The southern coast lacks plant-based restaurants, so coastal vegan Lucy Potter launched a retro vegan café in the Aldinga Arts EcoVillage.

Lucy Potter says the amount of online interest her recently launched eatery, Village Groove Café, has generated proves there’s a strong desire for a vegan offering along Adelaide’s southern coast.

“People have been writing on Facebook saying ‘I live down in Aldinga,’ or, ‘I live in Seaford, and we really need something vegan,’ Lucy tells CityMag.

“It’s really reassuring to know that there are people down here wanting options.”

The Village Groove Café throws back to the ’60s and ’70s, featuring a lot of yellow and orange hues – Lucy’s favourite colours.

Lucy sourced the café’s furniture from Gumtree, and a large geometric painting comes from artist Shelley Hughes, of Vintage Groove Design.

The sun-lit Village Groove Café had its first day of trade last Saturday.

Lucy says opening day was a tad “hectic”, but by Sunday she’d figured out the rhythm of the space, which would normally sit up to 15 people, but due to COVID-19 restrictions can only seat nine.

Village Groove specialises in meat- and dairy-free breakfast and lunch options, offering sweet and savoury scrolls, plain and custard croissants, bliss balls and toasted muesli.

Dine-in choices vary, with highlights including an opulent cheese platter to the “groovy bruschetta” – ham, cheese and home-made pesto mayo, slathered on two slices of bread.

Lucy says the chick’n wrap, filled with slices of fried Fry’s chicken, lettuce and pesto, has caught the eye of the Vegan Women of Adelaide Facebook group.

“I shared to lots of groups and I think everyone’s kind of waiting for that menu item,” Lucy says.

Coffee is sourced from Fleurieu Roast, which is, conveniently, also located within the Aldinga Arts EcoVillage.

Lucy Potter serving smiles from behind the counter

The Eco-Village is a 400-person-strong community, aiming for a more “humane, sustainable future,” so says its Facebook page.

 CityMag walked through village and noticed quirky homes pocketed with vegetable gardens. There was also ample walking trails and a community library. It’s a no-brainer that a society aiming for a greener future would welcome a vegan café.

But Lucy says this desire stretches beyond the neighbourhood.

“I live in Aldinga, and we definitely need more options down here,” Lucy explains.

“We do have a few things, and it’s definitely growing, but the closest vegan cafe is Fuzzy Wombat’s Kitchen, which is quite good, but not if you’re not close.

“I wanted there to be more options that are convenient and affordable, that’s why I opened a cafe.”

Shelley Hughes‘ artwork ‘Phases of the mind’