In early September, Veggie Grill opened a new location at the Corte Madera Town Center, offering vegan food in a contemporary atmosphere.

Located on the west side of the mall near Wells Fargo Bank, the new restaurant beckons customers in with its bright orange, green, and yellow signature colors and fun modern architecture. There’s an   upbeat ambiance inside with alternative and pop tunes playing at a low volume as background music.

Veggie Grill offers many different styles of dishes on their menu, including hot sandwiches, fresh salads, authentic bowls, and homestyle entree plates.

All the items on the menu are meat-free, and lack dairy, eggs, cholesterol, saturated animal fat, and trans fat. The restaurant chain also offers many gluten-friendly dishes, as well as nut and soy-free options. Veggie Grill has coined the term “gluten friendly” to mean gluten-free but prepared on equipment where gluten, soy, and nuts were used.

The “Chickin” used in some Veggie Grill dishes is made from organic and GMO-free soybeans, wheat, and peas. Although it’s a bit bland, it does taste like real chicken.

Veggie Grill serves 100 percent plant-based food, but when one enters the restaurant, it’s tempting to order one of the delicious Sante Fe Crispy “Chickin” sandwiches for $9.45, made with fried or blackened “Chickin” and served with fries, chili, or coleslaw. The bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwich, sold for $9.95 and made with smoky tempeh bacon and Veggie Grill’s signature organic crunchy patties, is also worth a shot.

Made from soybeans and fermented rice cultures which are then sautéed and grilled into patties, Veggie Grill’s tempeh is an exotic and tasty dish to order when looking to eat something a little more out of the ordinary.

The All-Hail Kale salad is a great-tasting and gluten-friendly salad full of marinated kale, red cabbage, shredded carrots, a bit of quinoa, and topped with yellow corn salsa, almonds, and a deliciously tangy ginger-papaya vinaigrette.

The crispy kale and crunchy cabbage give the salad a hearty base, and the almonds add a nutty flavor and texture. The All-Hail Kale salad is one of many salads offered at Veggie Grill, including other quinoa-based and seasonal options.

All the sandwiches are sold for under $10, which come with a side of french fries, coleslaw, or chili, and the bowls and salads are sold for under $11, making this restaurant a fairly affordable venue for the high quality of the food. There is also an option to “upgrade your side” for $1.95 to a variety of fresh vegetables, soup, or a small salad.

Veggie Grill dishes are available both in the restaurant and “to go,” and the restaurant also offers the option of ordering food online for pick-up.

With a hip look, a fresh menu, and a few signature specialties such as the “chikin’” or tempeh sandwiches, Veggie Grill brings a new and adventurous flavor to the vegan-food experience.