Meet Pinky Cole, the CEO and President of Slutty Vegan, a plant-based restaurant located in West End, Jonesboro, and Edgewood Avenue. You can’t miss the top-notch marketing, energetic staff, and VIBE! Welcome to the family reunion atmosphere.
Slutty Vegan has three locations to choose from when visiting Atlanta. The West End location is located in a predominately African American neighborhood THE Historic Atlanta WestEnd. In June of 2019, Pinky opened her second location in Jonesboro, GA (18 miles south of Atlanta). The third location opened Saturday, October 24th 2021, on Edgewood Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward.
Who doesn’t love an accomplished, beautiful, devastating diva of a black WOMAN!!! The unconquerable Pinky Cole stands for Black culture but represents the Queer & Black community and everything positive we have to offer. Oh by the way, she graduated from Clark Atlanta University, my fellow AUC sister, yall know my school Morris Brown College is back (Shoutout to them).
This Mogul, Activist, Philanthropist, and Change Agent not only sells you an experience every time you walk through her restaurant doors, but she is also investing in property and revitalizing areas that have been disenfranchised for years. Yall know Gentrification is real, and Revitalization should be our primary concern, but anywho back to Slutty Vegan. Additionally, Pinky’s foundation paid off past-due utility bills, and she hires formerly incarcerated teens, allowing them a second chance to grow and learn the business. You can’t beat a Conscious Queer Black Woman!
My favorite sandwiches:
- One Night Stand
- Fussy Hussy
- Chik’N Head
Go check out their website: sluttyveganatl.com
You have to visit Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar located in Historic College Park on Main Street. The owners/husbands Gee and Juan Smalls opened Virgil in June of 2019. They have a strong backing from the Atlanta Black LGBTQ community, which has risen them to the top of the Atlanta Restaurant community. Through clever marketing, an undeniable social media presence, and wonderfully cultivated South Carolina Gullah Geechee cuisine garnered them recognition throughout the U.S. Virgil’s is one of the hottest for the culture spots in Atlanta. My partner and I go there for our Friday night dates. We get there early because there is always a wait, but it is worth it.
From their Gullah Geechee rice to their delicious bussin cornmuffins (we order at least 3, they come with 2 muffins each), their menu is packed with fabulously curated traditional Geechie cuisine. Ohhhh, and their Gullah Eggrolls are sooooo good too; we need to make a visit! The music gives a vibe of Old Atlanta, the good ole days (Traxx Atlanta, 708. Chaparral). The décor consists of a large blue, green, and orange mural of Virgil Smalls, painted by C. Flux Sing. The red brick wall gives it a rustic but up date feel. I can’t wait until the start adding more decorations from black artists. It can only get better with time.
One of the best thing about this restaurant is that the owners are two same-gender-loving black men that created a space for our community. Honestly, this is one of the few places in Atlanta that is FOR US BY US. They are the co-founders of The Gentlemen’s Foundation, which has programs like mentorship, TGF scholarship, and support groups. These socially conscious brothers understand that it takes a village to educate our youth and be a light for the Black LGBTQ community. Keep up the good work fellas!!
BTW- I miss their Gentlemen’s Ball!
I listed our favorite appetizers above, but our favorite Entrees are:
- Friday Night Dinna
- Smma Body Plate
- Slammin Sammen
Check them out: Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar (virgilsgullahkitchen.com)
“Living Your Best Life At Local Green Atlanta. Eat Well. Be Well.”
The best health-conscious food is located in THE Historic Atlanta WestEnd (like Slutty Vegan’s first location). They have two locations: 19 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd NW and 800 Forrest Street NW. “Local Green Atlanta is a fast-casual restaurant whose mission is to redefine healthy, affordable food for all by creating an ecosystem based on trust and accountability.” They focus on Community, Health, and Nutrients. Most of their menu is plant-based; however, they have pescatarian menu options as well.
Local Green Atlanta was Oprah’s Top Health Food Favorites in 2020, and recently, they were highlighted in NBC’s Today show. With the pandemic, many black business owners were negatively impacted by the shutdown. We must highlight and support our own and help them thrive. During COVID, owner Zak Wallace pivoted his business through setting up in neighborhoods, polling locations, fire locations. Additionally, Local Green allowed people from the community to buy a meal for the homeless and feed people experiencing homelessness.
Their Salmon Philly Quesadilla is new to me from the menu, so I had to try it, and believe me, it was worth it. If you are a plant-based aficionado, try the Cauliflower Philly (Vegan) with Cajun “Air” fries + “Greenhito” lemonade. They are all great!!
Favorite sandwiches:
- “Notorious” Salmon tacos
- “Keisha” Bowl
- “Urban Legend” Shrimp Philly
Check them out: Local Life | Local Green Atlanta
Wadada Healthy Market & Juice Bar
Wadada Healthy Market & Juice Bar
Can yall tell that I love to support Black businesses on the Westside of Atlanta? Growing up off Stanton Road, my family visited Westend mall, AUC, and other parts of Historic Westend. This neighborhood offered an abundance of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. I continued that legacy and moved back to the Westside of Atlanta to be closer to some of my roots.
Wadada Healthy Market and Juice Bar is located at 878 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd behind the WestEnd Mall. The owner is Jeanette Sellers; she created Wadada Healthy Market & Juice Bar to address the concerns that the Black community doesn’t have access to healthy and fresh foods. Additionally, Ms. Sellers is the neighborhood’s first woman and Black-owned health food store.
The smoothie shop is in the front of the store and toward the back is the market where you can find everything from sea moss, fresh honey, natural deodorants, and vegan books. As I browsed the market section, I found a great book, “The Vegan Remix, A Soulful Spin on World Cuisine,” by Afya Ibomu. I look forward to trying out some of Afya’s recipes. Another aspect of her business is allowing other business owners to sell their products in her market section. If you have products to sell, please contact them via their website. Let’s grow more Black businesses!!
My favorite is the Boss Moss, but I frequently make my own smoothie depending on if I need an immune booster or increase my energy levels. The wellness shots are suitable for everyday intake or when you are trying to fight a cold. Try them out; they are friendly and local.
My last restaurant choice is Tassili’s Raw Reality- Raw Vegan Cafe’, which is well-known for its raw vegan wraps, raw food snacks, and health-conscious drinks. The owner is Tassili Ma’at, and she is passionate about serving the best kale in Atlanta. They are located at 1059 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd, Atlanta, GA, in THE Historic Atlanta WestEnd. Not only are they spreading the vegan message and promoting a healthier lifestyle for the black community, but they also have events like the Annual Wonderful Wizards of Raw, Natural Mystic Fair, and Raw Culinary Alchemy Classes to encourage building a community. Their core principles are Truth, Justice, Harmony, Balance, Order, Reciprocity, and Propriety. What is not to love a restaurant that has these types of core principles and foundations.
Tassili’s is known for kale wraps which have names like Mandingo or Punany Wraps. My favorite is the Punany Wrap; it is stuffed with seasoned kale (spicy, mixed, or regular) I prefer mixed, Karamu couscous, sweet coconut corn, avocado, tomato, with soy mayo. Many people think kale wraps are not filling, but they never tried these from Tassili’s Raw Reality. You won’t be disappointed with any food you choose.
Check them out: About Tassili’s Raw Reality – Tassilis Raw Reality
Southern Cooper 