VEGolution For First Timers

March 14, 2019

Whether you're an adventurous foodie or not, trying out something new can be intimidating. Don’t worry - you're not alone. That's why we're here.

Discover Saint John teamed up with Chef Jesse Vergen to highlight some of the amazing restaurants in our city. ‘For First Timers’ is a video series where we show you what to expect from the moment you walk in the door to what you should order and everything in between.

We also want to share the incredible people behind the restaurant doors and their culture. You may have heard the rumour that Saint John is quickly earning a reputation for fantastic dining and it’s because of the talented folks that choose to call Saint John home.

Without further ado, let’s talk food.

Let’s visit VEGolution (26 Germain St, Saint John, NB) open Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00 am until 9:00 pm. VEGolution is Saint John’s only Vegetarian/Vegan restaurant but they have something even for the most die-hard carnivore! When you arrive, you’ll be greeted with a menu and seated at a table of your choice. You will be given a glass of citrus water and the menus to peruse.

#Vegetarianlife

Let’s get to the good stuff first -- the food.
1. First up, the Revolution Cheese Burger. This is a great option for all the meat-lovers to try. Keith Broome (Co-owner/Chef) has spent years perfecting this burger. As Keith describes it, “it’s a greasy, fill-your-belly, won’t fall apart, veggie burger.” It can be made vegan with their gluten-free bun and vegan cheese. Yes, they make their own vegan cheese in house! #OMG

Revolution Cheese Burger

2. For the true vegetarian looking for a more elevated plate, try the Warm Mushrooms and Olives. The mushrooms are sourced from Halifax and change depending on the season. On that note, the menu at VEGolution changes frequently to accommodate what produce is in season, as well as give the chefs a chance to try something new.

Warm Mushrooms and Olives

3. Another popular dish is their Ravioli. In the video, Jesse Vergen tasted their beet-root ravioli and it’s safe to say, he approved whole-heartedly. This dish is vegetarian.

Ravioli

4. Finally, Keith and Sarah Broome (Co-Owner/Chef) served their Beet Cake for dessert. It tastes a lot like carrot cake but thanks to Sarah’s ingenuity, it is made with beets. Jesse claimed he’s not a “sweet” guy but this cake had him hooked. With almost 40 years combined as vegetarians, it’s no wonder their food is so good.

Beet Cake

Beet Down

There are a lot of cool things happening in this small restaurant. They are a “green” restaurant which means they focus on being environmentally friendly and sustainable by sourcing local products whenever possible, using energy efficient appliances and reducing their waste. VEGolution only produces 1 bag of garbage per week. That is crazy (in the good kind of way). As a customer, you can help their efforts by bringing your own to-go containers and keeping utensils at work to help reduce single-use packaging.

That is crazy

It’s not just about the food. Sarah upcycled and designed the decor, with Keith’s help. The tables were made by Phil Savage Woodworking, in Saint John, and the benches were built by Ronnie Frase in Fredericton. Essentially, everything is as local as they can get it.

As local as we can get it

Another neat thing that VEGolution offers is Kombucha on tap. They serve ‘Kissing Rocks Kombucha’ from Moncton and typically offer two flavours. Kombucha is an ancient fermented tea beverage that is lightly effervescent and commonly intended as a function beverage for its health benefits. You can buy and refill a growler for only $10.

Kombucha

VEGolution is family-friendly with a high chair, booster seat, changing table in the washroom and a chalk wall to keep your little ones busy while you enjoy your meal.

As a small restaurant, they don’t take reservations for groups under 5 people so they can keep it open for walk-ins. If you are on the go, their To-Go fridge is stocked at lunch time with wraps and soups. Also, the beer and wine they serve are all vegan-friendly. Cheers to that!

Cheers