By Casey Brown and Faith Volz

Garlik Vegan Pizza & Dining is a delicious new vegan restaurant in Horse Shoe, North Carolina. This family-owned business “is on a mission to save lives; one meal at a time,” and they are doing this with their appetizing menu selection. After hearing raving reviews from vegans and non-vegans alike, we had to stop by to check this place out!

Garlik Vegan is located about 30 minutes outside of Asheville, NC since the owners noticed a need for more vegan options within their community. The scenery inside of Garlik Vegan is very peaceful and cute, and paintings of farm animals line the walls. In addition, vegan literature is available in the entryway for individuals to pick up if they are interested in learning more about a vegan lifestyle.

We visited Garlik Vegan for dinner and were overwhelmed by the number of choices on the menu since all of the options were 100% vegan. They have appetizers, salads, daily rotating soups, sandwiches, entrées, and build-your-own pizza options. It was hard choosing among the unique selection, which included a chik’n philly cheeze sandwich, a curried chickpea & sweet potato salad, a buffalo tempeh pizza, and more. Ultimately, we decided upon garlik cheezy bread for an appetizer and baked ziti with a side of macaroni & cheeze for an entrée. The cheezy bread was warm and crispy with a thick, creamy cashew cheese spread on top. The baked ziti was prepared with a delicious red sauce (although garlik butter sauce is also an option) with vegan cheeze melted throughout. We devoured our meals and were amazed at how incredible they tasted.

We did not stop there. After finishing our appetizer and entrées, we ordered a slice of carrot cake and a frosted raspberry scone. This decision was equally as difficult to make since all of the desserts sounded amazing. The other options included a variety of raw cheezecake flavors and cookies. The carrot cake was moist and topped with a white glaze that added the perfect amount of sweetness. The raspberry scone had a crispier texture and was topped with a delicious, sweet, and thick frosting. We were full after finishing both of these desserts but got double chocolate chip cookies to go. We didn’t make it far before trying these soft and rich cookies, which are the perfect dessert for all chocolate-lovers.

In addition to all of the delicious meals and desserts that they offer, Garlik Vegan also has a wide variety of beverages. These include tea, coffee, kombucha, beer, wine, cider, and a variety of smoothies. The smoothie flavors include chocolate, strawberry, spinach, and avocado, so there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Our waitress was very attentive and friendly, offering us great menu suggestions (which did not disappoint!). The owner, Christine, also came out towards the end of our meal to see how everything was. It meant a lot to us that she took time out of her busy schedule to introduce herself and converse with us. We were very impressed by the friendliness of the staff and would return to this restaurant based on the amazing customer service alone.

Not only does Garlik Vegan have incredible meals and staff, but they also hold a variety of events at their restaurant. In the past, they’ve held an interactive event on how to roll your own vegan sushi. This fun lesson demonstrated various sushi rolling techniques and discussed necessary supplies and ingredients. In addition, everyone was able to enjoy a sushi dinner that they can proudly say they prepared on their own. They’ve also held a presentation which discussed how to incorporate more plant-foods into your diet. This event focused on the benefits of eating more plant-based foods, which include reducing your carbon footprint, improving your health, and lessening animal suffering. Another presentation they have held is focused on how to get essential nutrients on a plant-based diet. These presentations are held over dinner to make for an educational and enjoyable evening.

We had a wonderful experience dining at Garlik Vegan and will definitely be back again. We hope to attend some of their upcoming events and try many of the other items on their menu!

For more information on this restaurant see:
https://www.garlikvegan.com/restaurant

To see The Vegetarian Resource Group’s Guide to Veggie Restaurants in the USA and Canada, visit: VRG Online Veggie Restaurant Guide