Atlanta Gets Its First Vegan Pizzeria

Plant Based Pizzeria recently became the first all-vegan pizzeria to open in Atlanta. The shop is owned by Paul Jordan and Marisa Acoff and, since its grand opening in January, has served its vegan pizzas to celebrities such as Jermaine Dupri and Keri Hilson. Vegan since 2015, Jordan opened Plant Based Pizzeria—which occupies a space left vacant by non-vegan pizzeria Rocco’s Pizza—to fill a void for plant-based options in the area and to carry on the legacy of his mother’s restaurant, with a vegan twist. “I didn’t really want to go the route of the type of food they [his mother’s restaurant] served—the Southern style, heavier food,” Jordan told Eater. “This is a lighter option, so you can pretty much eat half a pizza and still get up and do your daily activities and not be ready to fall into a food coma.” The restaurant’s menu features spelt flour-based and gluten-free crusts with topping options including Beyond Sausage, cashew-based cheese, walnut-based meat, and pineapple on pies such as the Vegan Meat Lovers, Hawaiian, and the locally inspired Georgia Peach (which comes topped with roasted peaches). Plant Based Pizzeria also serves calzones and Jordan wants to expand the menu to include burgers, sandwiches, raw pizzas, and desserts. Next month, Jordan plans to expand the reach of his vegan pizza by launching a Plant Based Pizzeria food truck. Nearby, Slutty Vegan opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Atlanta last month after attracting crowds of customers—including celebrities Tyler Perry and Snoop Dogg—who waited up to five hours in line at the shop’s food truck.