Good restaurants in Cleveland

"We didn't start out this way, but now we're serving about 50-50, " said chef and owner Brandt Evans. "Half of our dishes have meat and half don't. But the meat-free alternatives are keeping us alive, since more and more carnivores are heading toward healthier items."

Find out other reasons we like them in the list below.

'A-LIST' DINING GUIDE: 2015

Northeast Ohio's dynamic dining scene continues to unfold as one of America's best. Our sixth annual "A-List Dining Guide" featuring the area's Top 100 restaurants will be unveiled Friday, May 8 - online on cleveland.com's Top Restaurants channel and in print in The Plain Dealer's Friday magazine.

We're also serving up a few "A-List" side dishes again this year, including mini guides to the area's bets bets in various categories.

It's been a good year in general for the veggie-venerating crowd. Choices are growing at fine-dining places such as Pura Vida, and more full-time specialists are entering the arena, such as Cleveland Vegan in Lakewood. Veggie and vegan nights continue at many restaurants. We've come a long way from settling for salad and mashed potatoes. Options are everywhere.

Here are five suggestions, although we know there are a lot more out there. We've set aside perennial favorites such as Tommy's in Cleveland Heights, the local Aladdin Eatery chain, Lakewood's Root Cafe and others for no other reason than to refresh the list. Feel free to offer additional names in our comments section.

(170 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 44115, 216-987-0100)

Beyond skill, this glimmering downtown spot has a sense of humor. A vegetarian "Big Mac"? Chicken-fried Cauliflower with gravy? Both are artful versions of the original, with rice and black bean cakes sitting in for the "burgers, " and all the right flavor points (cheese, pickle, special sauce) devised by the original. And gravy on fried cauliflower? It's packed with flavor and perfect texture. The African groundnut stew is a big hit there. Chef Brandt Evans says it sells like hotcakes, even on a hot summer day.

(16918 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-226-3415)

Don't let the name (translated: the butcher) or logos of pigs and cows stop you at the door. This is an equal opportunity carver, working magic and Mexican flavors on roots and brassicas like they really matter. The masa dough on the tamale could be a bit more moist, but the "saucing" from nut-like cauliflower topping to a melange of cumin-spiced carrots and peppers rang with celebration. Since there's a touch of cream on occasion, our server could not guarantee as much pleasure from a vegan version. So ask. And thank goodness the fresh-juiced Margaritas are meat-free.

(530 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 44115, 216-527-4477)

You have to be in downtown Cleveland on a weekday to take advantage of Amirah Sultaana's worldwide vegan flavors. So get on it. The former sales rep for AT&T traveled widely before devising her perfectly calibrated recipes. Her own health and well-being led the way, but her skills and those of her staff make it all work. Don't miss any chickpea curry or cooked greens.