Green Zebra Cafe, 476 John Ringling Blvd., 941-388-2848

Green Zebra Café on St. Armand’s Circle is family-owned, eco- and vegetarian-friendly, and its menu includes a variety of gluten-free, raw food options as well as juices, smoothies, wellness shots and elixirs. I love to discover a restaurant that affords me the opportunity to enjoy eating out and also to feel better after the experience. It’s wonderful that restaurants are taking the time to develop innovative and interesting offerings that don’t center on animal protein and that these kinds of establishments are well-received in our small, coastal community, filled with health-conscious foodies. The menu for the juices, smoothies, wellness shots and elixirs alone is enough to build an entire business around with cold pressed juices separated into categories: savory, semi-sweet and sweet. My favorite this week is the Summer Breeze with spinach, kale, pear, pineapple and cilantro. I’m also a big fan of the St. Armand’s Salad with organic spring mix, juicy oranges segments, red onions, crumbled feta cheese, walnuts and tangy homemade mango vinaigrette. Open seven days a week from 9am to 7pm, there’s never a wrong time of day to treat yourself to something fresh and flavorful from Green Zebra Café.

Green Zebra Cafe, 476 John Ringling Blvd., 941-388-2848