Former Super Bowl champion continues mission to make flavorful, plant-based food more accessible.
Boston, MA (RestaurantNews.com) NFL star and Super Bowl champion Deatrich Wise Jr. is celebrating his first anniversary as co-owner of Boston’s beloved Veggie Galaxy, marking a milestone in his ongoing mission to shift the narrative around vegan and vegetarian cuisine from niche to mainstream.
Since joining Veggie Galaxy this time last year, Wise, one of the NFL’s more prominent and vocal vegan athletes, has continued to champion an approach that pairs flavor-forward comfort food with a commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity. Under his co-ownership, the vegetarian diner and vegan bakery has introduced new menu innovations, launched new brand partnerships, and deepened its commitment to making plant-based meals more available to underserved communities in the Boston area.
Among Veggie Galaxy’s most recent partnerships was a collaboration with Eat Just, Inc. to introduce the new “Wise?91” breakfast burrito. Inspired by Wise’s #91 jersey, the new menu item is packed with Just?Egg, a plant-based egg substitute made from mung bean protein, and is paired with sautéed peppers, onions, spinach, vegan cheese, and vegan sausage.
“It’s been an incredible year since joining the Veggie Galaxy family. Being co?owner of a place that celebrates delicious plant?based comfort food, rooted in love and community, has been truly fulfilling,” said Wise. “As a professional athlete fueled by a vegan lifestyle, I know firsthand how clean, plant?based nutrition helps me perform at my best, recover faster, and stay healthy. Bringing those values into a restaurant that makes plant-based food accessible and delicious – it’s more than just business. It’s a mission I’m proud to share.”
Wise’s journey to a vegan lifestyle began in college when he completely cut red meat and pork from his diet. After his rookie NFL season with the New England Patriots in 2017, however, he decided he was done with all meat products – a decision that raised eyebrows among team nutritionists and teammates. Confident enough in his choice, he made a bet with them: If he showed any deficiencies in muscle mass and lost any of his strength, he would at least go back to eating eggs. He hasn’t cracked an egg since.
“Since I committed to a fully plant?based lifestyle, everything’s changed – for the better. I’m training harder, bouncing back faster, sleeping deeper, and playing stronger than ever. It’s proof: the power to perform isn’t just in your muscles – it’s in your meals,” said Wise, who currently plays for the Washington Commanders.
Founded in 2011, Veggie Galaxy, with its extensive menu and “breakfast served all day,” has been a staple in Greater Boston’s plant-based restaurant scene for nearly 15 years. In 2019, the restaurant was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. “This needs to go places,” the television personality and restaurateur said of Veggie Galaxy. “People need to have this in their town.”
Today, Veggie Galaxy has become a must-visit destination for Boston residents and visitors alike. The restaurant offers classic diner fare reimagined entirely without meat. Featuring classic items like BLTs, burgers, sandwiches, and mac and cheese, nearly everything is made in-house, and every element is vegetarian (and can be made vegan). The restaurant also features an on-site bakery that is 100% vegan.
“Don’t let the plant-based mission fool you. The menu is bursting full of comfort food and all the regular diner favorites. American classics, without the meat. And they’re absolutely delicious,” noted Wise.
Speaking of Wise’s addition to the Veggie Galaxy ownership group, co-owner Michael Bissanti said, “Deatrich has brought the same passion, discipline, and creativity to Veggie Galaxy that he has to the field throughout his career. His energy and commitment have helped us reach more people and break down outdated ideas about what plant-based food can be.”
For more information about Veggie Galaxy, visit VeggieGalaxy.com and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.