I'm sorry, I don't have anything to say about restaraunts (I still do the dairy thing), but if you focus on friends when you go out, and deal with a dry salad, you might be alright (or even steer away from restaraunts without checking up on them prior to going out)
but with telling your friends... i've been veg for about a year and a half and still not all my friends know about my veg-ness, though that's quickly changing... (yes, i've been procrastonating). but what i suggest is just bringing it up in an offhand way next time he wants you to take part in something you don't feel comfortable with.
My one friend (who is also very big with hunting), he one time offered to order us some pizza, I told him "just get half without the sausage"
him- plain pizza... what's the point?!
me- to not starve
him- but no sausage?!?!?!
me- yup
him- you're not on a... diet, are you?
me- nope, even worse, I'm a VEGETARIAN... no meat for me, thank you
(all was said in a joking manner. He was perfectly fine with it. He asked what I thought about hunting, and I flat out told him 'hey, it's not my cup of tea, but if you want to murder innocent animals, far be it from me to stand in your way')
so the moral of my story... just try to keep the mood light and joking (if you guys joke a bunch) and just tell him this stuff and let him know that he's entitled to his opinions about veg*anism, but you've got your own opinions and since it's your food, you're going with YOUR opinions
good luck and know that what you're doing is a fine thing and we're all here for you