Vegetarian options in restaurants

[CrackersDontMatter]

This isn't strictly an aibu, so I know I am being unreasonable to ask here but I know that the vegetarian options on menus are often unimaginative and disappointing (mushroom risotto, goats cheese tart anyone?) Can I ask what any vegetarians out there like to see as an option and perhaps what has been your favourite vegetarian meal in a restaurant, particularly in high end places? I've had a few friends and my SIL go vegetarian over the past year and I'd just like a better idea to help me choose a venue for a big celebratory meal later this year. None of the veggies are local to me so I can't really ask them for a recommendation!

Because, East, as a vegetarian I notice more vegetarians around me than I used to. There are other vegetarian children at my children's nursery/school than there used to be. Vegetarian/vegan food is more available than it used to be, presumably driven by demand. It's only my perception, I could be completely wrong.

Yes, that's a common psychological bias. It's like if you buy a new car you suddenly notice a lot more of them on the road. This is why we rely on statistically valid opinion surveys.

Wouldn't I have noticed it more when I became a vegetarian nearly 30 years ago, when I was a "new" vegetarian, than now when I am so accustomed to it I don't think about it anywhere near as much?

There definitely more vegetarian and vegan food available in supermarkets than there used to be, unless it's that bias at play again? I used to exist on Sosmix from the local health food shop, and Findus crispy cheese pancakes in the early 1990s, where I'm sure there's much more range and variety of vegetarian and vegan options in mainstream supermarkets. But maybe that's just my biased perception.

There is far more than there used to be. Did you live on TVP too? That was nasty stuff, and bean feast.

I don't have much to add to this thread other than that I completely agree with OP. I've been vegetarian for about 8 years now and the lack of imagination and creativity in restaurants is ridiculous. Who came up with the idea of adding goat's cheese to everything, seriously?? I also don't get why it has to be so difficult having a wider range of vegetarian dishes. When I was non-vegetarian, I'd happily eat vegetarian dishes most of the time! The 'meat and potatoes' concept, or meat as the centrepiece of a dish with a bit of soggy salad on the side is a very Western thing. Most cuisines around the world have a good mix of ingredients and are mainly plant based. We usually go for mexican, indian, greek or turkish, as they have such a good variety of tasty dishes. I do love a mushroom stroganoff with red wine though, it's amazing when well made.

I went to a restaurant on a mums' night out once. Set menu so everyone charged the same. The vegetarian main course option was some red and yellow cherry tomatoes, vine tomatoes and tomato sauce drizzled over. That was it, there were no more than 10 tomatoes on the whole plate and not even a bit of garnish. I sucked it up like a good little vegetarian, enjoying the company instead and vowing to get chips on the way home. One of my meat eating friends was amazed. She complained to the waiter that they couldn't charge £x for that, the same as those who had steak etc. He just shrugged and said that this was what the chef had put on for a vegetarian. She asked to speak to the chef and was told that they would not come and speak to her. Safe to say I never went back

I always end up with a bean burger. I don't like bean burgers. I also don't like gluey risotto or tomato based pastas (which I can understand isn't the restaurant's fault either) but those are generally my options in almost all places we go to. As such, I'm not really a huge fan of going out to eat.

Hi can someone suggest some great vegan options in Birmingham please

Confused: Birmingham has some absolutely fantastic balti houses that do delicious vegetarian baltis. You just need to ask them to make them without the ghee.