Time to eat more plants
By Darien Davies
Hey, the planet called. It wants you to chill out on the meat and dairy. Something about it helping you and Mother Nature to live longer? Yeah, that was it. Not only that, but plants and veggies are also delicious, require very little for growth, and provide an intense ROI for your health. Just ask you heart, brain, eyes and other major organs how it feels when you eat vegan versus when you eat meat-n’. If the thought of cooking clean stops you in your tracks, don’t fret. Here are the top five vegan restaurants in Palm Beach County, and they’re all ready to prove to you just how delish a meat — and dairy — free meal can be.
Christopher’s Kitchen
The mission for this family-owned restaurant is to serve only the highest quality, certified organic plant-based food, utilizing an honest approach with techniques and ingredients that maximize real nutritional value for healthful results. So, if you think you’re going to get bland, tasteless and basic dishes, you’re totally wrong — and they’re here to prove it to you. They are dishing out weekend brunch items (as well as bottomless mimosas!), a large and in charge daytime/dinner menu, happy hour dishes, sweet treats, and a juices and smoothies menu that will make you realize you knew nothing about the power of the liquid world. The Cacao Crunch Acai Bowl, Spicy Kung Pao Beets, French Dip sandwich, Veggie Sausage pizza, nut-free smoothies, ice cream shakes, homemade raw chocolates, and juice cleanses will blow your tastebuds and your mind.
4783 PGA, Palm Beach Gardens; (561) 318-6191
christopherskitchenfl.com
Mood
Good food, good mood, it’s as simple as that. The team invites you to allow them to transform your temporary state of mind and feeling through plant-based culinary bliss. Their mission is to use organic ingredients as much as possible and use the nourishment provided by Earth’s gardens — and they’ve literally thought of everything. Their menus range from the daily menu, beer and wine menu, and cocktail menu, to their happy hour, very special cocktail menu, happy endings cocktails menu and zero proof menu. While the kitchen is targeting your stomach with items like the Falafel Pancake, Southwest Chili Bowl and Not Your Mama’s BLT, the apothecary-style cocktail bar is going right for the pleasure center of the brain with their list of thoughtfully crafted house-made concoctions. Come once, come often.
235 Southwind HWY 1, Tequesta; (561) 766-2317
moodvegan.com
Plant Based Mafia
Food so good it’ll kill you. Kidding! That’s the opposite of Plant Based Mafia’s goal. They want you to join their Mafia-themed franchise restaurant family and enjoy a menu that has both Italian and Southern influences. Their menu has something for everyone and they almost trick you into believing that their dishes are 100% plant based. Seriously, with items like their Big Daddy Mac n Cheese, Meatball Parmigiana, The Hit Man (with hand-rolled meatballs) and their award-winning Not Your Grandma’s Rigatoni, you’d think you’re smack dab in the middle of meat central. They’re even making gelato, sundaes and their version of the Brooklyn Egg Cream. It might sound crazy but eating Mafia-style vegan is crazy good.
7100 Fairway Dr, Suite 52, Palm Beach Gardens; (561) 223-2432
plantbasedmafia.com
Meraki
Not feeling your best? Trying to lose weight and gain health? Meraki is your solution. The Slawson family is passionate about providing their community with healthy, lifestyle eating choices and the finest plant based, dairy free cuisine, gluten free options, cold pressed juices, and superfoods of superior nutritional value and delicious taste that are organic and locally sourced whenever possible. Yep, it’s a mouthful, but it’s also a delicious mouthful that your body will thank you for. Their all-day menu includes breakfast, salads, bowls, smoothies, handhelds, desserts, ice cream shakes, cold pressed juices and juice cleans packages. Still on the vegan fence? The Warrior Smoothie, Power Bowl or Satisfied Nut Mylk will definitely change your stomach mind.
328 Fern St., West Palm Beach; (561) 508-6640
merakijuicekitchen.com
PLANTA
PLANTA makes plants look cool. Not that they’re not already cool, but it’s the equivalent of having deliciously roasted Brussels sprouts versus your mom’s steamed farty version. Led by Founder and CEO Steven Salm and co-founder and Executive Chef David Lee, PLANTA was born in 2016 to expand the accessibility and acceptability of plant-based dining; dining as it should be — an (un)guilty pleasure. Creating a premier hospitality collective of 100% plant-based restaurants, PLANTA reimagines, reinvents and revitalizes, providing flavorful proof that the power of plants can change the world. Enjoy everything from Mushroom Carpaccio, Unagi Eggplant Nigiri, Campanelle Pasta, Diavola Pizza, and revel in the finer plant-based things in life.
700 S Rosemary Ave, Suite 142, West Palm Beach; (561) 208-5222
plantarestaurants.com
