Heirloom Restaurant

Yogi Johl, co-owner of the Heirloom Vegetarian Restaurant, knows a thing or two about healthy nutrition and making sure there's plenty of protein in his diet. Yogi is a former wrestling champion who represented Canada at two Olympic games.

"Being a higher level athlete," says Yogi, "there were people guiding us along the way, such as nutritionists and sports psychologists, and I learned that there is plenty of protein in the right vegetables. There's no need for so much meat in our diets."

Along with a couple of friends, Yogi opened Heirloom in 2012. "We wanted to start a vegan or vegetarian restaurant because we found other places in the city lacking in either food taste or atmosphere or both. We just thought, 'we can do better,'" he says.

Heirloom Vegetarian Restaurant is located in the Douglas Lodge building on the corner of West Twelfth Avenue and Granville Street. The Lodge, over 102 years old, features 25-foot high ceilings and a southern exposure. "It's a room that when you walk in, it has it all,” says Yogi. “It's a great structure and a beautiful space, allowing in bright light for brunch while we dim the lights for dinner."