Pull up a search on the Internet for vegetarian restaurants in the Milwaukee area and you’ll find a growing list of places that offer vegetarian food—not just bread and french fries, but nutritionally balanced vegetarian meals. However, few of them commit to a 100% meat-free menu. Warm and tranquil Cafe Manna, which opened in Brookfield in February, joins Bombay Sweets and Riverwest Co-op Cafe as one of Milwaukee’s few bona fide vegetarians.

“We want to dispel the rumors that vegetarian food has to taste like cardboard or that it can’t fill you up,” says owner Robin Kasch. “We are working diligently to show people that it can be very delicious and, in addition, really good for you.”

Chef Jason Stevens works with fresh ingredients, 90% of which are organic, to prepare recipes that are both appealing and satisfying. A complimentary snack of cashew coconut hummus served with a plate of artisan bread and pita chips is brought to the table while customers peruse the cork-bound menu. While Caf Manna offers a very nice selection of organic wines, assorted teas and sparkling water, it also prepares beverages that few restaurants offer, including fresh, nutrient-packed juices and broth. The sweet and creamy almond milk, a finely blended mixture of almonds, purified water and agave, is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth without going overboard. If you’re looking for something warm and settling, the potassium broth is created from strained root vegetables, like beets, carrots, white and sweet potatoes, rutabagas and onions.

In addition to appetizers like walnut and feta pate and baba ghanouj, Caf Manna offers daily specials that include a featured appetizer, such as artichoke crostini, a garlicky, cheesy treat made with oven-baked toast points layered with house-made pesto, fresh artichoke and sharp

Cafe Manna | Photo by Kate Engbring

Click here to view other Food Features on ExpressMilwaukee.com.