Hotts Spots: Vegan menus unveiled out at Terry’s Terrace, Ale Mary’s

For the most part, Macomb County is known as a meat-and-potatoes county, along with an occasional craving for pizza.

But with the rise of foodies taking a purified interest in food and beer as experiences more than sustenance, local tastes are moving beyond burgers and fries.

That’s one of the reasons why Terry’s Terrace in Harrison Township — and its sister company, Ale Mary’s Beer Hall in Royal Oak — have rolled out new vegan menus.

“Vegan menus are here to stay — it’s only going to grow,” said Chef T.J. Newington, who oversees menus at both venues. “And we’re talking about real food, not just throwing veggies on a plate with rice.”

Newington says Ale Mary’s unveiled its menu first, followed by Terry’s, and the response was overwhelming.

“At Ale Mary’s, we saw it just blow up,” he said. “Over here, people on the east side are happy, but surprised because there are not a lot of progressive restaurants like there are in Ferndale and Royal Oak.”

The menus are slightly different, but both have about a dozen vegan offerings with entrees, soup, salad, handheld sandwiches and desserts.

For example, at Terry’s Terrace, the most popular vegan items are:

• The Impossible Burger, a vegan burger topped with tomato, spring mix, onion, veganaise and vegan mozzarella.

• Cajun Impossible Tacos, Cajun-seasoned vegan meat on corn tortilla with red cabbage and pico de gallo, served with vegan Spanish rice.

• Mac & Teese, sauteed zucchini, squash, carrots, and roasted red peppers tossed in penne and a creamy beer sauce.

Prices range from $4.99 for tomato basil soup to $15.99 for the Mac & Teese at Terry’s. Ale Mary’s has a similar price range.

At 31, Newington has been in the restaurant industry for more than half of his life. His father owned a restaurant, so he began busing tables at age 8. By the time he was 16, he was cooking.

He says going vegan has resulted in investing in new products.

“We can’t have anything that has touched meat,” the St. Clair Shores resident said. “That means separate cutting boards, separate fryers, separate sauté pans. But the feedback we get makes it all worth it.”

On an unrelated note, Terry’s Terrace — two-time winners of The Macomb Daily’s reader choice awards for Best Fish & Chips — is celebrating February with Lobster Lovers, a promotion with various lobster dishes through Feb. 28.

Terry’s Terrace is at 36470 Jefferson Ave. (at Crocker Blvd.) in Harrison Township. Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 586-463-2671 or visit terrystime.com.

Ale Mary’s Beer Hall is at 316 S. Main (between Third and Fourth streets), Royal Oak. Hours are 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday. More info at 248-268-1939 or alemarysbeer.com.