Souley Vegan, Tamearra Dyson’s Oakland-rooted vegan soul food brand, is set to open a new restaurant in Martinez’s buzzy market hall in April.
The Oakland-raised restaurateur built up her original vegan business by one catering gig and farmers market at a time, before opening her first restaurant in 2009 and over the years, additional locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, which have since closed. Vegan Souley, whose original Creole-inspired restaurant shuttered last October, was known for its Pray 4 Me burgers, seitan country po’boys and New Orleans okra gumbo. Even amid restaurant closures, Dyson became the first vegan chef to defeat celebrity chef Bobby Flay on his Food Network show, “Beat Bobby Flay,” in 2022.
Krystal Endsley, co-owner of Market & Main, a market and food hall, says it’s high time for Martinez to have a vegan restaurant. After hearing that Dyson was looking to expand, Endsley and her team invited the vegan chef to check out the market hall.
“She came in and absolutely loved the space,” Endsley says.
Market & Main has been on an expansion kick, as well. The hall recently opened Bentley’s Cocktail Bar & Lounge upstairs, an indoor extension of its seasonal outdoor bar, Bentley’s Container Bar. Bentley’s offers R&B brunches on alternating Sundays, featuring menu items from the market hall’s restaurants.
“Souley Vegan is going to be a part of it,” Endsley says.
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Market & Main is also home to Shuck It!, Out the Dough, Pizza Amore, Banh Mi & Rolls and the Salt & Fig Market.
Details: Market & Main is open daily at 610 Main St. in Martinez. Keep tabs on the Souley Vegan opening at tinyurl.com/souleyveg. Find details about the R&B brunches at tinyurl.com/rbbrunchmartinez.
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