Veg out: Vegan-friendly restaurants around Syracuse offer filling alternatives to typical dining

Whether you're a full-on vegan or feel like skipping animal products for a meal or two, Syracuse offers a bounty of dining options. These four local eateries dish up inventive, vegan-friendly bites. Check out the deets on each one to get a taste for what's out there. 

Sparky Town                                       

Address: 324 Burnet Ave., Syracuse, N.Y.

Hours:  Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

            Saturday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Website: sparkytown.net

Atmosphere:The vibe of Sparky Town can't be beat. A wooden bar and warm pink and red walls greet you at the entrance, where several small tables line up against the wall. Its second room hosts live music every Friday night and doubles as a gallery, so the artwork of local artists decorates the walls.  (5/5)

Variety:With about a dozen vegan options, from Quinoa tabouli to vegan chili, Sparky Town makes sure diners with all different tastes can find something delicious to eat.  (4/5)

Taste:We ordered The Jocko — grilled tempeh, lettuce, tomato, artichokes, roasted red peppers, red onions, black bean sauce and two spreads: sun-dried tomato and avocado. It was impossible to take a complete bite of the thick sandwich without nearly dislocating your jaw. It ingredients created a divine mingling of flavors, the red peppers especially standing out. The well-seasoned side of home fries was browned to perfection.  (4.5/5)

Price:The sandwich was $7.75 but loaded with so many toppings it justified spending a few bucks more. You'll leave feeling stuffed.  (4.5/5)

Total:18/20

Strong Hearts Cafe

Address: 719 East Genesee St., Syracuse, N.Y.

Hours: Monday: 8 a.m. to 6p.m.

            Tuesday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to midnight.

            Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

            Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

            Sunday: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Website: strongheartscafe.com

Atmosphere:With its dark hardwood floors and earth-toned walls, Strong Hearts has the relaxed vibe of an artsy hangout hotspot. It stays open late on Friday and Saturday, so you can skip the frat party and opt for an evening of great food instead.  Because it's often pretty crowded, you should be ready for a wait.  (4/5)

Variety:Strong Hearts is all vegan, all the time. It offers breakfast foods, salads, sandwiches and a special pizza menu Friday evenings, catering to adventurous vegans who constantly want something new. Oh, and you can't forget the more than 30 different varieties of milkshakes.  (5/5)

Taste:We ordered the T.L.T. The cafe bakes a tofu patty in a basil and garlic marinade and tops it with basil walnut pesto, lettuce, tomato, alfalfa sprouts, vegan mayo and vegan cheese before sliding it all on rye bread. One word: wow. Turns out, vegan cheese melts even better than the dairy counterpart, making the ridiculously well-made sandwich a textural delight. We also opted for the pumpkin espresso milkshake, a thick, cinnamony delicacy indeed.  (5/5)

Price:The T.L.T. wasn't too bad at $6.50, but the milkshake clocked in at $5. A bit expensive if you're ordering alone, but the hearty meal satisfied two diners.  (3.5/5)

Total: 17.5/20

Alto Cinco

Address: 526 Westcott St.

Hours: Early morning and breakfast àMonday to Saturday: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

            Restaurant hours àMonday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

            Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Website: altocinco.net

Atmosphere: Every time I've dined at Alto Cinco, it has always been too crowded to get a seat in the main room. So it goes with any popular place. Sure, we occasionally got hit with a blast of cold air from the open door but we got a great view of quirky Westcott Street while enjoying our burrito.  (3.5/5)

Variety: Alto Cinco is known for its catfish burrito but has quite a few diverse vegan options like the Angelino Burrito, with crispy tofu, and the Acapulco Quesadilla, which features steamed spinach. The famous Alto Cinco Sunday Brunch is vegan-friendly as well, featuring a tofu scrambler with vegan sausage.   (4/5)

Taste: The Super Vegan Burrito roped us in. Loaded with rice, black beans, salsa, cabbage and guacamole, the overstuffed burrito burst open slightly, making it difficult to eat. However, the culinary reward was worth the extra effort. Evenly distributed guac, zingy salsa and crisp cabbage equates with vegan paradise.  (4.5/5)