Roseville scores again with yet another amazing restaurant. If you want to eat at what people are calling "the best vegan restaurant" they've eaten at, get over to Vegan Plate and prepare to be impressed! Vegan Plate does a great job of combining Asian cuisine with vegetarian freshness using an assortment of locally sourced food. These 24 carats (I couldn't resist the low hanging fruit pun) of vegan deliciousness is quickly growing in popularity, and it's easy to see why. On the day I visited Vegan Plate (before COVID-19 pandemic), I was lucky enough to get there right before the lunch crowd hit and learned quite a bit about Vegan Plate. Let me explain why I know this place is going to explode and not just among those who eat a vegan diet.
What Does Vegan Mean Anyway?
To fully appreciate how dedicated Vegan Plate is about offering the community a great place to enjoy vegan eats, let us first (that's two puns already in the bag) discuss how complicated this undertaking can be. According to experts in the field, the word vegan can be applied to identify a sandwich, sweater, or shampoo. In its loosest setting, it means something that doesn't contain any animal bi-product. But when applying the word to a restaurant, the definition becomes a bit more complicated as there several ways in which diners interpret what constitutes a vegan eatery.
Vegan Plate provides an ever-evolving menu that is growing like a bean stalk (really?) to make sure it's satisfying as many people as possible. The breakdown of vegetarian to vegan goes like this. Lacto-vegetarians do not eat red or white meat, fish, fowl or eggs. However, lacto-vegetarians do consume dairy products such as cheese, milk and yogurt. Ovo-vegetarians do not eat red or white meat, fish, fowl or dairy products. However, ovo-vegetarians do consume egg products and Ovo-Lacto vegetarians consume both eggs and dairy products. This group is by far the most popular vegetarian. Then there a couple of sub-types in the category of "flexitarians". Pescatarians, while technically not a type of vegetarian, restrict their "meat" consumption to fish and seafood.
Pollotarians are those that restrict their diet of beef and pork but do consume fowl. Sounds bit like tossed salad to you? It did to me too. But despair not because from there it gets very straightforward. A vegan is someone who eats a vegetarian diet in its strictest form. It's restricted to only plant-based foods and eliminates all forms of animal products including eggs and dairy. Period. So, for an establishment to cater to various types of vegetarians, it takes a creative menu and flexibility on the part of the chef. In its first year, here's what Vegan Plate has done that's pleasing vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Read on to learn how.
A Menu That Has Something for Almost Everyone
To start with, I have to say that this place is amazing and not just because it has the most extensive vegan selection of any vegan restaurant I've tried. It is also food that is delicious no matter what your dietary choices are! Dishes are creatively prepared. Vegan Plate didn't take an easy route by just adding the industry standard protein products like Beyond Meat, Tofurky, Sweet Early or MorningStar. Instead, Vegan Plate curated several dishes so that they are enjoyable regardless of a person's vegan preference! I couldn't resist the orange "chicken" dish. The "chicken" is created with a soy bean and grain combination that mouth-watering delicious. It can be ordered with the "chicken" alone or combined with cauliflower. I asked for a 50/50 combo of the two so I could try them both and it was outstanding! But quite honestly, the menu is extensive enough that you must go back many times before repeating your choice.
It covers everything from "burgers" to Asian food to pasta, salads, soups and even several selections of desserts including cheesecake that looks AMAZING. The beverage selection is equally diverse as the food. In addition to soda, there's Boba drinks, Vietnamese Iced or Hot Coffee, juices, Forager, fresh fruit smoothies and a large selection of specialty teas.
When I visited before COVID-19, by noon, there was a line forming towards the front door which gave me a convenient opportunity to ask others what they liked about Vegan Plate. Everyone I talked to had an enthusiastic response from giving a shout out to a favorite dish, the large variety of choices and the friendly customer service. It was clear that this place has a regular following.
The Future of Vegan Plate
The amazing place is going into its second year of business. While I didn't get a chance to speak to its owner the day I visited, I spoke with her nephew, Jay. He said that his aunt opened the restaurant because his family has a passion for healthy eating. When asked what the future holds for Vegan Plate, Jay replied that it will be continuing to expand on the number of non-protein dishes offered. The family is excited about the future for Vegan Plate and judging from how quickly the restaurant filled up by noon, I'd say others are equally excited.
At Roseville Self Storage, We Love Local Restaurants
Roseville is a great place to live, work, eat and play. Diversity is a part of the Roseville community and places like Vegan Plate are welcomed in Roseville. As Roseville's neighborhood self storage facility, we want to encourage others to support places like Vegan Plate. Roseville Self Storage is a proud member of Roseville's community; we love discovering new restaurants and sharing them with you. Please join us in helping spread the word on your favorite great finds. Come by Roseville Self Storage and tell us what you’ve discovered lately. We look forward to hearing from you!
Vegan Plate is located at 1821 Douglas Blvd, Ste C-5
Roseville, CA 95678 (in the Hobby Lobby shopping center).
916-953-7033
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please call Vegan Plate for their updated policies and hours of operation.
