Taste

Violette’s Vegan goes beyond the typical meatless menu

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Violette’s hearty Hippie Chick Burger.
Photo: Mikayla Whitmore

When it comes to vegan grub, Las Vegas trails far behind veggie-loving Southern California. We still don’t have a Native Foods, Café Gratitude or Real Food Daily (can someone please make that happen?)—but there are a handful of mom-and-pops throughout the Valley catering to the plant-based set.

One is Violette’s Vegan, located in a southwest strip mall on Desert Inn, owned and operated by Cyndy Violette—World Series of Poker bracelet-holder, Ladies Poker Hall of Fame inductee and proud vegan.

Anyone who still thinks vegans only eat tofu and salads will find a menu stacked with comfort foods like Sassy Wings ($8.95)—crispy meatless morsels covered in hot and spicy barbecue sauce—or the rich and savory Red Rockin’ Chili ($7.95), loaded with beans and soy protein. Or maybe you’ll have breakfast for dinner with the country biscuits and gravy ($11.95). Violette’s lighter take on the diner classic swaps sausage gravy for a peppery soy milk and flour base and seasons it with seitan, sage and thyme. It won’t win over meat-loving Midwesterners, but it should satisfy anyone nostalgic for the morning favorite, sans animal products.

Above all, the Violette Club ($13.95)—a loaded, double-decker sandwich with herb-baked tofu, tempeh bacon, avocado, cucumber, lettuce, tomato and a delicious and garlicky hemp pesto, all on sourdough bread—keeps me coming back. Wash it down with an organic juice or smoothie, and you’ve got lunch.

Violette's Vegan 8560 W. Desert Inn Road, 702-685-0466. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Tags: Dining, Food, Vegan
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