I’m not a vegetarian. In fact, I’m not even that fond of fruits and/or vegetables. I do, however, have several vegetarian friends, which is why Random Hangers has the occasional veggie shout-out.

This is one of those moments. Welcome to  Dandelion CommuniTea Cafe, home of all things organic, locally grown and veggie-focused.

See all those tins behind the counter? Those are all teas. Lots and lots of teas. You have your choice of black, white, green, or oolong.  As a tea novice, I relied on my friend to steer me in the right direction. She chose Awesome Asam for me, which, according to Dandelion’s site, is “A malty, full-flavored black tea, great with milk, from the esteemed Fatikcherra estate in India.” Right on. I chose copious amounts of honey instead of milk, but it was delicious nonetheless.

Now, what to eat? We couldn’t decide, so we ordered two dishes and split them.

First up, the Black Bean Quesadilla ($8) with onions, peppers and cheese, along with some corn chips and queso on the side. It was pretty tasty, but they flavor their black beans differently than I’m used to, which bummed me out a bit.

Next up, the Machos Libre ($9), Dandelion’s take on nachos, complete with vegetarian chili, scallions, tomatoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Mmmmm. Please note the lovely horse mug that the tea came in. What a nice, homey touch.

Speaking of home, though that may look like your Aunt Milly’s living room, it’s actually one of several dining areas, each designed to look like…well, a living room. They aren’t all couches and coffee tables; if you’re looking for a more typical dining experience, they have tables and chairs set up too. But what fun is that??

There’s also a bulleton board for local vendors and events. See anything familiar? In the middle perhaps? Not a Random Hanger, per se, but something awfully close. Give up? OK, I’ll give you a clue.

What a good-looking business card. I’m just sayin’.

The takeaway: I’m no expert on vegetarian entrees, but I had a great time. The food was good, the tea was plentiful and the atmosphere was cozy. Don’t think Hubby would enjoy it (he’s more of a burger and steak man), but it was a fantastic Girls’ Night Out. Perfect place for a long chat, complete with long drags on your mugful of tea.

• Hours: Sunday, 11a to 5p; Monday-Saturday, 11a to 10p
• Location: 618 North Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 (near the intersection of Mills and Colonial)
• Menu: For their full menu, including descriptions, click here.
• Bonus: Dandelion hosts many special events like visiting musicians and artists, poetry readings, etc., as well as food specials like $5 Giddyup Mondays (Giddyups are their chili-and-corn-chips specialties, served as a salad or a wrap) and Dandy Hours (discounts on wine, beer and appetizers).

posted by Christine@RandomHangers.com
Tags: cheap, dandelion communitea, frugal, restaurant, tea, try new things, veggies
Filed under: Frugal Fun, Hangin' Out At...(places to eat)