St. Louis is a meat-and-potatoes town at heart, but there are a number of restaurants serving veggie-friendly fare that will make you (temporarily) forget about meat. The chefs’ commitment to fresh ingredients sets the dishes apart. The following dishes are made-to-order and often include local produce. They’ll help you take meatless Mondays—or any day—to the next level.
1. Breakfast sandwich with cheddar, tomatillo salsa, and egg on a homemade multigrain bun at Winslow’s Home
It wouldn’t be brunch at Winslow’s Home without the breakfast sandwich (pictured above). The crowd-pleasing dish includes scrambled eggs, spicy tomatillo salsa, melted cheddar, and greens, all layered between a homemade multigrain bun. You can add an avocado or bacon for a couple of extra bucks, or you can stick with the original. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. The sandwich runs for $8.50 without any additions.
2. Sweet & Salty Grilled Cheese at The Wolf
The grilled cheese at The Wolf isn’t just any grilled cheese: It’s a behemoth of melty, cheesy goodness. The West County coffee shop and café melts goat cheese, cheddar, gouda, and local honey between two slices of rustic Italian Companion bread for a crispy lunch treat. Himalyan pink sea salt sprinkled on top balances the honey and gives the sandwich an extra kick. This item is a bit of a splurge at $10.50, but it’s definitely worth the extra 50 cents.
3. Kimbap Tacos at Confluence Kombucha
Next time you pop into Confluence for some homemade kombucha, grab a seat and snack on the kimbap tacos. The dish is an inventive take on regular tacos, with roasted seaweed as a tortilla and brown rice and briny kimchi inside. Diners get a choice between beet, sweet potato, avocado, or tempeh tacos. (This writer's personal favorite is the avocado variety.) Eating one feels a little like taking a beach vacation. One taco is $5, making it a perfect snack or an accompaniment to another dish on the menu.
4. Tomato and Goat Cheese Quiche at Like Home Café & Bakery
A trip to St. Louis’s newest French bakery Like Home wouldn’t be complete without a slice of their homemade quiche. The tomato and goat cheese option comes in at under $9, making it the best bet for your wallet. But if you need meat or fish in your life, pay $1 more and opt for the ham and bacon or smoked salmon and spinach varieties. The quiches are served with a mixed greens salad and your choice of dressing.
5. Butternut with goat cheese, paprika, and rice pudding at Squatter’s Café
Chef Rob Connoley likes to play with his food at the recently-opened Squatter’s Café, and lucky for diners, this means creative vegetarian breakfast and lunch options. One of my favorite dishes on Connoley’s rotating menu is the butternut with goat cheese, paprika, rice pudding, and a surprise he’s forbidden me from ruining. The dish is almost too pretty to eat, but take my advice and eat it anyway. The butternut runs for $9.
