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Two Columbia restaurants move into new downtown spaces

Christina Lee Knauss //June 1, 2023//

Two Columbia restaurants move into new downtown spaces

Christina Lee Knauss //June 1, 2023//

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Two downtown Columbia restaurants are expanding into new spaces.

Good Life Café, known for its popular vegan cuisine, has moved to a newly renovated space at 1218 Taylor Street and added an extensive expansion to its menu.

The space that previously housed Good Life at 1614 Main St. is currently being renovated to become the new home of Robinson Room, an upscale cocktail, tapas and dessert bar, according to a news release.

Good Life Café’s expanded menu goes beyond vegan cuisine to include a variety of healthy protein dishes, grab and go options, cold pressed juices, gluten-free and dairy-free desserts, a bar meu and breakfast/brunch offerings. The café has also extended breakfast and brunch hours daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Good Life’s executive chef Bonnie Lindler said in the release that the expanded menu is an attempt to reach out to new customers while still staying true to the vegan customers who been Good Life’s base.

“I was given the task of developing a new menu to include animal products to entice new customers as well as maintain the vegan patronage we have developed over the past decade,” Lindler said. “Understanding that these are two very different viewpoints, I knew I had to be extra sensitive to both.  are excited to offer a variety of options now for those with food sensitivities and patrons wanting a quick, healthy protein-rich meal downtown.”

Lindler and other Good Life staff have taken several precautions to make sure animal products and vegan meal ingredients don’t cross paths. They keep meat and animal byproducts separated from all plant-based items during prep, and use separate fryers for fried items.  

Robinson Room, which was previously located in a speakeasy setting below The Grand on Main Street, will update its new space on Main with colorful textured wallpaper, plush furniture and chandeliers. The dessert and cocktail lounge has extended its menu to add tapas with cheese and wine pairings, wagyu meatballs, boursin stuffed mushrooms and more.

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