[Photo courtesy of jukeboxgraduate/flickr]

An item about a new vegetarian restaurant in Greenpoint deserves its own item in GL. So it is with the interestingly named William Taft Vegetarian Diner and Deli at 155 Calyer Street. The restaurant bears the name of U.S. President William Taft, who was a patient at John Harvey Kellogg’s Sanitarium in Battle Creek, where vegetarianism was the order of the day. Blogger and jogger Gary Jarvis emails us that:

The place now looks very close to opening. I’m of two minds, though…It’d be terrific to have a place like this only a couple of blocks from home. On the other hand, I was was wondering there’d be enough interest or demand to sustain such a venture. I am aware, however, that Williamsburg has extended a long exploratory tendril up Franklin Street, and that the hipster crowd has been moving northward along it and colonizing the western reaches of Greenpoint. But will this be enough? I sure hope so — I’d really like to see this place succeed. I mean, assuming the food is good and the folks there are nice and all that.

In addition, the excellent 11222 to which we haven’t paid nearly enough attention (and for which we will be making amends), includes an item on the Taft. 11222, from whom we lifted the photo here, notes:

A few months back, the shuttered space had a sign taped to it, announcing the William Taft Vegetarian Restaurant. We weren’t sure if it was a joke or not. Walking by once to find people inside cleaning, we asked when the place would open and were told April 15. That day came and went, and I just assumed it was another NYC restaurant venture that just never got off the ground.

A few weeks ago, we noticed that the bright red FRANGELLO’S awning had been removed. We hoped that meant progress.

Given that the nearest vegetarian options are in Williamsburg, the Taft should be a welcome addition for those closer to Newtown Creek.