Fans of meatless food have a new option in Union Square that emphasizes organically grown veggies with a Mediterranean spin.

Over the past few weeks the Porter Square Shopping Center got two more eateries: the local chain Soup Shack, specializing in Asian rice and soup bowls, and New York-based Halal Guys, which does classic spins on gyros and flatbread sandos.

We’ve written about Chez Henri pop-ups before and hopefully will keep getting to – but the next ones are coming up as fast as Thursday and Aug. 19 from Paul O’Connell, the chef and owner of the French-Cuban eatery that closed its doors on Shepard Street nearly a decade ago.

If onion dip sounds a bit boring, this wasn’t like your mom used to serve at cocktail parties. The dip is lavished with trout roe, dill, egg and capers, and your dipping chips are golden-light potato waffles.

Spyce’s “infinite kitchen” looks like something from Disney World’s Tomorrowland, a series of silos with prepped and precooked foods such as rice, quinoa, beets, corn and cucumber slices.

Opened in haute Davis Square more than 20 years ago by Lydia and Steve Liakos, the Out of the Blue Restaurant offers simple, quality seafood done with a Sicilian accent in a cozy, nonpretentious atmosphere.

Detroit-style pizza is a square, crustless pie close to the thick, Sicilian style, and at Avenue Kitchen & Bar it’s a palate-pleasing, stomach filling treat.

A limited menu shows Shine Square Pub is still be transitioning back from the pandemic, but it’s kept the very best of what has been done so well during a short history – sliders and wings.

About the only issue diners will have with Ittoku is the robustness of the menu; the things you want to try always conflict with the tried and true pleasures you’ve come back for. 

Intimate and inviting, Harvest is a treat, especially with its well-maintained back patio encased by trellises – perfect for enjoying a pricy but lavish summertime lobster roll with just-made potato chips.