Meatless in the Middle

The Cajun Experience's veggie po’boy ($12) isn’t the deep-fried ball o’ batter you might expect.

Legend has it that the sandwich was created by the Earl of Sandwich, who wanted a meal he could eat one-handed while he played cards.

And to this day, that meal usually features meat as the centerpiece. But some local places are changing the game with veggie- and vegan-friendly handfuls that even meat lovers will enjoy.

Cajun Experience
Residents of New Orleans should not freak out when they see the veggie po’boy ($12) on the menu at Cajun Experience. While the relative of the hoagie traditionally features oysters or shrimp, chef Thomas Schoborg points out that it’s easy to get roast beef or pork po’boys. “They’re really expanding the type of po’boys you can get, and we wanted to offer something for vegetarians, or people who wanted something a little lighter.” Made of lightly sauteed seasonal vegetables — some of which come from the Frederick, Md., farm of one of the restaurant’s investors — this isn’t the deep-fried ball o’ batter you might expect.

Cajun Experience, 1825 18th St. NW; 202-670-4416, Cajunexperiencedc.com. (Dupont)

DC-3
Don’t ever go near one of those vegetarian hot dogs — not if you value your taste buds. But DC-3′s California Left Winger ($5.99) appeals even to meat-eaters. (DC-3 is known for hot dogs, but this is really more of a sandwich.) A deep-fried falafel shaped like a sausage is topped with tzatziki, avocado and tomato, and served on a Heidelberg deli bun. It’s a Middle Eastern taste that’s ready for the ballpark.

DC-3, 423 8th St. SE; 202-546-1935, Eatdc3.com. (Eastern Market)

Sauca
The Sauca food truck attempts to serve the world’s cuisine on the run, and its Medi Veggie ($7) sandwich represents the sunny Mediterranean. Sauca’s spongy flatbread carries hummus, saffron rice, kalamata olives and tomatoes, all topped with a dill-yogurt sauce. If you crave more spice, the SOB Veggie features a smoky tomato salsa, rice, beans, cheese, mango pico de gallo and the spicy chimichurri sauce. Saucamobile, visit Eatsauca.com to see when any of Sauca’s four food trucks will be at a location near you.

Firefly
Firefly fancies up your snow-day lunch favorite with the Cadillac Grilled Cheese Sandwich ($11). Between two slices of white bread lie Roth Kase Gruyere Surchoix and Cabot aged cheddar, as well as bechamel sauce. “The cheese ends up being much more velvety and sexy than a grilled cheese of our childhood,” says chef and general manager Danny Bortnick, “and the bread, smeared with a garlic-herb butter, has a nice chew.”

Firefly, 1310 New Hampshire Ave. NW; 202-861-1310, Firefly-dc.com. (Dupont)

Mussel Bar
Chef Robert Wiedemaier lost 48 pounds with the help of his veggie wrap. “I’m a big meat-eater. If I’m going to eat vegetables, it’s going to have to be tasty and spicy.” So when he opened Mussel Bar, he put his signature sandwich-esque meal ($10-$12) on the menu. Homemade hummus is spread on a grilled spinach tortilla, then “I take yellow peppers, red peppers, shitake mushrooms, pine nuts, a confit of tomatoes, and asparagus, and I saute that all together with a little sesame oil.” He tosses in fresh coriander at the end and tops it with tzatziki sauce. (For more protein, add pork belly for an additional cost.)

Mussel Bar, 7262 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 301-215-78187, Musselbar.com. (Bethesda)