Eating out with vegetarians

[Veggieseatingout]

Group of friends - one is vegetarian. Eat out with a group of 4 - 10 people regularly.

Obviously it’s fine most of the time, but we can occasionally go to tapas / dim sum / sharing type places. Usually in these situations I would expect the group to order a few dishes and everyone share but obviously vegetarians can’t eat all the options.

The vegetarian doesn’t want any non veggies to try any of the vegetarian dishes and complained to me afterwards about someone in the group eating some of ‘her’ food.

it’s tricky as obviously she needs to have enough to eat and shouldn’t have to pay an equal share for dishes she can’t eat but equally I don’t think it’s outrageous for people who eat meat to still want to have some of the fries, bravas, vegetables etc.

ABUI to think we should order for the table and divide it between the rest of us and she orders and pays for her dishes separately and make it’s clear she’s order extra xyz just for her?

I’m a vegetarian and don’t drink. The last work meal I went out to my food, drink and tip came to £22 and a split bill had me paying £57. I’m careful not to order the most expensive things on a menu and always a coffee after but no desert or side dish because as a family we need to budget. It may be annoying for some people when people pick out what they ate but I’m not sure that good friends should expect others to meet their food and drink costs either. Anyway a slight derail.

Yep, orders and pays separately, problem solved.

It is obvious she just order her own food and pay for it herself. Everyone else share an order and pay between.them.

She's weird. I'm veggie, have been for 30+ years and have only had a problem when I'm with people who don't realise I'm veggie.

Ds1 and I had tapas for lunch a couple of weeks ago, we ordered 1 meat for him, 1 veggie for me and a veggie to share.

I generally get an idea of which veggie options my friends are choosing and then get an extra of one or two for me as my "meat" options. I do watch for cross contamination though and will remind my friends if they try to use a meat spoon. I've learnt to be assertive down the years and people usually respond well.

So she should order separately, pay separately and STILL be happy for the meat eaters to eat hers?

not to mention if you're that entitled you'll probably not be mindful of which serving spoons to use.

best meal out ever, vegetarian restaurant in Valencia with new friends who wanted to show me great Spanish food & share. Fabulous night!!