Dining Pick of the Week: Bronze Cafe

inside The Center, 401 S. Maryland parkway, 702-202-3100

For the past several months, the Bronze Cafe at The Center was a nice little secret. Not anymore. Thanks to chef Peter Bastien and general manager David Mozes, the cafe, with its many vegetarian and vegan dishes, has become the place for a cup of coffee or a power lunch. Among the sandwiches are California turkey, Green Goddess chicken salad, Tree of Life Pita and Good Earth Pita with roasted red bell peppers, roasted eggplant, roasted mushrooms, mixed greens, hummus, alfalfa sprouts, lemon vinaigrette and cayenne-spiced caramelized sunflower seeds. Several sides are babaganoosh (roasted eggplant), curried quinoa, agrodolce Brussels sprouts and Greek couscous. Popular salads are Southwestern Las Vegan, Beet (roasted beets, quinoa, mixed greens, carrots, candied walnuts, goat cheese, lemon vinaigrette), chicken Caesar and Bacon Chicken Chop Chop. Two desserts are Loving v. Virginia (brownie atop a chocolate chip cookie) and the raw, vegan, gluten-free “cheesecake.” There is a an espresso bar making lattes, hot chocolate, cappuccinos and espressos, along with blended drinks such as coconut almond, kale/apple/banana and caramel blended. Sandwiches start at $8.95. The Bronze Cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

— Jack Bulavsky