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

No, veganism isn't that crazy or difficult to accommodate.

But vegge restaurants usually aren't that good.

All the ones I’ve been in have been good. And not a mushroom risotto in sight!

Meanwhile one of my local pubs does fajitas, where there’s a selection of chicken and veg, pork and veg or beef and veg. You would think veggie fajitas would be a fairly simple option there but nope.

As a vegan myself I'm amazed at the amount of options I now have when I eat out, I check the menus before hand just so I can get excited about what I'm eating as most places do now have options. Maybe the vegans leaving the bad reviews are fairly new and are use to being able to get a variety of things at the shop and expect the same from restaurants!
I do think restaurants will start to offer more vegan meals though, it seems to be a 'thing' at the moment (which obviously, in my opinion is amazing) and could potentially be a big money maker, that's just my opinion though 😊

Also I do kinda agree that you can't kinda be a vegan, if you eat meat,dairy or eggs at all you're not a vegan 😬 sorry

All the ones I’ve been in have been good. And not a mushroom risotto in sight! Don't look at me for the source of that comment, I was parapharsing a few earlier posts!

As for local pubs - you do have to find one where the landlord/chef is interested. Our local foody pub doesn't offer much, if anything, vegge as he is rushed off his feet offering his oversized portions of meat based food. He knows his client base.

If someone "occasionally eats meat/fish/diary" they are not vegan.

It would be good to see some links to reviews which you were talking about.

Personally I would say the overall problem is that a lot of people are vegetarian and vegan, and having one option on the menu is not particularly satisfactory. It just doesn't make good business sense. Not least that there are a number of people who are now flexitarian as well. Paragraph

Especially when the ‘one’ option is vegan (where’s my cheese?) and it’s a veganised version of a dish using vegan dairy (boak).

Isn't flexitarian diet, just.... Normal? How should actually healthy diet be?

We have allergies in our family. I always read menus before, call and ask questions if allergy menus aren't available online, etc etc. If there isn't anything suitable, we go elsewhere. Even if we go somewhere on the spare of the moment, there's still time to look at menus before committing to a restaurant. Is it a PITA? Absolutely. Is it a restaurants fault? Not at all.

YANBU

I eat a plant based, wholefood diet I don't call myself vegan because I wear wool and leather. I never have a problem eating out and am never afraid to order off menu, I've never been refused a meal because most pubs, bars, restaurants can rustle up a green salad as a starter and a plate of roast or steamed veg, high end eateries can make amazing vegan food given a days notice. It's not always about the menu and what's on it.

I absolutely love those trendy restaurants where they encourage you to customise dishes...like where they'll add on the menu "like swap the chicken for baked tofu", "lose the sour cream to make it vegan" etc etc...I think as plant based food becomes more popular so will this kind of flexible dining - then people with all different diets can happily eat together.

@GoldenOmber A veggie fajita is identical to a meat one without the meat..... you only have to ask for extra veg, no meat

[quote CharlieTangoBanana]@GoldenOmber A veggie fajita is identical to a meat one without the meat..... you only have to ask for extra veg, no meat[/quote]
Yes, that idea had actually occurred to me But it’s a chain pub where they ship it in all pre-mixed, so they couldn’t. Annoying.

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.
The obvious thing is to look on a menu in advance (or in the window if it's that impromptu) and go somewhere else if there's nothing vegan.

If I were vegetarian I'd be annoyed that so many of my options had become vegan. Vegan cheese in particular is gross.

I have a (non fatal, thank God) nut allergy so I'm aware of how careful you have to be about hidden ingredients. The best was, after getting the waitress to check that noodles weren't dressed in nut oil before ordering, they came topped with crushed nuts! Fortunately no harm done but she was mortified. Made me wonder how often chefs take liberties with other ingredients.

I am veggie and I’ve done my time (36 years) - it was getting to the point when you’d have 2 or more decent options and now it’s gone backwards so there’s the one token vegan dish on a menu of meat and fish. The vegan options generally suck.

I’d you choose to limit the food you can eat then the only person to blame for that is yourself imo.

@KingOfDogShite thankfully review sites don’t share your views and Vegans can continue merrily 1-starring any restaurants who doesn’t comply with their demands.

@KingOfDogShite I think you'll struggle to win with that argument against someone with allergies 🙄

[quote Rldx2]@KingOfDogShite I think you'll struggle to win with that argument against someone with allergies 🙄 [/quote]
Last time I looked allergies weren’t a choice

@KingOfDogShite, my mistake you did state choose, sorry! I just sometimes get annoyed when people think vegans choose to be vegan just to annoy other people 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’d you choose to limit the food you can eat then the only person to blame for that is yourself imo.

It's not about blame, it's about giving an honest review. If a restaurant doesn't offer vegetarian and vegan options and I am leaving a review, I will mention that and say I think it's poor. I would imagine the hospitality industry is very aware that increasing numbers of people follow vegan or vegetarian diets, or wish to reduce their consumption of animal products, and would prefer that restaurants included options that fit with this. It's more than fair to say that a restaurant not doing so is a disappointment.

There are people paid hell of a lot of money by chains to find out what they should sell.
There is obviously not as many vegans as some here seem to think otherwise, as it is all about the money, chains would have much larger offering

It's not a case of not liking food, it's a case of not being able to eat the food.
It's a restaurant, nobody's compelled to eat there 🤷🏻‍♀️