Eating out in restaurants and stuff...

[ihatemushrooms]

Just thinking out loud really and was wondering if the new veg*ns find it difficult choosing meals when they're out?

I've been preferring a nut roast to a meat roast for a couple of years now so pubs on a Sunday isn't necessarily a problem and as I love Chinese, Thai, Indian and Italian, choosing in said restaurants is fab as I'd have what I normally have but with veg instead. However, some general pubs serve a very limited choice and often these choices can be a bit disappointing especially if they come loaded with mushrooms which aren't always indicated on the menu!

How do you cope or do you just become less "fussy" so to speak? :think:

[Mr. Sun]

I'm a very unfussy eater so it doesn't bother me if I'm in a situation where my food choices are limited.

A somewhat related thread if you're interested -- although I should note that this is a vegan thread. But it's about eating out and the challenges that people face:

http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=93186

[MrFalafel]

Just tell the waiter or chef 'no mushrooms please'.

And if a dish is served with mushrooms not indicated on the menu then hand the dish back to the waiter and say 'I don't like mushrooms, can I have this without them or can I make another selection?'.

[ashlend]

I'm a very unfussy eater so it doesn't bother me if I'm in a situation where my food choices are limited.

Same here. As long as it's vegetarian, I'll eat whatever's available. When I was an omni I would pretty much literally eat anything.

That's helped me out a lot, since a lot of times I find there's only one token vegetarian entree on the menu when dining out (although of course, many restaurants are more veggie-aware and will have more of a selection.)

[jenni-anti-fur]

:hungry:I am a very very fussy eater...I am always upfront with my waitress or waiter..and ask for No Meat if there isnt a veggie dish or can they modify this or that...and for the most part that are very accomodating...some not but then we get up and leave...I also do not like Onions and need all my foods Onion Free..and I would say at least 95% they are very nice and accomodating and we tip well because I know that I can sometimes be a major pain in butt....okay Always really..hehe:bobo:

[synergy]

I found I"ve actually become far less fussy since becoming a vegetarian, but I didn't expect or plan for that to happen. It just takes a little while, and you'll develop a repitoire of restaurants and menu items that you like and satisfy you. It just might take a little research and experimentation.

Good luck!

[Koehnae]

Back when I first went veg I thought that eating out would be some terrible experience where I was berated and belittled by a clueless waitress. I guess I read too many uninformed internet posts. My gods, I was so naive then! Anyway, it turned out I had a lot more options than I ever thought possible and I quickly learned how to order without being shy about mixing and matching entrees and sides. Sure, I get strange looks from the waitstaff now and then, but who cares? Customer's always right, right? :yes:

[Farfalla]

I worked in restaurants for a long time (nearly 10 years) and if you're nice about it the wait staff really doesn't mind making modifications for you. The only time it was ever irritating was when people were rude and that went for all customers veg*n or otherwise.

[MZCsmpsns]

I'm a super picky eater. I don't find it hard to eat at restaurants, but the variety isn't always big. So sometimes I left with something I'm not really in the mood for.
As long as you're polite, the cooks and waiters are usually more than happy to accommodate you. Just remember it's o.k. to ask questions about what's in the dishes that you choose, and you can always request for things to be left out, or added.
It can be frustrating when someone isn't familiar w/veg*ism, but as long as you're patient and nice, you can get a meal to your liking that's veg friendly.

[ihatemushrooms]

Thanks for all your helpful advice - I guess I need to become more vocal if need be but don't want to come across as a whinging vegetarian. I can pick one or two mushrooms out so it's not a problem if they've been added on a small scale, I just don't want to throw the majority of my meal to one side and have to go hungry. I'm not struck on aubergine or courgette either and most vegetarian lasagnes I've tried seem to feature all three! I think the options in pubs have got a lot better, it's just some restaurants on a reduced size menu have only one option which can be difficult, but as you've said I can always ask them to bend the dish slightly. If you don't ask, you don't get!

I've put in a request for the veggie option at a forthcoming wedding - now that's usually more difficult as you only have two options with one being meat (it's beef I believe). Thankfully the veggie option is Spinach and Ricotta pasta, which is something I love, hurrah!:nana:

[ihatemushrooms]

That's helped me out a lot, since a lot of times I find there's only one token vegetarian entree on the menu when dining out (although of course, many restaurants are more veggie-aware and will have more of a selection.)

I don't tend to struggle with entree dishes, love my soup you see (unless it's 'shroom of course!)...always favoured veg ones anyway, I never thought they tasted right with meat in.

[thefragile77]

Hey try eating out as a veggie with Coeliac disease? :eek:
Its absolutely painful... No pasta, no stock, no bread, hardly ever do I get sauces that aren't just tomato based, no soy sauce, oyster/teryiaki sauces etc (unless they show me that its 100% gluten free), no cakes, no ice cream and the list goes on. I always make sure the cheese I eat at home has no rennet but when I go out its a little harder as you can see. I usually end up with a plate full of mushrooms or a stuffed eggplant/capsicum.

We tend not to go out for dinner much these days ... :tired:

[stupidhumanzz]

I've never had a problem eating out until I went to Cracker Barrel.

That place does southern cooking and they put meat in everything!

I read the menus carefully and ordered some side dishes that atleast in writing didn't have meat in it (Green bean casseroles, turnips, pinto beans)

And when the waitress hands back my food the green beans have bacon bits, the pinto beans and the turnips have pieces of ham, etc. yay. (which was not mentioned in the menu)

I've learned now to always ask if its vegetarian.

[Koehnae]

This is why I'm known among my friends as "the one who is convinced Cracker Barrel is Hell." I swear I'm even afraid to order a glass of water there for fear they've somehow found a way to distill meat juice and add it to water or something. The funny part is that it was my favorite place to eat in my omni days.

[ashlend]

Cracker Barrel is literally THE worst place for a vegetarian to go. NOTHING there is vegetarian. If I have my way, I'll never set foot in one again.

[janelle]

Is there meat in the macaroni and cheese or okra at Cracker Barrel? That's what I usually get.... uh oh...

I knew I couldn't get the green beans because they had ham (I just had this suspicion, even though the waitress told me they did not, and I ordered a salad and it came out with bacon (durrrrr... if I didn't want ham in my green beans, what makes you think I want bacon on my salad?!)

[ashlend]

I know their fried items are cooked with the meat... and I think the okra is fried (isn't it)? I don't think the mac and cheese has meat in it, but with cracker barrel, who knows.

I was exaggerating when I said nothing is vegetarian, but it's pretty close to nothing!

[Shamandura]

If you go out to the same restaurant, you can usually get what you want to order down to a math. Heres an example when I go to this certain mexican restaurant. Me: I'll have the california(veg) burrito, with black beans instead of refried(theres cheese in those), no cheese, no sour cream and a side of guacomole and extra pico de gallo. First time I ordered that particular burrito, I first asked to see that no meat broths were used, any dairy products, etc and that was it, never again did I have to go thru the hassle. It's just going to be trial and error with most restaurants. The greatest thing, is when you frequent smaller local restaurants alot, who get to know you and have your own "special".