Will a vegetarian/vegan have trouble eating in Italy?

Question

What is the proper way to tell a waitstaff that you don't eat meat, etc?

Answer 1

in italy there are a lot of speciality based on vegetables so you have just to ask

Answer 2

vegetarian should be no problem.  Vegan might be.  There are lots of meatless dishes that are available in Italy.  You need to get some information on various dishes and sauces.  Classic pizza margerita is just tomato and basil.  Similarly a lot of pasta is made with tomato and basil or mushrooms.   Pasta Bolognese is the one with meat sauce.  Frittatas are egg and vegetable dishes.  There are also a lot of dishes made with beans.  You probably need to get some basic Italian terms and phrases but you should be okay.

Answer 3

The actual "mediterranean cooking" is mainly vegetable-based; I don't agree with the user above who said you can't ask for changes from what you see on the menu: simply ask and according to availability you'll be satisfied. Not only it ever happened for me as a customer, but I also worked in some restaurants.

You can also warn the waiter you are vegetarian/vegan, but it's way better to clearly state what you don't want to eat; "vegetariano"is a well known term, but still you risk to be served fish, since somebody think "vegetarians do not eat MEAL"!

So, state you dont' eat meal nor fish.

"Vegan" is less known; in Italian you say either "vegan" or "vegano", more rarely "vegetaliano" (while "vegetariano" stands for vegetarian).

Still, you have to say clearly you don't want any kind of food from animal like egg, butter, lard, etc.

The most difficult part is let the waiter understand, but once you do, you're not going to have problem in getting proper dishes.

If this can help:

http://www.viverevegan.org/guida/ristora...

http://www.vegan3000.info/LINKS.htm#Rist...

http://www.italianodoc.com/vegetariani/r...

http://www.ourfood.it/ristoranti_partico...

Answer 4

You can always eat veggie pizza and pasta. They also make great tomato and cheese sandwiches. Also go to a store near by and buy cheese and bread. They also have good bakeries. It was hard for me to find whole grain breads in Italy.

In Rome I found a restaurant which was mainly a salad place and was very busy. I believe it was a couple streets down from the main street called Nationale.

Even if the restaurant do not offer a big selection of veggie dishes you can always request it like ask them to make you a pasta with pasta sauce and lots of mushrooms. They may also have veggie eggplant dishes like eggplat parmesan.

Answer 5

There is a big difference between restaurants in the US and those in Europe -- in the US, we expect to be able to ask for exactly what we want, and get it -- for example, "no pickles" or "can you make that without mushrooms, and can I get rice on the side instead of pasta?" or requesting vegetarian/vegan dishes and expecting them to clearly know what that means.  We also expect a level of service from waitstaff that isn't what is expected in Europe - you get better attention if you're dressed nicely (especially shoes - no tennis shoes or flip-flops!).

In Europe, the menu just is what it is.  You choose something on the menu, or go somewhere else.  It's a very "American" trait to ask for something done differently, and you will get any reaction from mild confusion (like "you're asking me to do what? I just don't understand") to annoyance, to outright hostility.  My group of friends, which included two Indians who were vegetarians, found that it was difficult to explain the concept of not eating meat to many of the waitstaff - it doesn't seem to be something they see much of.  Some of them actually thought we were pulling their leg!

If you are very choosy about being meatless, just be very careful what you order.  If you ask for something without meat ("no carne" gets that point across), they will often just do the literal and simple -- take the meat out of a meat dish.  Which, obviously, means that meat WAS in it, and the dish has meat juice/fat you might not be expecting, which can make a hardcore vegetarian or vegan physically ill.  Rather than learning how to ask for items without meat (or, in addition), get a good pocket interpreter guide with a food section, so you can translate the menu yourself and choose items appropriate for you.  Most dishes are quite simple to do this with, and you'll catch on fast.  In addition, most restaurants have their menus posted outside, so you can check in advance if it's a place that has what you want.  

Enjoy, and mangia!

Answer 6

OK, being someone that has been to Italy and cannot eat dairy, I had an Italian friend write down a friendly warning to hand to waiters so that I wouldn't die. Write this down and give it to the waiter when ordering, you'll look prepared and you'll be understood - p.s. I have added meat and fish for your benefit. Oh, and that first letter is an I not an L.

"Io non posso mangiare crema, burro, formaggio, carne, o pesce - mi fa molto male: Dammi da mangiare senza burro, formaggio, carne, e pesce. Grazie!"

Good choices for you: Insalta Verde (solo con oglio e aceto)

or Spagghetti Pomodoro e basilico

Answer 7

Absolutely not! But there is a huge difference between vegetarian and vegan. CHEESE, you know. Also, when you say "Italy" there are different parts of Italy-for example, if you go to an organic farm, you will be among like-minded eaters. Anyway, when in Florence get some gnocchi with pistachio sauce-to die for. I am drooling just thinking about it.

Answer 8

just politely ask them for their vegan, vegatarian menu or items, because itayly is a very touristy area, they will have vegan/vegatarian dishes