After signing up for the American Express Platinum card, one of the easiest to use and most beneficial perks to use is the Resy credit of $100 each quarter. Unfortunately, in Charlotte there are hardly any restaurants with any good vegan options to utilize this benefit. The fallback option is the plethora of cocktail bars available, which can be fun as well.
The best option if you don’t have travel plans to other major cities is to get to Asheville and use it at Plant. Plant is one of the best vegan restaurants in the country and it is only 2 hours away.
Here’s a quick menu review on the sad vegan options in Charlotte:
Savu – C – Funny enough, they have a key for what will be vegan listed on the bottom of the menu as (v) but they have nothing marked with the (v) in any of their food offerings. After reaching out, they did offer a few options:
- Shishitos
- Fruit Tower
- Veggie Hibachi
- Broccolini
It is enough to make a decent meal. After rolling my eyes on the fruit being one of the few options, I noticed it is a $24 tower “artfully arranged in a tropical tower with a smoking presentation.” I mean with such a high price for a fruit plate, I am almost tempted to see what it’s all about.
Albertine – F – Just an assortment of random animals that they thought would be fun to put on a menu.
Mimosa Grill – D – Nothing marked on the menu. Rumor has it you can remove the feta from the falafel grain bowl, but I don’t have time to play those games.
Matador – C – Offers Beyond Meat, but they don’t list anything as clearly vegan on the menu.
Kitchen + Kocktails – C – They have a True Vegan Bowl on the menu. You can add protein, but there are no vegan protein options. Close, but no cigar.
STK – F – Not surprising, but nothing for vegans.
300 East – B -They have always done a good job at having a vegan option although they don’t specifically mark everything on the menu. They do have a Tofu and Vegan Mozzarella that sounds pretty solid. The grain and veggie bowl looks vegan and there is an option to add grilled tofu. They also have a sub Beyond Burger option on the menu.
There are several amazing options available when traveling with the closest being in Asheville. The default is to visit Plant in Asheville if we have no other travel plans.
Other vegan highlights around the country include:
Plant – Asheville
La Semilla – Atlanta
Oleum – Baltimore
Vedge – Philadelphia
Monster Vegan – Philadelphia
Spicy Moon – New York City
Plantmade – New York City
Willow Vegan Bistro – New York City
Reverie Brooklyn – New York City
Planta Queen – Washington DC
Donna Jean – San Diego
Men & Beasts – Los Angeles
Pura Vita – Los Angeles
Aiso – San Francisco
Jade Rabbit – Portland
Feral – Portland