What is "Veggie Friendly"?

I don't eat exclusively at veggie restaurants but I do appreciate it when an omnivorous establishment makes an effort. So, IMHO, what constitutes "veggie friendly"? A veggie friendly restaurant is one which marks veggie selections, usually with a (v) and/or makes a point of writing out on their menu that they are happy to adapt items to dietary restrictions. A veggie friendly restaurant can also be one where there is more than one veggie option. An Afghani restaurant nearby has a great veggie entree -- but only one. I like it but I don't visit often unless I am in the mood for that exact meal. I will admit to a personal bias. I tend to "expect" Indian and Italian restaurants will have a good number of choices for veggies and get peeved when they don't. In the meantime, here are some do's and don'ts for restaurateurs:

1) Don't get attitude. If you don't serve veggies, then just admit that up front without talking down (I'm talking to you, Fiola Mare).

2) Don't lie. If the wait staff tells me that a soup is okay for vegetarians, then it really needs to be okay for vegetarians. If it isn't, I'm going to get sick. Really sick. And I won't be back. Ever. (I'm talking to you, Magic Pot.)

3) Understand what a vegetarian is. Chicken and fish are still meat to many of us. Pescatarians usually eat fish and sometimes poultry. Lacto-ovo veggies will eat dairy and eggs, but not every vegetarian is lacto-ovo. Vegans and Vegetarians are not the same thing. Wait staff should be clear on what is, and isn't, in a given dish.

4) We aren't all the same. Just because I am a vegetarian doesn't mean I adore mushrooms, including portabellos. (I'm talking to you, Sunflower Vegetarian.)

As part of this, I agree to: review menus online and call with questions ahead of a planned visit.

We good?

Comments

Afghan Bistro

With family members moving to Springfield, it has been a struggle to find good places to eat so far afield. After flirting with some chain restaurants near the mall, we tried a Pakistani restaurant (there are many, many Pakistani restaurants there), but it fell flat. Finally, someone suggested this amazing place. It's a little hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall. With oilcloth table coverings, the vibe seems questionable. For about a minute. Then you are warmly greeted and given menus with a plethora of choices. My party ordered a great number of items and every dish rose above expectations. The staff are eager to please and checked in to make sure everything was okay, from food to drink needs. When a member of my party dropped a piece of silverware on the floor one of the waiters swooped in with a replacement before we could even ask. But onto the food. We ordered the Potato and Leek turnovers, the Aushak (leek and sc...

First Watch

Meant to invite some family members here but a friend beat me to the punch. We compromised and went together. Unfortunately, this is a place where it looks better than it is. Across the board. The funky design scheme makes it an echo chamber and, with the pumping music, very loud. Conversation was difficult. The menu is covered in glossy photos and descriptions of the food but ... I started with the Morning Meditation Fresh Juice, a pretty blend of citrus and beet. Or I tried to. Took three reminders to the waiter and when it finally arrived, halfway into the meal, it was 90% ice and 10% juice. My companions opted for coffee. It was ice cold. Another long wait (about 20 minutes) to get new coffee -- and included a reminder to staff that they wanted fresh cups as well. I ordered the Vegetarian Quinoa Bowl, which was described as having up to 12 ingredients. It had three. The quinoa, an egg, maybe two teen...

RASA

The popular grain bowl trend gets a twist with this Indian-inspired takeout bowl place. Same concept -- a base, greens, toppings, etc., but the options are mostly Indian inspired and the majority of offerings are vegetarian (although not vegan, given the heavy use of Ghee in cooking). My take is mixed. Some of the items were outstanding, some less so. I got the Lemon Tumeric Rice, which was delightful. Fresh and tangy, with a little bite, it was one of the best rice dishes I've ever tried. On top of this I got the Tofu/Cauliflower protein. It was half and half. The cauliflower was perfectly roasted, the roasted onions delightful, and the nuts were a beautiful added crunch. The tofu, however, was watery, and the green and red peppers well past prime. Next, I added sauteed spinach, which was incredibly bland, and the peanut sesame sauce, which was "okay" but forgettable. I didn't do additional toppings, although there were ...

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