Casual …

Yong Green Food

Run by two Korean sisters who create a cosy atmosphere and a menu of mostly raw food. 421 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Little Deer Tracks

Marco Sellitto brings continental cool to meat-free dining in this Italian vegetarian cafe, off the main drag in Coburg. So much Italian food is plant-based - gnocchi, pasta, frittata and risotto - and Sellitto celebrates this using ethically grown food in this cafe-cum-gallery. 44 O'Hea Street, Coburg

Easy Tiger

Enjoy pan-Asian delights such as Chiang Mai-style pumpkin curry with deep-fried ''son-in-law eggs'' and green papaya salad at a large central shared wooden table as part of a $65-a-head vego banquet. 96 Smith Street, Collingwood

Shakahari

This pan-Asian joint was at the cutting edge of food in the '90s and maintains a solid following. 201-203 Faraday Street, Carlton

Las Vegan

Vegetarian US street food from burgers with rough-cut chips to quesadillas - a crisp corn tortilla filled with sour cream and guac. 22 Smith Street, Collingwood

Vegie Bar

The young, funky and loyal come here for a plate of handmade fettuccine with Yarra Valley truffle, feta, pine nuts and parmesan. 380 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

St Jude's Cellars

Every Tuesday night the a la carte menu has a night off and it's a $35 three-course vegetarian set menu, which may include a pan-fried quinoa cake with red pepper and black olive piperade with basil sauce and rocket salad. 389 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Fork to Fork

With a vegie garden on site and a full-time gardener, it's no wonder the carrots here taste so good when slowly roasted and served on a bed of truffled polenta. 105 LaTrobe Parade, Dromana

… a little bit fancy

Provenance

Michael Ryan's understanding of his produce and technique allows him to create a symphony of flavour from grains and vegetables. 86 Ford Street, Beechworth

Matteo's

Think crisp-fried tempura zucchini flowers filled with goats' curd or a ragu of mushrooms encased in brioche served with truffled poached egg and a shiitake mushroom sauce. 553 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Hanabishi

Japanese chef Akio Soga is a master of umami, using fermented sauces and kombu to create layers of flavours. 187 King Street, city

The Dispensary Enoteca

Down a laneway off Bendigo's main drag, this hole in the wall serves gin cocktails and some vego gems, such as St Agur blue cheese souffle with Waldorf salad. 9 Chancery Lane, Bendigo

Attica

Ben Shewry's vegetarian menu is as good as it gets - it could be tomato, smoked sesame and 11 basils or his signature dish, ''potato cooked in the earth it was grown''. 74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea

Embrasse

Last year, Nic Poelaert hosted a series of dinners and looked after vegetarians by bringing together straight-from-the-farm vegetables. He prepares up to eight vegetarian courses every night (with a vegetarian degustation on Saturdays). 312 Drummond Street, Carlton

Jacques Reymond

Like Shewry, Reymond is a master, taking vegetarian fare to new culinary heights. 78 Williams Road, Prahran.

Also consider:

Vue de Monde, city; Kumo Izakaya, East Brunswick; Ezard, city; Eleonore's, Yering; Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld; Simone's Restaurant, Bright; Hare & Grace, city.

Source: Epicure