Raisin Rack

The Raisin Rack is Westerville's locally owned organic market/grocery store. The offerings include fresh, frozen and prepared foods with a heavy emphasis on vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dining options.

In addition to fresh veggies, frozen and boxed meals, there is a salad bar with dieatry restriction information included on each item. The vegan samosas, hummus, stuffed grape leaves and gluten free Thai peanut noodles on the hot bar looked fantastic.

The cafe makes soups, sandwiches and burritos. Orders can be eaten on site or taken to go.

The three bean veggie chili was full of beans - kidney, black and cannellini - as well as tomatoes, onions and peppers. It was rich, a little spicy and deeply satisfying.

The cheese sandwich comes with a choice of cheese - the deli has about 10 different options - as well as organic lettuce, organic tomato, organic red onion, sprouts, mayo, mustard and choice of bread. The nine grain loaf was hearty and gave the sandwich a layered base with a subtle sweetness. 

The avocado sandwich is hot with toasted bread slathered in organic avocado, melted cheddar, mozzarella and provolone and ranch dressing. 

Desserts are from local gluten free operations Cherbourg and Eban's, as well as vegan favorite Pattycake.  

Carsonie's

The menu at Carsonie's has pizza and pasta and sandwiches. But the star attraction on is stromboli.

Carsonie's has a location in Upper Arlington as well as one in Westerville. The Upper Arlington location has a full bar.

The stromboli crust is thin with a crispy exterior. It stands up well to its substantial filling.

The vegetarian stromboli is stuffed with onions, black olives, artichokes, tomatoes and an ocean of cheese. The accompanying marinara sauce is sweet and adds a nice punch to the stromboli.

The decor at Carsonie's in Upper Arlington is heavy on local tchotchkes. There is a separate take-out entrance.

Yabo's Tacos

Yabos' Tacos is a Mexican-American taqueria. Service is brisk at this new fast-casual Mexican operation.

Yabo's is located in the Delaware County portion of Westerville in the old Giammarco's Pizza location. The menu has interesting international accents. This works more as a frame than a limitation, and the vegetarian items at Yabo's are flavorful if not exactly authentic.

Tacos come with a choice of soft corn or flour tortilla for $2. The grilled veggie taco had a great smoky flavor that was nicely complemented by the burst of fresh, cold vegetables. The feta cheese in the taco acts much like cojita cheese in traditional Mexican preparations. The tacos can easily have their flavor augmented by the great house hot sauces (I like the serrano lime, a sauce with spicy citrus accents).

Lime was also a main flavor component of the guacamole in addition to cilantro, garlic and delicious avocado. Although it tasted excellent, the dish would have benefitted from more guacamole or less chips.

The beans are vegetarian. The refried beans are served with melted cheese.

Yabo's has a full bar with a focus on cheap beers. The plan for the restaurant is to expand to multiple locations in the next few years.

Cumin Indian Restaurant

Nobody was sadder than I when Bayleaf India Bistro closed. I used to eat at Bayleaf often when I lived in the vicinity of the restaurant, but even after moving away from Westerville, I stopped there often when I was in the area.

Cumin Indian Restaurant opened in its place. It is owned by the same people who own Cuisine of India.

Although Indian restaurants offer vegetarian options, Cumin goes out of its way to feature a variety of meatless appetizers and entrees. The buffet was 60-75% vegetarian.

Prices at Cumin are more expensive than your average Indian eatery, but the atmosphere and preparation are also a cut above the competition. The interior of Cumin is very similar to Bayleaf, although Cumin has a liquor license. The left side of the restaurant is a small bar.

The dal soup had great flavor. The yellow lentils were cooked to a tender consistency, and the broth had sweet undertone that allowed the delicate pepper and onion notes to shine through.

The chana masala was saucy and somewhat light on chickpeas. It was decent but not spectacular.

The vegetable Manchurian was excellent. Cauliflower was fried and coated in a sticky, spicy brown Indochinese sauce. It was the spiciest vegetarian item on the buffet.

The potato and eggplant dish had strong garlic and anise flavor. The potatoes were soft and soaked up the seasoning. The eggplant was a little chewy, most likely from spending too long on the buffet warmers.

The palak paneer was solidly prepared. Along with the chana masala, it was unspectacular.

There are a great deal more exciting options on the dinner menu. Cumin could be appreciated by a person who never eats the same thing twice as well as somebody who needs to order the same thing every time. The menu at Cumin is also different enough from Cuisine of India to give Polaris Indian food fans plenty of variety visiting both restaurants.

The buffet comes with naan. The mint and tamarind chutneys struck me as industrial preparations rather than handcrafted condiments.

Cumin

Mojo Tago

Mojo Tago is a taco truck that pops up at various locations around the Columbus area. I caught it this week at State and Third, but Mojo also has regularly been found on campus during Ohio State game day and in Westerville.

Owner Brian Reed's truck is big and well-appointed. It has a T-Shirt display rack and a tortilla chip window, placing its amenities at a slightly different level than those of the outer belt taco trucks. Its concept pays homage to the L.A. food truck scene that has garnered national media attention, but it also shares a common thread with Columbus' other mobile food impresarios like Rad Dog and Foodie Cart with a fun image not obscuring its focus on fresh ingredients.

The vegetarian taco is black beans, cabbage, cheese, avocado salsa and pico de gallo on a soft corn tortilla (2 for $5). It is messy, but delicious enough to clean up the fallout with tortilla chips.

Side orders include chips and dips, including avocado salsa or roasted tomatillo. The truck also offers a rotating special item.

Mojo Tago is Downtown through Friday for lunch. Check Facebook or Twitter for the location of the truck.

Mojo Tago

Thai Grille

Thai Grille in Uptown Westerville occupies the space of the former Michael's Pizza, which was closed because of a fire. The restaurant brings flavorful fare to Westerville's main thoroughfare, and they up the ante by using locally sourced, organic ingredients with plenty of choices for vegetarians.

The decor at Thai Grille is understated. Service is brisk and attentive.

I was absolutely amazed by the volume of vegetarian options on the menu. With the exception of grilled meat and seafood dishes and the soups, all of the other dishes were vegetarian or could be prepared vegetarian.

Vegetarian appetizers included spring rolls, summer rolls, curry puffs, chive pancakes, tofu satay, the green salad and the papaya salad.

I sampled the curry puffs, which were reminiscent of tiny samosas. The puffs were filled with liberally spiced potatoes and peas that were served with a sweet dipping sauce with chunks of cucumber, red pepper and red onion. It was delightful.

There are a wide variety of vegetarian entrees as well. However, in order to get a feel for the flavor of Thai Grille, I had to order the tofu curry.

The tofu curry was served in a thick coconut milk that exploded with spices. The dish also came with potato, carrot, onion, pea pods, zucchini and squash. Since Thai Grille's focus is on local ingredients, the vegetation in the dish changes with the seasons.

Diners also get rice options, which include jasmine rice (also called Thai hommali rice), brown rice, white sticky rice and black sticky rice. The sticky rice options cost an extra $1.50.

There are a number of dessert options at Thai Grille. There is an extensive list of teas, and a limited selection of beer and wine that is well-suited to the cuisine.

Thai Grille is another great addition to Central Ohio's dining scene. With the multitude of meatless options, it should put Uptown Westerville on the map for vegetarians.

Thai Grill

Cantina Laredo

Hidden within the oasis of commerce that is Polaris Fashion Place, Cantina Laredo is a fine-dining restaurant that offers more than most one-size-fits-all Mexican outposts.

Columbus has longed for a high-end Mexican restaurant since the demise of Tapatio. Although Cantina Laredo is not that level of restaurant, it definitely features flavorful fare in a well-appointed environment that rises far above the mundane level of the competition.

Cantina Laredo is a chain, but the quality of the food does not suffer because of these pedestrian roots. The Polaris location is the first in the state of Ohio.

The calling card of Cantina Laredo is the tableside guacamole. A popular dish in the Southwest and in large cities for many years, Cantina Laredo is the one of the first places to my knowledge in Columbus to feature tableside guac.

The guacamole is made with fresh avocados, lime juice, tomato, peppers, tomatoes and cilantro. The portion is supposed to serve two to four, but one hungry person could probably devour the whole dish.

Like much of the menu at the restaurant, the flavor of the guacamole is great, but at $9, the price is a little steep. If the prices don't scare you, the food is great. Just be prepared to spend twice what you spend at the everyday Mexican chain eatery.

My entree was the portabella enchiladas. Made with chunks of portabella mushroom augmented with vegetables and goat cheese in a chipotle mushroom sauce, it is an explosion of flavor. The side dish, a jicama and mango salad, is a bright contrast to the earthy enchiladas.

There are many vegetarian options on the menu. Vegetarian choices include queso dip, cranberry pecan salad, fajitas and spinach enchiladas. I was also told that many of the other enchiladas could be prepared vegetarian if they were ordered that way.

Cantina Laredo's bar obviously specializes in margaritas, available in a variety of flavors. They have a decent selection of premium tequilas, including super-premium options from Don Julio, Jose Cuervo and Herradura. Cantina Laredo also has a limited selection of wine and beer.

Cantina Laredo

Bel Lago

Bel Lago is a tastefully-appointed, Italian-inspired eatery that has beautiful views of the Hoover Reservoir. Although the outdoor seating is far less enjoyable in the winter, come summertime, it will be a beautiful place to enjoy a cocktail while admiring the sailboats.

Bel Lago is located in the same location as the now departed Hoover Grill. The decor is far better at Bel Lago. They have replaced the cold, metallic interior of Hoover Grill with a combination of tan and brown accents. The fireplace makes the dining room warm and inviting.

The menu at Bel Lago features Italian cuisine, sandwiches, salads and assorted Mediterranean favorites. My biggest complaint is that with a menu this expansive, it should have been possible to offer a vegetarian sandwich and another vegetarian entree. Although the food is excellent, variety is the spice of life, and it feels like the vegetarian choices on the menu might have been added as an afterthought.

The staff is very helpful. Our server took the time to explain what items on the menu were vegetarian-friendly.

Bel Lago also has a nice selection of wine, cocktails and draft beer. I was impressed by the Bell's Best Brown and Goose Island Matilda beers available on draft.

I started with a twin hummus plate. Regular and spicy red pepper hummus are served on a platter with pita triangles, green, red and yellow peppers, broccoli, carrots and celery as dipping accoutrements. While the plain hummus was good, the spicy hummus was fantastic. I almost wanted to send my plain hummus back and get a full two servings of the spicy stuff. The veggies and pitas provided a variety of flavors with which to scoop both dips up.

My main course was linguine in a pesto cream sauce. Bel Lago makes all their pasta by hand, and the results turn out with great texture and flavor. The pesto sauce was rich but mildly flavored, with subtle hints of fresh basil and garlic alongside the delightful crunch of pine nuts. Fans of local eating will also be impressed that the basil was grown down the street by Westerville North students in their hydroponics class.

Other vegetarian options on the menu include pizzas. There is a Mediterranean pizza as well as a margherita pizza. There are also three vegetarian salads as well as a grilled vegetable plate.

The interior is not the only thing that Bel Lago has improved upon from Hoover Grill. The parking lot at the Hoover Grill/Bel Lago spot is too small for the amount of people that can be seated in the restaurant, and Westerville is not the most walkable community. Bel Lago has fixed the parking shortage by offering valet service on busy nights.

Despite shortchanging vegetarians on their menu options, Bel Lago makes quality fare that can be enjoyed with beautiful views of the landscape. If you aren't opposed to a limited number of vegetarian options, Bel Lago prepares quality food that, while somewhat expensive, pays close attention to presentation and preparation.

Bel Lago

Mellow Mushroom sandwiches

Mellow Mushroom is a Southern pizza chain that goes above and beyond the call of duty for the vegetarian-inclined diner.

Previously, I have reviewed the gourmet pizzas at the Polaris location. I first tried Mellow Mushroom in Hilton Head, South Carolina while on vacation.

Beyond the pizza pies, Mellow Mushroom also offers a variety of sandwiches that hit the mark for those who describe themselves as vegetarian and/or vegan.

Mellow Mushroom makes five different vegetarian sandwiches. Three sandwiches are hot and two are cold. Although all are made with animal products, the menu will leave the cheese out to delight the vegan crowd.

I tried the tempeh hoagie. Tempeh is a fermented soy protein that undergoes less processing than its more famous cousin tofu. Tempeh has a more rustic flavor than tofu, and it is also firm and granular as opposed to soft and solid like tofu.

The tempeh sandwich comes on a choice of French, wheat or pita bread. The tempeh is marinated and grilled, then served with pesto mayo, feta cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms, peppers and sprouts. The pesto and veggies add a bright contrast to the full-flavored tempeh base.

Other vegetarian sandwich options include tofu, portobello, tomato and mozzarella, and avocado. As discussed in the previous review, there are scores of vegetarian and vegan salads, appetizers, calzones and pizzas on the menu as well.

Mellow Mushroom is a cool option in the Polaris area for satisfying both health nuts and those who prefer their fat content pumped into overdrive. When paired with its extensive menu of craft beer, everybody leaves fat and happy.

Mellow Mushroom Sandwich

Schneider's Bakery

Schneider's Bakery has been satisfying the sweet tooth of Uptown Westerville since the good old days when the suburb was a virtual palisade of prohibition. No matter your opinion of alcohol in Ohio's capital of temperance, everybody agrees that a run to Schneider's is always a sweet proposition.

Schneider's offers a wide range of baked goods including cakes, cookies, pies and danishes, but Schneider's earned its reputation with the doughnuts. The 1 am weekend doughnut runs have created miles of smiles for bleary-eyed Otterbein College students for generations.

Although Schneider's is notable for sweet baked goods, they also make tasty loaves of bread, rolls and buns that are every bit as good as the sweets.

But as I said before, if you have only one option, make it a doughnut. And the extra added bonus is that you can feel good supporting them because they are a locally-owned family operation.

The glazed doughnut has a light, flaky dough that melts in your mouth. The balance of sweetness is tempered by a rich savory mouthfeel.

Schneider's prices are very reasonable when you consider the quality of food it offers. Some of the specials they offer include a doughnut and a drink for $1, and a danish and a drink for $1.75.

Schneider's Bakery

Drelyse African Restaurant

I'm a sucker for any cuisine I've never tried before, so the first time I drove past Drelyse a few weeks ago, I knew I was going to have to check it out. Drelyse offers food from many different countries in Africa, and if you're in the area, the place is well worth checking out.

Drelyse is located off the beaten path, south of Dublin Granville Road between Cleveland Avenue and Karl Road. The owners are extremely friendly, and they took the time to explain to me what dishes on the menu were vegetarian-safe.

The kitchen crew is multinational, representing three countries in West Africa. Each nationality brings native dishes to the menu, although the cuisine of Ghana is the most prevalent choice. There are also dishes from elsewhere on the African continent, including Senegal, Kenya and Ethiopia.

The majority of the menu is dishes made with beef, chicken, goat or fish. However, they are planning on adding a vegetarian sandwich to the menu in the near future.

I started with an order of vitumbua, a Kenyan/Tanzanian bread that makes your mouth water with its soft, savory mix of flavor. Vitumbua is a rice bread made with coconut and cardamom. Imagine a less flaky biscuit that melts in your mouth and you can just about picture the satisfying flavor of the steaming baked good.

Ghana's signature vegetarian dish is called red red. Red red is black eyed peas pan fried in palm oil with onions, tomatoes and a liberal dose of spices. Some places will prepare red red with seafood or a food additive called maggi, which is an African version of bouillon. However, Drelyse prepares its red red vegetarian.

Traditionally, red red is made with a side of plantains. The plantains were perfectly fried. They were not greasy at all. The sweet and starchy fruit was a perfect complement to the Indian-esque main course. Both were delightful.

Drelyse also offers a limited selection of traditional African beverages like non-alcoholic palm wine and malt beverages. Much of the clientele spoke languages I am unable to identify (and as we all know, patronage by residents of the homeland is a great indicator of restaurant quality).

The combination of great food, friendly service and vegetarian options makes Drelyse a great option if you're in the area. Yesterday was my first experience with some of these dishes, but it definitely won't be my last.

Drelyse

Antonio's Pizzeria

Antonio's Pizzeria is nestled on the scenic shores (chuckle) of the Hoover Reservoir. The menu features pizza, pasta, sandwiches and other assorted pizza shop offerings.

I have always had a soft spot for white pizza. Antonio's offers two different white pizzas. I tried Nonna's white pizza, which is prepared on a flaky thin crust drizzled in olive oil, sprinkled with herbs and topped with mozzarella, ricotta and provolone cheeses and tomato cubes. The other white pizza uses only provolone cheese. But why settle for one cheese when you can get three instead?

The pizza is well made. The crust is light and slightly buttery. The combination of cheeses gives the pizza a vaguely lasagna-esque character. I prefer sliced tomato on a white pizza to chopped tomato. Considering this is my only complaint about the pizza, I'd still call this particular white pizza a winner.

Antonio's seems to have a pretty sweet lunch special as well. For the low low price of five smackers, you can get a half a veggie sub and a side salad or a 7-inch pizza with three toppings. There is also a pasta option available for a lunch combo, but it has the dreaded word "meatballs" in the description. But $5 should give you an opportunity to try the menu without breaking the bank.

Giammarco's Pizza

Giammarco's is a small Italian restaurant in Westerville. They feature a menu with pizza and a variety of traditional Italian dishes. There are more than a few vegetarian (but no vegan) items on the menu.

The interior is actually a surprise when you walk through the door. From the outside, Giammarco's looks like a take-out joint (which it very much is). However, there are many tables inside the wood-lined walls decorated with faux Italian knick knacks.

I sampled the Margherita pizza, which was great. It had huge basil leaves and slices of tomato atop melted buffalo mozzarella on a thin, crispy crust. The pizza was delicious--Margherita is a classic style that is oft imitated, never duplicated, but Giammarco's hits the mark.

The service was a little sluggish. Luckily the staff was courteous and took the time to explain the problem. I'll give it a one thumb up, one thumb down on my service experience.

The menu also has a veggie sub, garlic bread, fried ravioli, spaghetti and marinara, penne alfredo and a number of other pizza joint/Italian classics.

Giammarco's Pizza

Wendell's Pub

Pub grub isn't always the safest option for vegetarians. People getting their drink on prefer all kinds of dead animal delicacies, deep fried and made to order. Many Columbus staples (Betty's, Surly Girl, Carabar, Tip Top) are exceptions to the rule, but veggie-friendly bar eats are a little tougher to find in the 'burbs. Wendell's Pub in Westerville breaks the flesh food mold by offering a couple of tasty vegetarian items to be enjoyed while knocking back a cold brew.

Wendell's Pub is hardly a vegetarian destination. They are, however, very particular about the quality of their menu. They take the same care with their limited vegetarian menu items as they do with everything else on the menu.

The restaurant and bar are replete with a great deal of wood, and every inch that isn't covered in hard wood is covered in photos of American icons, from James Dean to Marilyn Monroe to Chuck Berry to Dr. Indiana Jones (a.k.a. Harrison Ford). The restaurant has a golfing theme, and sports are on every television screen.

There are a few vegetarian appetizers available. There are portabella fries, spinach artichoke dip, enormous cheese sticks and (my personal favorite) fried macaroni and cheese balls. Classic elbow macaroni and gooey cheese are breaded and fried, served in a dish of marinara sauce with shaved fresh parmesan cheese on top.

The portabella sandwich features marinated, grilled mushroom caps thinly sliced on rosemary herb focaccia bread with feta cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions and red pepper mayo. I typically hate mayonnaise, but in this sandwich it elevates the flavor to another level, giving it a rich, mildly spicy boost. Sandwiches come with a choice of sides, which include fries, homemade chips, onion rings, asparagas, a fruit cup, roasted apples, salad or a cup of soup.

Wendell's also makes thick and thin crust pizzas with a variety of toppings. This is the end of vegetarian entrees on the menu. While they only have a few options, everything at Wendell's is good enough for me to let them slide.

The service is always pleasant and prompt. They are very helpful and courteous in identifying vegetarian items.

The bar offers good deals on beer, with $2 domestic drafts and $3 imports that include Guinness, Bass, Harp and Stella Artois. They have a limited wine selection and a variety of specialty cocktails. The latest batch is made from the 800 or so varieties of Three Olives flavored vodkas.

Another interesting quirk about Wendell's is that they won the title of "Best Restroom in America" in a contest with a sickening type of intrigue. Apparently the sports posters, televisions and mouthwash elevated Wendell's water closet above its competitors at the Borgata in New Jersey. If the menu and the beer isn't enough to get people in the door, I'm sure the prospect of using the nation's most prestigious bathroom most certainly will.

Wendell's Pub

Michael's Pizza

Michael's Pizza is a Westerville destination for a number of reasons. I dig it because it was one of the first restaurants to serve alcohol when Westerville finally voted down their longstanding prohibition initiative.

The beer and wine is just window dressing to well made thin crust pizza and traditional Italian offerings, however. Pizza Mike was recognized as making the best pizza in the U.S.A. at the World Pizza Championships in Italy. I would have figured that this was a fake award, except for the fact that Avalanche Pizza in Athens (another great pizza shop) also won this award, so the award seems to be a pretty good indicator of quality.

The pizza has a fantastic crust I would describe as similar to a puffy flatbread. It is neither traditionally crispy of outright chewy--it is a happy medium between the two.

The tomato sauce is tangy and definitely not from a can. The toppings are also high quality, from the button mushrooms to the green peppers to the sweet, mild onions. The cheese is a blend of Romano and provolone, and each pizza is topped with additional grated cheese and spices.

The side dishes are also very good. The cheese sticks were very tasty. The menu also offers a few other vegetarian appetizers, a veggie sub and a few assorted pasta dishes.

Michael's Pizza

Yogi's Hoagies

Yogi's Hoagies is a mini-chain with locations dotted all over the Buckeye state. They specialize in (surprise!) sandwiches, but also offer pizza and a wide variety of side dishes including chips, potato salad, mozzarella sticks and salads.

But why would I visit a sandwich shop to try anything but sandwiches? Yogi's features hot and cold sandwiches. I tried the veggie super hoagie, which is made with double cheese, lettuce, onions and banana peppers with oil, vinegar and spices. It is available in 8- and 16-inch versions.

The hot hoagie was tasty. There was enough cheese for it to melt out of the bun. It is not terribly dissimilar (other than the vegetable base) from the Great Steak Escape veggie sandwich. GSE is the first vegetarian sandwich I ever ate forever and a day ago, and while it is embarrassing for a vegetarian to say they used to eat at Great Steak Escape, it does bring back fond memories.

The Westerville location is a small, family-run spot. There is a drive-through, and it appears Yogi's also delivers. While sandwich shops typically aren't the most vegetarian-friendly eateries, I am going to stamp the veggie super hoagie from Yogi's as Nothing Better To Do approved.

Yogi's Hoagies

Cardone's Restaurant

Some might describe Cardone's in Westerville as intimate. Others would call it small. However you call it, you'd better show up early, because the seats seem to fill up fast in this casual Italian eatery.

I don't know if it was busy because of the recent Dispatch write up, or if it's the product of a loyal customer base, but we got the last seats available on Friday night. Capacity appears to be around 35, so plan accordingly.

Cardone's has a fairly decent amount of vegetarian (although not vegan) choices for appetizers and main courses on the menu. I went with the portabello caps stuffed with mozzarella, parmesan and basil with fresh tomatoes for an appetizer. It was delicious.

The five cheese ravioli in a basil cream sauce with candied walnuts was even better. Hints of garlic make the pesto sublime, and the walnuts add an extra layer of savory flavors that enrich the dairy sinew. The salad was also quite good.

The wine list is small, with a most but not all wines coming from Italy. They also have beer--Chimay red by the by the bottle--need I say more?

The interior is small, with textured paint on the walls along with a collection or classic paintings and pictures above a black and white tile floor. The food is excellent, and the menu has a number of vegetarian items, but there is a finite amount of seating that will require careful pre-planningto avoid waiting for a seat.

Cardone's

Rusty Bucket

The Rusty Bucket is one of two tavern chains that have descended like locusts on the Central Ohio horizon over the last year (the other one is the Old Bag of Nails). There are six locations in and around Columbus. They feature a wide variety of brews on draft and tap as well as a menu with a pantheon of bar grazing options.

The downside to this menu, unfortunately, is that your vegetarian dining options are sorely limited. Your appetizers are limited to your choice of deep fried pickles and the hummus plate. I decided on hummus, which featured warm pita bread and a pile of lettuce, tomato, onion and black olive. It was tasty despite the fact that it was lonely. Vegetarian items on the menu require plenty of friends to keep them from feeling lonely. The only item keeping my hummus company was the Gracelandic delight of fried pickle spears.

The vegetarian entree also lived all alone...panko crusted macaroni and cheese. The breadcrumbs gave the dish a firm, crunchy character. It was served with a plain house salad that is pictured in the dictionary next to the word humdrum. The salad was an avalanche of iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion, mushroom, cheese and croutons with a limited serving of vinaigrette dressing. The salad was as exciting as the prospects of the latest REO Speedwagon reunion tour.

The interior of the restaurant is classic wood with enough televisions to keep most areas within viewing distance. The Westerville location is not terribly dissimilar from the Worthington locale, albeit a touch smaller. I much prefer the beer selection at Rusty Bucket, which features Chimay, Great Lakes, Boddington, Stella Artois and a variety of other choices, to the regular menu.

On future visits, I'll be drinking and not eating at the Rusty Bucket. That is, until they find some companionship for my lonesome vegetarian menu items.

Rusty Bucket

Minico's

Minico's is a family-owned Italian joint with a killer white pizza. They make a veggie sub and a few vegetarian pasta dishes. But the white pizza is definitely one of the vegetarian show stoppers.

The white pizza is made from smoked provolone, romano and feta cheese with olive oil and garlic on a medium crispy thin crust. I added green peppers and mushrooms, although the pizza also can be made with a preselected batch of mixed vegetables.

Minico's offers dine-in and carry out options seven days a week after 4 pm at Minico's. Everything else on the menu looks good. If nothing else, it's safe to say that you can't go wrong with the white pizza.

Minicos