Best Veggie Sandwiches In Minnesota
Full of organically grown, sustainable produce, Minnesota is wonderful for vegetarian dining. The meatless entrees in Minnesota's restaurants often win over non-vegans too. Diners not inclined towards the meat-free admit they never enjoyed anything vegetarian until a great tasting veggie sandwich changed all that. At these well-rated vegan and near-vegan cafes, the veggie sandwich is more than an appetizer, after-thought or side dish.
Seward Café
2129 E Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 332-1011
www.sewardcafe.com
Seward Café is one of the best dining spots for vegetarian fare. It is one of the few with a mouth watering menu of vegan sandwiches. For lunch, order a Wizard Burger, a mung bean patty with lettuce, onion, cucumbers, tomato, sprouts and spicy vegan mayo. Add feta for $1. Or you can bite into the creamy Pesto Cream Cheese Sandwich, made of walnut pesto blended with Neufchatel, cucumber, spinach and sprouts on warmed herb bread. The Hummus Sandwich, made with hummus on warmed herb bread, fresh spinach, tomato, cucumber and sprouts is a hearty grab-and-go certain to satisfy lunchtime hunger pangs. The dinner sandwiches are smorgasbords of vegan delicacies. The Midwestern Veggie Burgeris a house specialty made with Minnesota wild rice, Wisconsin cheese curds and grilled mushrooms, served with a creamy side of coleslaw. The Wizard Burger, also on the lunch menu, comes with a crunchy side of vegan coleslaw and sprouts. Seward's Torta consists of tofu or local organic free range eggs, fried and topped with organic black beans, cilantro, tomato, red onion, cheese and spiced mayo on herb bread. Organic spicy pulled chicken can be added for an extra charge. Tempeh Gyro wraps organic marinated tempeh into pita with cucumber, tomato, onion and romaine, garnished with Kalamata olives and topped with cucumber tahini sauce.
Gigi's Café
824 West 36th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 825-0818
www.gigisuptown.com
A coffee house by day and a dinner joint at night, Gigi's is upscale bohemian. The café always has the wireless on, as well as the coffee. Students can do homework and business people can hold meetings and work into the p.m. Vegetarian sandwiches are on the lunch and dinner menu. The spinach and walnut burger, made from millet, walnuts, cheddar, onion and spinach, is the kind of sandwich many vegans and non-vegans want to sink their teeth into. The standard veggie is made with hummus, onion, squash, sprouts and tomato. All sandwiches are served with kettle or tortilla chips. For $1, chips can be substituted with fresh greens.
Spoonriver
750 South 2nd St.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 436-2236
www.spoonriver.com
Spoonriver is the kind of vegetarian restaurant diners love because it features meat on the list of comfort food entrees. One can order beef, lamb and poultry, which come with wholesome servings of whole grains and vegetables. But vegans won't be disappointed, because there is always a vegetarian specialty. The restaurant's Café Brenda Burger, made with vegetables, rice and nuts, is a tasty sensation served with house tomato jam or ketchup, Dijon mustard, lettuce, tomato and pickle on a whole wheat bun with chips. A salad can be substituted for the sides for $2, and cheese added for $1. This burger is on the lunch and dinner menu. Also on the lunch menu is Zoila's Avocado Sandwich, garnished with cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce and garlic-lime-cilantro.
Zumbro
2803 West 43rd St.
Minneapolis, MN 55410
(612) 920-3606
www.zumbrocafe.com
Zumbro is one of those popular cafes that can get crowded during brunch or lunch. Lunch features a wild rice black bean burger with asiago jack cheese and sour cream salsa. The burger's texture is sturdy but tender. There are several near-vegan sandwich items on the menu. But for a strictly vegan sandwich, the wild rice black bean burger is it.
Birchwood Café
3311 East 25th St.
Minneapolis MN 55406
(612) 722-4474
www.birchwoodcafe.com
If you want a vegetarian sandwich as a lunchtime treat or an evening dinner, try the cafe's Black Bean Quinoa Burger or Parsnip Pear Sandwich. The black bean burger is served on a birdseed bun with cabbage apple slaw, sharp cheddar, jalapeno honey mustard mayo and microgreens. The parsnip pear sandwich is made with walnut spread, roasted pear puree, beets, carrots and microgreens on rosemary sage focaccia. The walnut spread contains nuts.
Linda Cameron has written home design, home improvement and lifestyle articles for The Boston Globe and City Shopper Magazine. She has related interests in the building industry, travel, real estate and financing. She is a contributor to Examiner, House Spot, Techsling and Behance, covering topics on career, people, businesses, education and technology.
