The Loopy Leaf is a vegan restaurant in downtown Charleston - and one of only a couple in the entire state. 



Let me first say that that alone is fantastic. It's great to have these options, and I'm all about variety. Of course, I'm not necessarily the target demographic. I am not a vegan, but I have nothing against vegan food and always willing to try something new. 



The menu is far from what you might expect from vegan food: cheesesteaks, bratwurst, burgers, crab cakes - of course with plant-based alternatives.



I ordered some mac & "cheese" and teriyaki sesame with purple cabbage, green onion, shredded carrot and greens. The mac & cheese wasn't the Kraft that I'm used to, but it was good as its own thing. It was hot and had a fluffy texture, which kind of reminded me of stuffing. That sounds strange, but I liked it.



The ramen was less of my jam. I should really try a different dish because the last time I had vegan ramen I also wasn't a huge fan. It just does not have the same flavors that I am used to. So, it's a little bit different for me to compare. But I have heard such good things about the burgers that I definitely need to try those. 



Give me your favorite dish here so I can try it out and add it in here. 



Grade: B

I really love the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and when I'm able to make a trip out that way, I try to make the most of it. And, that often means cramming in as many restaurant visits as possible. One that I knew I wanted to make room for was Kelley Farm Kitchen.



This Harpers Ferry restaurant has been receiving a good bit of attention for its all-vegan menu - like Yelp Community's top 100 places to eat in 2021. They came in at #1. That's a pretty big honor! And, I can see why it received the honor. I called the restaurant just as soon as it opened, and it already had about an hour wait for lunch. That's OK. I put in an order at the window, left, and came back when it was ready to be picked up. 



The menu has items like ramen bowls, soups, chili, salads, subs, hoagies, brats, tacos, sandwiches, burgers, breakfast - and it's all vegan. I'm not a carnivore, by a long shot. But I do love me some cheese and butter and cream, etc. 



I ordered the "Creamy coconut ramen bowl" with zero spice, and it has a house-made broth paired with coconut milk, sliced baby portabellos and served with fresh organic greens, purple cabbage, carrot and green onion. This was different, but I can appreciate it. It's not the rich flavor I come to enjoy when dining out, but it's more light, fresh and still filling. I respect that it's filling a need - and the customer service was beyond top-notch, and the outdoor dining provide the perfect backdrop. Check it out for something different.



Grade: A