The appearance of vegetables as the star ingredient in restaurant dishes is becoming more prevalent.  Some restaurants have gone as far as featuring vegetables in most of their dishes.

At Helm in Northern Liberties for example, they feature vegetables prominently and use animal or fish proteins sparingly.  One dish, the snails, is mixed with brussels sprouts and is covered with a sauce so that when you take a bite of an oval shaped thing you aren't quite sure which it will be.  Whimsical and pretty interesting!  And Helm at least is attracting customers from all backgrounds and age groups.

The vegetables trend is a reflection of sophisticated diners' desire to eat lighter and healthier and also try new combinations.  The restaurant owners love it because it lowers food costs but they don't have to charge a lot less for the dishes, thus increasing their margins.  It appears the trend will stay in place for some time to come.