DORSET is blessed with an endless choice of places to enjoy vegetarian and vegan food.

This week, the Daily Echo invited its readers to tell us their favourite places to visit for meat-free or animal-free dishes, whether a dedicated vegan or vegetarian restaurant or not.

As usual, we’ve compiled their responses to create a shortlist based on the recommendations with the most nominations.

Mad Cucumber

This popular cafe in The Triangle received scores of nominations, putting it in pole position. Mad Cucumber describes itself as a “cheerful venue with a large glass frontage serving health-conscious and meat-free dishes and smoothies.” Visitors can tuck into everything from a breakfast burrito to curry, three bean chilli, enchilada, burger and carrot and cauliflower fritters. There are also daily specials and lighter bites, too. Craig Stanley called it his “favourite all vegan café.”

Cargo Lounge

Cargo Lounge in Dunyeats Road, Broadstone, serves “homemade, hearty food” with a full vegetarian and vegan menu available. Whether you’re after a snack or something more substantial, you’ll find everything from vegetarian and vegan breakfasts (which are served until 3.30pm) to nachos, potato skins, falafel and macaroni cheese. There’s even macaroni ‘sheese’ for vegans.

One reader said: “Cargo Lounge is a great place to come for a lovely vegetarian or vegan meal. It has a family feel and staff are welcoming.”

The Stable

With branches in Poole and Bournemouth, this chain, which started in Dorset, was praised for its vegan and vegetarian offerings. Their cheesy garlic bread and pizzas with Bute Island Mozzarella also came highly recommended.

Posting on the Daily Echo's Facebook page, Jane Donnelly said: "The Stable pizza cider bar, do great veggie and vegan pizzas and an amazing pie!! The one in Poole is a great little bar too."

There's even a dedicated vegan puddings menu so you don't have to miss out on dessert, featuring vegan brownie, cider poached pear and vegan vanilla ice cream.

Sukha Lounge

This plant-based raw cafe in Christchurch Road, Boscombe, serves vegetarian and vegan food. Diners can enjoy overnight oats, pancake stack or banana walnut and maple toast for breakfast and can create their own bento box salad for lunch. Other delights include chia puddings and raw and gluten free cakes. and if you're having a celebration, they can even make a cake to order including raw spiced carrot cake with cashew cream and matcha cheesecake. Nina Sparks praised the "friendly staff, amazing cakes, great ambiance" at Sukha Lounge.

Steam Tea Rooms

Steam Vintage Tea Rooms on Poole Hill in Bournemouth came highly recommended for its vegan and vegetarian afternoon teas. With gluten, vegan and dairy free teas available, there's something to suit every need. From a cream tea to a more indulgent traditional afternoon tea, vegan and vegetarians need not miss out. Natarsha Lillington said Steam Tea Rooms "do an absolutely amazing vegan cream tea, lovely selection of sandwiches & the vegan cake is divine."