Indy dining: Vegan restaurant and café open at Circle Centre Mall

Healthier eating at a mall?

That’s the aim of a new restaurant at Circle Centre Mall, 49 W. Maryland St.

And another new shop there intends to help keep downtown visitors and workers caffeinated.

The Alkaline Electric Goddess had its grand opening on Saturday, becoming the mall’s only plant-based food stand.

The menu is loaded with better-for-you foods, including sandwiches; wraps, tacos, chili, vegan chicken and spelt waffles with alkaline butter and agave, spelt cake, chickpea tuna, frittatas, a soul food platter, lasagna, and vegan ice cream.

The southern bowl has barbecue jackfruit, vegan mac and cheese and southern kale greens with cornbread.

Mini Bundt cakes, sweet potato pie and sea moss smoothies are among other options.

Both of the new businesses are owned by Black women.

Ellise (Nikki) Johnson started The Alkaline Electric Goddess as a healthier food prep service in late 2018. She’d adopted an alkaline diet — focused on eating fresh fruits and vegetables — after being diagnosed with lupus in 2008 and wanted to bring the options to diners across the Indianapolis area.

Like a vegan diet, an alkaline diet is plant-based, without meats, eggs, dairy or other animal proteins. The diet is based on the theory that the foods an individual consume change their pH level to either acidic or alkaline; and that consuming a high amount of acidic foods is harmful to the body while eating alkaline or neutral foods can improve health.

Meanwhile, Cafe at the Circle opened in late May.

Kamilah James, who launched her Kemet 360 Jewelry and Accessories store at Circle Centre last November, opened the cafe to serve coffee, hot and cold tea, fresh fruit and fruit cups, and fresh-baked muffins and cinnamon rolls that are delivered daily. A couple of tables and chairs are there for dining.

The cafe initially is operating during mall hours, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 12-6 p.m. Sunday. But James said she hopes to change the hours to better accommodate those headed for work in the morning.

"I want to target the employees that are into the connecting businesses,” James said.

James said she plans to add sandwiches to the menu.

Contact the reporter at 317-444-6264.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis restaurants: Vegan eatery and café open at Circle Centre Mall