The Zenith

A Guide to the World's Most Wondrous Vegetarian Eateries

"The Zenith is an antique shop and restaurant that also claims to be Pittsburgh’s oldest vegetarian eatery. Its unassuming façade hides a cornucopia of quirkiness within. Packed shelves and racks display collections of all sorts. Creepy dolls, teapots, religious statuettes, and decorative Dutch clogs are a few clusters that stand out. Mannequin heads peek from inside hutches. An assortment of owls adorns one of the bathrooms. It’s hard to find an empty space on the walls, even the ceiling is taken. Prom dresses, a vacuum cleaner and a skeleton-angel are among the items that hang just above the visitors’ heads. For the fashion-oriented, there are vintage clothes, hats, shoes and jewelry. Sports fans will get a kick out of the shrine dedicated to Pittsburgh’s major teams (Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers). The L-shaped dining room keeps the whimsical atmosphere going. No two tables are alike. Each one has its unique set of chairs, glasses, and silverware. Everything in the dining area can be purchased, too, including the table you may be sitting at. As you test out the furniture, sample the menu, as well, which gets updated regularly with fresh vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Dishes might include the likes of a seitan pot roast, a roasted eggplant hummus wrap, and a lentil burger. While they’re mostly vegan, some menu items may have cheese added to them, and eggs are served at brunch. The menu also features an extensive list of teas. The Zenith triples as an art gallery, supporting local artists by housing their work." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

The Zenith – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Gastro Obscura

"The Zenith is an antique shop and restaurant that also claims to be Pittsburgh’s oldest vegetarian eatery. Its unassuming façade hides a cornucopia of quirkiness within. Packed shelves and racks display collections of all sorts. Creepy dolls, teapots, religious statuettes, and decorative Dutch clogs are a few clusters that stand out. Mannequin heads peek from inside hutches. An assortment of owls adorns one of the bathrooms. It’s hard to find an empty space on the walls, even the ceiling is taken. Prom dresses, a vacuum cleaner and a skeleton-angel are among the items that hang just above the visitors’ heads. For the fashion-oriented, there are vintage clothes, hats, shoes and jewelry. Sports fans will get a kick out of the shrine dedicated to Pittsburgh’s major teams (Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers). The L-shaped dining room keeps the whimsical atmosphere going. No two tables are alike. Each one has its unique set of chairs, glasses, and silverware. Everything in the dining area can be purchased, too, including the table you may be sitting at. As you test out the furniture, sample the menu, as well, which gets updated regularly with fresh vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Dishes might include the likes of a seitan pot roast, a roasted eggplant hummus wrap, and a lentil burger. While they’re mostly vegan, some menu items may have cheese added to them, and eggs are served at brunch. The menu also features an extensive list of teas. The Zenith triples as an art gallery, supporting local artists by housing their work. Know Before You Go The Zenith is open Thursday through Sunday." - fawerlang, blimpcaptain

Are Detroit’s New Center Developments Giving the Neighborhood Its Restaurant Moment? | Eater Detroit

"Launched as a Fisher Building restaurant and tiki bar with a rent-free start, this concept struggled from the outset: lower-than-expected building occupancy, a five-month delay in securing a liquor license, highly uneven foot traffic tied to theater nights, and construction for a nearby streetcar that deterred drivers and created perceived parking problems; the operation closed roughly a year after opening." - Dorothy Hernandez

Part vegetarian cafe, part vintage shop and gallery, Zenith is a South Side original. Its weekly vegan‑leaning Sunday brunch and rotating dinner plates keep regulars returning, and the space doubles as a living piece of local culture.