One of NJ's first vegan bars and pizzerias is opening in New Brunswick on Friday

When Ron Biton, owner of Veganized restaurant in New Brunswick, went vegan 30 years ago, he didn’t mind tossing meat, dairy and seafood to the trash. But he had one condition: He wasn’t giving up pizza.

So he spent countless hours developing a vegan pizza with the cheesy goodness, crispy crust and saucy zest that he was used to — without the animal products.

Both his vegan and non-vegan friends loved the pies. So when he opened his vegan restaurant in 2015, it was obvious that pizza deserved a spot on the menu.

Now, pizza is getting a starring role at Biton’s new restaurant, just a block from Veganized.

Veganica, a vegan pizzeria, pastry shop and bar, will open at 124 Church St. (the former home of The Court Tavern) on Friday, July 5.

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With a speakeasy vibe surrounded by vintage furniture, Tiffany lights and eclectic artwork, Veganica will be one of the first 100% vegan bars in the state.

“Veganica will open your eyes so you can say, ‘Wow, this is how pizza is supposed to taste,’ “ said Biton. “The pizza will taste even better than traditional pizza since we are using pure, clean and wholesome ingredients.”

One of those pies will include the Mackin’ Out Pizza, which PETA named as one of the top 10 vegan pizzas of 2024. The pie includes sweet potato truffle cashew cream, garlicky roasted broccoli, smoked shiitake mushrooms and spicy red pepper flakes smothered over a homemade pizza crust served atop cornmeal for added texture.

Other pies will include the Roma pizza with cashew cheese, slow-roasted Roma tomatoes, caper kalamata tapenade, pesto and arugula; the Philly pizza with cashew cheese, slow-cooked peppers and onions, roasted cremini mushrooms and arugula; and the Gravy Baby pizza with cashew cheese, mashed potatoes, herb gravy, roasted carrots, charred onion, cremini mushrooms and baby kale.

Veganica will also serve vegan, organic and from-scratch cookies, cupcakes, muffins, brownies, pies and cakes.

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Sandwiches on organic baguettes and organic bagels will also be on the menu, like the Angelica sandwich with rosemary, lemon baked tofu, lemon pesto, roasted carrots, roasted onions and lettuce; the crusted curry sandwich with curry mayo, crusted oyster mushrooms, roasted butternut squash, grilled broccoli and caramelized onions; and a banh mi with vegan mayo, avocado, smoked tofu, kimchi, hot sauce and cilantro.

Vegan eats will be served in a colossal 4,000-square-foot space with more than 100 seats — including plush and Queen Anne chairs — surrounded by a rainbow of colors and patterns.

That includes a nod to vintage circuses, like plates printed with freak show images, mosaics of jesters and carousel animals, and clown and doll heads.

Biton curated the restaurant's decor over the last two decades.

“It’s like walking into an enchanted land,” he said.

Go: 124 Court St., New Brunswick; opens Friday; veganicanj.com.

Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com

Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she's a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State's buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.