Taste Test: Rüt Bar & Kitchen

Who: Rüt Bar & Kitchen

What: A plant-based kitchen and bar that is 100% vegan.

When: Lunch on Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Where: 901 W. 14th Ave., Spokane

Hours + website: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays, closed Tuesdays; rutspokane.com

Notes: Justin Oliveri and Josh Lorenzen’s plant-based and family-owned Rüt (pronounced “root”) Bar & Kitchen recently opened for business, and lunch May 1 was busy, as there was a wait for a table. It’s great to see buzz surrounding the former location of Picabu Bistro.

The lunch with two colleagues: Rüt Burger, my first Beyond Burger; Jalapeño Mushroom Burger, an Impossible Burger; and Buffalo Cauliflower Wrap.

The gluten-free Rüt Burger — a Beyond Burger with FYH American cheese, lettuce, onion, charred tomato jam and roasted garlic aioli on an Alpine Bakery bun — was juicy, as the inclusion of beets as an ingredient adds to the texture and flavor.

This was my second taste of an Impossible Burger, and it was much better than the first — the sautéed mushrooms and jalapeno relish complemented the meatless patty. And it wasn’t super spicy.

With flavorful, plant-based food like this, maybe I should become a vegetarian? Rüt’s menu includes cocktail-with-a-twist Ryan Gosling — Goslings Rum, amaro + bitters. Yes, please.