Vegan restaurants are so often overlooked  with the assumption that they are boring, but that’s a thing of the past now that Mamaroots is here. It’s a new vegan vegetarian eatery that’s parked itself on the corner of High Street and Darebin Road, making it confusing as to which suburb it might belong to but  either way it’s a most welcome addition amongst it carnivore counterparts.

Owner-manager Arianna Sutton knows what vegetarians want – she’s researched both locally and through her international travels.  Adrianna has collaborated with Diane Walsh, formerly of the Northcote Nursery cafe ‘Over the Road’ to create a concise menu of vegan and vegetarian dishes that go back to basics where food tastes like food.

Everything is made in house on the regularly and seasonally changing menu with entrees sitting around the $7 mark, mains around $14. Expect tempters like white lentil, sundried tomato, spinach cumin doughnuts with coconut chutney crumbed in physcillum husk, or blackened  tofu with Cajun spiced dahl, jambalaya rice and watermelon salsa. Alternatively opt for the mamaroots banquet comprising mint tea, a selection of tapas, mix of main meals and salad for $24.50 – a great way to sample the menu.

Currently only open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, mamaroots is planning to offer weekend brunch in the not too distant future, something we await with glee.

Where: 599 High St, Thornbury
Phone: 03 9481 5558
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 5.30pm to late