By Emma Giebel, VRG Intern

Nestled in the heart of the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, Golden West Café’s yellow awning is a mild entrance compared to the extremely unique design of one of Baltimore’s best brunch destinations. The décor takes its inspiration from many design styles, such as bohemian and southwestern, which makes the restaurant resemble the thrift store of your dreams. It would be difficult to classify what type of restaurant Golden West is, especially since it contains two bars, one for tacos and one for alcohol, classic American food, Tex-Mex, breakfast, lunch sandwiches, and a rotating dessert menu. Golden West has a strong reputation of being accessible to people with many types of dietary restrictions, and their separate vegan menu is one that rivals any other in the area.

I had been to Golden West a couple times previously, but never as a vegan. With a new fresh outlook on my diet, I was slightly skeptical but also excited to try something different. For an appetizer, I order the sweet potato fries. Since sweet potato fries are one of my favorite foods of all time, I thought they would be a perfect start to my meal. When the waitress, who was hysterical and a great server by the way, put them in front of me, I was extremely excited. They were sliced into thin and perfectly baked sweet potato fries, and topped off with minimal spices that perfectly complimented the taste of the fries themselves. They were a perfect start to my meal and an option that I would recommend to any of my friends.

When ordering, I decided that I would get two entrées, one of which served as a perfect dinner hours later. I was originally very skeptical about the vegan French toast option, but one bite in, I knew that it was the perfect decision. The ciabatta bread was perfectly soaked in a mixture coconut milk and banana and topped off with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Since I do love banana, I found this breakfast option to be perfect. It may seem a little overpowering to some, but I thought it was a perfect substitute, especially if a carb-loaded breakfast is what you desire. For my second entrée, I decided to order the vegan burrito, and I was not disappointed. The large burrito came loaded with beans, potatoes, rice, and faux-rizo, and perfectly spiced chile sauce and salsa fresca. The red sauce and pico de gallo that coated the burrito was a perfect addition, and this lunch option served as an amazing meal that left me feeling full and satisfied, since the portion size was so huge (perfect for leftovers!). Having a taste of two different types of vegan alternatives at Golden West Café was a great decision, and shows that it is a perfect destination for any vegan looking for a wide variety of options when dining out.

For more information about Golden West Café, visit: http://www.goldenwestcafe.com/

For more information about vegan restaurants in the USA and Canada, visit: https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php