Article by Nanette Wiser
From spring salads to cauliflower crust veggie pizza, Paradise blooms with veggie appetizers, meals and cocktails. In addition to serving greens, many restaurant kitchens are going green and using sustainable practices including minimizing food waste, using bio-degradable containers and eco-friendly cleaning products. The big restaurant trend of 2021 is using sustainable foods that are organic, local and fair trade – all of which support the long-term maintenance of ecosystems and agriculture.
Feed your mind and body with plant-based dishes and give your gut a break. You can always count on Asian restaurants such as Nori Thai and Basil Leaf for excellent veggie fare. We like Nature’s Patch, Sprouts, Fresh Market, Rollin’ Oats and the new Seminole City Center Green Market Café for grab & go veggie bowls/dishes. Celebrate Earth Day month with a few of these delicious vegetarian meals from our fave restos and food trucks. (menus subject to change, call ahead)
GULF BEACHES
North Beaches: Havana Harry’s offers an excellent vegetarian Cuban. Jake’s Coastal Cantina Mexican veggie bowl with meatless Oumph is an amazing deal; add a side of roasted street corn or fried jalapeno coins. Kooky Coconut’s veggie burrito, Ippolito’s vegetarian antipasto sandwich and all the salads at Guppy’s and Salt Rock Grill are deeply satisfying.
Madeira Beach: Lucky Lizard Tap House serves a delicious roasted corn Caesar salad. Mad Beach Craft Brewing’s falafel is served on arugula with a side of vegetable roast, lemon wedges and cilantro crema.
Treasure Island: BGBR Kitchen & Bar’s tomato bruschetta jar, pan-seared edamame pods, roasted beet salad with goat cheese and raspberry basil smash cooler are swoon-worthy. Middlegrounds Grill offers a gluten-free menu, artichoke smoked gouda fondue and delicious grilled asparagus salad drizzled with a sundried tomato ratatouille. Taco Bus’s El Borrito Bols, especially the portabella ranchero and vegan steak, rock.
St. Pete Beach: The Toasted Monkey’s Buffalo cauliflower florets and housemade hummus with a side of live music makes my day. Society Table’s goat cheese fritters, roasted mushroom flatbread and potato leek bisque will captivate you. Skidder’s Sunshine Salad, spinach pie, Greek antipasto and eggplant parmesan sandwich are delish. At Rumfish Grill, try the Three Dips (chick peas, avocado cilantro, beet feta and grilled naan or grilled cauliflower cakes.We can’t wait for Two Graces near freeFall Theater to open but until then, we love Grace Restaurant’s elegant fare especially the Grace Wedge with buttermilk horseradish dressing, grilled Caesar salad, roasted butternut squash with quinoa, fava beans, broccoli, golden raisins and pine nuts and the Stuart cocktail (Butterfly Blossom infused 360 Sicilian Lemon Vodka with fresh lemon).
At the Dewey Beach Bar & Grill, start with the golden beet salad with a brown butter sage vinaigrette, fried brussel sprouts or the burrata with garlic confit, then sup on the quinoa bowl with black beans, wild mushrooms, roasted corn, squash, green apple, radish arugula salad, pepitas and smoked chimichurri vinaigrette.
Gulfport: In Gulfport, you’ll appreciate the savory pastas at Pia Trattoria or Tutto Bene and Neptune’s Grill (stuffed grape leaves, hummus, Greek salad, spanakopita). Stella’s black bean cakes, quiche and banana nut bread French toast start the morning right.
DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Without a doubt, The Mill and Cider Press Café are the go-to places for vegetarian delights. The Mill’s supreme salads include an Heirloom Watercress (beet jam, sugar snap peas, watermelon, oven-dried cherry tomatoes, watermelon radish, roasted cashews, honey goat cheese, watermelon vinaigrette) and Phyllo Feta salad; add the fried green tomatoes and goat-cheese stuffed peppadews. Cider Press Café’s vegan menu is outstanding, especially the veggie lentil loaf, truffle shuffle and ghost bean burger.
Fab sensational veggie dishes in DTSP include Annata Wine’s vegetarian flatbread of the day, Bodega’s tempeh sandwich, Datz’s butternut squash ravioli, Greenstock’s creative salads and wraps and Craft Kafé ‘s gluten free dishes, organic salads and vegan burger.
Sample Leafy Greens Café’s lettuce wrap tacos, The Library’s crispy avocado wedges or veggie chili, Love Food Central’s mashed garbanzo toast or barbecue jackfruit sandwich, Lucy’s Vegan Corner’s plant-based burger, gyro and banh mi or Mickey’s Café & Organics’ roasted veggie salad.
Taste test Mio’s Grill & Café’s babaganouj smoked eggplant with tahini, Greek yogurt and pita, Naked Farmer’s pecan kale Caesar, Pom Pom’s Teahouse pressed Danny sandwich (ginger cranberry chutney, almonds, red onions, brie, apples), Stillwater’s Tavern’s vegetarian pad thai, Thirsty First’s ginger salad and viva la vegan sandwich and Wooden Rooster’s veggie crepes and mixed berry spinach salad.