Black-owned vegan restaurant comes to Frenchtown

The indoor dining area with customers waiting in line to order. Photo Courtesy: Nigeria Robinson

The Social Vegan, located in the Frenchtown area, stands out among Tallahassee’s plant-based offerings.

For starters, it’s the only Black-owned vegan restaurant in the area. It opened earlier this month on Sept. 10.

Lexington, Kentucky is home to the first location of The Social Vegan.

But the Tallahassee community holds a special place in owner Frank Hall’s heart after living here for five years in the 90s. He saw opening the second location here as an opportunity to do something positive and significant, redefining the preconceived notions about the area.

“I don’t care what people think about the area. If it’s good, people will come and support it,” Hall said.

People from all over the city, vegan and non-vegan customers, have come to get a taste of the restaurant’s many vegan and plant-based options, along with the spirits and frozen beverages made with all-natural products.

Kayla and her sister Nese Proctor aren’t vegan but discovered the restaurant on Google after searching for a new place to eat. They weren’t disappointed, raving over the fried mushrooms and frozen alcoholic drinks.

A Social Classics menu item is Quesadillas with the Gator Road Runner frozen beverage. Photo Courtesy: Nigeria Robinson

“We tried the fried mushrooms, and they were spot on,” Kayla said.

“The drinks were not too sweet, not too strong; they were just right,” Nese added.

Hall focuses on the three C’s: “consistency, customer service and cleanliness,” while trying to provide his guests with the best dining experience. Both the indoor and outdoor dining areas are spacious for larger parties and events. There’s even a bar area for those smaller and more intimate occasions like a girls’ or date night out. Old and new school music plays through the speakers to add to the already social and inviting environment.

Latisha Anderson is vegan, and on her search for more Black-owned vegan places, she found The Social Vegan and had to share it with her husband. She says her favorite part about the establishment is the social and chill atmosphere.

“When I came here alone, I got the black bean burger with no bun, and I told my husband we needed to go back. I had to try the fried oyster mushrooms,” Anderson said. “What makes this place special is the laid-back and social atmosphere when you go in and the location. It’s a nice spot.”

Word of mouth has been Hall’s only advertisement strategy, and so far, it’s working. Hall says he looks at his restaurant as a “gateway to the vegan lifestyle.”