Hi, I’m MacKenzie, and I’m a Main Squeeze addict.
I’m also your token vegan friend because no millennial friend group is truly complete without one of us (you’re welcome, friend groups of which I am a part).
I briefly mentioned Main Squeeze Natural Foods Cafe and Juice Bar in [an article](http://move.themaneater.com/stories/2013/11/11/more-than-just-main-squeeze-vegetarian-options/) last semester on vegetarian options in Columbia.
And, like any lovestruck fool, I just can’t shut up about it.
Main Squeeze isn’t just the only all-vegetarian restaurant in Columbia; it’s the only one in all of mid-Missouri. The plant-based eatery has been around since 1997.
The menu features items suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians (i.e., people who don’t eat meat but do eat dairy and eggs), as well as vegans (i.e., those like yours truly who just eat plants). But “suitable” isn’t quite the right word.
No, these dishes go above and beyond what typically passes for the “vegetarian option.” With hot dishes such as the Buddha, a mixture of rice (or protein powerhouse/the only grain to ever be described as “trendy,” quinoa, for just $1.50 more) tofu, cabbage, broccoli, carrot, scallions, sesame seeds, sprouts and sesame ginger dressing, and salads like the Hail Kale, a blend of kale, quinoa, bell pepper, tempeh bacon, onion and dried cherries. Even carnivores won’t miss the meat.
In addition to swapping the rice for quinoa, diners can also opt for gluten-free sandwich bread (for $1.50 extra) and dairy-free cheese (for $0.50).
Looking for somewhere to take your funky brunch bunch? On weekends (but sadly, _only_ on weekends), Main Squeeze serves breakfast from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with things like huevos (or tofu) rancheros, homemade granola with yogurt (or soy milk) and scrambled tofu.
Another highlight of the menu? Smoothies and freshly squeezed juices. Bearing names like “Give Peach A Chance” (an apple, peach and banana smoothie) and “Elvis Parsley” (a blend of carrot, celery, spinach, parsley and beet juices), Main Squeeze’s beverage menu lists a wide variety of salubrious sips.
In need of something a little more caffeinated? You can also get a bottomless cup of Lakota coffee. End (or start — it’s your life, man) your meal with one of their daily bakery selections. Gluten-free and vegan sweets? Yes, please.
The restaurant is full of quirky touches. When you order, instead of getting a boring old number to place on your table, you’re handed an action figure. The place is also decorated with artwork from local Columbia artists, much of which is for sale.
Speaking of local, according to [Main Squeeze’s website](http://www.main-squeeze.com/), the restaurant buys lots of food from local farms. Plus, the cafe is committed to sustainability and employs practices like composting, using seat cushions made from up-cycled grocery bags and putting takeout orders in eco-friendly boxes.
So, whether you’re the token herbivore in _your_ Gen Y cliqué or you just want to experience meatless meals (that don’t suck), stop by Main Squeeze. There’s a good chance you’ll even run into owner Leigh Lockhart, who can often be found helping out at the register taking orders.
And me. I’ll probably be there. Apologies in advance, I’ll probably have a stupid grin on my face. But I don’t care. I’m in (food) love.