Dining Out in Minneapolis - Ecopolitan

Raw Taco Pizza (Half Order) - Ecopolitan

After trying out the raw vegan cuisine in Chicago (at Chicago Raw) the week before, I thought why not give it a try in Minneapolis where I was for my next business trip? I found the Ecopolitan, a 100% organic raw vegan restaurant not far from my hotel so I hopped in a cab and went for lunch.

Dining Area - Ecopolitan

It was peaceful and quiet for a weekday lunch hour, which didn't surprise me as it's not very centrally located to many offices and didn't have the quick service, fast food vibe. The dining area is basic with a handful of wooden tables and chairs and it has a small area with pre-made desserts in a cooler case along with various supplements and powders for purchase. You can also just walk in for a quick juice or smoothie from this area versus sitting and waiting for service. 

I asked the waiter what the popular items were which included mainly full size entrees like Rawvioli, Mac and Cheese, and the Nachos Supreme, but knew I was going for a smaller meal and didn't want to break the bank. 

Greenway - Coconut Smoothie - Ecopolitan

I ordered the Raw Taco Pizza in the half size and started with a coconut smoothie called Greenway, made with coconut water, banana, pear, spinach, seasonal berries, and vanilla. It was thick and creamy. The flavor was refreshing and not too sweet or too "green" tasting. I would order this again and again. The Raw Taco Pizza was marked as spicy, but I first confirmed that it wasn't too hot, as I can only stand a little. It was made with macadamia-cashew cheese, lentil taco meat, tomato, bell pepper, onion, cilantro, cashew sour cream, and hot sauce. It packed a lot of bold flavors. The veggies were fresh and helped keep the saltiness down; I often taste a lot of oversalted raw foods. I liked the creaminess of the nut cheese to offset the sharp tang and kick of the lentil meat. The full size would have been too much because this was much heartier than it looked and kept me full for a while. It was a little odd that it was served with a side of raspberries, but it was a nice sweet bite to end on, and I am one who always needs a little dessert to finish a meal, out of habit sadly. 

I would dine here again to give at least one of the full entrees a try. There were many other juices and smoothies I would have liked, as well so it's worth a return visit. I probably wouldn't bring a non-vegan here unless they are very open-minded and prepared for raw food!

Ecopolitan

2409 Lyndale Ave. S.

Minneapolis, MN 55405

Ecopolitan Restaurant Website

Dining Out in Minneapolis - Pizza Lucé

Athena Pizza, Gluten-Free & Vegan - Pizza Lucé

I visited Minneapolis for the first time earlier this year on a business trip. I knew my options would be limited for vegan dining, but I was happy to find a vegan-friendly menu at a local pizza chain, Pizza Lucé. The food wasn't anything to write home about, but I was fed and enjoyed seeing a menu well labeled, meeting the needs of dietary restricted diners. I first dined in with a friend.  Our waiter was friendly and was able to speak to the vegan options. We started with an app, the Veggie Meatball Appetizer, with veggie balls smothered in thick red sauce seasoned with herbs and served with garlic toast. These were hearty and good, probably the highlight of the meal. 

Mock Muffeletta - Pizza Lucé

For my entrée I had the Mock Muffeletta Sandwich. It was okay, but the bread to filling ratio wasn't quite right, as you can see in the photo. It came with BBQ sauce and seasoned mock duck, similar to seitan texture, with Muffeletta olive mixture, red onions, and Rinotta, their homemade vegan cheese made with tofu and cashews. I would and did skip this the next time. We finished out the meal with two desserts, because the prices were so cheap and I wanted to try as much of the menu as possible! We ordered the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and the Molly Bar. The Molly Bar (both gluten-free and vegan) was supposed to be a brownie, but it so dry and chalky we actually told the waiter we didn't want it. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars on the other hand were very good. It reminded me of a Rice Krispie treat, but made with peanut butter. It was topped with a layer of chocolate and powdered sugar garnish. These were very crumbly and flaky, but not dry in a bad way like the Molly Bar. 

Molly Bar, Gluten-Free & Vegan - Pizza Lucé

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar - Pizza Lucé

The second time I ordered delivery to my hotel room. Unlike Galatic Pizza, Pizza Lucé offers free delivery! I treated myself because there was no way I was stepping outdoors again in the -15 degree temperature. Nothing quite like pizza delivery to your hotel room, lounging in PJs, and watching reality TV after a day's work! I ordered the Athena pizza with a few modifications to make it gluten-free and vegan. Typically it includes fresh spinach, tomato, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, red onions, Greek oregano and toasted garlic with light mozzarella on Bianca sauce. My order was: 1) gluten-free crust 2) no feta 3) swap out mozzarella for vegan cheese and 4) no olives (I'm just not a fan). Again, it wasn't anything outstanding, but it satisfied my craving and was more than enough to fill me up. I much prefer the vegan cheese (it might be Daiya) over their Rinotta homemade vegan cheese, which does have a grainy texture like ricotta. 

All in all I would and have gone back to Pizza Lucé when in town because my options are so limited, but it's been hit-or-miss so far. I think I'll stick with the vegan cheese pizzas or appetizers.

Pizza Lucé

119 North 4th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55401

Pizza Lucé Website