Vegans, take note: 2 Olympia eateries are reopening to offer plant-based favorites

This is a big week for Olympia’s vegans — and for those who just plain love cauliflower wings and seitan pepperoni hand pies.

The Park Side Café in west Olympia reopened Wednesday, and The Wayside Café & Deli on Capitol Way in downtown Olympia will be back starting Monday.

It’s news that has been greeted with great excitement on social media. An Instagram post announcing the Wayside’s reopening generated 467 likes, while Park Side’s post got 99.

“We’re going to get our ass handed to us,” said Wayside co-owner Jamie Vulva, anticipating a big crowd Monday, “but that’s a good problem to have.”

Both restaurants, frequented by vegans and omnivores alike, are starting with takeout only and both will be open limited hours.

“We’re going a lot slower than (Gov. Jay) Inslee says to go,” said Park Side owner Alicia Elliott. “We just want to protect everybody, so we’re not letting anyone in the building in phase 2.”

The Park Side has set up a walk-up window where customers can pick up their selections, chosen from a menu that’s about half the size of what the restaurant would normally offer.

“We canvassed on Facebook and asked what people’s favorites were and went in that direction,” Elliott told The Olympian. “You’ll see our curried tofu wrap and our Caesar wrap and the breakfast sandwich.”

A full selection of coffee and espresso drinks is available, too, along with other soft drinks and organic wine, beer and cider.

Elliott has asked the city for permission to set up outdoor tables along Harrison Avenue and hopes to have those as an option in the next week or so.

At The Wayside, the full menu — which ranges from deep-fried mashed potato balls and fried “chickn” sandwiches to healthful rice bowls and salads — will be available, along with to-go beer and wine, said Vulva, who owns the café with Kevin Rainsberry.

The downtown restaurant, open seven days a week, will resume its popular weekend specials immediately.

“I can tell you that the special for the first weekend we’re open is going to be nachos, because people will not stop asking for them,” she told The Olympian.

Customers can call ahead to place orders, but in person is probably the best option, she said. When the Wayside was open for takeout only in the first few weeks of the stay-at-home order, the phone lines were jammed.

“We had such a huge influx of orders,” she said. “It was like back-to-back phone calls and then I would also have a line out the door. I’ve been telling people, ‘If you can’t get through, just come in and order.’ ”

The Park Side Café

• Where: 1909 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia
• Current hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
• Want some? Order and pay online for pickup or order at the new walk-up window.
• More information: 360-352-8344, http://www.theparksidecafe.com

The Wayside Café & Deli

• Where: 609 Capital Way S., Olympia
• Current hours: 4-8 p.m. daily beginning Monday, June 15
• Want some? Order by phone or in person for takeout only.
• More information: 360-350-0233, http://thewaysidecafe.com
• Specials: Weekend specials will be posted on Facebook and Instagram