A contemporary menu in a classic 1950s setting
What started as a popular food truck serving tasty, healthy, and “sexy” vegan and gluten-free dishes while promoting environmental awareness and preventing animal cruelty has now planted in Plymouth. Shimmy Shack’s restaurant features unique 1950s décor combined with traditional, diner fare (burgers, Coney dogs, chili, fries, cookies), all prepared 100% vegan and gluten-free for the contemporary, 21st century palate.
Grandma’s living room
The Shack’s interior décor is far from a traditional restaurant, with five tables and a counter by the window, each with different sized tablecloths and chairs, while the walls are decorated with mismatched pieces of art and kitchen appliances from the 1950s. There is a retro refrigerator in the dining room, with a collection of magnets and kids’ artwork, sparking nostalgic feelings, giving customers a warm memory of sitting in your grandma’s living room.
Board games and books are readily available throughout the restaurant, creating a comfortable place for patrons waiting for their food to be served. Our kids, 6, 4, and 2-years-old, loved playing with the toys arranged in the back of the restaurant.
Sassy cuisine
– strawberry, chocolate and special seasonal flavors (e.g. blueberry, peach, pumpkin).
The vintage setting belies their contemporary and edgy cuisine. Although there are no offerings designated specifically for kids, the menu items are almost all kid-friendly. We started our meal with decadent cookie monster and refreshing strawberry shakes ($6 each). Made with soy-based ice cream and soymilk, they were velvety and satisfying. We skipped the Sunday brunch which consisted of typical breakfast foods and a pancake bar, opting instead for their lunch options. Our 4-year-old and 6-year-old ordered classic burgers ($5.50 for a single) made with a lentil patty, vegan “cheez” with classic burger toppings, served on gluten-free hot dog buns (since they had run out of burger buns).
Both kids ate at least half of their burgers and described them as “yummy.” Our 2-year-old ate the inside of a Shimmy Coney ($6), made with a soy hot dog covered with vegan chili. Before you cringe thinking about a soy hot dog, give it a try— our son did not notice a difference. The vegan chili that comes on top of the Coney was a bit spicy for him, but we enjoyed tastes from his plate, as it had the texture and kick of a full-bodied meaty chili.
My husband and I really liked the falafel pita ($8) with house-made garlic sauce. While it did not have the texture of a Mediterranean falafel, the flavor of the zesty garlic sauce gave it an invigorating taste. We also ordered the Southwest burger ($5.50), a grilled black-bean patty served with dollops of guacamole and salsa— a great blend of a hearty patty and refreshing toppings. I reluctantly shared a side of fries ($4.50) with the family. I could have eaten them by myself, perfectly golden and seasoned with “shimmy seasoning.” Pro tip: ordering extra vegan-mayo dipping sauce ($0.75) is a must!
Pleasantly surprised with how much we enjoyed the flavors, spices and textures, we completed the meal with gluten-free cowgirl and pump’n maple cookies ($3 each). The cowgirl is a chocolate peanut butter cookie made with gluten-free oats and walnuts and a Shimmy Shack best seller. The pump’n maple is made with pumpkin, maple, cinnamon and apple and tasted like cake batter. They were sweet endings that hit the spot!
Shimmy on
Shimmy Shack offers a fun and unique dining experience with a healthy menu that our kids, surprisingly, enjoyed. Leaving the restaurant feeling satisfied after a healthy and tasty meal, we had a new appreciation for sustainability, environmental stewardship and animal protection. Shimmy Shack just feels good in so many ways.
The Short Course
Kid-friendly: Yes.
To avoid wait: Counter service.
Noise level: Low.
Bathroom amenities: Clean bathroom with changing table.
High chairs? Yes.
Kids’ menu? No.
Anything healthy for kids? All items on the menu are relatively healthy.
Food allergy concerns? Items are almost all plant-based; best to ask at counter.
Shimmy Shack
1440 Sheldon Rd., Plymouth, MI 48170
734-228-5590
Monday-Closed
Tuesday-Saturday 11am-8pm
Sunday 11am-3pm
shimmyshack.com
