From somersetlive.co.uk
As you descend the steps and go inside, you'll be greeted with the lushest, greenest hang out spot in Bath, the kind that makes a writer want to break out a Dulux colour chart to count all the shades on display.
PAL is adorned with hanging plant pots, mint coloured paint and a whole wall of verdant synthetic grass. Doubling up as a cafe and restaurant, you can order pancakes in the morning, afternoon tea at lunchtime (strictly pre-booked), and a cheeky glass of wine in the evening.
Articles about veganism tends to attract a lot of the same arguments, so let's get one thing straight: I'm a food critic, not an ethicist. I'm not here to litigate the moral, environmental, or religious implications of this or that diet.
I go to cafes to enjoy good grub and good company. If a plant-based cafe can provide that, then it's fine by me.
First, I kicked things off with a flat white paired with almond milk (£3.50). The milk substitute introduced sweet, nutty tasting notes to my usual coffee order and went down a treat.
On to lunch. I ordered a 'lamb' Kofka with pitta, golden fries, salad, and vegan tzatziki dip (£13.95). Believe it or not, the meat-free lamb meatballs tasted almost exactly like the real deal! Frankly, I was almost suspicious.
The only thing that gave the game away was a subtle mushroomy aftertaste betraying its true ingredients. But the meat-free meatballs were every bit as succulent as their counterparts. Meanwhile, you can never go wrong with pitta.
And whatever they used as a substitute for yoghurt in their tzatziki, I couldn't tell you a single difference in taste or texture.
What's really wonderful about the menu is that it allows for more people to enjoy a good old fashioned slap-up meal, not less. And I don't just mean vegans.
A plant-based menu means every dish is safe for lactose-intolerant people. Similarly, every dish is safe for people with an egg or seafood allergy. A plant-based menu also means the food served here is significantly more likely to be Halal or Kosher.
You're never going to have a eatery that's perfectly suited to everyone, but perhaps PAL comes closest as far as Bath goes. You don't need to be a vegan to have a lovely time here, you just need an open mind.
Plant. Eat. Licious. is open seven days a week.
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/inside-baths-underground-vegan-eatery-11014803
