Uno Pizzeria & Grill, known by some simply as Uno or Uno's is a national chain inspired by Chicago, a city known as the birth place of deep dish pizza.  This chain, whose salads for years even included meat and cheese now offers vegan (yes, fully plant-based or pure vegetarian - no animal product) options!

Last week (as of October 2019) the chain announced the new vegan options on their menu as a part of their 'Love All Feed All' initiative. ​"At Uno's everyone is special" the new menu publicity reads.  While the new menu isn't fully vegan (It also features other new dishes for those with allergies as well as for those who eat meat just as before), we are excited to see the new vegan options.

Vegan labels are now right on the menu. Furthermore, the chain even defines vegan on their menu and explains what it means! - "Does not include animal meat or dairy, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs or honey." The new menu changes are not only available locally but have also been rolled out throughout each of Uno's locations nationwide. Uno locations in Bucks County include Doylestown (Warrington) and Neshaminy (Bensalem).  In nearby Philadelphia you can find a location in Conshohocken and Bucks County residents can choose to visit Uno in nearby Hamilton, NJ as well.

Uno's new vegan options include 2 salads, 3 entrees and 14 veggie pizza toppings (all in this case coincidentally healthy veggies.. no plant based pepperoni just yet...) The entrees available are vegan veggie pizza (also called vegan garden pizza), vegan cheese pizza (with Daiya cheese), and the Beyond Burger. Given that the new vegan veggie pizza includes more healthy veggies (and less fat) we think many non-vegans will spring for this dine-out option too in an effort to stay healthier and get in more nutrients.  Hey, maybe the new menu labels will even inspire visitors to Google more about why people choose vegan.  

[Note that the vegan veggie (garden) pizza is not deep dish and we do hear that if you want deep dish you'll have to call your local restaurant ahead and request using your own discretion.  Also, missing from the vegan options notably is dessert, which we really hope is soon to follow.  A vegan brownie or chocolate cake if you're listening UNO.. all so easily made vegan!  Let's do this!  Many of us do not mind paying a slight additional cost while we wait for supply to heighten with demand and decrease cost.]

Even those not following a vegan diet seem excited by the new vegan inclusive menu changes. The changes make the restaurant more viable for families who have vegan family members they'd like to be able to dine with at the restaurant. The new vegan items are also viable for those participating in meatless Mondays and as we know, the Beyond Burger is well loved by vegans and non-vegans alike.

Local Bucks County vegan organizations like Vegans of Yardley are now planning special outings to try the new pizza!  We can certainly see why. Some local pizzerias in Bucks will add vegan cheese if you bring it in or you can bring your own to use cold to top your sauce-only pizza (In keeping it vegan just be sure the restaurant's pizza crust and sauce do not have dairy or butter added). Still, vegan options when it comes to pizza in Bucks are still scant. While many vegans prefer cheeses other than Daiya, the new updates to vegan menu are a welcome are a very welcome surprise and we support it!  Who will be next? Pizza Hut has added vegan cheese options in UK and Australia but not the US.

A spokesperson for Uno reached out to us and said "We are excited about this new menu we hope you'll try it!"  Last week, animal rights group PETA messaged all of their national text subscribers regarding the new menu additions as well asking that animal lovers support these positive changes.  

Did you know?

Not satisfied with the options at Uno or want to make your own Chicago style pizza economically at home? ...perhaps a Deep dish pizza with homemade cashew cheese, Yum!  We can see it now.  Guess what.. you may have to travel a little while or make a special trip but you can actually take cooking classes from Uno on how to make your own Uno-style deep dish pizza. Unfortunately these classes are not available vegan as of yet, but you could theoretically call ahead to request special class accommodations or apply the style to your very own ingredients at home. The closest class location to Bucks County is Washington DC.

See you in the comments?

Will you be trying and supporting the new options at Uno?  Let us know in the comments below.  Comments help us increase our search result status and reach!

Why order Vegan? Learn more here.

JUMP TO THE BUCKS COUNTY PA VEGAN FOOD DIRECTORY

If you're in Bucks, you're likely familiar with our neighbor to the North the Lehigh Valley! If you're taking a day or weekend trip to the Lehigh Valley, there are some great resources to find Vegan tips for your trip. Here are are few:

Save the Kales! - Save the Kales is an active group on Facebook that has a presence on other social media platforms such as Instagram.

Lehigh Valley Vegan - Lehigh Valley Vegan is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to increase plant-based options for restaurants and promote veganism in the LV, PA.

Vegan in the Valley - Vlogger Dylan Sweeney has stepped up to help you find vegan hotspots in the Lehigh Valley as well. You can find his new clips from the series Vegan in the Valley on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9wPNjCtL-M&t=22s


What are some of your other vegan resources for the area? If you have one we've missed, please let us know in the comments.

JUMP TO THE BUCKS COUNTY PA VEGAN FOOD DIRECTORY

New Jersey based restaurant Seed to Sprout celebrated the debut of a new complimentary market location this weekend in Avon-by-the-Sea.  The new Organic and Plant Based Market, 'Seed to Sprout Pantry' is located directly adjacent to their Avon-by-the-Sea restaurant location at 408 Main St. 

As the restaurant's website explains "Our Newest Labor of Love, Seed to Sprout Pantry is Open! We'll be fully stocked with a curated selection of your favorite packaged staples, premade offerings, homeware collections and some amazing local makers and more! We are SO excited to share this new space, right next door to our Avon-by-the-Sea Location..."

Seed to Sprout currently has two restaurant locations in Avon-by-the-Sea and Fair Haven New Jersey (right outside of Red Bank's shopping and restaurant district) as well as a bakery located in Wanamassa, New Jersey.  The writers at Bucks County Vegan have visited both and can attest that they are well worth the trip.  The signature staples like homemade coconut butter and other preservative-free and vegan ingredients make the meals absolutely delicious and the team is so helpful for visitors and first time customers!

The new pantry now carries an efficient assortment of many of the favorite cooking and baking ingredients the restaurant's expert plant-based chefs use to create the delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners and pastries available at the restaurants. 

At Seed to Sprout Pantry, raw vegan margherita pizza, homemade bagels, vegan cookie-dough, red lentil soup and macaroons stood out among the delicious-looking assortment of carry-out options on opening weekend. Toppings and dressings to take home included plant-based tahini, ranch, and 'Cashew Chedda' (which was sold out), as well as marinara, sauerkraut and more. Another cool favorite at the pantry - Vegan Cashew 'Parm.'

We absolutely recommend a trip to Seed to Sprout for a day-trip from Bucks. Now you can visit the Avon-by-the-Sea restaurant location as well as stock up on some of your favorite vegan goods and baking supplies right next door. ...or grab a delicious vegan bagel to-go at the pantry and head down to see the ocean.