Do You Have Anything Vegan?

Note from Steve & Jim to start: Sorry we’ve been kinda quiet lately. We’ve had a bunch of stuff going on. And we have a bunch of fun travel coming up so expect all sorts of places popping up here from Brighton to Canary Islands to Greece to Scotland. We got our passports ready, you get your tastebuds in sync. Now let’s get on with it…

Sometimes when you go on vacation (holiday as everyone else likes to say) to a beachy town like Brighton, you just crave some good ol’ fast food deliciousness. And OOWEE definitely delivers the yum. From burgers to ‘chick-in’ to mac-n-cheese with vegan bacon crumbles on top (pictured above – damn was that good), this is the place to try if you wanna embrace the fried goodness of life. Good seating indoors as well as out front, super friendly staff, great spot nestled in with all the other shops. Go get your yum on at OOWEE.

Address: 23 Market St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1HH

Website: OOWEE

WAY GOOD VEGAN PANCAKES. That’s what we’re talkin’ about. Not too sweet, in fact, more tart if we’re being honest. Light and fluffy with a tangy vegan yogurt that looks like whipped cream but again not too sweet. TAB TAB’s vegan pancakes are a perfect share meal or if you’re feeling really hungry, go for the whole thing yourself.

Address: 14-16 Westbourne Grove, London

Website: TAB TAB

PUREZZA exceeds the hype. For real. They popped up on Steve’s Insta feed three times in one day and the verdict is: GO. GO NOW. Located in Camden Town, you’ll have plenty of shopping to explore after you enjoy your meal, it’s right next door to HOUSE OF SEITAN which is next on our list. PUREZZA has a great vibe, the owner couldn’t be nicer, and the food is incredible. They offer a mini 10 inch pizza – veggie and pepperoni both pictured above – for 10 pounds for lunch until I wanna say 5pm? Check the website. What’s better than pizza? The ceasar salad (also pictured above). Holy crap. Best one we’ve ever had. Grab some pizza at PUREZZA – you’ll thank us later.

Address: 45-47 Parkway, London

Website: PUREZZA

Need a great cup of coffee and a vegan snack? TOAST has got you covered. With multiple locations around London, you’ll find one near you. We hit the one in Maida Vale, got two Americanos (I add way too much sugar do not judge me), a slice of chocolate chip banana bread and a blueberry tart bar (not sure that’s the exact name of it but that’s what I’m calling it). TOAST has a great vibe inside. Perfect place to bring your laptop and get some writing or work done or meet a friend to chat it up. Life’s short, go get TOAST-ed.

Address: Multiple locations – check website.

Website: TOAST

Attention all Cookie Monsters:

EVERY. SINGLE. COOKIE. IN. THIS. CLUB. IS. VEGAN.

We were heading out of Coal Drop Yards toward Kings Cross and there it was like a beacon in the night (even though it was middle of the afternoon) drawing us to it. Walked up to see display with green leaf on first cookie, then second, then third… The woman behind the counter utters the best sentence ever, “ALL our items are vegan.” Did we mention they have shakes, too? They have shakes, too. There. We mentioned it. Did we also mention they take 20% off if you buy 4 or more? Go get you some cookies. Chomp chomp chomp.

FYI – They have same day delivery service in London and next day delivery everywhere else.

Address: 6 LOCATIONS – check website

Website: AFTER SCHOOL COOKIE CLUB

This may be our new favorite place – yes – it’s that good, no, it’s that GREAT, and we are not overhyping it here.

Jim took me on an early Valentine’s secret dinner to OLIVERIA KITCHEN where they have a full vegetarian/vegan menu. Everything on it can be made to order vegan, so you and your friends are covered. This place is the definition of ‘swank,’ super modern in style and decor. And the owner/head chef Emerson Amélio de Oliveira could not be more friendly, hilarious, and thoughtful if he tried. He personally greeted us at our table to welcome us.

OK, let’s get to it and talk food: The flavors, textures, and visual styling of plates are outstanding. Menu is broken down into:

SNACKS – we tried the BREAD & BUTTER and JACKIES – both delicious;

STARTERS – we had the CERVICHE, SPAGHETTI, and LADY QUAIL – it was a real toss up as to which was our fave. For Jim it was definitely the LADY QUAIL, for Steve it was the SPAGHETTI;

MAINS – we split the MISS MUFFET AND THE CORNISH SMUGGLER – which had grated black truffle and if you’re not a black truffle fan, we aren’t meant to be lifelong friends who one day trade kidneys.

What more can we say? GO. EAT. ENJOY.

Address: 80 Paul St

Website: OLIVERIA KITCHEN

We were out and about right off the Elizabeth line at Liverpool St, when we were both craving a cup o’ Joe and something sweet and we happened upon this place. It’s in the heart of the financial district, a lot of fancy dressed working people. Coffee was super strong and the vegan carrot cake and double chocolate cake delivered. Great place to people watch while you caffeine and sugar it up.

Address: 85 King William St (multiple locations – check website)

Website: ATTENDANT COFFEE ROASTERS

Recently traveling to the Phoenix area, VEGAN & VINE came recommended to us from a friend and my mom also heard about it on a radio show. To clarify: my mom heard about the creme brulee (apologies to any French readers for the lack of punctuation) on the radio show, which is pictured above and let me say does not disappoint. I asked our server, who happened to be the co-owner, if they used aquafaba (OK fine, I’ll admit I said ‘chickpea water’ haha) to mimic the egg/creme texture and her eyes went huge, “How do you know that??” was her response. I shrugged and said, “M’yeh, I know some stuff” (I don’t know how to change a tire but I know about aquafaba).

Also pictured above:

• Mac ‘n Cheese – which was delicious although a penne noodle not a macaroni noodle and if I’m being 100% honest here was more like a cream sauce pasta dish than a classic mac ‘n cheese – but still DELICIOUS;
• Caesar Salad – so so SO GOOD – right balance of flavors and great crunch factor;
• Chicken Fried Steak and Fries – FAVORITE DISH of the evening – covered in spot-on gravy.

We buffeted it and ate family-style so we could all get a taste of everything. Restaurant interior is super modern with brick and concrete and metal style. And finally, the co-owner could not have been sweeter. She really makes it feel like you’re at home having a meal with friends and family.

Give VEGAN & VINE a go, you will not be disappointed.

Address: 502 E Thunderbird Rd

Website: VEGAN & VINE

Apulia is a region in Italy but this here delicious spot feels more Greek-inspired. With a bunch of vegan choices, it’s a perfect spot for a cup of coffee and a snack or if you’re really hungry, plenty of choices to fill you up.

We split the FALAFEL WRAP – it had a nice red pepper flake kick to it – and the JACKET POTATO – a UK classic. Located on a quiet side street away from the crowds shopping two blocks away, enjoy yourself at this local neighborhood favorite.

Address: 69 Upper Berkeley St, London

Website: LA MESSERIA

Quoting right from BUBALA’s website: ‘Our food is playful and champions the humble vegetable.’

So Jim’s BFF Hillari sent us a gift card to BUBALA for Christmas. We figured they would have a few vegan or veggie items. We arrived to this super-packed place to find out the entire menu is vegan and vegetarian. They even have a vegan tasting menu and because it’s the holidays, a vegan holiday tasting menu. They also have an a la cart menu where you can pick from small to larger shared plates. Tons of options – YES – we LOVE tons of options, don’t we?

We enjoyed the PICKLE PLATE – which included pickled mushrooms, LAFFA BREAD, HUMMUS with burnt butter and pine nuts, SMACKED CUCUMBERS, TAHINI & CHILI CRUNCH – which our server recommended after we asked him what his favorite dish on the menu is (we do this everywhere we go cause who knows better than the people who work there, right?), and a few more plates. Everything tasted amazing especially accompanied with the wine we ordered.

We’ll be going back.

Address: 15 Poland Street, SoHo (multiple locations – check website)

Website: BUBALA