Karmah Restaurant

On a mid-afternoon, Karmah bustles inside and out with customers enjoying an all-vegan, freshly handcrafted menu. The minimalist interior of white walls with dark wood shelves and lush green plants conveys an atmosphere of clean, natural goodness. Hand-written placards describing the items on offer affirm that everything has been created with customers’ health and well-being in mind. Although Karmah is described as offering quick service, the patrons here are clearly in no rush to leave this Kerr Village gem.

Karmah’s founder and owner, Ashley Deland, was a yoga teacher for many years before pursuing her dream of opening a restaurant that offered a unique nourishing alternative to the traditional dining experience. She sits next to her husband, Ryan Munce, as she describes the vision that brought this new eatery to Oakville’s trendy Kerr Village.

“I grew up with a lot of dietary restrictions and always had trouble finding good food to eat. I wanted to create a place that offered a variety of tasty vegan options,” she explains. “Our menu is 100 per cent vegan, gluten and soy-free.” While Ashley is the owner of Karmah, she is quick to insist that Ryan plays an essential role in the operations, which begins at five thirty in the morning handcrafting every menu item, from scratch, using fresh local ingredients.