There’s never been a better time to eat like a vegan. Chefs across the city have embraced vegetable-forward menus and now Ottawa has welcomed its first vegan chain eatery. The fast-growing Quebec-based Copper Branch chain opened last week at Constitution Square (350 Albert St. between Kent and Lyon).

The very first Copper Branch launched in Montreal in 2014 and is spreading fast across Canada and into the U.S., with 30 restaurant openings in just four years. The goal is to have close to 60 open by the end of 2019. Copper Branch is offering bowls, burgers, nachos, and sandwiches and wraps — and making eating your veggies anything but boring.

The Ottawa spot caters to the downtown office crowd with an 850-square-foot space that includes counter ordering, as well as seating for up to 18 people. The casual menu of bowls and burgers is supplemented with an extensive list of sides (poutine with cremini mushroom sauce, anyone?), breakfast options, and smoothies.

For those who want to keep things simple on a first visit, try ordering one of the restaurant’s top five sellers:

— Aztec Power Bowl: Sweet potato, corn and mango salsa, spiced black beans, guacamole, vegan sour cream, lettuce, beets, carrot, broccoli, organic sprouted mung beans, pumpkin seeds, organic blue corn chips

— General Copper Bowl: Shiitake mushroom General Tao, broccoli, avocado, organic brown rice, sesame seeds, sriracha coleslaw, Copper Branch General Copper sauce

— Spicy Black Bean Burger: black beans, sunflower seeds, sweet potato, pea protein, brown rice, red pepper, green pepper, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, South West sauce

— Organic Quinoa Chili: Tomato, organic quinoa, house-baked red beans, house-baked black beans, kale, olive oil, organic corn, tomato paste, onion, fresh garlic, turmeric, organic cane sugar, spices

— Shiitake Teriyaki Sandwich: Shiitake mushrooms, organic tamari, teriyaki sauce, green peppers, lettuce, tomato, alfalfa sprouts, General Copper sauce

Hot Tip: Don’t get downtown much? No problem! The ever-expanding Copper Branch empire is on track to open a Barrhaven location at Strandherd Crossing (3161 Strandherd Dr.) in December and a Train Yards restaurant (197 Trainyards Dr.) in January.

Hot Tip #2: For those who like to be first, the newest item on the menu is a classic butternut squash soup, with pumpkin, onion, carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh ginger, paprika, fresh parsley, and brown sugar.

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