Shuttered cafe known for vegan, seafood moving to Lehigh Valley Mall - lehighvalleylive.com

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After losing some dining options at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Lehigh Valley Mall continues to find ways to fill empty spaces.

By early February, a familiar Allentown cafe will be moving its operations to the upper level of the Whitehall Township mall.

Almost Vegan Pescatarian Cafe, which opened in July 2020 along West Liberty Street, is now moving into space previously housed by Subway next to Macy’s. Anthony Alexander of Allentown owns the restaurant with his wife, Nadia Alexander. They closed the city location on Dec. 1. The Alexanders wanted a spot with more foot traffic, Anthony Alexander said.

The couple decided to open the business when Anthony Alexander said they always had a difficult time finding dishes at other eateries based on their dietary needs. While Anthony Alexander is strictly vegan, Nadia Alexander is pescatarian, meaning she will eat fish.

At Almost Vegan Pescatarian, patrons gain needed nutrition while avoiding unhealthy, ultra-processed foods, Anthony Alexander said. The menu spans a variety of pescatarian, vegan and plant-based dishes.

“Our café is a bridge for those wanting to go vegan or for pescatarians who need healthier seafood choices while enjoying dairy-free and soy-free food,” Anthony Alexander said.

The cafe, he added, also has a goal to help those who want to stop eating meat and start eating fish. Patrons then have the option to eat fish along with the menu’s vegan options if they desire.

Menu items that don’t contain fish include either plant-based or alkaline-rich ingredients — with everything remaining 100% soy- and dairy-free. For example, the Alexanders might incorporate coconut cheese or sour cream made from chickpea mayo.

There are such things as “The Land Bowl Salad,” which comes with kale, onions, peppers, kalmata olives, cilantro, cucumbers and ginger dressing topped with a parmesan cheese (made from walnuts); “Vegan Pizza,” which includes a raw tomato crust, seamozzarella cheese (made from sea moss), plant sausage, red sauce, herbs, onions and peppers; and the “Chickpea Alkaline Platter,” which is BBQ grilled mushrooms, steamed kale, and wild black rice with chickpeas.

There are also vegan breakfast staples, such as “Wild Blueberry Pancakes,” which are made from ancient grains and wild blueberries accompanied with plant-based sausage and chickpea scrambles; “Ancient Grits,” which are made from quinoa grits, mung bean eggs, and seaweed-salmon cakes; and a “Hot Buttered Spelt Toast Sandwich,” which includes “beyond sausage” and scrambles of avocado and tomatoes.

There also are a variety of vegan-made desserts and such organic smoothies as the “Lehigh Valley Bliss,” which is made from goji berries, bananas, blueberries, agave, and coconut water; “Juneteenth,” made of mango, key lime, banana, coconut milk, and agave; and “The Alexander’s,” made of strawberry, sesames moss, hemp seeds, agave, and coconut water.

Asked what was popular at the Allentown location in the past year, Anthony Alexander told lehighvalleylive.com regular patrons could’t get enough of the “Almost Wing Platter,” which are fried mushrooms made to look like chicken wings and tossed in a flavor choice of barbecue, buffalo or sweet chili, along with two sides. Fish-lovers also enjoyed the “Pescatarian Salmon Sliders.” Both will be made available at the Whitehall location, he said.

The Alexanders also expect to offer weekly “top secret” specials. Prices are affordable with most food items ranging $5 to $16. Smoothies range $5 for a small and $8 for a large.

Almost Vegan Pescatarian Cafe owners Anthony and Nadia Alexander are planning an early February opening at the Whitehall Township mall. The couple closed an Allentown location on Dec. 1.

The cafe also is hiring. Positions include chef, dishwasher, servers and bussing help, according to the business’ Facebook page.

Anthony Alexander’s family has been in the culinary industry for decades. His mother, Rashena Burroughs, currently owns three restaurants — Blueberry Vegan Cafe; The Zucchini Bar; and Aqua Phit Water Bar — in Newark, New Jersey, where he is a native. Anthony Alexander helped in his family businesses as a teenager upon graduating high school while Nadia Alexander attended fashion school, earning an associate’s degree.

“It’s a family gift to be able to cook,” Anthony Alexander said.

There are future plans to possibly open a second Lehigh Valley location with the Alexanders having their sights on Easton’s thriving downtown dining scene.

“Downtown Easton is like the new spot to go if you’re a foodie,” Anthony Alexander said. “We love the variety of restaurants and the outside, dine-in scenery.”

The cafe’s hours at the Lehigh Valley Mall will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

The Lehigh Valley Mall lost Ruby Tuesday and Frites, a Belgian-style French fry establishment, at the start of the pandemic. Italian restaurant chain Bravo! Cucina Italiana also initially closed just after the March 2020 shutdown at the Lifestyle Center but has since reopened under new ownership. Additionally, Shake Shack, opened just before the New Year next to Dave & Buster’s, a restaurant and entertainment hub that opened in October 2020.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.

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