Houston's Restaurant

[ajanew]

My husband and I (vegetarians) and his family (vegans) have been going to Houston's Restaurant (a chain) for about 4 years because they have a fabulous veggie burger and great grilled artichokes.

We are all so angry because it wasn't until Saturday that anyone bothered to tell us that the KETCHUP is not vegetarian and has beef in it!

This is also after they stopped carrying soy milk and margarine.

But ketchup? And there's nothing on their menu noting the ketchup isn't vegetarian. How can they serve veggie burgers and never tell people about the ketchup?

[hnybny91]

Beef? In the ketchup? Good grief, first I find out there is HFCS in the baby carrot bags and now beef in the ketchup? Is there NOTHING we can eat without reading the label?

[LetoTheTyrant]

Beef? In the ketchup? Good grief, first I find out there is HFCS in the baby carrot bags and now beef in the ketchup? Is there NOTHING we can eat without reading the label?

even if there is, we shouldn't :)

[Missanthropy15]

Really? Holy smokes! That is ridiculous! I have had that veggie burger quite a few times myself. How frustrating!

Thanks so much for the information!

[ajanew]

so the meat products come in from the steak sauce. It also has anchovies and honey in it if anyone is vegan. I was so surprised. Worst part is, they don't have regular ketchup on site (at least the one here in the DC area) because their homemade ketchup is made from tomato paste. I'm not a fan of mustard with my french fries. For your burger you can request a side of the soy sauce glaze they put on the burger, that made it really good last time.

I called and spoke to the manager and he was very nice about it, very apologetic. He said they would try and get a few bottles of regular ketchup and be sure that servers inform customers ordering the veggie burger about the ketchup.

I assume this is the same for all Houston's, since it is a chain, but you may want to confirm it at your local Houston's.

[InstantKarma]

Huh. I wasn't aware that Houston's was a chain outside of Houston. (Have never encountered one prior to moving here.) There are two of them here that I know of.

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't go to a steakhouse to order a veggie burger. Or rather, to trust them to make one that was actually vegetarian.

[Matt703]

Beef in the Ketchup!?!?!?

I wonder if this is part of the all encompasing "natural flavors" variety.

[Fenguin]

Don't know if the ketchup in Phoenix is made with beef or not, but their veggie burger is one of the best I've ever had.

I was going to email them to find out, but apparently you can only call or fax them and I'm too lazy for that.

[Satya]

you think that's bad, i bet veggie burgers are cooked on the same space as the meat patty's are :-/

btw, i heard that Houston's has a spectacular veggie platter. i haven't tried it yet, but several omni's have mentioned it to me.