Multi-hyphenate Kevin Hart recently opened Hart House, his plant-based quickservice restaurant concept, and has plans for more locations across Southern California PHOTO COURTESY OF HART HOUSE
ACTOR AND COMEDIAN KEVIN HART’S NEW PLANT-BASED DINING CONCEPT, HART HOUSE (MYHARTHOUSE.COM), MADE A SPLASH WHEN IT OPENED IN WESTCHESTER THIS AUGUST, AND FOR GOOD REASON. THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTHWATERING MENU OF BURGERS, FRIES AND SHAKES IS DELICIOUS—AND HEALTHIER THAN OTHER QUICK-SERVICE OPTIONS AROUND TOWN—AND, HART AND HIS TEAM HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO BRINGING POSITIVE CHANGE TO ITS EMPLOYEES AND TO THE COMMUNITIES HART HOUSE INHABITS. ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS IN MONROVIA AND HOLLYWOOD ARE JUST THE START OF THE BRAND’S EXPANSION ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND. HERE, HART FILLS US IN.
CONGRATULATIONS ON OPENING HART HOUSE! YOU’RE ALREADY SO ACCOMPLISHED AS AN ACTOR AND COMEDIAN. WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE RESTAURANT BIZ? As an actor and comedian, I’m always busy, always on the road. And I know that so many other people are also busy, and on the road, and recognized that we all need a healthier, better option. I was actually really surprised there wasn’t a more established, affordable option, so we built it. As a ‘flexitarian’ eater myself, I know the future of food is plant-based, and Hart House felt like the natural evolution of my flexitarian lifestyle and my business ecosystem. I’m beyond proud of this industry-changing restaurant and the amazing team behind it.
Sides range from healthy salads to french fries and tator tots. PHOTO COURTESY OF HART HOUSE
WHEN DID YOU ADOPT A FLEXITARIAN LIFESTYLE? IS THERE A REASON YOU CHOSE TO CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS? I’ve been doing the flexitarian thing for a few years now. As my life has gotten busier, I found that eating healthier was the key to being able to maintain my health and energy. I love knowing that Hart House is also a small part of a lifestyle choice that I can pass down to my children. I’m teaching them to do better for themselves and the planet, and as a dad, that is a priceless lesson.
HOW HAVE YOU FELT SINCE MAKING THAT CHANGE? I always preach ‘Health is wealth,’ and since adopting a more flexitarian lifestyle, I just feel better overall—more energy, better mood, better sleep.
Hart says the shakes at Hart House are a must-order PHOTO COURTESY OF HART HOUSE
HOW DOES THE MENU AT HART HOUSE STAND OUT FROM OTHER VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN L.A.? There are a lot of great plant-based spots in L.A., but a lot of people are often turned away from these healthier option by the prices. When building Hart House, pricing was a major priority for us as we wanted to make a healthy alternative within the fast-food industry that’s affordable and accessible to all. Our sandwiches are within the $6 to $8 range and extremely delicious. We’re showing that sustainable and healthy food options are not out of reach anymore.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ITEMS ON THE MENU? The Spicy Deluxe Crispy Chick’n is out of this world, and you absolutely can’t come to Hart House without trying one of our shakes.
A mural by Nicollete Santos PHOTO COURTESY OF HART HOUSE
NOT ONLY IS THE FOOD AT HART HOUSE HEALTHIER THAN TYPICAL FAST FOOD, BUT FAIR PAY AND FAIR WORKING PRACTICES ARE EMBEDDED INTO THE BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN A BIT ABOUT THIS, AND HOW YOU THINK THIS AFFECTS THE ENTIRE BUSINESS? At Hart House, the core of what we do is care. We care about our menu, our patrons, the planet and our employees. We think it’s just as important to bring joy into the lives of our customers as it is to bring that same joy to our workers by offering them living wages and best-in-class benefits. As a result, everyone who walks into Hart House will have a better experience for it and will be excited to come back again.
I’VE ALSO HEARD THAT THERE’S A CHARITABLE COMPONENT BUILT INTO THE BUSINESS PLAN. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS? Bringing on community partners is another fundamental part of Hart House. For example, at our Westchester location, we partnered with Inner City Arts, which offers local students a safe, creative space to explore the arts.
All menu items at Hart House are plant-based, including the savory burger. PHOTO COURTESY OF HART HOUSE
HOW WILL THAT EVOLVE AS THE BUSINESS GROWS? With each Hart House location, the goal is to bring on more charitable partners that are doing good in their local communities.
YOU’RE OPENING NEW LOCATIONS FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND HAVE PLANS TO OPEN MORE. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE LOCATIONS FOR THE RESTAURANTS, AND WHERE WILL YOU OPEN NEXT? We try to focus on locations and communities that don’t have a lot of plant-based options easily available. We have plans to open several more locations in Southern California over the next few months.
Fries and tots PHOTO COURTESY OF HART HOUSE
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING ON HART HOUSE? Honestly, my favorite thing about Hart House is now I know that whenever I’m in L.A., I can always get a plant-based burger and it’s always going to be delicious.
AND, LASTLY, WHAT ELSE CAN READERS EXPECT FROM YOU THIS WINTER AND IN EARLY 2023? I am excited to continue to grow my business ventures: Hart House, Gran Coramino, HARTBEAT and HartBeat Ventures along with touring around the world on my newest hour of standup—The Reality Check Tour. I cannot wait to visit cities around the world and see Hart House locations everywhere, Gran Coramino in all venues, and entertain people with content produced by HARTBEAT—I’ve got big plans for the future.
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