The Vig is set to unveil a new menu geared toward healthier food options on March 14.
The changes were made after collecting feedback from staff from The Vig’s four locations across the Valley, according to general manager of The Vig’s Fillmore location, Liza Lowenhagen.
“We have a very talented crew of kitchen staff,” Lowenhagen said. “We have such a team effort here in everything we do that we try to involve everyone in the decision-making process.”
Lowenhagen said the new menu is targeted towards vegans and vegetarians, who may have not have had as many options on The Vig’s current menu.
One of these new menu items is the avocado and corn relish bruschetta appetizer, which includes crostini topped with black beans, tomatoes and red onion salad. Some salads, such as the new roasted beet salad, will also be added to try to appeal to the vegans and vegetarians of Phoenix.
However, not all the changes are geared toward vegan and vegetarian options. Two of the new menu items are the chorizo burger and the charcuterie board appetizer, which includes a selection of meats, cheese, fruits, nuts and crostini.
“We’re trying to elevate the whole menu and the whole experience for our guests,” Lowenhagen said.
The cocktail and wine menu will also be altered. Lowenhagen said this will entail fresher ingredients and more craft and style going into making the drinks. She said there are cocktail and wine change-ups every year.
The desserts on the menu will also change. Lowenhagen said The Vig is looking to create healthier options, similar to the other menu items. One menu item being removed is the chocolate-walnut brownie.
Lowenhagen said the time to overhaul the menu had been coming for a while. The Vig’s original location is approaching its 10th birthday, and the menu hasn’t changed much since its opening.
Wesley Heath, a waiter at The Vig on Fillmore, said he thinks the community will respond positively to the new menu. He said it is a restaurant’s responsibility to provide healthy food that appeals to the average Phoenician.
Some of the staff at The Vig said the new menu will contribute to an environment that customers already enjoy.
DJs play at The Vig on Friday and Saturday nights, and there is live music every Sunday night. On Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., customers are welcome to bring their dogs to the patio.
“There comes a certain sense of evolution when you’ve been around for 10 years,” Lowenhagen said. “Paying attention to what the customers’ needs and wants are, we just felt that it was time to do new offerings.”
Contact the reporter at Daniel.Perle@asu.edu.
