NuVegan Café, 417 W. Grace St., Richmond, Va.
Hours: Noon-8 p.m.
Menu: https://www.ilovenuvegan.com
Suited for: Vegetarians, vegans, omnivores, soul food lovers
Just two hours away from where we live in Northern Virginia, Richmond is a very easy weekend (or anytime) jaunt for LeeLee and me. Between us, we’ve been dozens of times over the years, and I’m proud to say we’ve eaten (and drank) at many of the city’s best and most fun veg-forward spots. But not until December did we darken the door of one of NuVegan’s newer outposts. Now with the benefit of hindsight, it was a crime that we waited so long! We won’t make that mistake again. It’s now on the permanent visitation agenda.
Those new to the NuVegan brand are in for a wonderful treat. The family-owned chain, which has locations in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Woodbridge, Va., and Richmond, offers up vegan soul food that warms the heart and fills the belly. With an extensive hot bar and made-to-order sandwiches, no matter your craving, you’ll find the remedy here.
Chik’n drummies? Fried fish? Barbecue tofu? It’s all here. And what would a meal be without some good old sides – the mac and cheese will leave a lasting memory on your taste buds, and you can’t leave without some collard greens just to give dish a pop of color.
As for LeeLee and me, we’ve been to the NuVegan movie many times before up in Washington (and visited its predecessors down in Florida), so we knew the drill coming in: Order two kinds of sandwiches, cut them in half, and then order two sides to split. What starts as a simple lunch becomes a tasting menu right quick!
I ordered the fish sandwich. LeeLee ordered the steak and cheese sub. Then we ordered a side each of macaroni and cheese and collard greens and awaited our feast.
A word to the wise: Good food takes time. So if you’re in a rush (we weren’t), you might want to order ahead for pickup so it will be ready when you arrive. But either way, your patience will be well rewarded.
The fish sandwich is one of my favorites to order from NuVegan; it reminds me of so many church fish fries I grew up attending in the South. But unlike those past times, this fish sandwich is all plant-based – and it is a true delight. The texture was spot-on and the breading was masterfully applied. It’s been a month since I enjoyed it last and I still dream of it.
Meanwhile, LeeLee’s steak and cheese sub took us to Philly in our minds at once! Get an extra napkin: The sub is messy in all the best ways. The veggie-steak is meaty and hearty, the cheese perfectly smooth. My advice? Give up all sense of propriety at the table and just go for it.
And then there are the aforementioned mac and cheese and collard greens. I’m not going to lie: I am totally biased toward these two sides, because they are frankly the gold standard for NuVegan. You can’t go wrong with any of the restaurant’s side items, but you would be a fool to not order these two at the very least. The collards are perfectly tangy; the mac and cheese is the creamiest and richest you have likely ever had. Even when I cannot possibly eat one more bite, I’m always sorry to see them go!
And along those same lines, I was also sorry to see lunch end once we polished off every morsel of our order. But not to worry: We’ll certainly be back for more!
:)