Cocktails and plant-based small plates are the order of the day at newcomer The Tipsy Vegan, which is set to take up residence in the building previously home to The Punt Yard pub. The business is the brainchild of Cheryl Mullenger and Michelle McCabe, who started out in 2015 selling vegan dishes from a food truck, before launching a permanent stall on Norwich market. By late 2020, business was so good that the pair took the plunge and opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant and cocktail bar on Benedicts Street, an indie haven in Norwich. Today, the expansion is continuing, with a Cambridge branch opening on Quayside – one of the buzziest spots in town.
“We are vegan and wanted to show you can have a dining-out experience and not miss meat or animal products,” explains Michelle. “Our menu is very fun – it’s primarily small plates – which encourages customers to try a few different things. Around 60 or 70% of our clientele aren’t vegan. They just really like the food!”
Dishes include buttermilk slider burgers (created with deliciously seasoned homemade seitan), patatas bravas, tacos and jackfruit arepas. Just as much effort goes into the drinks, with house-made infusions and fermentations in the cocktails, all designed to pair perfectly with the food – ours is a toasted coconut bahia!
