Today I met someone for lunch at a Japanese restaurant I’d never been to before in the business district in downtown Zurich. When the waitress brought over the extensive lunch menu, I started my usual scan for vegetarian options only to find… there wasn’t a single one. My dining companion said we could go somewhere else, but I assured her I’d find something to eat – even if I had to slap together a meal of salad, miso soup, and and a ball of sushi ginger.
When the waitress came to take our order, I explained that I was a vegetarian and asked if they had anything appropriate that wasn’t on the menu. She replied that they could do a vegetarian sushi plate, which I happily ordered. It was pretty and pretty tasty.
Moral of the story: if you don’t see anything vegetarian on the menu, ask if something can be done to accommodate your needs. Restaurants are often happy to modify an existing dish or put something different together to accommodate a vegetarian or other special request, I’ve found. Plus by asking, you are calling their attention to the fact that there really is a demand for vegetarian foods. Perhaps you’ll even inspire a restaurant to add some vegetarian options to their menu.
Have you found restaurants to be accommodating to your vegetarian requests?
Not in France!!!
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[...] I think Charlie would like this in his lunchbox Beautiful sushi from Veggic Chic [...]
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[...] I think Charlie would like this in his lunchbox Beautiful sushi from Veggic Chic [...]
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YUM! That meal looks absolutely delish!
I am with you on this – I often order ‘off the menu’ or make up my own dishes, and a tomato pasta with vegies isn’t hard in a cafe! Quite often it’s more tasty and healthy than the big chunks of meat.. eww!
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I’m always a bit afriad to ask for something special. LOL I don’t want to upset the cookstaff by making them go out of their way.
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I have always had very good luck asking for a vegetarian option. I wouldn’t have ever dreamed of asking but when I was first dating my husband, we went out with a group of his friends to a very meat-heavy restaurant. I was set to eat a side salad when he spoke up and asked if they could make something special for me (this was back a long time ago when he made an effort to impress me!!). I was thrilled with the huge platter of food they brought me and even received jealous glances from other people at our table!
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That sushi looks absolutely delicious. I’m getting some serious sushi cravings!
I’ve noticed the same thing. Many restaurants seem to be very accomodating when it comes to special diets. I almost always get given a vegetarian alternative when I ask nicely if they could help me.
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Sort of.
When you ask for no eggs or cheese or meat, often you only get grilled vegetables. Hardly an adequate substitute.
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I always run into this since my friends and family prefer restaurants with meat heavy menus. Still, I haven’t met a restaurant yet that minded making something vegetarian. It’s usually cheaper and easier for them to prepare the veggie dishes anyway.
Gal
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Beautiful. One of the best things about Japan in the summertime is all the vegetable sushi. If you ever get the chance, head to Kyoto for a veggie feast. It’s incredible.
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