Roseville’s Baagan a strip-mall surprise

It’s incredibly boring when vegan restaurant menus rely on meat or cheese substitutes. What about making delicious food with fresh vegetables and grains as the stars? The casual eatery Baagan (910 Pleasant Grove Boulevard, Suite 160; www.baagan.com), tucked in the corner of a random Roseville strip mall, takes this route. The menu isn’t extensive, but all of the items look appealing, like the creative Curry Panini with Indian-style potato filling on bread loaded with sunflower and flax seeds. Baagan even makes its own gluten-free loaves for the wheat-averse. And its desserts—classic- and unusual-flavored smoothies (chai!) and soft-serve made of frozen bananas—are intriguing. Plus, service is friendly and fast. Go there.