To food lovers, plant-based or otherwise: do your tastebuds a favor and check out these restaurants.
- The Gnome Cafe
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The Gnome Cafe is one of my all-time favorite cafes, vegan or otherwise. Fresh plants and flowers are found on every surface and the natural light shining in truly makes this cafe a treasure. With a beautiful atmosphere, all-day breakfast and lunch, and incredible coffee, you can’t go wrong. This cafe perfects vegan comfort food with a variety of flavors and creative twists. (And yes, everything on the menu is vegan!)
I Recommend:
The Hemp “Sausage” Biscuit
The Southern Grit Bowl
The Mushroom BLT
The Cinnamon Rolls (Served hot and fresh in the mornings and actually to die for.)
- Off-Track Ice Cream
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Off-Track Ice Cream is less than half a mile from campus and is a hidden gem right off of Saint Philip Street. With both vegan and traditional ice cream, there are options for anyone- and all of them are delicious. They also offer milkshakes, affogato, ice cream sandwiches, brownies, and sundaes (all of which can be made vegan)! The interior is gorgeous and offers plenty of space as well as free wifi, if you’re wanting to mix it up and study in an ice cream shop.
I Recommend:
The Deconstructed Samoa Vegan Ice Cream
Sea Salt Caramel Vegan Ice Cream
The Salty Beach Sundae (Honestly the best sundae I’ve ever had).
House-Made Vegan Brownies
- Basic Kitchen
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During orientation this year, my family stopped in here for lunch randomly and ended up going two days in a row because of how amazing it was. Basic Kitchen offers a variety of fresh, flavorful dishes, many of which are vegan and unapologetically mouthwatering. The space is large and incredibly well-designed, with gorgeous posters and wall decor everywhere you look. With lunch, brunch, and dinner, the options are endless. Creative and bright, the vegan dishes here are a must-have.
My Recommendations
The Cauliflower “Wings” (Served with housemade vegan ranch. Warning: May make you cry tears of actual joy.)
The Vegan Caesar
The Basic Bowl
The Nachos
Vegan Banana Pudding
- Playa Bowls
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As a lover of acai bowls (and I mean, who isn’t?), Playa Bowls immediately stood out to me as a top-tier spot for that spontaneous but much needed health fix. The variety in the menu caught my eye as soon as I stepped in the building, with seven different bowl bases, huge lists of smoothies and juices, and basically any combination of fruits you could dream of. The inside is the perfect place for an Insta flex and their bowls are heaven in juice-bar form.
My Recommendations:
Mermaid Fuel- Juice
The Jetty- Chia Bowl (Fellow lovers of chia pudding- this one’s for you.)
Aloha- Smoothie
Pacific- Green Bowl
Whether you’re a die-hard vegan, interested in plant-based eating, or just looking to try something new, these places exhibit the variety in plant-based eating– all while being cruelty-free and freaking delicious.