Downtown Troy gets new vegan restaurant
TROY, N.Y. » The Downtown Troy Business Improvement District invites the public to a ribbon- cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Berben & Wolff’s, at 156 4th St., on Aug. 29 at 10:30 a.m.
Owners Joey Berben and Max Wolff currently run Berben & Wolff’s on Lark Street in Albany. With a desire to have more vegan options in the Capital Region, they started as a pop-up at area events and wholesaling their seitan products.
Their high quality and flavorful items fit well onto menus at The Ruck, Iron Gate Café and New World Bistro, among others.
Responding to the need for more vegan options from their customers, they opened their brick- and- mortar restaurant, Berben & Wolff’s, in 2016. It was an instant hit, providing a fun, bright communal space.
Their menu features items such as the “Big Max” (a vegan version of the Big Mac), Wing Wednesdays (highlighting different flavors of their popular seitan wings), and vegan and gluten-free baked goods such as “Whostess Cupcakes” and Oatmeal Cookie Cream Sandwiches.
Alongside their local entrepreneurship, Berben & Wolff’s have participated in vegan festivals and contests nationally, and recently in Toronto.
Berben and Wolff are excited to expand and bring their plantbased delicatessen and comfort food to downtown Troy. Having been involved with Troy for a long time, from delivering products to their accounts to pop-ups during Troy Night Out, they have found the perfect fit for an expanded restaurant, production facility, and employees - many of whom live above the building or within walking distance.
The new restaurant has been renovated to fit 19 seats, with 12 out front. The storefront is painted the same bright sea green as their Albany space. The new menu is offering items such as poutine and mozzarella sticks in addition to their classics.
Berben & Wolff’s is known for continuously creating new specials, bakery items, and meats and cheeses.
Some of their specials include seitan carne asada burritos, cannoli cakes, and dill miso cheese. Troy diners can expect to see dishes using their deep fryer, and with the production facility right next door, getting ingredients and creating something new will be easy.
“We’ve been interested in investing in Troy for a long time,” said Berben, co- owner of Berben & Wolff’s. “There is a lot of positive development going on and I feel we’re opening in a burgeoning area at the edge of the district. We want to provide good vegan food and offer a welcoming space, both inside and out front. Customers can stay awhile, enjoy the food and bring good lively energy and community to the block.”
“We’re trying to stay local, we like to hire within the neighborhood and a lot of our staff have moved to the neighborhood over the years. It’s important that we reinvest in the area where we are located,” said Wolff, co- owner of Berben & Wolff’s.
Berben’s favorite item on the menu is the Reuben, a classic. Wolff is excited about the new poutine.
The hours for Berben & Wolff’s are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday closed.
“We’re trying to stay local, we like to hire within the neighborhood and a lot of our staff have moved to the neighborhood over the years.”
— Max Wolff, co- owner of Berben and Wolff’s