Photo by Hillary Levin (Post-Dispatch)
SweetArt
Reine and Cbabi Bayoc’s SweetArt is a community hub, a studio for Cbabi’s art, a bakery and a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly breakfast and lunch cafe. I came back to SweetArt for the first time in several years because of that last category. Thanks to the hyped, beef-mimicking Impossible Burger, nonmeat patties have been on my mind, and I remembered SweetArt’s as a standout. My memory was correct: The patty here is hearty, with a distinct spicing that takes well to the usual burger condiments but doesn’t pretend to be meat. Another savory dish to sate the vegan-skeptical is Octavia Butler’s Burrito, with vegan chili, salsa and a cilantro chutney. My return naturally led to a reintroduction to Reine Bayoc’s baking, from the refreshingly light-bodied cupcakes to the signature Maine Event chocolate-chunk cookie.
Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (closed Sunday)
Last year's ranking: New this year
Opened: 2008