'Now it's the fun part': Fayetteville's first fully vegan restaurant opens downtown

If you're a vegan in Fayetteville you have probably been yearning for a place that catered to your palate. A new restaurant downtown is doing just that.

Fayetteville's first fully vegan restaurant, Vibe Gastropub, 131 Hay St., opened Monday as part of its soft opening to preview a grand opening at a later date. The restaurant's hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 11-15.

After months of planning, owner Ambery Edge compared the excitement of opening her restaurant to running a marathon.       

"There's a point (in a race) when you hit the finish line and you want to puke and die but you're so freaking happy that you made it there," she said. "So being here now is like the finish line moment for me being like 'it's open.' Like now it's the fun part."

Edge's other business, Authentique Cafe food truck, isn't going anywhere as she continues to grow her new business, she said.

Related: Food truck owner opening Fayetteville's first entirely vegan restaurant

Previous coverage: Couple uses food truck to bring vegan comfort food to Fayetteville

"I can't get rid of (the food truck)," she said. "I love that thing. So Authentique still stands strong."

Edge said she began her vegan food truck in 2016 with the plan to open a full restaurant after five years if no one else had — and no one else has.

On the menu

Vibe Gastropub has a fairly different menu from Edge's food truck. You won't find the crepes topped with berries or the pulled BBQ sandwich made from jackfruit in the brick-and-mortar like you would on the food truck.

"I really want to keep a different menu so people get a variety,'" she said. "I want people to try different things."

You will find breakfast items like mini waffles ($8), with the option to add a crispy plant-based chicken substitute ($3) or berries ($2), and Vibe Avocado toast ($8.50) topped with kale. For lunch, there are options like the lentil tacos ($10) or Vibe Chick'n Sandwich ($15), which features a plant-based chicken patty substitute, tomato, avocado and lettuce.

There are two side salad options: house salad or the kale salad ($4.50 each).

In addition to regular menu items, Vibe Gastropub has a pastry case with baked goods for those on the go. On its first day open, the case was filled with blueberry mini muffins and coffee cake.

Edge said she plans to eventually expand her breakfast menu to include a continental breakfast.

Looking forward

Edge plans to expand the dining room to include an Instagram wall where people can take selfies and a corner where local musicians can perform.

Edge also plans to add evening hours, from 5-9 p.m., but she won't decide when to start that until after the next Fourth Friday event downtown on July 22, she said. Following Fourth Friday, she intends to operate 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturdays.

Those who would like to try the restaurant will have to visit the downtown restaurant in person because Edge is not currently partnering with any food delivery services. She said she hopes to arrange something in the future.

Edge said she also plans to serve beer and wine and is in the process of acquiring a permit to sell alcoholic beverages.

Staff writer Akira Kyles can be reached at akyles@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Vibe Gastropub: Vegan restaurant arrives in downtown Fayetteville