Lashish the Greek

Lashish the Greek is a bustling little Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant on Bethel Road. It adds another layer of international flair to a strip mall that already has Indian, Vietnamese and Korean storefronts.

The proprietor of the restaurant is a affable host that does a great job with vegetarian and vegan diners. Although seating is limited, the kitchen keeps a busy pace that doesn't keep patrons waiting long.

The menu at Lashish is awash in freshly prepared Greek and Middle Eastern classics like hummus, baba ghanoush, spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves, Greek salad, tabbouleh and falafel. The pastry/dessert case looks absolutely divine.

The lentil vegetable soup had chunks of carrots, potatoes and celery in a mild broth with soft brown lentils. The soup is a delightful hybrid of vegetable soup and veggie chili with a Mediterranean flair.

The spanakopita displayed an artful talent for the phyllo dough arts. The perfectly constructed pie was light with a faint crispiness and a burst of flavor. The spinach filling highlights the best flavors in the leafy green. The spinach pie at Lashish the Greek beats the tar out of the frozen garbage served at less reputable Greek restaurants.

The baba ghanoush was smoky with faint hints of garlic and citrus. The soft, puffy pita bread was appropriately allocated to scoop up all of the eggplant dip.

Lashish the Greek has three different falafel sandwiches. There is a standard falafel sandwich with tahini, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. The Greek vegetarian pita has falafel, banana peppers, kalamata olives, cucumber, onions and lettuce in tzatziki sauce. The Mediterranean vegetarian pita is slathered in hummus and stuffed with falafel, fried cauliflower, eggplant and potatoes in an herbed sauce.

The falafel has a hint of spiciness, and it had a pleasant green-colored interior. The pitas are stuffed to capacity.

Lashish the Greek is a great experience. The combination of friendly service and reasonable prices should make it a destination for vegetarians.

Lashish the Greek

Los Guachos

Taco trucks have become one of Columbus' hottest foodie trends over the past few years. The popularity has increased so much that Los Guachos has added a brick-and-mortar restaurant to supplement its mobile food operation.

The specialty of Los Guachos' food truck is tacos el pastor (think Mexican shawarma), an item that might not appeal to vegetarians. The restaurant, however, has a vegetarian burrito and a veggie quesadilla on the menu, allowing vegetarians to enjoy the taste of authentic Mexican fare.

There is seating for about 30 inside Los Guachos. Diners can enjoy television broadcasting Mexican music videos and soccer games. Los Guachos is also set up for take-out business.

The vegetarian burrito is made with red and green peppers, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. The griddled veggies give the burrito great flavor, and the crema adds a mouth-watering savory character to a Mexican classic. Los Guachos' burritos are normal size as opposed to its domestic cousin, the Mission-style burrito.

The salsas and condiments at the table add layers of flavor to an already tasty burrito. The habanero salsa has a faint sweetness and a roasted character. The salsa verde is dynamite. It is missing the vegetal character that can ruin this sauce, and it replaces the under-ripe flavor with spicy peppers and onions that make this a great addition to the burritos. The pickled onions are also excellent.

Finding vegetarian fare at the taco trucks can sometimes be a tricky proposition. Winter weather can also limit a taco truck's ability to operate. Los Guachos does a great job of eliminating both of these obstacles.

Los Gauchos