Vegan restaurant serves popular meat alternatives in west Charlotte

The café is at 4419 Tuckaseegee Road, next to the local nonprofit organization Love in Action. 

Why it matters: The restaurant donates 30% of its sales to its neighboring nonprofit, which provides housing and services for veterans, disabled individuals and elderly residents.

• The restaurant has also become a space to help support entrepreneurs through a nonprofit program called The Boost Pad, according to WBTV. Co-owner Dumar Hemingway recently partnered with co-founders Joseph Butler and Manny Lovon of the brand Love Is Love Always to supply sea moss products in the café. 

Background:  The café first opened in February. Prior to that, the property was a soul food restaurant called Fresh from the Grill, which operated for about a year and a half. 

• Hemingway says he always wanted to focus on creating flavorful plant-based food dishes without having to compromise taste.
• “I’ve been eating plant-based for 35 years and I noticed healthy food rarely tastes good. Eventually, I had to start creating healthier food options that I’d actually enjoy,” Hemingway said.

Menu: Expect plant-based breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes from a rotating list of local chefs offering specialty dishes.

• Specialty items vary depending on the day and the chef. Themed options include taco Tuesdays, Rasta pasta Thursdays and no oxtail Fridays.
• Popular dishes include a sea moss-infused French toast, jackfruit Philly cheesesteak, a meatless meatloaf and sweet potato pie.

“There’s a scarcity when it comes to food on the west side of Charlotte. We wanted to set up a space that would become a source for our community,” Butler said.  

Vibe: The space is designed to be a comfortable casual dining spot that reminds people of being at home. 

• There’s indoor seating to fit around 40 people, plus a couple of tables outside. By the summer they’ll have an outdoor deck with a pizza oven. 
• Local entrepreneurs’ art, sea moss products and handmade jewelry are displayed throughout the café for sale. 

Hours: It’s open Monday through Friday from 9am-8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm.

• The café will host events throughout the week including hands-on art workshops and fundraisers. On the weekends they offer live music and adult game nights once a month. 

What’s next: There are plans to expand by the end of the year. 

• Hemingway tells us they plan to open two locations in the surrounding areas within the next six months.
• “We want more people to have access to healthier lifestyles, so we’re going to start by creating more places in nearby areas to fulfill that void,” said Hemingway.