'Everyone Has A Place Here': LesbiVeggies Brings Different Flavors To South Jersey

CAMDEN, NJ — A unique flavor of business set up shop on Thursday in Camden.

"LesbiVeggies" is an all-vegan, all-gluten-free, celiac-safe restaurant that made the jump from catering to adding a brick-and-mortar location.

Chef and Owner Brennah Lambert has her background as a queer black woman at the forefront of her message to the community, using food as her avenue to bring all walks of life together.

"We stand for not giving up," Lambert told Patch. "Keep going. As long as you are feeling something and it's in your heart, do it."

The time and effort into all of those eggplant and albondigas (smoky tomato sauce, roasted garlic, grilled zucchini, adobo crema, and chef's choice for her favorite menu item) has been an award-winning venture.

LesbiVeggies is a prior "Best of Philly" winner named by Philadelphia Magazine as "Best Vegan Restaurant" in the area.

The road to recognition, however, came with humble beginnings.

In 2018, the idea for the made-from-scratch eatery got off the ground as a mobile meal prepping unit built out of Lambert's grandmother's kitchen.

The search and planning for a brick-and-mortar location started two years later and led to Thursday's grand opening downtown at 39 N Fourth St.

In 2021, Lambert took the leap with LesbiVeggies as a full-time, full-service business rather than just a side hustle during her time studying at Rutgers Camden.

Part of this vision included the goal of bringing South Jersey more than just a unique restaurant, but also a place where people can grow together.

"Inclusivity. Everyone has a place here," Lambert added.

The new space will hold cooking classes and special community events and also serves as a BYOB spot for dinner parties.

"We want to be there for people. It comes down to heart and wanting to do more for the community...creating unity," Lambert added. "I want to be remembered for something other than food and to help people."

Camden chose her, Lambert added, when she wanted to bring her fresh approach to an area with limited nighttime options and a growing food scene.

According to one local leader, they are just as grateful to have her there.

"That LesbiVeggies chose Downtown Camden above so many other possible business districts speaks volumes about where this city is headed," said Kris Kennedy, Executive Director, Camden Special Services District and Downtown Camden. "Mayor Carstarphen loves to say that Camden isn't up and coming, it's already arrived. Chef saw that and said, 'Hand me the keys.'"

LesbiVeggies has hours from 3 to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, and is the fourth female-owned, queer-owned business to welcome customers or be revealed for the near future in the last few months throughout the Philadelphia region.

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