The 5 tastiest vegetarian sandwiches in Charlotte
It’s almost 2017 and the world has finally started to become a bit healthier. Green smoothies are no longer gross, and veggie burgers are now the norm.
But when you’ve choked down one mashed bean and rice patty, you’ve pretty much had them all. I’m here to give you a peek at my top five non-meat-between-bread entrees and the restaurants that create them.
(1) The Po’ Boy at Razzoo’s Cajun Café
This eatery offers an overwhelming number of selections. And just like in the Cajun country of Louisiana, Razzoo’s is also famous for its flavorful po’ boys, stuffed with popcorn shrimp or other seafood delicacies. One thing you won’t find on the menu is my favorite po’ boy, filled with fried okra.
The menu doesn’t list it, but if you ask the server to fry one up, they’ll always oblige. Their po’boys are garnished with lettuce, tomato, red onions and pickles, and served on an open-faced French roll. When cooked to perfection, the okra gives just the right amount of crunch and the pickle provides enough tang that you may just become a Saints fan on the spot.
Razzoo’s Cajun Café: 8011 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord
(2) The Roasted Broccoli Burger at Local Loaf
According to Chef Noah Robinson, this burger is made like a crabcake, but with broccoli. The burger sits on a soft brioche bun, topped with arugula, crispy fried potato strings, tangy chipotle honey ketchup and garlic aioli. Held together with egg and breadcrumbs, and seasoned with special spices, the burger could easily serve as your daily allowance for vegetables. And who wouldn’t want that?
Local Loaf: 224 E. 7th St.
(3) The Joliet Jake at JJ’s Red Hots
The Joliet Jake is Chicago style. The tofu dog is loaded with tomatoes, sport peppers, diced onions, pickle relish, deli mustard celery salt, and a pickle spear. There are several other veggie options but this one overdoses (in a good way) on sweet, salt, tang and spice — everything you’d expect from the Windy City.
JJ’s Red Hots: 1514 East Blvd. and 15105 N. John J. Delaney Dr.
(4) The Grilled Artichoke Sub at Penn Station
This one took me by surprise as I had expected to get the normal veg option, which is a salad on a roll. But no – when my eyes scanned the menu board, I felt sparks. Grilled artichokes hearts, mushrooms, provolone cheese, oregano and mayo make it magical. (The added parmesan sprinkles can be omitted since it’s made from cow stomach.)
And the toasted baguette cocoons it, keeping the ingredients nice and warm. Bonus: The five different sizes accommodate any appetite and the smallest budget.
Penn Station: 125 Remount Road and other locations
(5) The Pimento Cheese Sandwich at Just Fresh
This is as simple and as delicious as they come – a heap of pimento cheese slathered and toasted just enough to ooze between the cranberry-raisin-walnut bread slices. It’s so gooey, that you’ll find yourself scraping the cheese from the parchment paper it sits on. The best part is: You automatically get two!
Just Fresh: 301 S Tryon St. (in Two Wells Fargo) and other locations
So the next time vegetarians and carnivores alike have had enough of the same old mundane burger, travel to one of these restaurants to treat your taste buds. You’ll thank me during every bite.
Photos: Dawn Thornton
This story was originally published December 7, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "The 5 tastiest vegetarian sandwiches in Charlotte."