To clarify, in case you see me dining around town, I’m not strictly a vegetarian. However, “vegetarian” is much easier to say than “socially conscious local-tarian who champions animal rights by boycotting factory farms that rampantly abuse animals and pump our food full of harmful crap and bad juju.”
But whatever your reason for choosing a plant-heavy diet, Waco has some great vegetarian options!
Today’s picks: Mediterranean.
D’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL: Best Falafel Wrap
For the uninitiated, falafel is ground chickpeas formed into patties, breaded and deep fried. The key to D’s wrap is that they use a thin pita, which ensures each bite is moist and flavorful rather than dry bread-on-bread. Wrapped up with the falafel are veggies, the all-important Greek pickles, and tangy tahini sauce. I take my wrap up a notch by drizzling D’s cucumber yogurt “salad” over every bite.
CAFÉ HOMESTEAD: Best Breakfast
A person with my sensibilities can eat guilt-free at Homestead, but I still order this breakfast nine times out of ten. Two buttery eggs fresh from the free range chickens, cucumber and tomato salad dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, homemade hummus, creamy labenah cheese, olives, and whole wheat pita. Creamy, tangy, savory, fresh… my only complaint is why do they only serve breakfast on Saturdays?!!
XRISTO’S CAFÉ: Best Hearty Al La Carte
Everything tastes good in puff pastry, and Xristo’s spanakopita is no exception. Spinach, feta, onions, and garlic melded together in a flaky crust. Pair it with a bowl of savory manestra soup and you have hearty, warm, vegetarian soul food.
1424 Bistro: Best Greek Salad
The Yanni salad – this one is no longer on the menu for some inexplicable reason, but they’ll make it on request. Big enough to feed two to four, this hearty salad skips the lettuce in place of rough chopped red onion, tomato, cucumber, bell peppers, feta, and kalamata olives marinated in herby dressing. Just add hummus, pita, and the crowd-pleasing saganaki “flaming cheese” and you’ve got the perfect meal!
