CAFE VERDE

"This is a beautiful large space on the artsy side of Niagara Falls away from the touristy haunts. It has a pleasant French café atmosphere at the front, a classic sit-down restaurant in the middle and a hip lounge style at the back. The food is simple: only the choice of one lunch meal. But it is cheap and delicious. I had a wonderful gourmet avocado and roasted vegetables sandwich made of crisp focaccia style bread and home made tapenade served with a tangy Thai-inspired salad. All that for 6 bucks! The people are wonderfully friendly. If you are in Niagara falls for lunch, stop by and have a sandwich or two at this cool local hip spot!"

"4555 Queen Street (across from Sweet-Mmms Bakery), Niagara Falls, which is slowing being transformed into a Bohemian artists' quarters, has lunch every day starting at noon - always totally vegetarian and often vegan. Lunch is only $5.55 and made fresh to order. Only one thing is made every day. As a bonus, you get to soak up some cool ambiance - art on the walls, people playing instruments and ping-pong, funky music in the background, all sorts of interesting people around, etc. It is also pretty quick: you can order, eat, and be out of there in about half an hour. They are hoping to have vegetarian sushi as a regular item on the menu. The only 100% vegetarian restaurant in the Niagara Region!"