Introducing healthy or meatless cuisine to your kids can often be a challenge, especially when you’re looking for restaurants that cater to your needs. Thankfully, the Centennial area has more than its fair share of eateries able to satisfy those who prefer or want to try plant-based meals. Check out these local restaurants for their delicious and unique meat-free and plant-based menu options!

RORO Juice

RORO Juice, located on Arapahoe Road in Centennial, is a vegetarian and vegan juice bar and eatery specializing in cold-pressed juices made with raw, organic fruit and vegetables. Whether you’re looking for a meal replacement or a meal supplement, you’ll find their juice selection to be both tasty and healthy.

Their smoothies include Tropical Tundra, which is a blend of pineapple, mango, coconut, banana, and coconut water. Try the cleansing Anti-Oxiberry, which mixes berries and turmeric. Or go for Fruit ‘N’ Nut, which combines Ceylon cinnamon and pecan with strawberry, peach, banana, and coconut water. 

While all of the juices are kid-friendly, order something a little more traditional, like their fresh apple juice made from green apples, or the Orange Sunshine, which is a blend of orange and lemon juices.

Along with the drinks, there is also an assortment of salads, panini, fruit and vegetable bowls, and desserts. As with their juices, these are all made with fresh, organic ingredients. Look out for daily specials and seasonal options.

The Corner Beet

For a good selection of fruit juices but with a more expansive food menu, try The Corner Beet on Ogden Street in Denver. This is a vegetarian cafe with vegan options for nearly every menu item, including smoothies made with coconut milk.

A popular choice is the ciabatta bread toast, which comes with a range of toppings, such as a beet and honey spread, avocado and tomato with a balsamic glaze, and whipped goat cheese with house-made jam. If you prefer, you can have your toast made with gluten-free bread. They also have creamy potato soup, açai bowls with a variety of fruit combinations, and their coffees and espressos, which you can have made with almond, coconut, or oat milk for a plant-based twist.

Plus, there are plenty of items for the kids to enjoy, too. Order burritos and taco bowls or yummy soups by the cup or bowl. They also offer a “PB & C” smoothie, which contains peanut butter, banana, cacao, and honey. 

Farro Italian Restaurant

If you are craving vegetarian-friendly pasta and pizza, check out Farro Italian Restaurant on South Holly Street in Centennial. Farro is a causal, family-run restaurant providing a friendly environment for you and your family to enjoy good food.

Not only does Farro’s menu cater to vegetarian and vegan diets, but it also includes a “small plate” selection and a kids menu, featuring pizza and spaghetti, both of which can be served meatless. Their vegetarian items feature eggplant and portobello fries, a variety of salads, and brick oven pizzas such as their four-cheese pizza and their sun-dried tomato and portobello mushroom pizza. There are also options for vegans, such as a no-cheese pizza and linguine.

For dessert, be sure to try their tiramisu in a jar or the four-bite panna cotta made with passion fruit and a berry compote.

WaterCourse

WaterCourse in Captial Hill, Denver, is a community-conscious, “vegan comfort food” restaurant that partners with local vendors to offer a menu that caters to a wide variety of dietary needs. Their menu is full of options marked gluten-free, soy-free, or nut-free. Plus, all of their proteins are made from scratch and are plant-based.

WaterCourse specialties include the banana bread French toast as well as the Southern-fried cauliflower “chicken,” which comes with your choice of mashed potatoes and gravy or mac and cheese. The range of vegan deli “meats” they offer is quite impressive, including smoked turkey, roasted chicken, pastrami, and prosciutto. They also have a kids menu for the 12-and-unders that offers mac and cheese as well as grilled cheese sandwiches with a side of fries or mixed greens.

To finish off your meal, try a hot, cold, or alcoholic beverage — the peanut butter chocolate milkshake is definitely worth the splurge.

Shawarma Mediterranean Grill

Image via Flickr by illustir

For lovers of Middle Eastern food, Shawarma Mediterranean Grill is a popular, family-owned Centennial restaurant on University Boulevard. They have traditional Mediterranean meat dishes in addition to a fantastic selection of both vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes. The menu items are drawn from family recipes, served in generous portion sizes.

From their most notable vegetarian and vegan offerings, be sure to try the vegetarian combo plate. This consists of falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, rice, and spiced potatoes. They also serve falafel sandwiches, a feta salad, baklava, and malbie —  a rose water and milk pudding topped with a strawberry glaze. Shawarma even has a vegetarian plate on their kids menu, so it’s a great place to bring the family.

Vital Root

Vital Root, on Tennyson Street in Denver, is 99% vegan and 100% gluten-free. From soups and salads to sweet potato fries and their selection of Asian-inspired bowls and plates, you are bound to find something to enjoy at Vital Root.

There are a number of must-try dishes on the menu. Try the Korean barbecue veggie “wings” served with smoked broccoli and cauliflower, sesame seeds, and toga-ranch-i, which is a tangy interpretation of the Japanese togarashi seasoning. The “Vital Cobb” is a large Cobb salad that includes dates, feta, egg, rice paper, smoked almonds, and vegan “bacon.” There are even some unusual items on the kids menu, including country-fried tofu with maple mustard and ube sweet potato pancake with maple syrup.

Don’t forget to check out their wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Perhaps try their green ginger smoothie or a coconut margarita.

We at Crème de la Crème of Lone Tree, CO. know just how important it is to have healthy and exciting options for dining out, and these are just some of the best vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurants in town. Did we leave out your favorite restaurant? Let us know so we can add it to our list.