Located only 15 minutes away from Mercer’s West Windsor campus at the Trenton Farmers’ Market, the Savory Leaf Cafe is a 100% vegan establishment meaning all of their food is meat, dairy, and egg free. It is the only restaurant in the Lawrenceville, N.J. area serving plant-based comfort food packed with flavor.
Eduardo Calderon and Marie Barber originally opened the Savory Leaf Cafe as a pop up in the fall of 2018, and had their grand opening April of 2019.
Their slogan is “Good Food for Good Souls” and Calderon says he prides himself in living an ethically conscious lifestyle by choosing a diet that does not contribute to the suffering of animals.
“By making food like [vegan] cheesesteaks, and hamburgers, it is still food that we like to eat every day. We don’t have to sacrifice by eating an eggplant or a carrot, we can eat something that feels like the real thing, but is not,” Calderon says.
The Savory Leaf is a source for both vegans and non-vegans to enjoy food without the added cruelty behind animal-based meals.
Some of their food menu options include the BBQ “VIB” cheesesteaks, a chickpea “tuna” sandwich and the “veuben” sandwich all ranging between $8.75 to $9.75.
Their specialty entrees include homemade mac and cheese, vegan ribs and the Impossible Burger, with prices from $7.25 to $11. Apart from the mac and cheese, the dishes are served with your choice of chips or coleslaw.
Samantha Cruz, 23, said “I was skeptical about the cheesesteak at first. I’ve been a vegetarian for over 10 years now and have never had a vegan cheesesteak. I was thoroughly impressed, and have been coming back to get this sandwich ever since I first tried it.”
If you are in the mood for something a bit lighter, they also have their soup of the day ($5), and their seasonally inspired salads ($6.50).
To top it all off they have a selection of fresh baked desserts priced from $2 to $3.
Their beverage menu consists of organic coffees and teas ($2) as well as bottled water ($1.25).
Savory Leaf offers vegan breakfast every Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. where they serve pancakes, vegan sausage egg and cheese, and a variety of delicious breakfast alternatives.
The cafe is decorated in vibrant green colors and paintings of, what the owner describes as, “smiling animals.” The option between low top and high top tables provides variety within the small space.
Kicha Lugo, owner of a holistic skincare company, says of the cafe, “I am not vegan or vegetarian but I like to try different things and at this cafe I get the same good flavor that I would at any other regular cafe, and honestly the brownies are amazing!”
Another patron, Andy Dieudonn, a Liberal Arts major at Mercer, says, “I believe eating healthy is important because it sets the foundation to a fulfilling and successful life. That is why even though I am not vegan I like to come to this cafe.”
Notably, Savory Leaf offers a 10% student discount if they show the cashier their student ID.
They are open Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 11:30 to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
