To think vegans can’t really complain if they don’t like what’s on the menu when the menu is clearly advertised

[Foodreviews]

NC as I’ve been talking about this IRL

Now we’re allowed to eat out again I’ve been checking out the reviews of a few different restaurants and am astounded how many people complain that the restaurant didn’t cater for their vegan requirements

I’d get it if the restaurant claimed to do so, but from the examples I’ve seen, the menus are clearly advertised on line

Most have maybe 1 vegan option, and often not loads of other options anyway

In my head it’s like going to a Chinese restaurant and moaning that you can’t get a vindaloo or going to a pizzeria and moaning you can’t get sweet & sour chicken and egg fried rice

If the restaurant doesn’t serve what you want, surely you go elsewhere rather than slate the restaurant on review websites because they didn’t make you food that wasn’t on their menu

YABU

It's not a case of not liking food, it's a case of not being able to eat the food.

In 2020 someone should be able to go to a restaurant with friends and be able to order something gluten free or vegan. Sometimes people make an impromptu visit to a restaurant with friends, and it's awkward if there is nothing on the Menü for them to eat.

I say this as a non-fussy gluten eating carnivore.

I agree.

Reminds me of when some friends and I went to a seafood restaurant (we had all agreed this in advance) and one person complained whilst there that there wasn't a non-seafood option

Ugh, yes. I used to manage a restaurant; there was this couple that came in for lunch every week and moaned that we do not serve pasta...GO somewhere else then...?!

lynette my point is that they can order ‘something’

I’m talking about menus where there’s maybe 5 choices for each course, 1 of which is vegan, and they give the restaurant a ‘terrible’ rating because of this because it’s not to their liking

Whilst most resturants will try to cater for vegans, gluten free, vegetarians etc, you can't expect ALL restaurnts to offer everything. They might have a limited vegan menu, but its generally advertised on the door or website.

Imagine going into a halal restaurant and saying you only eat pork chops with a beer!!!

@LynetteScavo

YABU

It's not a case of not liking food, it's a case of not being able to eat the food.

In 2020 someone should be able to go to a restaurant with friends and be able to order something gluten free or vegan. Sometimes people make an impromptu visit to a restaurant with friends, and it's awkward if there is nothing on the Menü for them to eat.

I say this as a non-fussy gluten eating carnivore.

Most restaurants do have these dietary options and if it was a concern for me I'd check out the menu in advance.

If you want a full menu of vegan options then go to a vegan restaurant or alternatively make sure you like the vegan option being offered where you are dining....

If I'm eating out with my Jewish friends we go to kosher establishments because I'll eat pretty much anything and it gives them choice (plus I love kosher food ).

Well, as long as they can order something then they should stop whinging

I agree, people should check in advance and even if you make plans last minute you can check the menu before sitting down. I’m a fussy eater and have never had an issue with eating out, you can do a quick search online nowadays!

Depends what the vegetarian or vegan choice/ choices are. I was vegetarian for 6 years and the majority of food was either full of beans or spicy and I don't like either. Got a veggie wrap from McDonald's and felt like I needed a fire extinguisher to put the heat in my mouth out. The only places I felt like I had a choice to eat and actually enjoyed the food was Nando's and Pizza Hut

God, people do this. It's so annoying. Everyone working directly with customers knows that common sense is long dead.

People also order things done differently (incredible number of people are "allergic" to tomatoes and onions....) and then moan that.... They are done differently to the description on the menu!

I think you have a fair point, but it must be difficult for vegans when they go out in a group or to a restaurant of someone else’s choice and have no choice whatsoever.

I’m vegetarian, it pisses me off when I can’t even order a Caesar salad because they insist on putting anchovies in the dressing when it can be made just as nicely without.

I don’t agree that it’s like ordering a vindaloo at a Chinese as that is different styles of food. Vegan is a dietary requirement (even is voluntary) and all types of food are able to offer a vegan option in my view.
But I do agree if there are only 5 main courses then just 1 being vegan is acceptable. But if 30-40 main course options then I would expect 5 or more vegan options.
But if I was a vegan and knowing it was restrictive etc I would check the menu before hand to make sure I was happy with the choice.

If it's one vegan choice out of five or six dishes then that's pretty good by usual vegan choice standards!

Is it possible these are people complaining because they're used to the restaurant offering a different (bigger) choice and now it's cut down its options after reopening? I know a lot of places near me are doing limited menus and I bet a lot of people turn up expecting it to be just the same.

YANBU. I say that as a Coeliac.

@NailsNeedDoing

I think you have a fair point, but it must be difficult for vegans when they go out in a group or to a restaurant of someone else’s choice and have no choice whatsoever.

I’m vegetarian, it pisses me off when I can’t even order a Caesar salad because they insist on putting anchovies in the dressing when it can be made just as nicely without.

A Caesar salad is defined by the fact it has anchovies in it.....

I'm bemused by your post.

It's a bit like being offended that a chicken liver pate has chicken livers in it...

@NailsNeedDoing

I think you have a fair point, but it must be difficult for vegans when they go out in a group or to a restaurant of someone else’s choice and have no choice whatsoever.

I’m vegetarian, it pisses me off when I can’t even order a Caesar salad because they insist on putting anchovies in the dressing when it can be made just as nicely without.

Restaurants that don’t cater to customers will go bust. Restaurants that serve food customers like will do great. Your taste and opinions make sense in a vegetarian restaurant but most of us are not vegetarian.

My daughter's coeliac. I don't really want to tot up how many hours I've spent perusing menus online, to ensure that if we go somewhere, she can get something she wants to eat.

But that's our problem, not the restaurant's. Although, of course, when you find a good one, they do get rewarded by frequent return custom and gushing online reviews, that point the way for fellow coeliac families!

I very rarely eat out. As a vegetarian it really isn't much of a treat and it must be even harder if you are vegan.

Most restaurant vegetarian options are lazy cooking - few if any restaurants put any effort into their veggie and vegan option so we get very bored with the same old every time. Frequently the only option for me is a mushroom risotto or the ubiquitous goats cheese and caramelised onion tart. If I never see either of those again it'll be too soon.

I expect the disgruntled vegans are as bored with the limited choice they have as I am.

I'm vegan and eating out is rarely worth it. I'm from a large family so in pre-covid times large family meals were a thing for us.Amongst the family there are a few vegans and vegetarians so if there's no decent menu choices we obviously rule venues out. Some want the business and try hard to accommodate us,I never just book and expect them to have vegan food for me .It's not rocket science but I don't know why a business wouldn't want to offer a few vegan and vegetarian choices.

Problem is that vegans are small group of customers so vegetarian so the restaurants will go with the most famous veggie dish. And won't have too many options.
It's lile 3% of population who are vegetarian and vegan I think so it's quite understandable there will not be too many choices.

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I can see why restaurants don't want to offer vegan options, from a purely financial point of view. You could go from day to day not having anyone order a vegan option and if the ingredients can't be put to use elsewhere in your menu then it's just money down the drain. I know that must be a complete pain if you are vegan and want to eat out but the restaurant business is notoriously difficult and it's a lot easier to make a living selling a limited menu with dishes that you know sell in bulk.

This thread makes me grateful I live in London.

Yanbu, op. Restaurants with a limited menu generally sell better quality food. Has anyone watched Gordon Ramsay?

@Elouera

Whilst most resturants will try to cater for vegans, gluten free, vegetarians etc, you can't expect ALL restaurnts to offer everything. They might have a limited vegan menu, but its generally advertised on the door or website.

Imagine going into a halal restaurant and saying you only eat pork chops with a beer!!!

Or like the arsehole ex, who was incredibly proud of himself for taking his first girlfriend to a very expensive vegetarian restaurant for her birthday and then refusing to pay for the meals because they had discriminated against him by not providing a steak option.

The crapness about the lack of vegan food is that I can't eat dairy/products from cow's milk (allergy) and all the vegetarian options contain cheese in the vast majority of places. As do the meat/fish dishes. If there's the ubiquitious goat's cheese salad, I'm OK, but other than that, it's a bowl of chips and some lettuce leaves.

Suppose at least I'm not coeliac.

I agree if you're talking about a steak place. But for most restaurants, a vegan option is easy. It more just seems silly as they are limiting their market.