Elephant & Vine—a fast-casual version of Spirit Elephant—will be opening in Lincoln Park and Evanston this spring.
Spirit Elephant—Winnetka's first fully vegan restaurant—has enjoyed a lot of success over the past couple of years. So much so, that the owner is expanding to open a new concept in two Chicago locations.
Two New Vegan Fast-Casual Restaurants in Chicago
Elephant & Vine will be the fast-casual little sister to Spirit Elephant. Set to open in Lincoln Park and in the suburb of Evanston later this spring, the fully vegan restaurants are the first of many planned expansions.
The Lincoln Park location will be opening at Lincoln Commons—a luxury apartment complex with over 100,000 square feet of retail and dining space—at 2315 N Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60614. The Evanston location will be opening next to the Evanston Public Library at 719 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201.
Vegan Comfort Food Near Chicago Universities
The restaurants will feature counter service with an open, industrial-style floor plan filled with airy spaces and indoor plants. While Elephant & Vine plans to cater largely to the takeout and delivery crowd, there will still be indoor seating at both locations. As both restaurants will be situated near local colleges and universities, the owners anticipate this open atmosphere and quick access to healthy, plant-packed food to be a pull for local students.
While the menu isn’t finalized, customers can expect a variety of vegan comfort food ranging from Impossible burgers, sandwiches, loaded veggie bowls, and salads. A staple on the menu will be the Zero Clucks Hand Battered Chicken Sandwich, served on a pretzel bun with sweet potato fries. While Spirit Elephant features a bar, Elephant & Vine will be serving up non-alcoholic beverages such as smoothies, shakes, and lemonades.
Visit ElephantAndVine.com for more information or to sign up for updates on the new openings, and make sure to connect with the restaurant on Instagram at @elephantandvine.
