Los Angeles Vegan Restaurant Closes After Backlash Over Meat Menu

Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery shut its doors after 14 years, citing financial struggles and protests following its controversial shift away from a fully vegan menu.

Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery, a formerly vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, closed on January 5, 2025, after 14 years in operation.
The restaurant transitioned from a fully vegan menu to include meat and dairy in 2024, aiming to align with regenerative agriculture principles and attract new customers.
The menu change sparked outrage among the vegan community, leading to protests, negative reviews, and social media backlash that impacted the business further.
Owners Mollie Engelhart and Elias Sosa sold their home in an effort to save the restaurant but ultimately cited financial challenges, including rent and taxes, as key factors in the closure.
While some celebrated the closure as a win for animal rights, others expressed sadness over the loss of a restaurant that had been a community staple for over a decade.