While some establishments cater to plant-based diets, others feature tasty selections on the mainstream menu, and the vibes vary to suit your mood.
Coffee & Cocktails
The coffee machine’s buzz and a cocktail shaker’s rattle greet guests at The Mercury Café and Teahouse. (Brewing tea is a quieter affair.) The menu is 100% vegetarian but can be vegan upon request. Gyros are made with thinly sliced vegan “meat.” Instead of pulled pork, the barbecue sandwich is made with oats. New Castle; themercurynewcastle.com
Grab & Go
Delectablez, part of DE.CO, is 100% vegan, from the “burgers” to the milkshakes to the pancakes. Pizza is a specialty. Wilmington; decowilmington.com
Vegan empanadas are the star of Rooted AF, inside The Chancery Market Food Hall & Bar. Purchase them at the counter, Janssen’s Market and local ShopRite stores. Wilmington; rootedaf.com
Daily Veg in the Shops of Limestone Hills is another 100% plant-based restaurant. Beyond Burger, Chick’n and Good Catch “fish” filets replace traditional proteins. The restaurant also serves salads, dairy-free milkshakes and fries topped with vegan cheddar cheese and “bacon.” Wilmington; dailyveg.com
Have It Your Way
Although Philadelphia-based Honeygrow offers composed salads and bowls, customers can modify the ingredients. They can also create their own dish by choosing a base, a protein, vegetables, a garnish and sauce. Wilmington, Christiana and Newark; honeygrow.com
Seedbol Kitchen follows a similar concept for the create-your-own option. Vegans can select Asian tofu, roasted red pepper hummus or scrambled falafel as a protein, while meat eaters can choose chicken or shrimp. Rehoboth Beach; seedbol.com
Full-Service
Larger restaurants with something for everyone include Home Grown Cafe, whose menu has icons for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free selections. (The Harvest Buddha Bowl boasts all three.) Newark; homegrowncafe.com
In Sussex County, Our Harvest is a critically acclaimed restaurant focused on artisanal ingredients, with a vegan menu section. The paella, for instance, has no meat or seafood, and cauliflower is covered in 11 herbs and spices, fried, and served with hot sauce and vegan ranch dressing. Fenwick Island; ourharvestde.com
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