Shari’s Cafe & Pies, previously known as Shari’s Restaurants, is a chain of family dining restaurants and has its headquarters in Hermiston, Oregon. The first Shari’s Restaurant opened in 1978.
Unfortunately, Shari’s Cafe & Pies is a non-vegan restaurant.
Before we go any further, let’s discuss the story of Shari’s Cafe & Pies.
Shari’s Cafe & Pies – The Story
Shari’s Cafe & Pies was founded in 1978 and had the largest family-style restaurant brand in the Pacific Northwest. The restaurant is famous for its welcoming service, fresh comfort food, and a large selection of award-winning pies.
Environmental-Friendly Initiatives
Recycling Program
The restaurant recycles trans-fat-free oil and turns it into biodiesel, which can be used as a fuel.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
The restaurant converts neon lights into LED bulbs that are energy efficient.
Small Carbon Footprint
Shari’s Cafe & Pies conducts annual energy audits. The ingredients used at the restaurant are sourced locally, saving a lot of energy.
Efficient Purchase Of Equipment
All the kitchen and restaurant equipment such as ovens, stoves, and HVAC are purchased, keeping in mind waste, electricity, and gas.
Cage-Free Eggs
The restaurant is committed to going 100% cage-free by 31 December 2025. Shari’s Cafe & Pies is concerned about quality, sustainability, animal welfare, community involvement, and food safety.
The food chain works with suppliers to ensure a proper transition to cage-free eggs.
What’s Vegan At Shari’s Cafe & Pies?
Spicy Asian Chicken Salad (No Meat And Dairy Ingredients)
- Green Onions
- Sesame Seeds
- Fresh Lettuce
- Signature Asian Dressing
- Red Cabbage
- Carrots
- Diced Chicken Breast
- Crispy Wontons
Cobb Salad (No Meat, Croutons, And Dairy Ingredients)
- Ranch Dressing
- Romaine
- Croutons
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Chopped Hard-Boiled Egg
- Diced Chicken Breast
- Applewood-Smoked Bacon
Chicken Caesar Salad (No Meat And Dairy Ingredients)
- Comes with crispy or grilled chicken
House Salad (No Meat and Dairy Ingredients)
- Steak or Salmon
- Crispy or Grilled Chicken
Garden Chicken Salad (No Meat, Croutons, And Dairy Ingredients)
- Crunchy Croutons
- Cucumbers
- Fresh Romaine Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Dressing (of your choice)
- Grilled Chicken Breast
Sides (No Dairy Ingredients)
- Rice Pilaf
- Baked Potatoes
- Mashed Potatoes
- French Fries
- Fresh Fruit
- Seasonal Vegetables
Should Shari’s Cafe & Pies Expand Its Vegan Offerings?
Shari’s Cafe & Pies doesn’t have vegan items on the menu, and the only way vegans can have a vegan meal at the restaurant is to order salads or sides that they can easily customize.
However, the restaurant needs to make some serious changes to attract vegan dieters; while we can’t force the restaurant to make those changes, we can surely give them some suggestions.
Do The Math
Currently, veganism is growing rapidly, and experts predict it is a billion-dollar market. Veganism is a gold mine, and all restaurants need to do is take this opportunity and run with it.
If non-vegan restaurants such as Shari’s Cafe & Pies can begin to cater to vegan dieters, their profits will skyrocket. Most restaurants that have gone vegan have achieved tremendous success.
Going Vegan Is Not Impossible
On paper, it probably looks impossible for a non-vegan restaurant to go vegan and start offering vegan food, but honestly, it is not that tough.
However, the restaurant will need to make profound changes before introducing a vegan menu or going 100% vegan.
The first thing that Shari’s Cafe & Pies will need to take care of will be the ingredients. The restaurant should know what kind of ingredients vegans eat and the type they avoid.
Secondly, the cooking method will need to change slightly; non-vegan and vegan food should be cooked separately.
Going Vegan Is Ethical
Let’s take the business aspect out of this and understand this situation from an ethical perspective. Most people go vegan for ethical reasons because they want to end the exploitation of animals for food, clothing, etc.
Science has already shown that exploiting wildlife has severe consequences such as disease and environmental disasters. One of the reasons behind climate change is the overexploitation of animals by humans.
Time To Take Vegans Seriously
Non-vegan restaurants can no longer ignore the reality that is veganism. With how rapidly veganism is spreading, it won’t be long before all types of restaurants will need to come with ways to accommodate vegans.
So, there is no point in waiting for a few years and then thinking of making some critical changes. If Shari’s Cafe & Pies decides to make some changes within the next twelve to eighteen months, it will be a massive step in the right direction.
There is also a possibility that vegans might come up to the restaurant and request the management introduce some vegan-friendly items.