Veggie served meat - what if anything would you do? do?

Definitely email to let them know you think there could be a mistake

I must say, aubergine is meant to be like beefy meaty like substitute for vegetarians. It really could be possible they were telling the truth x

No, she ate some and 3 other people ate some. She said it was a small portion so there wouldn’t be much left after that.

If you’re told that it can’t be beef as there’s no beef version, you may just think its similar to meat which aubergine can be.

OP has done the right thing by responding to their email and informing them of what happened and she’s satisfied thats all she can do.

OP said it was like 6 big tortellini and at the end so by now it's almost all gone

So she ate most of it. I used to be veggie and have been in this situation. As soon as I realised something was wrong, I stopped eating the dish.

That could have just been a McPlant. They're really not nice, and very greasy.

Mushrooms are the tuna of the soil

In what world does beef taste like aubergine 😕 They don't even have the same texture because aubergine has 1/5th more water content.

Why, many mushrooms are a lot meatier?

A tip (humorous!) - always say something like 'I'm glad it's not meat as I have a life-threatening allergy.' Then you'll see if they have realised their mistake!

Sadly:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0ryvk4jj7o

However, generally the UK doesn't do "what if ..." as a motivator for change. Much more economic to do "Oh dear...".

I think you have done all you can, you’re 100% sure it was beef the chef was 100% sure it was aubergine. They can taste very similar and aubergine is often used to bulk out beef recipes.

you can’t prove it but the restaurant can check the labels for future reference.

That wouldn't work as you would surely declare something serious like that.

I think the long and short of it is if OP was convinced it was meat as were 3 of her friends she should have sent it back for another dish. She didn't and the time has now passed.

OP - I would be fuming too, as a lifelong vegetarian. If you'd had an allergy, it could potentially have been serious.

A tip (humorous!) - always say something like 'I'm glad it's not meat as I have a life-threatening allergy.' Then you'll see if they have realised their mistake!

But that’s the point!!

Surely if no-one complains, it will likely happen again because they won’t have reviewed their processes to ensure the error isn’t repeated?

Next time, it could have far more serious consequences for the unsuspecting diner!

Definitely complain!

When you’re a lifelong vegetarian and you eat meat products, it can make you very ill because you don’t have the right gut bacteria to digest it.

My DH got a bad case of D&V after a meal out that I’m certain contained meat (I eat meat and it tasted meaty to me). Unfortunately, he doesn’t like to make a fuss so didn’t say anything at the time but was violently sick within a few hours. That lasted a couple of days and ruined our holiday.

Must be something about tortellini that it's so prone to getting mixed up

"What the eye doesn't see, the chef gets away with ..." 😀

I think OP is right to mention it. It not nice for her and she shouldn’t have been served meat. Errors can happen, but they should be pointed out to reduce the likelihood of it happening again to others who choose not to eat meat and for those who can’t eat it.

Unless you have an allergy, I'd let it go.
I don't eat fish and was once served it. Did not realise until nearly finished. Didn't complain.

🤦‍♀️ That didn’t happen.

She ate some and it tasted odd.
She tried more and THOUGHT it MIGHT be beef.
She asked others who tried it for her (reducing the amount left on her plate) and they agreed it tasted like beef.
She then check with staff and was told that it couldn’t be beef as there was no beef version on the menu, so ate more thinking she must be mistaken.
On trying it again, thinking she must be wrong after what the waiter told her, she was completely convinced it was beef.
Another person at her table tried it (again reducing what was left on her plate) and also agreed it was beef.

It was a small portion which 4 people had some of, OP had a few mouthfuls altogether as well as 3 others. She hardly cleared the plate. 🙄

Why are you making stuff up?

I'm mostly veggie and I have been served meat a couple of times in restaurants when I've ordered veggie.

Once the chef realised how it had happened as soon as I complained (veggie lasagna/meat lasagna in an individual dish), apologised and gave us free desert.

The second time I had the same experience as you - being told that it wasn't. It was at a work do so I didn't make a fuss and just ate it but I'm 100% sure in my own mind that it was meat.

Yeah I’d run now OP, your at the stage now where posters have grabbed the thread from your hands and like a side of beef given to rabid dogs, your thread is being mauled about on the floor. I’ve name changed now as have had this happen to me, it nuts. No point even trying to defend yourself as they will either focus in on one irrelevant detail and elaborate or just completely make shit up and have a go over that. You handled your concerns in the restaurant perfectly.

Did you take a photo??

Did you take any pictures of what you were served? I'd send them to head office if you did.

I've been veggie over 30 years, I'm sure I have inadvertently eaten meat on a few occasions too.

I've had meat served to me twice before. DD10 went to a McDonald's with her grandad, asked for a McDonald's asked for a Mcplant but we think the patty was meat as she was very sick immediately after.

I think you personally knew it was beef after a few mouthfuls but ate it anyway. Why clear the plate otherwise.