The restaurant business can be an extremely wasteful one — and those times when you don’t have time to cook or just feel like someone else’s cooking, can have a serious impact on your footprint. Luckily the foodies have options, with more and more sustainable restaurants springing up around the world. With this in mind, we’ve culled 10 great new restaurants in the U.S., with help from the extensive Green Restaurant Association database and reviews from both diners and other publications. Each restaurant — offering a variety of cuisine — has been in operation for less than a year.
Restaurants can accumulate points in seven categories to earn a green badge from the Green Restaurant Association:
* Chemical and Pollution Reduction
* Water Efficiency
* Waste Reduction and Recycling
* Sustainable Furnishings and Building Materials
* Sustainable Food
* Energy, and Disposables.
Based on the number of points earned, restaurants are designated as a 2-Star (at least 100 points) or a 3-Star (at least 175 points) Certified Green Restaurant.
1. CUPS 3-star (194.42 points)
Location: La Jolla, California
Cuisine: Organic Cupcakes/Lounge
Review from Yelp: I opted for the chocolate milk and my bf got the maple w/bacon…wowza!! I’m telling you..we could’ve skipped breakfast and just had some of those! It tasted like pancakes w/bacon and syrup..mmmm.. The cupcakes were very moist and generous w/the topping as well.
Highlights:
At CUPS, 30% of main dishes are vegetarian. They source certified organic items, boast many vegan options, and feature recycled flooring, countertops, and decor. They also recycle cardboard, paper, plastics, glass, and aluminum, and staff dines on 100% reusables.
