Back in the day, vegans had seriously limited choices when it came to dining out (an undressed salad does not a dinner make).
Now, though, things are very different: more and more restaurants and high-street chains are opening up their menus for those on a plant-based diet. And now, for the first time ever, a vegan business has been voted #1 on TripAdvisor.
That’s right: Twelve Eatery – located in the seaside town of Bournemouth on the South Coast – has won fans over with its organic cocktails, vibrant juices and glorious plant-based food. How does a Full English Breakfast – made from scrambled tofu, mushrooms, spinach, tomato, hash browns, beans and sourdough toast – tickle your fancy? Or beer battered tofu and chips, served with a dash of pea puree and tartare sauce? Or a pulled jackfruit and black bean burrito? Or a delicious lemon drop martini?
“We are the only organic plant-based restaurant in Dorset and the UK’s first Organic Bar to make cocktails with fresh cold-pressed juices,” explain Dalton Mello and Greg Rush, who ditched their London life to open the Bournemouth restaurant.
“There are no obvious vegan cues and most of our guests don’t even make the connection that the menus is plant-based, for us it’s all about organic and sustainability!”
As if the cruelty-free menu wasn’t enough, Twelve has also ensured the restaurant is a single-use plastic free establishment – and they aim to become a zero-waste restaurant in the coming years. The eatery is in the process of setting up an allotment where they will grow produce from their own food compost, and are, overall, proving to be a breath of fresh air.
No wonder, then, that they have secured so many 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor.