a craving for. Thanks for always doing such a solid job, Red Lentil!

Pankaj provided an incredible catered dinner for our wedding guests. Our guests, regardless of their diet preferences, were all blown away by the quality and flavor of the dishes (desserts too!). We would highly recommend Red Lentil catering for any event.

The butternut squash soup was average, lacking the creamy flavor and a little peppery.The roasted beet salad was the biggest let down, no roasted beets but more like beet shavings. Completely lacking that flavor.Other entrees were also similar, average to good nothing gourmet. The tandoori tofu was interesting was overly sweet due to the roasted pineapple.The only gourmet dish was the special of breaded tofu and fried garbanzo beans with roasted Brussels sprouts. That was very good.

Delicious Vegan Breakfast Options! AAA customer service! 100% Satisfied!

Two waiters gave us full impeccable service while catering to everyone elses needs. Impressed. The food always wonderful. Lucky to have this place close. I hope my wife can eventually finish her food without being stuffed.lol (lightweight)

A small and plain restaurant in the street. However, the food was really good.We went there about 8:30pm for a late dinner. The staff was very friendly and welcoming.We ordered Mexican pizza, nutty lasagna, nirvana delight, fried oysters mushrooms, shepherd’s pie, masher and danger, and smoothies like immunize, banana wanna date?, mind blowing, and berried blaster.All smoothies were really good, highly recommended.The fried oysters mushrooms are very crispy and rich flavored. Highly recommended.To be honest, I am a meat lover. So, all entrees were OK to me, but not impressive.

Brunch was so delicious! Lots of good options and the fresh juice was a treat. My partner is gluten free and had so many options. Will definitely go back!

If you are a vegan, this is the place to be eating if you are looking for some nice food.

WOW! Love this place! I’m a strict veg and always looking for vegetarian places that are tasty but also high end. Highly recommend the gobi manchurian as an appetizer. I had the shepards pie and my partner had the mouuzka pizza. he is a carnivore and also gave red lentil 5 stars! they had a delicious carrot cake for dessert and a fabulous selection of wine. will def be returning!

Food was great, I have to say but my only issue is how awfully short staffed they were. We literally got there at 6 and didnt really get our food until a little after 7.May go again, I think they should expand, its super crowded.

The full dine-in experience is rare nowadays. Sit down, order drinks and food. Drinks come. Appetizer comes mid-drinks. As soon as appetizer is done, dinner arrives. Cheque comes after, and is returned promptly.Wonderful experience and stellar food. Will be back.

Pretty good, I enjoyed it! But for the price I was expecting more flavor- I had high expectations!

The food was good and excellent. Parking on street meters. I had detox drink was delicious,special menu I forgot the name. Indian inspired food.

The food was just okay. I tried the lentil soup. The soup was mainly juice. There was VERY and I mean VERY little vegetables and lentil beans in the soup. I also tried the Zen burger (I added lettuce and tomatoeswith sweet potatoe fries. The burger had a salty taste - (I think it was the sauceand the sweet potatoes fries were oily and some were not cooked all the way through. The lady that took my order was nice and the restaurant sitting area was clean.

This was an excellent place to enjoy delicious vegan food. We has lunch and started with the fried oyster mushrooms and they were expertly cut and cooked; we really loved them. I got the Zen Veggie Burger which was a really fun homemade spin on a patty! It was a weird color which I liked and it came with a nice side salad. The Street Food Roll Up (with falafelwas smothered in a delicious sauce and so really tasty. The thick cut sweet potato fries on the side were great! The Black Forest Cake was traditional and a nice end to our great meal. I cant wait to eat here again!!

Unique innovative Indian and misc inspired vegan cuisine. Nice blend of flavors n variety. The only concern is the rate is too high for their serving size. We spent about $45-50 for a party of 3 and none of us were full. A little more of quantity in the plate size n the place would thrive. 👌🏻

Excellent food! The oyster mushroom "calamari" were soooooo good! Better than calamari in my opinion, though Im a fan of mushrooms in general. We ate it so fast we forgot to take a picture of it. Will definitely come back for more!

First time at a Vegan and Vegetarian restaurant and I have to say it was a pleasant surprise! Will definitely be coming back!EDIT: We came back a week later. Might be on our top 5 favorite list! Hard to believe you can get such good tasting food without animal products.

Very nice food and smoothie. Ginger Miso soup was delicious, but ended up too salty at the end. Otherwise, lovely. Definitely will return.

Great place for a weekend brunch. Lots of nice options, and they help to make vegan alternatives for their menu items. Gets a bit crowded during noon, but typically not more than 15-20 minutes of wait time.

Nice vegan food! I am reviewing my earlier visit.Expected the same quality but was disappointed today. The food did not bring the good memories, was oily and not up to the mark. I would avoid the Indonesian Stir fry.

Red Lentil is an amazing restaurant and an even better caterer! I have eaten here many times. The staff are very polite, kind, and really care about the customer experience. The food is delicious and there are so many great options. One of my personal favorites is the lasagna but I also love the Mexican Pizza, Moussaka pizza, and sweet potato quesadilla are 10/10. This place is so good that I chose them to cater my wedding party and they did not disappoint. The food arrived hot, on time, and so good that many of my guests could not believe it was vegan. The owner is a great guy and took so much care in making sure that everything went perfectly, despite having other wedding parties to cater that weekend. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for some delicious, whole food. It is real food -- not fake burgers or fake sausage -- real, tasty vegan fare. One of my favorite Boston area restaurants for quantity and delicious vegan food.Catering favorites:Cajun tofu paniniSouthwestern wrapGrilled vegetable lasagnaMoussaka PizzaStuffed mushrooms...mmmm

I have come to red lentil several times. I am so glad I discovered this place because not only is it walking distance to where I live, but it is delicious. It is in a convenient location for locals to run errands. Aside from this, I have not had a thing on their menu yet that I didn’t not like. Trust me, you will never go wrong with these nachos! I always get them no matter what! The Gobi Manchurian is also one of my favorites. I recommend both of these, especially if you come in a large group. Enjoy the attached photos! I always order more then I can handle, and that’s a lot because I used to do eating competitions. They have a large selection of vegan options as well. What is sad is that I have never had any of their desserts because the dishes are so good and I order too much of it for me to have enough room for desserts. Their prices are very reasonable and their portion sizes are pretty large for the type of restaurant this is. The customer service is awesome, they have always kept my water glass full to the top! Another plus is that the food comes out in reasonable time once it’s ordered, so thank you chef! This place normally has a wait time, but the service is normally fast so people come and go quickly. It is a small cozy place and seating is limited. The establishment is very clean and eco-friendly. Parking is also very limited as well, so please bring quarters with you if you plan on staying around these blocks. By how busy this place normally is, I’m surprised there isn’t more reviews! Vegans, vegetarians, and all, I hope you have the same great experience I have had each time I have visited. Enjoy!!!

Another google maps find. We started off with the Grande nachos that were great. Of course, would be great if there was cheese on the outside chips. I had the Masher and Banger that had a nice flavor and texture. My wife had the Monday special of seitan Marsala but didn’t have a Marsala flavor. Maybe more Marsala wine would do the trick. The carrot cake tasted more like gingerbread than carrot. My chocolate cake was delicious. Bonus, my wife really enjoyed the tea. We can recommend Red Lentil if you are in the area. Would give five stars if the above “issues” weren’t present.

The seitan side dish was excellent. If I lived near by I would be getting a take out of this weekly to add to my food at home. Our seitan order did sit for a long time under the heat lamp. The other food was also tasty.It was great to be in a vegetarian restaurant any worry about cross contamination.I also hate cilantro. The waitress said the guacamole had no cilantro but then brought it out and said there was cilantro in it but it usually doesn’t.I’m into consistent food in a restaurant. The place to mix things up are in the specials. The regular menu items should be consistent. The mole sauce she said she put on the side because it did end up having cilantro after she had told me it didn’t. She was nice enough but I think a waitperson should know their product better. It was a 3 plus but I rounded up because it’s a vegetarian restaurant!!! Oh, and the seitan was perfect!I’ll be back.

I am not a vegetarian or vegan, and I love the food here. The food is very creative and delicious. The only negative thing that I could possibly have to say about the red lentil is that the service although very pleasant, can be a bit slow. A bit slow to be seated, and tables a bit slow to be cleared. I had the vegan shepherds pie and it was absolutely amazing I finished it off with the vegan chocolate cake again was absolutely amazing. everyone at the table enjoyed their food very much it will definitely return hopefully the issues with a slow service which appears to be a reoccurring complaint at the restaurant will sort itself out.

Phenomenal! Very creative vegan meals that are actually good, like really good, really tasty, really filling. Can I have a red lentil cook book please? The service was very nice and pretty quick, the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. If you like vegan and vegetarian food, this place is top notch, and not terribly expensive. Keep in mind that if youre going at peak times, it can get busy there. Overall, I had a great experience... Full 5 star recommendation!

We came here for brunch one weekend and we were blown away. Everything was delicious and came with great portion sizes. Definitely a place to check out if you’re looking for a great vegan breakfast option!

All the dishes are tasty and well prepared. Service friendly and quick. There was a wait dispite it being a weekday. Definitely recommended to make a reservation.

50% of our meal was great, other half was not great. We loved the cauliflower appetizer (gobi Manchuriaand the Mexican pizza were great. The carrot cake was also amazing. The Sheppard’s pie and seaweed salad were not good.

The food here was so delicious and filling, and pretty much everything is 100% vegan. We had the Hummus platter, Nirvana Delight, Pistachio & Coconut Herb-Encrusted Tofu, Shepherds Pie, and Orange Dream- all of these dishes were vegan and very tasty. The desserts cycle through, so the orange dream wont always be available, but they know how to make delicious desserts. The waitress was very friendly and helped us make good choices from the menu. :)