by Amy Burger, VRG Intern

Dalton, Georgia restaurant Native Kitchen prioritizes serving healthy, fresh food. While its menu is not vegan or vegetarian, much of it is, and dishes can be customized to accommodate diners’ diets. The menu is free of gluten and refined sugars, and the bar serves alcoholic drinks including wine, beer, and cocktails, as well as mocktails.

     Native Kitchen opened in the summer of 2018. Its light-filled interior offers several seating options, with a mixture of standard and counter-height tables and lounge-style areas with cozy chairs and low tables. The open-air mezzanine above the kitchen area is a popular location for students to enjoy coffee drinks while they study, and the space is made to linger.

     I have dined at Native Kitchen several times, and while it’s open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 am to 9 pm, my visits have always been during lunch. Fortunately, the entire menu is available all day.

     Some of my favorite dishes are their dirty south sweet potato and peanut butter sweet potato, but on my most recent visit with a friend, I opted for the veggie chili quinoa bowl with a locally-made kombucha, and she chose the y’all nachos with a sparkling water. We decided to sit on the mezzanine. Our food arrived quickly and looked delicious, and our server checked in periodically to offer anything we needed.

     A perk of dining with friends is sampling their choices, and the y’all nachos did not disappoint. The plate of freshly-made crinkle potato chips is topped with chili, housemade cashew cheese, and a dollop of guacamole. With nachos, getting the perfect bite containing each ingredient is key. Native Kitchen serves theirs on a wide plate, so this was easy to achieve. The crunchy chips were cooked to perfection, and the creamy cheese sauce and guacamole offered a perfect complement to the rich, tomatoey chili.

     While I could have eaten the entire plate of nachos, I had my own meal to enjoy. The veggie chili quinoa bowl was generously, but not excessively portioned. Its base of cooked quinoa and savory chili was enhanced by roasted vegetables and fresh greens, served with a fresh piece of house bread. The flavors and textures of the dish were well-balanced. Overall, I found it a hearty and flavorful meal.

     Because our lunches were so filling, we were not able to enjoy dessert, but having done so often on previous visits, I can confirm that they are just as delicious as the entrées. My favorite is their vegan cheesecake with unique seasonal toppings. On this most recent visit, the flavor was strawberry and fig. The restaurant is also known for its uniquely-flavored donuts, which pair perfectly with the coffee drinks on offer. While I prefer a black Americano, the lattes I’ve sampled have been well-crafted and indulgent, and can be made with almond or coconut milk.

     Native Kitchen is located at The Mill at Crown Garden, a converted textile mill dating back to the 1880s. The mixed-use development at 825 Chattanooga Avenue houses apartments, restaurants, shops, and more. Not only is it a welcome addition to the Dalton area, since Native Kitchen is located six minutes from exit 336 on Interstate 75, it’s a good dining option for drivers looking for something other than a typical chain restaurant.

     You can find Native Kitchen online, on Instagram @nativekitchendalton and on Facebook @nativekitchendalton

For more information about vegan dining in the USA and Canada, check out VRG’s online restaurant guide: https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php