For the past five years, Heru Mer has been cooking up healthy vegetarian cuisine in an effort to increase food happiness.

The New Jersey native moved to Charlotte to open ZiZi’s Vegetarian to Go, which is said to be Charlotte’s first vegan-vegetarian takeout. The restaurant, which opened in October 2009, is located in the University area.

Mer said he began dabbling with vegetarian cuisine for a number of reasons, but mainly because he saw a connection between food and health, initially within his family.

“I realized that most diseases are preventable,” he said. “I was interested in this connection, so I took wellness courses and educated myself on alternative health and wellness, incorporating what I have learned in our menu.”

ZiZi’s menu ranges from soy-based Philly cheese steaks to mango tofu to tempeh steak, along with a host of salads and fresh fruit smoothies. Prices range from $2.99 to $9.99.

I recently met with Mer to talk about his restaurant. Below is our Q&A.

Q. How does it feel to be one of the first vegetarian restaurants in Charlotte?
It feels great. It’s an honor to introduce vegetarian cuisine to Charlotte and be able to break the ice. I appreciate being given the opportunity to do what I love to do. I feel like we are creating history.

Q. What are your most popular dishes?
Our buffalo chicken cheese steak is the number-one-selling sub, consisting of soy protein, grilled onions, spicy buffalo sauce, all laid out on a bun. People also love the eggplant curry and mango tofu. I started my first vegetarian restaurant in New Jersey and sold it before moving to Charlotte, but I still incorporate some of the old, popular dishes on the menu.

Q. How long have you been a vegetarian?
I stopped eating red meat in high school and slowly began to let go of poultry and then fish. It was gradual. I would say that by 2000, fish was completely out of my diet.

Q. What are your customers saying?
I have some really loyal, diverse customers from all backgrounds who receive us very well. They seem to appreciate us. I really appreciate them, and my customers often help me learn more about Charlotte.

Q. Where are you located?
We are in the Gold Hill Pavilion shopping center in the University area. It’s the same shopping center with the restaurant Down to the Bone and the No Grease barbershop.

Q. What would you tell people trying to improve their diet and health? Where should they begin?
The best advice I can give is to start with a food diary to see and record what they are eating. Everyone is different. Some people can go cold turkey, while others need a gradual solution. One thing I would also add is for people to drink more water and simply increase their fruit and vegetable consumption. A few things can make a great difference. It’s also about finding a balance and healthy options that taste great.

Q. Do you teach cooking and wellness classes? How can someone reach you?
Yes, I do private and group sessions for individuals interested in changing or moderating their lifestyles.

For more information, visit Mer at 7945 N. Tryon St., call: 704-595-9170 or email him at awesomevegan2go@gmail.com.

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