To feel that restaurants should provide more vegetarian options ?

[Lovelybangers]

Maybe to some people I am BU - but since quitting meat I have noticed that many menus have a very limited selection of non meat/fish options.

I was out this weekend for a family meal ( restaurant chosen by someone else) and the menu had 6 starters, 6 mains to choose from Only 2 starters were suitable and 1 main course.

I am certain that it can't be so difficult to add another choice - the main course option was very mushroomy - so if I didn't like mushrooms then I would have been going hungry.

DH was happy as he got to eat a big plate of roast beef - despite him being happy to share my veggie offerings at home.

I was just perusing a few local eateries' christmas menus -and many of them don't have ANY option for non flesh eaters.

[lastqueenofscotland]

I am a veggie and I think 1 in 6 is fair.

If you are worried call ahead most places are very accommodating

[NickyEds]

I think it's very usual not to have any vegetarian options at all- where are you looking?

[lastqueenofscotland]

Though I have been veggie for light years and things have improved dramatically so I am comparing it to a time of stuffed mushrooms or having to order chips

[Veganmeredith]

I tell them... lol then I write a review on line, always truthfull. Its a disgrace the options available on offer at id say 75% of eateries! Often they will offer you things that arnt on the menu! But normally your just stuck with a salad! Its harsh reality. I just think if you cant make me something fresh eg a veggi burger in like 15 mins what the hell are you putting on non veggies plates?? X

[LunaLoveg00d]

Didn't we have this thread a couple of weeks ago?

Vegetarians are 10% of the population, at most. Restaurants have to make money, so they cater for the 90% who do eat meat and fish. One or two veggie options is pretty standard, and if you don't like mushrooms that's not their problem.

When dining out with veggie friends we usually go to an Italian as there are multiple pizza/pasta/risotto options which are suitable for non meat eaters.

[ChicRock]

Depends where you're eating out.

My local independent Italian, Indian and Spanish restaurants have a fabulous selection of veggie dishes and they'll do lots of their meat dishes without meat if requested.

If you're eating at Wetherspoons then yeah their selection is shit

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Yes I remember the "A vegetarian option?" years too lastqueen.
Vote with your wallet. Choose restaurants that do offer choice. If you have a group booking, look online at the menu and if you don't like it ring them up and ask for another option. Or suggest a change of venue.

[buggerForTheBottle]

But you're in the minority and they're businesses OP. It's not disimmilar to the thread where someone was complaining that there wasn't a larger selection of size 20+ clothes in H&M. It isn't because they don't care about you personally, it's that they'd rather make more money. A larger menu means potentially more wastage.

"I just think if you cant make me something fresh eg a veggi burger in like 15 mins what the hell are you putting on non veggies plates?"

Something practiced, rehearsed, refined and that they're proud of.

[Lovelybangers]

Okay. I am bit a little U then ;)

I didn't see the previous post- and this issue was on my mind recently.

I agree that Italian restaurants etc have the most options - pasta/pizza/risotto etc.

There are a lot of pubs which do food near me - and I struggle to get anything non meaty.

Will get on to Tripadvisor and review accordingly!

[KatharinaRosalie]

I don't eat meat and yes it's often annoying if your choices are limited to eat, or not to eat. But are you proposing there should be some kind of governmental rule that they must cater for various kinds of tastes/preferences? Unless it's your work canteen and you're not allowed to leave the premises or bring your own food, I would have to say U. They are a business and sell what they believe is good for their business.

[53rdAndBird]

It's not quite the same as making clothes in a particular size, though. People who are size 8-12 can't wear the size 22 jumper, but people who are meateaters can eat a veggie dish. (And probably would do more often if they weren't so bland and awful so much of the time...)

It has definitely got better after the "can't you just eat the salad?" days of 20 years ago, but it's still pretty paltry in a lot of places. I don't mind having limited options, but I do mind paying through the nose for something like "Pasta With Tomato Sauce" or "Stir-Fried Vegetables" ("which vegetables?" "oh, it depends what we've got left over in the kitchen") when the meateaters are getting dishes someone's actually put some thought into.

[mrstiggy]

I do wonder why we are so reliant on meat sometimes. Everyone can eat vegetables so it's not really closing down choice for the 90% is it, and as a meat eater I'd love more veggie options.
My problems are usually with the kids menu. My 9yo is a veggie, and nearly all kids menus are just chicken/sausages or burgers etc. If they don't do a veggie pasta option then there is nothing at all she can eat, so we have to go for the pricer adult option. Then her older sibling complains that she is getting the adult meal and he's stuck with the kids menu.... Ends up costing a fortune!
End of the day we all get fed so alls well that ends well, but more choice would certainly be nice.

[amispartacus]

You should go to France. Loads of meat / fish options followed by L'assiette Vegetarian

[buggerForTheBottle]

"but people who are meateaters can eat a veggie dish. (And probably would do more often if they weren't so bland and awful so much of the time...)"

But they don't want to and why should they have to. Do you know how you make a veggie dish less bland and awful? Betcha know what's coming

I hope that these reviews are fair ie. "x and y enjoyed their meals. Service was good. Limited veg. options 4/5" and not simply slating them because they couldn't 'whip up a veggie burger' when demanded.

[TheProblemOfSusan]

If I were in charge and could change these things, I think about a third of all dishes being veggie and at least two of those either vegan or easily made vegan would be good. Better for the environment because with more meat-free choice, more meat eaters would be able to pick a veggie thing they liked. And healthier as long as the meals aren't all cheese and fat slathered.

(I am a meat eater btw I just really like vegetarian food!)

[PJBanana]

I agree with you OP even though I'm not a vegetarian. My mum is and she really struggles.

Almost everywhere we go, the vegetarian option is some kind of mushroomy risotto. Must get boring eating out after a while for most vegetarians. Whenever I go out to eat with my mum we end up usually going Italian/Indian as the choices are much better for her.

[53rdAndBird]

But they don't want to and why should they have to.

They don't have to. I'm not trying to outlaw meat. The point is that it doesn't take away from the meals you can eat if more of them are veggie. It might take away from the meals you personally fancy eating, but that's not quite the same thing.

Although I do sometimes daydream about the outcry that would ensue if all restaurants made their menus 90% veggie, and offered a "meat lasagna" as the non-veggie option. You've got a choice, right? You're being catered for, so why fuss?

[YelloDraw]

If you're eating at Wetherspoons then yeah their selection is shit

Weatherspoons are ok! Do a nice veggie curry and a nice 5 bean chilli

[buggerForTheBottle]

TheProblemOfSusan

Do you have any experience of being a restaurateur? Someone may be able to carve themselves a niche in Brighton but such an idea simply isn't financially feasible.

53rdAndBird

If a small minority were meateaters then there wouldn't be an outcry, would there? It would just a few people complaining on an internet forum.

[WyfOfBathe]

I'm veggie, and I don't tend to have a problem with finding veggie options. But thinking about it, I do seem to mainly go to Italian or Indian places - or little cafés where everyone's just having a sandwich or jacket potato.

I agree with another PP who says about kid's menus though. They often don't include a non-meat option at all. DD isn't strictly vegetarian but doesn't really like meat (I suppose because I don't cook it at home) and there's often nothing she'll eat - and I'm not buying an adult meal for a 5 year old!

[user1480946351]

About 5% of the population of the UK are vegetarian. You get more than 5% of the menu, so that seems fair already.

[arethereanyleftatall]

Yabu. Supply and demand. They're businesses. They'll put on their menu what sells.

[VeryPunny]

I have come to the conclusion that it's because many chefs are actually quite lazy and unimaginative, and incapable of coming up with a dish that doesn't involve meat as the centrepiece as they would never think to eat a vegetarian meal themselves. It's not in any way difficult to whack some meat on a plate with some veg-based side dishes, but for most of them they don't have the experience or diversity of training to come up with appropriate meat-free mains.

I wish Masterchef did a vegetarian/gluten free challenge, because it would really sort the sheep from the goats.

[Suburbopolis]

I agree!

Im not veggie but i try to make the veggie choice. I would make that choice more often if there were more veggie options and if they put more effort in.

I know how to make veg food taste delicious and im not a chef! Restaurants need to hire somebody capable of producing tasty veg options.

Providing one veggie option in a half heart3d way prov3s no5hing about supply and demand!

[Happyoutlook]

Mrstiggy you our correct people shouldn't need to rely on meat but a restaurant can't force people not to. The menus has to attract customers. Customers =$$ therefore if most people want meat then that's what goes on the menus.