Dabbling in a veg-forward lifestyle has never been easier, thanks to new eateries making plant-based options more accessible to all. Bloomfield stalwart Apteka has long been celebrated for converting even skeptical vegan diners; now, other venues are joining the lineup. This month, there’s even more reason to explore this side of Pittsburgh cuisine during the second annual Pittsburgh Vegan Restaurant Week, which takes place from May 11 through 17.
What’s Happening on the East End for Pittsburgh Vegan Restaurant Week?
Natalie Ahwesh, founding member and executive director of Humane Action Pennsylvania (which organizes the event), explains that Vegan Week is open to any restaurant willing to meet the program criteria — which includes offering a three-course, fixed-price, fully vegan menu for the week. “We piloted the event last year,” she says, “and the response, from both restaurants and the community, was overwhelmingly positive, so we were excited to bring it back.”
This year’s Vegan Week participants range from downtown’s Con Alma and Alihan’s Mediterranean Cuisine to EYV (Eat Your Veggies) Restaurant on the Northside and Khalil’s Middle Eastern Restaurant in Bloomfield. Ahwesh says the main goal of Pittsburgh Vegan Restaurant Week is to make plant-based eating more accessible, appealing and mainstream. “We want to meet people where they are and show that vegan food can be delicious, satisfying and easy to incorporate into everyday life,” she adds.
For participants, they hope it’s a chance to try something new, support local restaurants and maybe even discover a new favorite dish or spot. “Ultimately, we want people to walk away realizing that choosing plant-based options, even occasionally, can have a meaningful impact on animals, public health and the environment,” Ahwesh says.
Vegan Bites for Every Meal
If you’re looking to take a little vegan crawl on the East End, here are some spots we’d recommend. Start your day with a vegan bagel slathered with tofu cream cheese (and perhaps topped with vegan lox) from Squirrel Hill’s Pigeon Bagels, or pop by Regent Square’s buzzing new bakery, Confections by Casey Renee. At Confections, you’ll always find a vegan blueberry muffin, vegan chocolate chip cookie and a vegan fruit crumble bar. They also try to regularly have VGF lemon drop cookies on hand, due to their popularity; on weekends, they often stock vegan cupcakes, too.
“We are always thinking about expanding our menu, but right now we are just trying to keep up on the current demand,” says Renee, a two-time James Beard Semifinalist who has been welcomed warmly to her new brick-and-mortar cafe. (They always have gluten-free options as well, including a muffin, scone and cookie.)
“I have always had a soft spot for people with dietary restrictions,” she says, “and coming from the upscale restaurants in NYC, we would cater to all types of allergies. It’s just always been on my radar, and then we started getting vegan and gluten free regulars.” Feedback from these customers made her realize how important they were in Pittsburgh. “So I just kept expanding the menu and recipe testing,” she says. “It’s just always been an important part of the vision.”
Lunch Time is the Right Time
Later in the day, swing by Ineffable Cà Phê in Rockwell Park for vegan pho or banh mi sandwiches; Edgewood’s Spigolo often carries options like the vegan tofu wrap from Stuntpig, available to grab from their cooler and enjoy alongside your patio latte. At Bakery Square, City Kitchen newcomer Iron Root gets in on the Vegan Week action with a set menu: bruschetta with whipped tofu, the Golden Miso Claypot and Cherry Blossom Dessert Mocktail.
Anytime menu standouts at Iron Root include their jade coin soy pickles, roasted carrot gazpacho, crispy enochi (with vegan miso aioli, togarashi and lime) and the fire-roasted jade heart cabbage, a personal favorite during a recent sun-kissed al fresco lunch that made us feel transported to a breezy tropical destination. So far, the venue’s jerk BBQ shrooms pitas have been a top seller.
In the evening, sleek spots in East Liberty with vegan offerings range from Reva Modern Indian Cuisine to Hey Babe, where you can enjoy the carrot hummus bi tahini (crispy chickpeas, radish, preserved lemon, pistachio, grilled flatbread or crispy eggplant) or the fried oyster mushroom sandwich (sweet soy, chili oil, napa cabbage and carrot slaw, sesame, french loaf). Just around the corner, Duo’s serves a couple vegan-friendly mains, such as zanahorias, a combination of piloncillo ginger-braised Franklin Farms carrots, chivo blanco beans, peanut salsa macha and cilantro. And finally — though the list could go on — nothing sates one’s sweet tooth like a soy-based ice cream or fruit sorbet savored at Swissvale Dari Delite, a charming, Pittsburgh rite of summer since the 1950s.
Story and Featured Photo by Corinne Whiting