Introducing: Grasshopper, a new vegan restaurant near U of T where nothing costs more than $10

Introducing: Grasshopper, a new vegan restaurant near U of T where nothing costs more than $10

Introducing: Grasshopper

Name: Grasshopper
Neighbourhood: University
Contact Info: 310 College St., 647-340-3666, grasshopperrestaurant.ca
Owners: Roy Qian and Oliver Chen
Chef: Roy Qian

The Food: The mostly vegan menu specializes in hearty comfort food—minus the meat, dairy and at least some of the grease. The lineup includes faux pork and “chick-un” banh mi sandwiches (made with seitan), four different veggie burgers and a meat-, dairy-, soy- and gluten-free mac ‘n’ cheese.

The Drinks: A cocktail menu will make its debut once the liquor license comes in. For now, customers can enjoy healthy smoothies like the eponymous Grasshopper: a blend of spinach, celery, cucumber, mint, apple and lemon juice.

The Place: Chen and Qian recruited two OCAD students to help them redesign the former Mexican bodega. They lifted the ceiling, exposed a brick wall and filled the space with warm wooden touches. 

The Numbers:
• 600 square feet
• 24 seats
• 19 dangling hurricane lanterns
• 15 burger patties sampled before four made the final cut
• $9.50, the student-friendly price ceiling
• 6 months to renovate
• 4 burgers (classic “beef”, spicy black bean, veggie and tempeh sloppy joe)