Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week Returns September 23-29!

New (Almost) Vegan Restaurant Opens in Downtown Cincinnati

For every traditional dish on the menu, Almost V'Gan Lounge offers a vegan counterpart.

Jul 25, 2024 at 10:34 am

Almost V'Gan Lounge | 34 E. Court St., Downtown Photo: Provided by 3CDC

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard - Inline - Content",
            "component": "16925999",
            "insertPoint": "5th",
            "startingPoint": "3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "3",
            "maxInsertions": 100
          }
          
        ]

A new health-conscious eatery with a mix of vegan and traditional dishes is now open in downtown Cincinnati.

Almost V’Gan Lounge, located at 34 E. Court St., features a restaurant with bottle service on one side and an upscale bar and lounge on the other. It recently held a soft opening with a private ribbon-cutting ceremony and will celebrate its grand opening Thursday starting at 2 p.m.

The restaurant is co-owned by Jarvis Shaw and Sean Reed, who say they recognized the lack of dining options for people with alternative diets and wanted AV Lounge to cater to a variety of lifestyles and tastes. The menu features a similar vegan pairing for every traditional dish, like jackfruit or pot roast tacos, grilled tofu or salmon sliders and grilled watermelon salad, among others. Diners will also find a selection of handcrafted cocktails and signature drinks.

“We are all required to do our part in healing the world, and we’re doing our part through food,” chef Camerron Dangerfield, an AV Lounge culinary partner and consultant, said in a press release. “It’s not just food, but offerings that nourish the mind, body and soul. AV Lounge is a complete depiction of just that. This is how we share our entire being — through delicious tastings that you won’t find elsewhere.”

click to enlarge

Photo: Provided by 3CDC

Almost V'Gan Lounge Flatbread Pesto

City Studios Architecture and Triversity Construction worked on designing the space, which offers a relaxed, lounge-style atmosphere and sports deep, vibrant colors; gold accents; and wallpaper ceilings.

AV Lounge is open Thursday through Sunday for lunch and dinner (11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; and 1-10 p.m. Sunday), as well as brunch on Sundays. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. each day, but the bar will remain open.

AV Lounge joins a collection of other restaurants that have recently opened on Court Street, including Pata Roja Taqueria, Court Street Kitchen and Onolicious, as well as Japanese convenience store Daruma.

“We cannot wait to join the other fantastic restaurants and bars on Court Street Plaza,” executive chef Stuart Royer said in the release. “We are bringing our own twist to the Cincinnati culinary scene.”

Almost V’Gan Lounge, 34 E. Court St., Downtown. More info: avlounge513.com.

Slideshow

26 Cincinnati Restaurants Offering Excellent Vegetarian Dishes

Rooted Juicery + Kitchen 3010 Madison Road, Oakley From coolers housing a rainbow display of juices to vegan meal bowls to a mini bakery, Rooted is out to prove that plant-based eating offers a vast variety of flavors and quality options. The Mexican grain bowl (quinoa, black beans, guacamole, walnut crumble, cashew cheese) is a favorite in the bowl category. Everything is as locally sourced as possible and the downtown location features a full coffee and matcha bar. Photo: Rooted Juicery + Kitchen

Good Plates Eatery 235 W. McMillan St., Clifton Good Plates focuses on simple foods and bold flavors, offering a variety of sandwiches and bowls (of the quinoa and salad variety). Each item has a little twist that takes it from standard to satisfying, often found in the sauce. Several menu stand-outs include the meatball sub, made with chorizo and beef, complemented by a sweet red sauce (there's also a vegetarian version); as well as the sweet potato and black bean quinoa. All bowls and salads come vegetarian, but patrons have the option to add meat. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Unwind Wine Bar 3435 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park This expansive indoor and outdoor space around the corner from Hyde Park Square has fused an upscale-casual ambiance with a wide selection of New World and Old World wines and small plates that complement the drinks. All of the food is either vegetarian or vegan (the owners are vegan). With choices such as crostini, flatbread, warm olives, cheeses and a hummus sampler, along with a few desserts, theres enough for a light meal  or at least some satisfying bites to accompany your wine. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Whole Bowl 364 Ludlow Ave., Clifton This is the perfect spot for people who dont like to make decisions, since Whole Bowl offers one menu item. While there is an easy vegan alternative, Whole Bowls titular dish is comprised of brown rice, beans, black olives, cheddar, avocado slices, salsa, sour cream and a lemon-garlic sauce. The only real choice a diner needs to make is whether or not they want a small or large portion. Photo: Facebook.com/TheWholeBowlCincinnati

Northside Yacht Club 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside A loosely nautically themed and ironically landlocked Rock club from two local music and mixology veterans, the Northside Yacht Club is all fun. Lay down a base layer with a bar-food menu that features veggie-conscious eats like their popular cauliflower wings, tofu tendies, vegetarian or vegan mac and cheese, fried broccoli or the creature fries. The cocktails  served by tattooed bartenders in the vein of Sailor Jerry  are masterful, made with fresh juice, fruit and herbal garnish. The tropically themed and navy-inspired drinks are deceivingly potent. Photo: Kellie Coleman

Rollin Bowls Find upcoming truck locations online Rollin Bowls is a plant-based food truck with Monica Meier in the drivers seat. Meier made the switch to living a fully plant-based lifestyle several years ago and says it dramatically impacted her health and energy. The most popular menu item is the Dynamite Bowl  a crunchy and colorful blend of veggies with teriyaki-marinated soy tenders over a bed of fluffy long-grain rice. Its finished off with a thick drizzle of vegan yum yum sauce made from scratch. Beyond the bowls, Meier serves quesadillas and tacos, soups and sandwiches, including plant-based burgers. Photo: Paige Deglow

Condado Tacos 195 E. Freedom Way, Downtown; 3329 Vandercar Way, Oakley; 5070 Deerfield Blvd., Mason Condado commits to the build-your-own tacos concept down to the type of tortillas. For protein, customers have several options  even multiple ones for vegetarians!  like Thai chili tofu, BBQ pulled jackfruit, black beans and roasted portabello. Theyve got the toppings, too; cilantro and onions, jicama and cabbage slaws, queso fresco and more. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Click to View 26 slides

Tags:

About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...