Everyone should feel comfortable and satisfied when they eat out. This is not always easy for people who deal with dietary restrictions or allergies to certain foods. A local restaurant in downtown Kent called GRAZERS is proud of their wide array of healthier food options that can be suitable for anybody. GRAZERS opened their doors in 2015 and have been welcoming customers ever since.
GRAZERS is co-founded and owned by Stacey Lasher and Carl Bauer. Lasher noted that the restaurant would not be possible without Bauer’s contributions to it.
Lasher and Bauer went through college working in the restaurant business and later went on to become elementary school teachers in Kent. “We are proud Kent residents,” Lasher said, “we have loved living here for many years.” Downtown Kent appealed to both Lasher and Bauer due to its diverse population, welcoming nature and constant variety of activities.
Lasher and Bauer both know how it feels to go out to eat with dietary restrictions. They know how dining out can be a worrisome experience when you’re uncertain about the ingredients.
“We have experienced the struggle of finding a suitable place for everyone to eat where nobody has to sacrifice, so we carefully designed the GRAZERS menu to ensure everyone, with or without dietary needs, has delicious options to choose from,” Lasher said.
In addition to the wide array of food options, Lasher and Bauer also wanted to make customers feel as comfortable as possible when ordering their food. Before opening, Lasher jokingly suggested they create a “tell me what you want and I will make it for you” style restaurant. This idea later led to GRAZERS pursuing the “create your own” concept where customers can design their own meal to be exactly how they would like it.
GRAZERS also offers featured menu items for people who might not know what to get. This menu consists of popular orders that were made by regular GRAZERS customers. One of the most popular “create your own” meals is their chicken rice bowl.
“We use the highest quality brown rice cooked without oil or salt and truly cage-free raised chicken so it’s easy to see why it’s a customer favorite,” Lasher said.
GRAZERS offers eight different protein options for those who eat meat. You can add cage-free chicken, steak tenderloin, pulled pork or taco meat to any meal. For those who do not eat meat, GRAZERS has signature hearty bean vegan chili, baked falafel, steamed edamame and grilled tofu. All GRAZERS protein options are gluten-free and they have a “celiac process” since some menu items do contain gluten.
GRAZERS has won The Kent Stater’s Best of Kent for “Best Vegan/ Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Dining” every year since opening.
The quality food items do not end with their lunch and dinner options, as GRAZERS also has desserts. Two popular desserts are GRAZERS “Chocolate Chip Energy Bites” and “Black Bean Brownies.” These desert items are made in-house and are vegan and gluten-free.
“The most recent addition to our dessert menu is our ‘Muffin Top Chocolate Chip Cookie.’ Bauer has perfected this recipe,” Lasher said, “It is packed with high quality chocolate chips and made with real butter and has quickly become a customer favorite.”
Downtown Kent is known for having many events year-round, and GRAZERS is happy to be a part of them. Lasher explained that GRAZERS set up their food wagon at the events outside and it allows them to be apart of the event, while interacting with both new and old customers.
“We offer a variety of options at these events, including fair-style food like hot pretzels and nachos, and we always make sure to have vegan and vegetarian choices available,” Lasher said, “We also participate in other events like Foodie BINGO and Pride Month, offering special food options and giveaways to engage with the community.”
GRAZERS can also be brought to an event through catering. One of their most popular catering items is the “Wrap Platter.” The wrap options are “Buffalo Chicken,” “Chicken Bacon and Ranch” and Falafel Feast.” GRAZERS offers other popular menu items for catering such as macaroni and cheese, vegan chili and salads. GRAZERS even offers their restaurant as an event space if customers would like to hold an event.
“Over the last eight years, we’ve seen GRAZERS become a trusted place where people feel valued and welcome while they enjoy nourishing and delicious meals that feed their body and their soul,” Lasher said.“As former teachers, it’s gratifying to continue making a difference in the lives of students through the food we serve, as employers and by engaging with students directly, as we have for this article. We are extremely proud to contribute positively to our community, and we are eternally grateful for the support and love we receive in return.”
The GRAZERS website, www.GrazersKent.com, is the go-to place to learn more about the restaurant, explore the menu, place online orders for pick up or delivery, check out the catering options and sign up to be a VIP so that you can earn food for free.
Everyone is warmly welcomed to experience GRAZERS. What perfect meal will you create?
