“For your health, the planets and the animals, all ingredients are cholesterol free, cruelty free and vegan,” says the menu at local Tucson restaurant Lovin’ Spoonfuls, and it’s not lying. Literally every item on the menu is vegan and anything that can be is 100 percent organic. Dining at Lovin’ Spoonfuls is truly a wonderful experience for a vegan or vegetarian who is looking to enjoy dishes that typically belong to the carnivores’ culinary world.

The staff at Lovin’ Spoonfuls is a bit quirky and incredibly friendly, and the atmosphere in the restaurant is relaxed. The lighting is low, the music is calming and the decor is natural and warm. All of this helps to create a pleasant experience at this restaurant located on the corner of Campbell Avenue and Blacklidge Drive.

The lunch menu has a delicious collection of soy meat and cheese substitute-based dishes, including vegan grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, tuna, BBQ beef, BLTs and a wide selection of burgers. Entrees on the lunch menu cost between $6.95 and $8.25 and come with a side of potato salad, coleslaw or carrot walnut-raisin salad.

The entree called BLT Deluxe is a solid meal, but it doesn’t really resemble its meaty counterpart. The vegan mayonnaise used at Lovin’ Spoonfuls was delicious, but the soy bacon itself was a bit too crispy.

However, the Spoonfuls Classic Burger was incredibly good. Soy meat patties are often a bit dry, but not at Lovin’ Spoonfuls, which does soy meat justice with this juicy, cruelty-free burger served on a whole-wheat, 100 percent organic bun. Pair this with a glass of Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ spiced tea, potato salad and kettle-cooked chips, and you have one awesome vegan lunch that doesn’t lack flavor.

As a vegan, you might think you would never again get to indulge in the goodness that is an all-American chili dog, but you’d be wrong. If you are a vegan with a craving you might want to consider the vegan chili dog or the golden nuggets. You can buy soy nuggets at the grocery store, but those just don’t compare to the savory nugs they serve up at Lovin’ Spoonfuls, and the same is true of canned vegan chili and soy hot dogs. Lovin’ Spoonfuls does it better.

If you are a vegan looking for somewhere tasty to eat lunch this weekend, don’t pass up the opportunity to try out Lovin’ Spoonfuls.

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