SweetChops: What's the deal
Flying in the face of lockdown is SweetChops, a new Toronto restaurant dishing up plant-based cuisine in the form of healthy bowls and hearty sandwiches. Having opened during the covid-19 lockdown, SweetChops' focus is on restaurant food available for delivery.
After working as an executive in the restaurant chain industry, SweetChops founder Adam Gilbert had a total change of heart when he went vegan. Inspired by his new lifestyle, his vision was to start his own plant-based chain restaurant. The cuisine: modern American food with classic meatball subs, sandwiches and salads – all veganized, all irresistibly delicious. And from what we’ve seen, Gilbert’s managing to tick all the boxes.
The concept comes from Gilbert but the mastermind behind the menu is Dustin "Dusty" Gallagher, who decided to cook vegan eats for a change of pace. The former executive chef at 416 Snack Bar and a Top Chef Canada Allstars finalist, Gallagher honed his craft with experience at Susur and the now-closed restaurants Grace and Acadia. He designed SweetChops’ menu to make plant-based eating accessible (and tasty) for everyone..
SweetChops: What's on the menu
For flexitarians and meat-eaters alike, SweetChops manages to nail juicy and hearty dishes without using meat thanks to a mushroom and lentil base. Try it in the Big Chops Burger, layered with a house-made mushroom-lentil patty, thick guacamole and crunchy shoestring potatoes stacked on a fresh bun; or in the meatball sub, sandwiching mushroom and lentil meatballs with tangy tomato sauce, stretchy dairy-free mozz, arugula and sunflower pesto.
The menu features entrees like the Shibuya bowl, named after the Tokyo neighbourhood. The dish is packed with savoury flavours: soft and creamy miso eggplant, roasted until blistering; saucy teriyaki tofu; sesame shiitake mushrooms; and edamame laid atop a bed of steamy sushi rice. Adorned with pickled ginger and a soy-miso dressing, the bowl is so deeply umami it takes our taste buds straight to Japan.
As for the sandwiches, don’t miss the Jerkfruit Sammie, where roasted jackfruit and a fresh slaw come swaddled in a fluffy ciabatta bun. Crispy thick garlic fries are a welcome addition – or you can opt for a side salad for, you know, a lighter option.
SweetChops: How to get it
The pandemic halted plans for SweetChops to open its doors, turning it into a delivery-only spot in Little Portugal. If you’re tired of cooking the same dishes after a long day of work, it’s available to order for dinner through Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes, Doordash or Ritual.
