The “Ascension” To Good Coffee and Good Vibes
A vegan, New Jersyan experience at a Dallas café chain.
When you think of Texas food, barbeque and fatty foods that you probably shouldn’t put anywhere near your body might come to mind. While Dallas has all of that, it’s also home to a hip, vegan-friendly café chain filled with tasty food and drinks.
On the outside, the Ascension café in the Thanksgiving Tower looks like another restaurant to choose from in downtown Dallas. When first walking inside, a sense of home paired with modernity is seen. A fresh pink rose is placed in the middle of wooden tables and water is served in glass wine bottles. The coffee bar is a nice, quaint touch and the music speakers blast songs like M83’s “Midnight City.” The charm on the inside almost contrasts with the huge windows that show a skyscraper-packed view.
Ascension serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The chain opened in 2012 by Austalian native Russell Hayward who wanted to provide a relaxed European food place. On the menu, at least one option is available for each meal that is vegan-friendly. The menu lists what is gluten-free and dairy free and the servers are helpful in directing vegans on what to choose, which are perks.
Ascension has large drink selection includes your regular cup of joe to more fanciful sips like special drinking chocolate. Turmeric chai latte made with hemp milk? Odd, but I’m in and holy hell was it delicious. Never did I think savory turmeric spice paired with a sweetness could be so good in a drink. Turmeric is a great spice used in many Indian foods like curry. The spice has also been used for centuries as a way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, making Ascension’s drink a brain and caffeine boost in one go.
The paleo breakfast bowl filled with fruits, coconut yogurt, granola and other toppings made a perfect light breakfast packed with flavor. It even had edible flowers sprinkled throughout, making for a Instagram worthy breakfast. Other vegan bites offered included chia seeds pudding and paprika-seasoned home fries.
Even grandma and grandpa, who refuse to try anything healthy or meat-free will be won over with selections like a ham and cheese omelette and ricotta pancakes (not that you want them to eat animal products.)
With a nice setting, indie music playlist and a fun and delicious menu the place is sure to attract millennial-aged food lovers from all over.
