Popular vegan restaurant chain closes after angry customers mercilessly attacked it when it put meat on the menu

A popular California vegan restaurant chain announced it was shutting its doors after years of financial struggles — but the final nails in the coffin came from angry vegans who began attacking the company when it put meat on the menu.Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery will close Sunday after 14 years, a move its owner Mollie Engelhart told Eater was a “sad victory” for the vegans who came out in droves to protest the eatery’s decision to start serving bison burgers, cheese and other non-vegan fare in an effort to draw in new customers.While the restaurant, with locations in Echo Park and Pasadena, was one of California’s most beloved plant-based bistros, it had struggled with rent and taxes for some time.Then, last year, Engelhart and her husband and co-owner Elias Sosa sold their home to put money back into the company in an effort to revive it, according to Eater.In May 2024, Sage added meat and cheese to its vegan menu.

Engelhart said it was all grown with regenerative farming methods, which are meant to have less environmental impact than traditional farming.“I thought maybe we could merge these two things, my restaurants and my passion for regenerative agriculture, and come to some new pathway,” Engelhart told the outlet.The change, however, failed to draw in new customers.

And it upset existing vegan diners.Furious vegans review-bombed the restaurant with one-star reviews.“Will never eat here now that they serve meat.

I’m sure y’all lost a lot of your vegan base when you added meat.Disgraceful,” one reviewer said on Yelp.

“I brought all my friends there to have meals and it was a safe and delicious place for Vegans.You’ve turned on your core roots and the animals in a way that is so disappointing,” another reviewer said.When Sage announced it was closing with a post on its Instagram account, many vegans responded with delight.

The top comment on the post, from animal rights organization PETA, slammed the chain, writing: ...