Spending a day at the zoo is no easy feat, especially when it's rampant with screaming children. Fortunately, the Cafe at Wild Things has enough organic foodstuffs and coffee drinks to keep you up to speed with the little ones. While the fare here isn't 100 percent organic (yet), it's undoubtedly a healthier alternative to the zoo's more tempting concessions. So if you don't mind dishing out $5 to $7 for a partially farm-fresh panini, you'll be in good company.

Sandwiches include a smoked blue cheese concoction, an organic banana panini with honey and peanut butter and a smokehouse-rubbed beef served on a Kaiser onion roll. The menu's two salad choices include a Mediterranean with Japanese eggplant, feta cheese and almonds served with a lemon vinaigrette and a California sunflower salad with Cypress Grove goat cheese, avocado, golden raisins and a citrus vinaigrette.

Keeping up with the zoo's most popular visitors, Wild Things offers a kid's meal. Little ones can choose from the meaty turkey dog, turkey sandwich, meat-free mac n' cheese or peanut butter and jelly. Each kiddie meal comes with baby carrots, fresh fruit and cookies. Adults get some side choices, too. Try the cheesy corncakes with sour cream, honey and chives, or go for the seasoned green beans with red pepper. Of course, if you came only for the organic stuff, you'll want to stick with the potato salad.

Centerstage Reviewer: Stacy Warden