Dining
One of my local favorites is Big Mama’s Burritos, on the corner of Grandview Avenue and Third Avenue. Big Mama’s has highly accessible hours and affordable pricing, which is helpful when I don’t want to spend a lot of money and want to get really full on a delicious, giant vegan burrito. That California girl in me has a real soft-spot for Mexican food.
For a while, refried beans seemed like they had disappeared and the only burritos you could get came with either black beans or whole pintos. I’m so glad a buddy of mine turned me onto this great place. While the building of the burrito is not done right in front of you, you still have a lot of say as to what goes into it.
Their guacamole is fresh and delicious – I really do rate Mexican food on their beans and their guacamole. They have interesting salsa options (mango!) and while their corn tortilla chips are not made in house, they are good. Next time you are ravenous, you can get a decent sized vegan burrito there for under $5.
If you are seeking authentic Italian fare bursting with flavor, Z Cucina of Grandview is absolutely one of my top recommendations to take your date, family or colleagues for a fantastic fine dining experience. They enthusiastically welcomed our vegan party offering a dietarily diverse menu and have wowed me with their culinary creations. Think whole foods, 100% plant-based options packed with nutritionally dense and delicious sauces, and balsamic reductions. I had a seasonal squash and cauliflower dish, a light, refreshing salad with sprouts and pine nuts, as well as a pasta with spinach, artichokes, basil, and tomatoes. Their traditional Italian bread is also vegan-friendly. Z Cucina is definitely on the docket for a future Columbus Vegan Meetup.
Trattoria Roma, located in the main downtown artery of Grandview, has a vegan friendly staff and excellent service level. They surprised me with their very tasty and robust veganized bruschetta (cashews) and a hearty farro dish. When you are looking for a romantic, fine dining atmosphere for Valentines Day, or any other celebratory occasion, they have great vegan eats. I highly recommend them. They are happy to accommodate special menu requests, you should ideally let them know you are vegan when making your reservation.
An exclusive, local, vegan food dining experience by Griffeth Events, in partnership with Sobremesa Street Kitchen and Simple Times Mixers, are again delivering an “out of sight” opportunity you may want to consider this month: Dining in the Dark on Feb 10th at 1400 Food Lab (formerly known as The Commissary).
Little Eater, a concept restaurant designed to promote more organic, produce-based foods and support local farmers, has expanded operations into a stand-alone restaurant in Clintonville at High Street and Deland Avenue. While there are still some animal products on the menu, vegan options are significantly represented. And, everything I have tried there was excellent, bursting with delicious flavor and colorful appeal.
Their fresh, vegetable-based, seasonally inspired foods are revitalizing. Their warm soups are comfortably satisfying and they have recognized that even vegans deserve dessert. The Columbus Vegan Meetup had a delightful experience there recently and we are grateful to entrepreneurs empowering vegan access and affordability.
As humanity’s population is rapidly growing and technology is constantly evolving, it is urgent for our cultural traditions and infrastructures to evolve into a model that is consciously consistent with our values: energy efficient agricultural production and a sustainable model of human coexistence with fellow earthlings.
Doughasis, much like a proverbial oasis, pops-up in warm months the Granville Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings from 9:30 am to noon and indoors from December through February at the Granville Elementary School. It’s fare will quench the thirst of parched vegans for fresh, warm, vegan donuts (Reese’s Puff, chocolate filled, churro, cookie butter Oreo, pumpkin churro, vanilla and chocolate sprinkle), and other delightful sweet treats like blondies, Buckeye bars (GF) and sugar cookie bars in the vegan dessert desert region just east of Columbus. Doughasis, launched in June 2017, is fully vegan owned and operated. They also pop-up at the indoor Pickerington Farmer’s Market at Combustion Brewing on Thursday nights from 4-7pm – see the Doughasis Facebook page for specific pop-up location, date and time details.
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters on the corner of Parsons Ave and Cline St. (across the street from the new Columbus Metropolitan Library) is one of the latest new vegan businesses to open empowering Columbus towards a rapid vegan shift in consciousness and choices. They are unique in offering “curated books, coffee, booze, yum-yum and culture” in one bright, open, clean and welcoming space.
They keep it interesting by combining standing menu items such as their house-made Pimento Cheese or quiche with a rotating platform for a variety of vegan pop-up businesses – from the long-established to the emerging local vegan entrepreneurs such as Willowbeez Soul Veg, Freaks and Leeks, to Village Taco to name a few.
Eden Burger’s mission is to “save the f’n world” (go guys go!). They share a building with the south OSU campus area local bar, Village Idiot. Eden Burger officially launched their new high-quality, fast food, artisan vegan burger, fries and banana-based shake business with an exciting array of burger options.
There are two types of burgers: 1-black bean and rice based, and 2- organic and breaded fried tempeh, with eight different burger styles from Western BBQ to Hawaiian. The burgers can be fried or grilled and all are made from predominantly organic ingredients. They have the quintessential burger accessory ensemble such as pickle chips, onion rings and fried tenders with buffalo sauce and a litany of premium toppings (like fresh avocado) and sauces. Gluten-free options are also available.
Marlee’s Beany Baked Goods is an exciting, new vegan treat business entering the Columbus food scene with a high protein bean and oat based alternative to conventional wheat flour-based baked goods. She does chocolate brownies, blondies (with vegan white chocolate chips) and no-bake cookies. She is also experimenting with a new, red velvet brownie made with beet juice. Super stoked to try that since her initial offerings are fantastic, and everyone is raving about them. She is happy to provide modified recipes for other avoidant dietary needs such as no-oil, no-sugar or make other baked goods, upon request.
Marlees Beany Baked Goods are now available daily at the Yeah, Me Too coffee house on Indianola.
TRISM, a fresh, new concept by the Growing Collective, located in the South Campus Gateway, much like their Alchemy concept, also happens to be one of the most healthy, nutrient dense, vegan friendly establishments to open recently. They have also honed in on a particularly unusual item (what??? a vegan poptart, no-bake bites and superfood gluten-free vegan donuts?!?!?) amidst their healthier fresh smoothies and smoothie bowl options that are currently available. Trism’s to-go utensils and packaging products are also environmentally low-impact.
The vegan community had an exciting opportunity to educate and empower everyone for a socially just future with VeganShift and the Columbus Vegan Meetup’s 5th Annual 300 Vegans 4 Independence campaign in the Columbus Doo Dah Parade on July 4. Vegan Outreach is also introducing a Vegan Mac Down on Saturday, July 15th, and we are hosting a bon-fire, volleyball, and potluck on July 22. Check out the Columbus Vegan Meetup group for more details on getting connected to the vegan community.
Do you ever wonder how vegans survive, or rather, have the discipline to live without dessert, or actually believe vegans live a life of such stinking deprivation? Are you a would-be-vegan or a new vegan desperate for vegan dessert in what seems like a vegan dessert desert? Wonder and despair no more. These Columbus locations provide delicious, decadent vegan dessert options: