After visiting the Waterloo Region Museum, it was around 2 pm and I needed to get some lunch. With the recent heatwave affecting Ontario, I have been eating fairly light and surprisingly healthy. I decided to check out uptown Waterloo. I didn't know much about it and decided to drive around. I saw Copper Branch and knew that I needed to go there. I saw the flashing neon open sign, found a parking lot close by, and pulled into it. The closest Copper Branch to my home is in Brooklin. I was thrilled to find that there is one in Waterloo. I was quickly greeted by a friendly female at the counter. I knew what I wanted to order. I got the portabello burger (I have had it before and have a weakness for all things portabello) and nachos (my good friend let me snack on a few a while back, but I wanted to experience the whole enchilada... or should it be nacholada?). I then needed a drink. I normally get one of the natural colas, but I didn't feel like a sugar rush. I asked the woman if she knew which beverage had the least amount of sugar. I knew that San Pellegrino would be fine, but I didn't feel like fizzy water. She recommended the coconut beverage. As much as I love all things coconut, I had a feeling that it had sugar in it. Sure enough, it had 19 grams! Luckily, her colleague came to the rescue and suggested getting the Steaz iced peach mango green tea. It is sweetened with stevia. Yay! At any Copper Branch, you order, pay, and find a table. Your food comes to you. My meal, including tip, came up to $30. It does get a bit pricey for decent vegan food. I don't mind it. Sure enough, the woman who helped me with my sugar-free drink came with my nachos and portabello mushroom burger. The burger was fabulous. The portabello was meaty and grilled to perfection. I loved the garlicky mayo. I am not a huge fan of zucchini, but grill them as slices in a burger and I'm fine. This burger was scrumptious. The nachos were amazing. I loved the cheeze, black beans, and cubed veggies. The dairy-free sour cream and guacamole were amazing with the nachos chips. I ate everything up. The place has a relaxed setting. It was nice to unwind and enjoy my food. The washrooms are clean. Essentially, they are gender-neutral. I am so happy that Copper Branch is close by the hotel. I am definitely coming back when I crave decent plant-based food. (245) read more