"Let's Add Meat Before We Fail" Transformation of a US Vegan Restaurant... Vegans Call It a "Deal with the Devil"

The appearance of Sage Plant Bistro & Brewery in the United States, which decided to add meat to its vegetarian specialty menu
Photo source: Official restaurant website

In Los Angeles, USA, environmental groups are criticizing a vegetarian restaurant for betraying its principles after it decided to change its sign and start serving meat from May.

On the 26th, local media including the Los Angeles Times reported that the well-known vegetarian restaurant in the area is facing controversy over its justified transformation. The restaurant, which operated under the name Sage Plant Bistro & Brewery, will change its sign to Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery starting in May. "Regenerative" signifies regeneration and symbolizes regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture is a farming method that avoids pesticides and chemical fertilizers. The new restaurant plans to offer menus based on regenerative agriculture beef, bison meat, cheese, and eggs. For example, bison burgers made from bison raised on grass pastures, fries cooked in beef tallow, pizzas topped with plant-based cheese, dairy cheese, and meat toppings, among others.

The restaurant’s transformation can be summed up as "because business was not doing well." The restaurant has been struggling financially as costs have increased exponentially, but sales and profits have not supported this. Several other vegetarian restaurants across the US have also faced operational difficulties and failed.

When the restaurant announced its transformation on the 22nd, animal protection groups and vegetarians strongly opposed it. In particular, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), an animal welfare organization, stated that "regenerative agriculture is fake if it involves animals." When the restaurant posted photos of buffalo wings and burgers made from chicken on social media, one netizen criticized it as a "deal with the devil."