VegeNation caters to often-overlooked vegan crowd

Vegans and vegetarians rejoice: Since opening its doors earlier this year at 616 E. Carson Ave., VegeNation has been offering vegans and the like more than just plain salads and french fries.

The restaurant in downtown Las Vegas features a menu with eye-catching items that are likely to satisfy any craving.

Want a burger, some pasta, sushi or tacos? It's all there with twist.

While many vegan restaurants rely heavily on meat substitutes, VegeNation chefs use their knowledge of cooking to create healthier versions of favorite street foods.

The restaurant describes itself as a community-based restaurant with food that's 100 percent plant-based.

Whenever possible, dishes include local vegetables, fruits and herbs, and beer is served from local Vegas-owned breweries, according to its website, vegenationlv.com.

To start, appetizers include Save the Tuna ($6.95), vegan sushi with exotic forbidden rice; Mexican Hummus ($6.95) with chipotle-lime black bean hummus and organic blue corn chips; and the Hot Tamale ($6.95) made with organic masa, pumpkin green chilies and lentils.

Of course, you can't have a plant-based restaurant without salads, though the salads featured here are anything but boring.

The Fruit Loops salad ($11.95) comes with grilled seasonal fruit, arugula chili-infused cheese and pomegranate molasses. The Greek ($10.95) features "feta," kale and romaine Mediterranean vegetables, and the Big Haus ($10.95) comes with local greens and farm vegetables.

Three pizzas are all made with Daiya cheese and include the Ciao Margarita ($10.95), a basic tomato and basil; Muchroom Madness ($10.95), which features assorted mushrooms and herbs; and the Picante Pineapple ($10.95) with charred pineapple and jalapenos.

Entrees include the Ellen Degeneres ($10.95), which are raw power tacos collard green wraps; Muchas Gracias ($10.95), which features organic sweet potato quesadillas with black beans and chipotle cream; the Pho-King-Delicious ($11.95) made with Vietnamese pho, mushroom broth and miracle noodles; and the East West Taco ($10.95), which includes homemade tortillas with jackfruit and Korean bulgogi barbecue sauce.

Enjoy an organic coffee, hot teas and smoothies ($3 to $6) with or without a meal.

Other chilled refreshments include lemonade with coconut water and chia seeds ($4), Jamaican hibiscus punch ($4) and kombucha blueberry or pomegranate ($5).

If you are still not stuffed, end the day on a sweet note with a brownies sundae ($7) with vanilla ice cream and caramelized banana; a fruit and cheese plate ($10) with artisan Decante Virgin cheese; or blueberry cheesecake made with a walnut crust and organic blueberries ($7).

A kid's menu is also available, and the restaurant is dog-friendly. Dogs are welcome in the front and back patio, and the server will even bring water for Fido.

The restaurant was founded by Donald Lemperle with a mission to serve "good food for the good of all."

His own personal journey started four years ago when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer. With this diagnosis, he decided to change his lifestyle completely, beginning with a plant-based diet.

The website said his transformation opened his eyes to the problems in our current food system and how it is harming our health and planet.

VegeNation is open for breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., from 11:30 to 9 p.m. for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday and Sunday and from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Visit vegenationlv.com or call 702-366-8515.