I’m not a vegetarian. When I think of going to get something to eat I don’t picture a tofu patty or neat loaf. But this is not to say I am against vegetarianism. It’s just that I usually prefer to have meat with my meal. So it was with great surprise that I find myself frequenting Silence Heart Nest in Fremont. In the former Longshoreman’s Daughter location Silence Heart Nest is a unique blend of cool, blue interior space and sari clad waitresses.

A co-worker and I stop in today for a lunch and, though the restaurant was nearly half-full, we recieve prompt service. Serving breakfast and lunch, a quick scan of the menu reveals that my personal choices are limited. I have a confession to make - I hate eggs. Scrambled, fried, poached, boiled; you name the style in which they are cooked and I will dislike it. Silence Heart Nest, like most vegetarian restaurants I’ve been to, is somewhat heavy on the egg dishes. When all is said and done I find that I really have few options; an entree salad, mac ‘n’ cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich. Wanting something somewhat substantial for lunch I order the Grilled Cheese ($6.35) with the Aegean Salad ($2.00 extra) instead of potatoes.

With the grilled cheese you get your choice of bread and cheese. I chose sourdough and white cheddar. What arrived was thick sliced, crusty bread with a hint of tang. The interior of each slice was moist and dense. While not as golden brown as I like the exteriors of my grilled cheese it still had a nice butteriness to it that held, inside, a thick layer of gooey melted cheddar. Fresh and with a high butter fat content, the cheese added a great creaminess to the slightly crisp bread. Along with my sandwich came a small pile of spinach leaves topped with cucumber slices, diced tomatoes, walnuts, feta cheese and cranberries. While the cranberries seemed out of place the salad overall, with its combination of nutty walnuts and cool cumcumber as a nice addition to my meal.

If the grilled cheese is any indication of the rest of the menu; vegetarians should find Silence Heart Nest a plesant stop for a meal. And if you like eggs, well, you’ll have to tell me how they do with those. While not a stop I would make every day I can definitely see myself returning in the future.