Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 2nd 2008, 3:57pm By queenseyes

Plans are being formulated to bring a vegetarian-friendly restaurant to Delaware Avenue. The former Prespa location, between Allen and Tupper, will soon be home to Merge – a different kind of eatery concocted by the sister team of Sarah and Eliza Schneider. The name of the restaurant, Merge, symbolizes a number of different reasons as to how and why this business is coming together. First of all, Sarah is moving back from Chicago and she’s bringing head chef, Ambrosia Borowski, with her. “Another person who will be working in the kitchen is also from Chicago,” Sarah explained. “He’s biking here from Chicago right now to be involved with Merge. He’s got his guitar with him and he’s going to be playing from time to time on the stage that we’re setting up in the dining room.”

Sarah’s sister, Eliza, is moving home from Baltimore to help start the restaurant. In order to prepare for the experience, she is now a practicing vegetarian for seven days, though Sarah tells me that Eliza’s intentions might not make it past Thanksgiving. The two are planning on introducing the concept of vegetarian-friendly cuisine to a crowd that, up until now, only had a handful of places to choose from. The dining area (lunch and dinner) will serve 52 people at 13 tables. From what I can tell, everyone involved is leaning towards serving up non-meat items for both personal reasons as well as earth and animal-friendly ones. The limited poultry and fish dishes that are to be served will rely on best-practice methods, such as free-range farming. Ambrosia is a gluten-free vegan, and her intention is to appeal to a vegan crowd that might not always get a fair shake in ‘The Land of the Wings’. Vegan desserts will also be listed on the menu.

Besides offering the healthy food options, Merge is slated to introduce a pro-art atmosphere. Besides performance art, classes in such things as knitting, calligraphy, painting and photography will be offered in the side room. Not only will customers be able to grab juices and coffee drinks as they tap into the WiFi, the side room will also be available for private parties. Patio seating will be available during the warmer months, and movies showings are being planned during the winter season.

I, for one, am looking forward to seeing a vegetarian option open on Delaware Avenue - especially if it draws a solid art scene to its doorstep. MERGE will be one of the first restaurants to carry Rusty Chain beer - a beer dedicated to promoting biking in Buffalo (so it goes without saying that they will have a beer and wine license).

Merge will be locate at 439 Delaware Avenue