Grand Rapids, Michigan doesn’t have any all vegan restaurants, but that doesn’t mean that vegans are out of luck. Vegans – people who don’t eat animal products such as meat and dairy – have many great choices for vegan food in Grand Rapids. There are a number of restaurants that cater to the vegan diet by offering a range of great vegan options.
The three best restaurants for vegans in Grand Rapids are:
Bartertown Diner & Roc’s Cakes (6 Jefferson St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503 / Phone: 616-233-3219 / Hours: Open everyday except Tuesday, hours change frequently so check their website for updates )
Bartertown Diner & Roc’s Cakes may be the newest restaurant catering to vegans in Grand Rapids, but it is simply the best. This restaurant not only features some of the best vegan food in Grand Rapids, it also puts an emphasis on local “farm-to-table” food and sustainable practices. To top it off, the restaurant is collectively run and owned by the employees, meaning its commitment to sustainability goes far beyond the food. It’s the kind of place that vegans can be proud to go to, because the people that run the restaurant really care about the food and many of them are vegan. The menu changes frequently because of Bartertown’s reliance on locally grown and in season produce, so specific recommendations tend to go out of date quickly. But the restaurant has featured a series of great sandwiches known as “The Michigander.” There have been three different ones so far with the most recent featuring tofu ricotta, wilted spinach, sweet potatoes, maple-garlic veganaise, and vegan cheese. It’s a great sandwich, especially when followed by one of the great vegan cupcakes (flavors change daily).
Brick Road Pizza Co. (1017 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 / Phone: 616-719-2409 / Hours: Tues.-Sat. 11-11, Sundays 11-9)
Brick Road Pizza Co. was one of the first restaurants in Grand Rapids to cater to vegan customers and it has remained one of the best choices for vegans. As the name would suggest, the restaurant specializes in pizzas, many of which are vegan. The best of their many vegan pizza offerings is the Buffalo Tofu Pizza with vegan ranch sauce, vegan cheese, and sauteed buffalo tofu. It’s a unique and delicious way to prepare pizza. They also have a full selection of vegan sandwiches (try either the Vegan Club or the Vegan Pulled pork) and pasta dishes. One of their signature vegan dishes is the “Vegan Garbage Plate” which is a mound (quite literally) of vegan food: macaroni salad, fried potatoes, a black bean burger, spicy meat sauce, and a roll. It’s a very original and satisfying dish that you won’t find at any other restaurant in Grand Rapids.
Stella’s Lounge (53 Commerce Ave, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 / Phone: 616-SHAG-444 / Hours: Mon. – Fri. 4pm – 2am; Sat. & Sun. 12pm – 2am)
Stella’s Lounge is a bar that features vegan food in downtown Grand Rapids. While it may seem unlikely – as Stella’s is located right in the heart of Grand Rapids’ bar scene – it does offer some of the best vegan food around. If you are going to Stella’s you should do it right by starting with one of the best vegan appetizers at an area restaurant: the Poor Man’s Chicken Wings. These “wings” are potato wedges doused in wing sauce and served with a side of vegan ranch for dipping. They are very good and a great vegan take on a traditional bar item. I’d follow the appetizer up with the either the “Refuse/Resist” – a french toast breakfast themed sandwich with tofu scramble and tempeh bacon – or the “World Eater” – a seitan -chicken-style sandwich served with either BBQ or buffalo sauce. Stella’s is also known for their Thursday night $3 vegan burgers. If you want to avoid the bar crowd, get there before 8pm.