1st Place: Pad Thai
2nd Place: Noodles & Co.
3rd Place: Haymarket Grill

Usually, vegetarians in the Chippewa Valley get the same things from the same places when they eat out because they know exactly which one or two dishes are meat-free. Pad Thai and Noodles & Company both have menus full of tasty dishes that are either vegetarian or can be ordered sans the meat bits. Pad Thai was the clear winner with selections like Golden Tofu, Traditional Thai Fried Rice, and Som Tum (a spicy papaya salad), but Noodles and Company held its own in second place with comfort food favorites like the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese and Pesto Cavatappi. Haymarket Grill came in a close third. One could get full on the small plates alone, from Mushroom Rangoons to Walnut and Cheddar Croquettes. Even the entrees look just as tasty when you modify them for the veg set. – Betty Rae Matthews

Menomonie Morsel: The Raw Deal