Try the plant-based burgers built to entice firefighters at this new Waxhaw eatery
A husband and wife duo known for opening the quaint country market and restaurant Provisions Waxhaw have embarked on a new hospitality venture, and this time, it’s entirely plant-based.
Ken Posko and Lisa Vigil opened Veggeez Plant Based Eatery, a sit-down service restaurant, on April 2 in Waxhaw.
Whether it’s a milkless milkshake, a creme brulee without the cream or the No. 1 selling mushroom reuben that features an impressive vegan thousand island dressing, diners in the area may now deem their meal complete, even if meat wasn’t a part of it.
Since moving to Charlotte from Burbank, California, 15 years ago, Vigil has owned two other restaurants: the now-closed Main Street Grill and Provisions Waxhaw.
Posko left Baltimore for Charlotte 20 years ago to open the Queen City’s two McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks restaurants as executive chef. (Now, only one remains.)
It was only fate that the foodies, one front-of-house and one back-of-house, would eventually meet in Waxhaw. Now they’re married and have four children — Gabriel, Evan, Elise and Zoey, whose first initials spell out the “geez” in their newest restaurant concept, Veggeez.
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“We took both of our skill sets, purchased Provisions 8 years ago and made that a success,” Vigil said.
After years of working seven days a week in service of others, the two made the decision to sell Provisions in 2022, prioritizing travel, rest, time with their children and, importantly, their health.
“Just being open 7 days a week made us pretty crunchy there in the end … so we were fortunate to be able to sell,” Vigil said.
According to Vigil, a large part of prioritizing health during their time off was going plant-based. Despite Posko’s initial hesitation, Vigil “pulled out every trick in the book,” making dishes that he would love, and also would make him feel better.
Posko was eventually converted and had a few less aches, Vigil said. And now, Posko himself is pulling out every trick in the book as he works on a restaurant menu that isn’t merely bland, raw vegan food, but instead is filled with decadent and accessible dishes.
In between casual and high-end, Veggeez was imagined to be a spot “you can walk in after your kids soccer game, or it can be a date-night place,” Vigil said.
Approachability is at the forefront
While the idea of plant-based foods may be a deterrent for some diners — especially in more rural areas such as Waxhaw — Vigil and Posko are firm believers that vegan foods aren’t unapproachable. They’re equipped with burgers, best-selling desserts and even some plant-based junk food to welcome the skeptics.
Although health was a primary motivation for transitioning to plant-based eating for Posko and Vigil as individuals, there’s more to it for the couple as restaurateurs. They see plant-based eating as ethical, environmentally-friendly and simply delicious.
“That’s one of the biggest things that Ken was hoping for … he wants the food to be approachable,” Vigil said. “Ken has a part-time job as a firefighter. And most, if not all, of his firefighter buddies are grilling burgers at the fire station.”
The duo wants those firefighter buddies to walk into Veggeez, know the food on the menu and be open to trying it.
That’s why dishes like the Chili Cheese Burger and Chick’n & Waffle are on the menu. Veggeez uses popular Beyond Meat to mirror the taste and texture of meat, but for guests who want a less processed burger, Posko also makes a creamy, crunchy white bean and herb patty.
So far, the approach has worked.
“We’ve seen a lot of friendly faces of people who aren’t vegetarian or vegan,” Vigil said. “And people have been pleasantly surprised and have been giving us great feedback.”
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Menu details
The menu isn’t just American comfort foods though; it includes Italian, Asian and Mexican flavor profiles. Both Vigil and Posko come from big cities, which offer a variety of cuisines, and the two wanted to honor that rich mosaic of flavors.
“Most people like to have a variety of things, so we wanted to give that,” Vigil said.
The carne asada tacos, with an herby chimichurri sauce dolloped with plant-based feta cheese, and the Korean-style tacos, which offer crunchy bites of roasted peanuts, a sesame orange slaw and pickled onions, are both hugged in handmade corn tortillas.
The garam masala spiced Indonesian cauliflower starter, the lemongrass-infused green curry and the simple caprese, composed with a cashew mozzarella, display Posko’s diverse culinary prowess.
The menu, with items ranging from $6-$23, is clearly labeled with common allergens such as gluten and nuts. Part of Vigil’s hospitality ethos is being conscious of guests’ specific dietary needs and pointing them toward what they can safely eat.
Veggeez Plant Based Eatery
Location: 1325 N. Broome St., Waxhaw, NC, United States, North Carolina
Cuisine: Vegan, plant-based
Hours: 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday
Facebook: Veggeez Plant Based Eatery
