Amelia Calvert, reno.com
May 28, 2008

OK- so I'm no longer a vegetarian. I fell off the meat wagon a few years back after a long, intense dream about a big, juicy steak... But I always look for great vegetarian items on a menu when I go out -- mostly because I hail from the great Midwest, where the food groups are: Beef, pork, pork and corn, pork and potatoes and dairy.

The vegetarian choices were few and far between and forget vegan.

My meat-loving husband (also from the Midwest) and I stumbled on the Dandelion Deli and ran in to grab a quick bite over lunch hour. Low and behold, like the vegetarian manna from heaven! One of Reno's best-kept secrets, only it didn't seem like a secret when a table of 11 came through the door.

The place is painted in a vibrant palette of lavender, pink and green, with a patio theme. The staff was very friendly, and although a little stressed with the lunch rush, very polite and accommodating.

Goodbye grilled cheese, meatless spaghetti and french fries. Hello there, menu board bursting with delightful vegetarian and vegan choices! Take your pick: Curry with cashews and rice, spanakopita, carrot cake, cheesecake, angel hair pasta with walnut "meat" balls, sandwiches galore and more! And the salads in the cold case: Pasta salads, bean salads, vegetable salads, fresh potato salad. Meals cost about $7 to $8 and come with soup – the garlic and eggplant looked interesting.

For about $7, I got the vegetarian chili, a large container with a big ol’ cornbread muffin (I am still a corn-fed Iowa gal after all) and a nice big bottle of iced tea. The chili was chock-full of beans, tomatoes, carrots, onion and more. It was delicious with the right amount of spice. Husband got a turkey sammy with all the fresh fixin's and a ginger soda.

You can bet this corn-fed couple will spend the rest of our time out west looking for fresh alternatives and Dandelion Deli is one of them! Count on us going back again and again.