OC Restaurant Quest: The Modern Vegan in Royal Oak
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 5, 2024)
Royal Oak, MI – The Modern Vegan recently opened in Downtown Royal Oak, which is the first franchise location of the restaurant that opened in Las Vegas in 2018.
The goal of The Modern Vegan is to prove that plant-based foods can be delicious, filling, and comforting. According to their website, founder Gia S loved creating vegan recipes at home, but was frustrated with the lack of options while dining out. The Modern Vegan (TMV) is the answer to the question that many vegans have – where to find amazing vegan food. Though of course you don’t have to be a vegan to appreciate Gia’s culinary creations.
For my visit, I had the Chick’n Parmigiana, which is a hearty bowl of fettuccine noodles topped with a breaded plant-based “chick’n” cutlet, marinara sauce, sauteed onions and peppers, and garlic bread. I don’t recall having had Chick’n before, and it really was a good substitute, with taste and texture that I would not have guessed to be plant-based. The meal also came with a salad made from fresh, healthy ingredients. It really was a meal that felt like home-cooked goodness.
“I’m a dirty girl” is the name of the dessert that I also loved. It’s a bowl of chocolate mousse topped with Oreo cookie crumbles and strawberries, and mint for garnish.
The menu at TMV ranges from healthy to downright gluttonous. For example, the Chick’n Mac Attack is a stacked burger made with two cutlets, cheddar, lettuce, onions, mayo, pickles, and thousand island dressing on a sesame seed bun. The Canadian Poutine has fries smothered in sausage and mushroom gravy as well as shredded mozzarella and cheddar. and the Ex Waffle is a tower of sweets including bananas, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and chocolate sauce.
Other options include Vegetable Green Coconut Curry, “Lobster” melt, and Stuffed Portobello Steak. There are a number of “burgers” and bowls as well. Plus there is a brunch menu specializing in creative waffle options
The Modern Vegan is located in a challenging space – the ground level of the parking deck at Emagine Theater – but hopefully they can get the word out and draw people in. TMV has a bar – and of course fancy cocktails, as well as a space that is comfy with nice views of Downtown Royal Oak. I felt comfortable working there on a quiet afternoon, and I anticipate becoming a regular. I hope others do too, because this was really good.
The Modern Vegan is located at 304 N. Main Street. Learn more or order online at https://tmvrestaurants.com/
Oakland County Times is on a QUEST to enjoy every local restaurant in Oakland County. This long-term project is a labor of love, supported by our friends at White Castle. White Castle is a family-owned company that is proud to be one of only 20 large employers to make the Fortune Best Places to work list in 2022. With steam-grilled sliders, crispy golden french fries, fantastic slides like onion chips or fried clams, and the best chocolate shakes, White Castle is a by far our top choice for a fast food meal. Check out their website at www.WhiteCastle.com.
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