Vegans: how do you deal in a restaurant with nothing vegan-friendly?

Question

Say you go out to an italian joint and nothing on the menu is vegan friendly except for the side salad and only then if you request they leave the cheese off and dressing on the side.

What would you ask the waiter/tress for if you HAD to eat at a seafood and steak place?

What would you ask for at an Italian place?

Mexican?

I run into this more and more, its gotten to the point where I cannot go out to eat at all anymore! Any advice would be cool.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I leave.

Answer 2

It's not surprising considering vegans are about 0.2% of the population (U.S.). Salad and baked potato are pretty much all regular restaurants will offer. Your diet is VERY specialized and that's why there are special restaurants designed to cater to your special dietary requirements. It's not reasonable to expect the average restaurant to have an array of items to offer 2 out of every 1000 people that MAY come to their restaurant. It isn't economically feasible. They should however offer at least one vegan meal such as the Italian place you mention should offer vegan friendly pasta with marinara. The pasta and marinara are cheap so it wouldn't be a waste of $$$ to keep some on hand just in case.

Of course if they offer vegan items, they'll need to offer kosher items and low-sodium items and diabetic friendly items and gluten-free items and etc.....again, not economically feasible.

I'm not a vegan or vegetarian. I am an annoying mimic because I can't come up with an answer on my own.

Answer 3

It's not surprising considering vegans are about 0.2% of the population (U.S.). Salad and baked potato are pretty much all regular restaurants will offer. Your diet is VERY specialized and that's why there are special restaurants designed to cater to your special dietary requirements. It's not reasonable to expect the average restaurant to have an array of items to offer 2 out of every 1000 people that MAY come to their restaurant. It isn't economically feasible. They should however offer at least one vegan meal such as the Italian place you mention should offer vegan friendly pasta with marinara. The pasta and marinara are cheap so it wouldn't be a waste of $$$ to keep some on hand just in case.

Of course if they offer vegan items, they'll need to offer kosher items and low-sodium items and diabetic friendly items and gluten-free items and etc.....again, not economically feasible.

Answer 4

I feel your pain! I HAD to go to a steak place a while ago (absolutely no choice in the matter) and the vegetable side dishes were not even vegan. The baked potatoes had been pre-cooked with bacon wrapped around them even! I had a (plain, nasty, awful) iceberg lettuce salad with oil and vinegar (the only thing I trusted to be vegan) and then went home and ate. :o(

At Italian places I am sure to ask if the marinara sauce has anything non-vegan in it. Some people put clam juice in marinara sauce, so be sure to ask. If the waitress or waiter hesitates for even a second answering that question, I don't order it. Most of the time i have found that the marinara sauce is vegan and spaghetti is usually vegan too. Be sure to ask them not to put any gated cheese on it in the kitchen. (Tell them you have an allergy, then they won't forget. LOL) I got what was supposed to be completely a completely vegan vegetable/pasta dish that came out of the kitchen topped with a generous sprinkling of grated cheese. I was really bummed out.

I live in a medium sized, not very progressive city, but the vegan population seems to be growing! (Yay!) We have a major university and several other colleges so new, progressive thinking people are coming every year. I keep hoping that the local restaurants will pay attention to that. I think it's very important for vegans to go to local restaurants and inquire politely and make polite requests. After a while, if enough people ask they'll get the idea that there is a market out there for vegan options. I know Johnny Rockets has a vegan option now -- they even advertise that they cook it in a special area so there's no cross contamination! That's a giant step in the right direction! I'm hoping that other restaurants take notice and follow suit... Someday...

Answer 5

For social food situations this is what I do:

I usually have vegan smacks with me. - so I am never so hungry that I just have to eat now. This can include nut bars, dreid friuts nuts extra.

At first glance many places look like they do not have vegan options. However if you kindly ask the waiter to havething with no meat and that you are laco intorlant, they will make something for you.

Plus when you go out to eat, enjoy the company. Because people dont really notice what you are or are not eating along as you are mixing ine and having a good time. - If you are misable, it would bring more negative attention to you and your food.

Answer 6

I wouldn't eat sea food or steak, or any other type of flesh that was derived from an animal. Never. In ANY situation. I'm vegan, so I'd probably go vegetarian an ask for cheese or  a cheesy pasta. But I know I will NEVER eat flesh for the rest of my lifetime.

I'm not sure what Italian place you tend to go to, but Olive Garden has a soup, salad, and bread sticks special all the time. And luckily, they have this one soup that is all vegan!

But that was just my answer to the first two questions. And by the way, I would recommend searching vegan restaurants around your area.

Answer 7

Generally this happens at an event you MUST attend, and you don't want to call undue attention to your dietary choices, correct?

The options are boring, but the point is just to eat SOMETHING, right?  

At a steak place: a plain baked potato- topped with olive oil, salt & pepper, or mixed greens with oil and vinegar.

Italian:  pasta with tomato sauce or pesto, steamed vegetables.

Mexican:  chips and salsa

Answer 8

I was at a steakhouse recently (Had to! Not my choice!;o) - ordered a couple of side dishes (baked potato... side salad...) - not a great meal, but I *did* get something to eat...  

Italian place: pizza without cheese? Pasta with a tomato / veg sauce (if the pasta is egg-free..)? Risotto?

Answer 9

As with most reatuarants who value their customers they would probably make you something to your own specifications, espec if you phoned in advance to give them some notice.

Answer 10

You end up eating a lot of baked potatoes and very boring and basic salads, but most places will have something.

I find Italian the easiest - most pasta is vegan, and many have a tomato sauce that will suit, or will do you some kind of vegetable dish

If you know in advance where you're going to eat, you can often arrange a vegan dish in advance - you'll eat a lot of very average risotto, but sometimes a chef sees it as a chance to show off, and I've had some wonderful surprises that way

                                            ******

BTW, wouldn't it make a nice change if (**) made an actual contribution to this board, instead of copying and pasting another user's answers and then taunting him for not being a vegetarian?

Especially as s/he's not a vegetarian either. Unimaginative, repetitive, tedious AND hypocritical - the whole package!

Answer 11

I simply ask.  I have the same problem with business dinners.  I have almost never had a problem once I explain to the waiter/tress.  Most times, they will cook me up a special dish of grilled veggies or something.

Answer 12

Call ahead to check, eat first if so. Sucks I know but you can't bring your own food in.

Answer 13

Most restaurants, whichever kind of cuisine, serve vegetables.  When the going gets tough I ask for a side of steamed vegetables without butter.  Also many places will have a side dish menu that you can order from.

At Seafood and Steak places I will order a baked potato with salsa or barbecue sauce on top, steamed veggies, rice, etc.

For Italian, most places  use eggless pasta (but not Olive Garden, apparently).  So you can usually get a vegan Pasta with tomato sauce or olive oil and garlic.  Ask your server if the pasta contains eggs.  You could get a salad with a light vinaigrette or oil and vinegar dressing, too.

Mexican is easy...if you go to a "fresh mex" place, they don't use lard in their tortillas or beans.  You could get a bean burrito with grilled veggies, salsa and guacamole.  If you go to a more traditional Mexican restaurant make sure you order corn tortillas because these are always vegan and be sure to order whole black beans or whole pinto beans, because the refried ones may have lard.  Also you could get some nachos with beans, salsa, and guacamole.

It's actually really simple to eat out, although it may be tough sometimes.  Always carry snacks with you just in case you can't find much and good luck to you.

Answer 14

Eat at home most as it is cheaper and potentially much healthier.

If you must eat out chose either a vegetarian restaurant or at least a vegetarian friendly one.

If for some reason you have been caught up somewhere else just get the salad or whatever you can find (i.e. baked potato, plain pasta with olive oil, etc) and try to avoid such places in the future.

Answer 15

If you know what restaurant your going to ring in advance and ask them for a vegan meal

Answer 16

It's not surprising considering vegans are about 0.2% of the population (U.S.). Salad and baked potato are pretty much all regular restaurants will offer. Your diet is VERY specialized and that's why there are special restaurants designed to cater to your special dietary requirements. It's not reasonable to expect the average restaurant to have an array of items to offer 2 out of every 1000 people that MAY come to their restaurant. It isn't economically feasible. They should however offer at least one vegan meal such as the Italian place you mention should offer vegan friendly pasta with marinara. The pasta and marinara are cheap so it wouldn't be a waste of $$$ to keep some on hand just in case.

Of course if they offer vegan items, they'll need to offer kosher items and low-sodium items and diabetic friendly items and gluten-free items and etc.....again, not economically feasible.

I'm not a vegan or vegetarian. I have no business answering questions, for I know nothing. I took time off of voting on my own best answers to answer this question.

Answer 17

1)     Most business meetings are planned in advance and you can tell the organizers to please be aware of your dietary needs when choosing a place to hold the meeting.  

2)    Call in advance and request the chef to prepare foods that are acceptable to you.

3)   If it is too late for that ask the waitress what is available to you on the menu or that the Chef can easily prepare without animal products for you.

In an Italian restaurant Usually you can get a dried pasta  and a Marinara Sauce, and a salad with olive oil and Lemon Juice or Vinegar. Clam Juice or Fish sauce or any other animal product is NOT part of the Marinara Recipe. Tell them you have an allergy to dairy -- so, no Cheese or Butter please.

In a Mexican restaurant it could be more challenging if the cook the rice with Chicken Stock and refry the beans with Lard. But even there Avocado and Salsa on Corn Tortillas or veggie Fajitas without any meat would work

The last time I was in a steak house the chef carved a tropical fruit platter for me and sent it with a smiley face note apologizing for not wanting to serve cooked food to the Yankke Lady vegetarian~ But even if you don't have that kind of luck you can ask for a baked potato and the cooked veggie of the day with olive oil instead of butter and salad.   Asian Restaurants are definitely easier.Good Luck be pleasant and keep smiling. I know it is annoying. I know it is upsetting, but it is only one meal out of many over the course of your lifetime. Remember that there are other companies to work for. If it doesn't get any better  over the next year or so then start looking for another job and include that requirement in your interview process.

Answer 18

Go to a Vegan place.  There are tons in NYC, philly, etc.

Why would you go to a steak place if you are a Vegan? sounds ridiculous to me.

It's almost like you are asking for it.