Mana Food Bar

Photo: Martha Williams

VEGGING OUT Ever had a craving and just couldn’t think of any restaurant to satisfy it? Yeah, Susan Thompson has too. The craving was for creative, inexpensive vegetarian food, and since the busy bee had already proven she could run restaurants with Sushi Wabi and De Cero, she decided to satisfy her craving herself. This week, she and co-owner/chef Jill Barron (also of De Cero) will open Mana Food Bar, a casual, intimate space outfitted with a long wooden bar flanked by handcrafted stools designed by Susan’s husband, tattoo artist Harlan Thompson. Barron’s meatless menu is two-dozen deep and spans the globe, from mushroom brown–rice sliders to bibimbap to spanakopita, all offered in both small and large portions. The restaurant’s open all day, but if you’re too busy to sit down for a meal, a walk-up window on Division means takeout should be a cinch and smoothies can be grabbed on the fly. Let’s hope Thompson’s next craving is a cart in the park that gives delicious Indian food away for free. 1742 W Division St between Paulina and Wood Sts (773-342-1742).