When Lyslie Medeiros first moved to Rhode Island, she made it her goal to find the state’s best vegan restaurants. She didn’t realize that four years and several disappointing searches later, she and her husband Mathiew would be opening their own restaurant.
The co-founders are opening the first brick-and-mortar location of their plant-based food business, Basil & Bunny, in late spring at Unity Park in Bristol. Medeiros said this is a huge step forward for two home-cooks-turned-restaurateurs.
“We’re both home cooks and wanted to showcase how plant-based food wasn’t all rabbit food. It can be mouth-watering burgers, creamy mac and cheese and savory pasta dishes,” Medeiros said. “We were testing these recipes for friends and family and receiving high praise.”
The name Basil & Bunny was chosen because bunnies are the international symbol for cruelty-free products, Medeiros said, and basil is a delicious addition to many meals.
Basil & Bunny got its start in February 2020 as a mobile food trailer. Then, Covid-19 hit. Instead of sticking to their plan of taking the truck to breweries across New England, they quickly pivoted to online ordering with curbside pickup at the Hope & Main food business incubator in Warren.
Medeirosis said they rapidly outgrew their spot at Hope & Main last year and they wanted to focus on what was next for the company. After meeting Joe Brito of Unity Park last year, Medeiros is said they fell in love with the community he was creating at the massive building that used to house a rubber conglomerate.
During World War II, the rubber factory employed about half of the city of Bristol, which had a population of 12,000 at the time. Over the last two years, Brito has worked with the town to revitalize the property and attract new food-based businesses like Pivotal Brewing, Brick Pizza Co. and O'Brien and Brough distillery.
“The (new) menu will be an expansion of favorites that fans have come to love. So burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, loaded hand-cut fries and grain bowls that are all 100% plant based,” Medeiros said. “You can also expect to find new specials often including to-go items.”
At Unity Park, Basil & Bunny will have space for a permanent home that can support its mobile business while offering a storefront that foodies can visit regularly.
“I really wanted to create a place that had cozy vibes and was still fun and inviting. Gathering inspiration from my travels abroad and I also just had to throw in a bit of Hawaiian-island flare,” Medeiros said. “Going out for hamburgers and fries should make you happy, and I wanted our little Bunny restaurant to reflect that.”
