To be annoyed that vegan options have replaced vegetarian?

Vegan bashing happens regardless. There was a post about a vegan wedding that the OP had to be ask to be withdrawn not to long ago because meat eaters were so aggressive about a vegan wedding being terrible. People were just posting shitty comments for the sake of it. And meat eaters go on the vegan board to arseholes.

I'm a long-time veggie too, and fully agree with the OP's sentiments. It's one of the main reasons I've never been a big fan of eating out; I prefer my own cooking. I'm well aware of all the arguments about dairy, but veganism often seems to me like a classic case of "the best is the enemy of the good". Plus much vegan food is, in fact, highly processed, as other posters point out.

And why there is vegan bashing 🤦🏻

God it's so tedious.

No,YANBU! This really annoys me too. I'm not actually a vegetarian but I don't like much meat,only eat chicken and bacon. But I do love cheese,butter,eggs, milk etc, and it really pisses me off when all the non-meat items on a menu are vegan.

What is 'missing the point' about her post? I feel exactly the same and so do a lot of people. Sanctimonious vegans are infuriating and they actually make me want to be a bit aggressive about my meat eating (I eat meat every day anyway, and judgy vegans make me want to do so very obtrusively) Non judgy vegans are a whole other story: I might not want to eat out with them, but I have no (heehee) beef with them.

The vegans who preach to everyone else are so annoying. It's like a religion for them. My DD (mentioned up thread) is only vegetarian because she doesn't like the texture or taste of meat and fish. It's a lifestyle choice, based on nothing to do with how our food is produced, but on her preferences. Kind of like why I dislike mushrooms, or mustard, or soft Tofu.

And they make it worse for themselves by treating their vegetarian customers with such disdain that they and their families don't return.

Judging by the times I'm offered dishes made from cheap ingredients at the same price as the meat and fish dishes, the profit margin on vegetarian dishes must be huge. Make it vegan and take out the cream and cheese etc and it will be even higher.

We rarely bother eating out now.

@justasking111 Was the pun intentional?

Not at all, you just completely misinterpreted my post! Hence why others have also reacted to my response. Re-read if you feel like it, what you responded relates to nothing like what I meant at all!

@AnnWalkersLeftSlipper , you really are confused, aren't you, you poor thing.

@Lentilweaver , middle eastern restaurants are pretty good IME.

Yes-I am surprised that gastropub has only one vegetarian but not vegan option, and it isn't anything involving cheese or cream aside from the mash. It is a traditional pub however so that's their department I guess, English grub rather than anything more exotic-the food is especially nice and high quality though.

They do a range of giant Yorkshire puddings and roasts, very popular as I've noted, nothing vegan/vegetarian incorporated into those-which I think they'd do well to add, a vegetarian nut roast option perhaps and a Yorkshire pud with veg gravy and traditional veg only? But again, they're very traditional so everything 'roast' wise is probably cooked in dripping.

I would be happy with those options. It's certainly not all restaurants that only offer one combined vegetarian/vegan option. I'd say the restaurants that do this are in the minority. However, there are enough restaurants doing it that we've all noticed and been irritated by it!

Yanbu this is really annoying, I have moaned to restaurants in the past about this.

I am just having a nosy at independent restaurants near me.

Fine dining-one Vegetarian option no vegan although they will make something especially if asked-Puff Pastry Galette of roasted Butternut Squash, Kale and marinated Goats Cheese V Toasted Almonds and Biquinho Peppers.

Mid-range Italian-two pastas marked as vegetarian, both penne with vegetables, one in a spicy tomato sauce-nothing vegan.

Two pizzas marked as vegetarian, one a basic margherita one with a few more toppings-nothing vegan-I think perhaps the penne arrabiata could be vegan and they've just not marked it as such? But equally maybe not depending on what the veg is cooked in, if the pasta is fresh etc.

Good quality independent 'gastro pub' -one vegan burger ('Moving Mountains' variety so meat impersonator rather than the dreaded 'bean burger'), a bean and veg chilli and a sweet potato and spinach curry both vegan, and a vegetarian sausage and mash.

'Greasy spoon' cafe has a vegan breakfast (not a vegetarian one but you can add an egg to it) and beans on toast (without butter would be vegan) and cheese and cheese/cheese and coleslaw baked potatoes nothing vegan on the 'not breakfast food' menu.

Is that fairly representative? Would vegetarians be happy with those options?
That's only looking at main courses.

I just ask for the starter as a main and they beef it up for me

I also want to know where everyone is eating. There are excellent veggie options in any Italian, Indian, Middle Eastern, Turkish restaurant etc.

I'm not even a vegetarian and I 100% agree. I don't like to eat much meat - I prefer fish or veggie. On most menus these days it's hard to find a fish/seafood option that's not a starter and the vegetarian options have been replaced with ultra-processed vegan mush.

Tbf change to bean burgers may happen since gut health is on trend

If you want decent vegetarian, vegan, meat or fish meal go somewhere that doesn't reheat from frozen and pay more for it. If you want a cheap meal accept the lack of choice.

That's not necessarily true. For example I went to an independent restaurant with DH last month. I wanted steak which was fine, but there was only one choice of sauce which I couldn't have. I've never found that going to a 'cheaper' restaurant, there's always a choice.

This thread is making me just note more than ever that a lot of people just want different things. If somewhere I frequented changed their faux meat burger to a bean burger or similar, they'd lose my custom-I had enough o' those buggers in the 90s, thank you.

Its really interesting that so many of the people complaining on this thread are consumers, and not running a tea shop, café or restaurant. If you'd ever worked on one you wouldn't have to ask the question.

If they offer a vegetarian menu there's the risk one of the items will offend someone. The most common question has to be ''does the cheese contain animal rennet? How do you know, do you check?'' It doesn't matter how many options they offer, someone will complain they aren't being catered to, and argue; and the staff just don't have the time or the expertise to manage the expectations of every single customer.

>> If you want decent vegetarian, vegan, meat or fish meal go somewhere that doesn't reheat from frozen and pay more for it. If you want a cheap meal accept the lack of choice.

When I pick the restaurant that's fine, there are some very good places offering interesting veggie/vegan food. But if its a works do, or an unplanned thing, or even my dad wants to take me out then we're basically heading to a chain pub style thing or a garden centre because that's what he likes (although in fairness I had a great veggie option at the garden centre the other week) .

All I am asking, really, ALL, is that the vegan burger option in those places is a beanburger or otherwise vegetable based one and not fake meat. Same freezer space, same sides, same menu. If I want fine/really enjoyable dining, then yes I will pay more somewhere that can afford to spend more to give me better options.

Agree though I am neither vegan nor vegetarian. But sometimes I want a meatless/fishless course, but I do not want grilled cauliflower bake. Infuriating.

😂😂I've seen a lot of 'misses the point' posts on here but this is hilarious!

Not my experience at all unfortunately. In fact it could be said to be quite the opposite. Wetherspoons for example (cheapest of the cheap) has a lot of both vegan and veg dishes, with and without faux meat-and greasy spoon type places often have a lot of vegetarian options.