A Chronicle reader concerned that San Francisco sorely lacks vegetarian options ever since the dot-com boom (side note: can we please stop using the dot-com boom as an excuse for everything under the sun that frazzles, especially when it's about stuff that's actually a symptom of getting older?) asked Michael Bauer why meat-free options are dwindling in the City. Not so, replies Bauer (and Laura Beck!). The city is full of 'em!

Bauer's favorite meat-free venue? "Mexican-inspired vegan restaurant Gracias Madre where you can get a spicy enchilada with mole cooled with a cashew cream and a traditional-tasting posole in an ancho chile broth that so rich you’d swear was liberally seasoned with pork."

Gracias Madre also has tasty vegan flan. Read all about it.

[Chron]