Jimmy Geurts checks out the downtown Sarasota restaurant after multiple reader recommendations

Thanks to everyone whos read Vegging Out so far and has shared some of their own favorite local vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants with me. Im keeping track of everyones recommendations for consideration for potential future columns.

So when I got multiple suggestions for Ionie and found all of its dishes are vegan, raw, organic and gluten-free not exactly the norm for restaurant menus I decided I needed to check it out.

Technically Ionie, which is located in downtown Sarasota at 1241 Fruitville Road, isnt strictly a restaurant. Its also a retreat that offers yoga, massage therapy, acupuncture and other wellness options.

But located within that is a small cafe, comprising six two-seat tables in a nook of the building. Its menu features casual lunch staples like pizza, salads and noodle dishes made considerably more eclectic by its all-vegan, all-raw approach.

The Greek pizza ($11) is a pretty representative example of the cafes menu. With a crunchy buckwheat, carrot and flax crust and creamy nut cheese spread, it almost feels more like a large cracker than a proper pizza. Yet the real attraction is the spinach, kale and olives that top the pizza, with the fresh greens contrasting with the saltiness of the olives.

The taco salad ($15) also offers an inspired take on a comfort food staple. The walnut meat topping may not much resemble the ground beef its replacing, but the vegan sour cream is remarkably convincing, and blended with romaine lettuce, tomato, pico de gallo and generous servings of avocado slices, its a strong approximation of the traditional meal.

The only item I tried that was a little too unconventional for my tastes was the veggie burger with fries ($13), which maybe I shouldve expected as the all-raw menu meant it couldnt be grilled or fried. The rutabaga fries are essentially rutabaga peeled and sliced like fries (though the honey mustard dipping sauce was tasty), and the dehydrated veggie burger wasnt to my taste.

Still, I enjoyed enough of what I had that I would consider coming back and exploring its selections further. And certainly its all-raw, vegan and gluten-free menu makes it a boon for anyone with those diets and a standout in local veggie-friendly restaurant options.

Thanks for the recommendation, readers.

What other Sarasota-Manatee restaurants offer tasty vegetarian dishes? Email me at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com.

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Vegging Out: Ionie and an all-raw, vegan menu - Sarasota Herald-Tribune