When Ron Biton, owner of the Veganized restaurant in New Brunswick, went vegan 30 years ago, he didn’t mind throwing away meat, dairy and seafood. But he had one condition: He wouldn’t give up pizza.
So he spent countless hours developing a vegan pizza with the cheesy flavor, crispy crust and flavorful sauce he was used to – without any animal products.
Both his vegan and non-vegan friends loved the pizza, so when he opened his vegan restaurant in 2015, it was clear that pizza deserved a place on the menu.
Now pizza takes center stage at Biton’s new restaurant, just a block away from Veganized.
Veganica, a vegan pizzeria, pastry shop and bar, will open Friday, July 5, at 124 Church St. (the former location of The Court Tavern).
With a speakeasy atmosphere surrounded by vintage furniture, Tiffany lamps and eclectic art, Veganica will be one of the first 100% vegan bars in the state.
“Veganica will open your eyes and you will say, ‘Wow, this is what pizza should taste like,'” Biton said. “The pizza will taste even better than regular pizza because we use pure, clean and healthy ingredients.”
More: This New Brunswick restaurant has one of the best vegan pizzas in the country, according to PETA
These pizzas include the Mackin’ Out Pizza, named one of the 10 best vegan pizzas of 2024 by PETA. The pizza features sweet potato truffle cashew cream, garlic roasted broccoli, smoked shiitake mushrooms, and spicy red pepper flakes spread over a homemade pizza crust and served with cornmeal for added texture.
Other pizza options include the Roma Pizza with cashew cheese, slow roasted Roma tomatoes, caper kalamata tapenade, pesto and arugula, the Philly Pizza with cashew cheese, slow cooked peppers and onions, roasted brown mushrooms and arugula, and the Gravy Baby Pizza with cashew cheese, mashed potatoes, herb gravy, roasted carrots, roasted onions, brown mushrooms and baby kale.
Veganica also serves vegan, organic and homemade cookies, cupcakes, muffins, brownies, pies and cakes.
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Sandwiches on organic baguettes and organic bagels will also be on the menu, such as the Angelica sandwich with rosemary, baked lemon tofu, lemon pesto, roasted carrots, roasted onions and lettuce; the curry crusted sandwich with curry mayonnaise, crusted oyster mushrooms, roasted butternut squash, grilled broccoli and caramelized onions; and a banh mi with vegan mayonnaise, avocado, smoked tofu, kimchi, hot sauce and cilantro.
Vegan food is served in a massive 4,000-square-foot space with over 100 seats—including plush and Queen Anne chairs—surrounded by a rainbow of colors and patterns.
These include references to classic circuses, such as plates printed with freak show images, mosaics of court jesters and carousel animals, as well as clown and puppet heads.
Biton has curated the restaurant’s interior for the past two decades.
“It’s like entering a magical land,” he said.
Go: 124 Court St., New Brunswick; opens Friday; veganicanj.com.
Contact: [email protected]
Jenna Intersimone has been a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey contributor since 2014, though she’s been a lifelong Jersey resident and considers herself an expert on everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State’s vibrant downtowns. For unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at. @JIntersimone.
