Vegan food gets a bad rap. Sadly, people sometimes equate it to just eating leaves and berries without giving it a try and seeing that you don’t need meat and dairy to be full of flavor. Take Verdine, our September Brunch of the Month, for instance. The Heights restaurant stemmed from the Ripe Cuisine food truck from chef-owner Stephan Hoban. Her philosophy of a “truthful, green dining” and having a 100% vegan eatery has put Verdine on the map as one of Houston’s finest organic establishments. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Verdine (@eatverdine) on

Verdine is just how you would expect a vegan restaurant to look like: light, airy and sprinkled with plants and hanging succulents. Light bounces off the white shiplap walls while the powder-blue banquets are calming and don’t make the room feel overcrowded. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Verdine (@eatverdine) on

The menu at Verdine is healthy options with bold flavors. It’s quality food that will help you detox after a morning of peaceful yoga. For starters, there is tempura-fried orange cauliflower, salads and a gluten free miso mushroom soup. Main courses include a jackfruit carnitas tacos with roasted corn salsa and a tangy chipotle aioli. And forget the Impossible Whopper, Verdine has their own bistro burger with an organic lentil-walnut-mushroom patty, roasted red pepper aioli and cashew chevre. Also, each Sunday, Verdine offers two special brunch options. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Verdine (@eatverdine) on

And don’t fret, just because Verdine is vegan doesn’t mean you can’t get your drink on. There is an array of organic wines and local beers from three different Houston breweries: Eureka Heights, Karbach and Saint Arnold. There is also refreshing lavender lemonade and kombucha for those who don’t drink alcohol. 

Verdine is open for brunch on Sundays.