PiANTA Serves Up Delicious Plant-Based Food With a Side of Purpose

Michelle Politano built PiANTA on passion, but it’s the community behind it that gives the restaurant its heartbeat. “At its core, PiANTA began as an alignment with my passions – proof that pursuing what lights you up can be real, tangible, and life-changing,” she says. More than a restaurant, PiANTA has become a hub for connection, opportunity, and impact beyond the plate.

From the start, Politano envisioned PiANTA, a fully plant-based eatery, as a space that celebrates creativity and inclusivity. “We keep our doors open for events that bring people together in joy, culture, and celebration,” she says. PiANTA has hosted drag BINGO, comedy shows, Tanzanian cuisine nights, and intimate Italian dinners featuring her family’s recipes. Beyond dining, Politano supports small businesses by renting out her kitchen to entrepreneurs and mentoring aspiring chefs.

“Kindness and authenticity radiate outward,” she says, emphasizing that genuine connections shape the restaurant’s culture. That same philosophy fuels her latest endeavor: a deeply personal campaign for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Visionary of the Year.

For Politano, this campaign is a fight that hits close to home. “Before I started, I would have talked about my cousin, Marybeth, or my mentor, Jacqui, who both passed from cancer,” she says. “But now, it’s even deeper. My father figure – my uncle, my godfather – is in his final days with terminal cancer. This fight is immediate, personal, and deeply felt.”

Her fundraising efforts mirror the energy and innovation she brings to PiANTA. She launched LLS Mondays, where proceeds from takeout orders support blood cancer research, and she’s organizing comedy nights, auctions, and media appearances to rally the Rhode Island community. “We have an incredible team of 10 – friends, family, and customers – working alongside me. And every single dollar raised makes an impact,” she says.

This campaign is shaping both the future of blood cancer research and the trajectory of PiANTA itself. “This experience proves how much impact a business can have when it stands for something,” Politano says. “This isn’t just about cooking – it’s about legacy. And if this campaign has taught me anything, it’s that we have the power to leave behind something truly meaningful.” For more information and updates, visit PiantaVeganRestaurant.com or follow @piantaveganrestaurant on Instagram.