A Meat Free Joint That Is Full Of Heart
The corner of 5th Street and Rosemont has been a spinning food circus of meat-centric operations. Mainly consisting of Kosher delis, that space has been known for its delicious food for decades upon decades, all centered around cured beefy bits, creamy salads and other animal forward dishes.
After the last deli closed its doors in the shake wake of Covid, a new concept moved in soon after. Only this time it would be completely animal product free. Like 100% plant based.
Midtown Vegan Deli and Market opened its doors in 2021 to a rousing sigh of cruelty-free relief. Now, don’t get me wrong, the guy typing these words is a strident omnivore, but after constant bouts with drippy burgers, endless birria tacos and the illustrious Sonoran hot dog, it’s really nice to take a break from all that flesh forward food and give the animals involved a break as well.
Owner Tanya Barnett says that Midtown was born from hosting vegan cooking nights with her friends. At first they were monthly, then every other week, then every week as the vegan nights began to grow in fun and popularity. When the former occupant of 5071 E. 5th Street vacated, Barnett drew up a plan and the cogs of Midtown began turning.
“The idea for Midtown was more out of necessity than to make money,” says Barnett who is also a licensed real estate agent. “Veganism is a still growing movement and I knew that people, be them vegan or meat eaters, would appreciate a place that just serves up really delicious food that just happens to be plant based and cruelty free.”
The response to Midtown Vegan Deli and Market was an almost immediate embrace. Sure there are plenty of restaurants that are vegan, or at least offer vegan delights, but Midtown serves up fat kid comfort food and you would never know that a finned or four legged friend wasn’t involved.
For breakfast (yes they totally serve breakfast) you gotta try the Chicken and Waffles. Its Southern fried goodness over a fresh waffle, a waffle that happens to contain no dairy, and the chicken itself is a wizard construct seeing that it is chicken but it totally isn’t.
Speaking of vegan sorcery, Midtown has paired with local blogger Hannah Hernandez, aka the Death Free Foodie, to create the Death Free Bagel, easily one of my favorite items on the all day menu. A house made bagel of your choice is then stuffed with, get this, bacon, egg, cheese and sausage, none of which employ the use of a critter, then its finished with jalapenos, microgreens and maple syrup. So good.
For sandwiches you can get a full on Reuben, Philly “cheesesteak”, and even a tuna melt that goes by the name Tuno because there aint no tuna in this thing. Yet, somehow, there is.
Of course Midtown has a full run of salads and wraps, because what good well intentioned flesh free eatery wouldn’t? And, of course, they offer up a smoothie menu, a fruity cavalcade of cold sippin’ yum, a necessity in the Tucson heat, even though it is officially winter as I type this. And 90 degrees.
If you’re craving a diner experience without the diner slop, get you a basket of tater tots or fries and order up one of Midtown’s infamously thick and tasty milkshakes that have, you guessed it, no milk. Because you dip your fries or tots in your milkshake right? Yeah. Its like the best thing ever but sounds weird on tape. Sort of like, well, chicken and waffles and our beloved Sonoran hots dogs.
Oh. That’s right. Midtown has a Sonoran hot dog! And the Sonoran hot dog is absolutely scrummy! No dogs were harmed in this dish because that’s not the modus of Midtown’s motivation. Or should be anyone’s really.
Every Tuesday and Thursday you can order up a beefed up (without the beef) crunchwrap that is supremely better and bigger than that run for the border corporate snore. Midtown also does a burger of the month so stop in at least every four weeks to see what the kitchen magicians have concocted. Personally I have experienced fast food style, Mediterranean influenced, slathered with chili, double decker and kitchen sink everything rampage burgers. All of which are equal in amazingness yet being totally different from one another.
You now know about the deli, lets get down to the market.
When you walk in, on either side of Midtown, you are treated to a color whirl of environmentally conscious products, be them local or from a far off exotic location. Sauces, cereals, bulk food, frozen dinners, juices, condiments, desserts, you name it. They even have a rotating selection of fine craft beers. Because nothing goes better with an egg salad sandwich that is completely devoid of egg and Buffalo style crinkle cut fries than a tall cold one. Ammirite?
Midtown does their own baking and offers up sweet treats like cookies and cakes but they have partnered with Holden’s Rise Above bakery so there is a full selection of their vegan goodies on display at the deli counter.
If you consume meat or have completely gone green in your diet, either way you must make Midtown Vegan Deli and Market a destination no matter what part of town you are currently calling home in, what proteins you consume or politics you lean toward. Everything here is all so very very good.
Enjoy!
Midtown Vegan Deli & Market
5071 E. 5th Street @ Rosemont
http://www.midtownvegandeli.com
(520) 849-5553
http://www.instagram.com/midtownvegandeliandmarket
http://www.facebook.com/midtownvegandeli/
Monday – Saturday: 9am – 9pm
Sundays: 9am – 4pm
Words and photos by Mark Whittaker
yeahwritemark@gmail.com
520-861-4198
Yeah Write Mark 
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