5 Tips to Order Veggie Dishes at Your Favorite Non-Veggie Restaurant That Aren't Just Salads!
We've all been there! Everyone else in the group is super pumped to go to their favorite restaurant but you know they won't have a lot (or any vegetarian or vegan options on the menu...) Don't get me wrong, the Veg scene in a lot of cities has come a long way but despite the fact that plant-based protein is slated to be the #2 largest food-and-menu trend over the next decade, some restaurants still haven't caught up!
I've been plant-based for 20 years now and I've been eating out at restaurants the entire time. Let's just say, I'm a pro at dissecting a menu! But, what seems simple for you can be a total headache for the kitchen! So, here are my 5 tips to help you navigate a menu that has little to no green...without driving the kitchen crazy!
Tip #1: Just Ask Them!
This might seem like an oversimplification but almost all restaurants have items which are not on the menu but that they happily serve. You never know...perhaps one of the wait staff that works there is plant-based and the chef has a dish they always whip up for them or maybe another good customer who eats there all the time has people in their party who are vegetarians and they have a dish that they serve special just for them? You'll never know if you don't ask. You'd be surprised at just how many places do have a plant-based special menu item they serve, if you ask!
Tip #2: Look at the Menu Ahead of Time.
If you have a chance, take a look at the online menu before you get there so that you can see the type of ingredients they are using in the dishes that they do have on the menu. Most restaurants are pretty accommodating, if they have the ingredients in house, but nothing makes you look more like a twerp than railing off a dozen items that they don't even serve and asking if you can order that specific thing.
The trick is to avoid trying to sub items that have already been mixed or prepped ahead of time! No, a soul food restaurant probably isn't going to be able to "leave out" the andouille sausage from their cheese grits because it's likely already been mixed into the dish! BUT... if you are at a taco joint that also serves black beans as a side? Asking to substitute the chicken for a scoop of black beans on an order of nachos is an easy and delicious swap!
Tip #3: Be Creative with Side Dishes!
Oh, the humble side dish...a veg-head's best friend. A lot of times you're easily able to create a delicious meal by pairing side dishes together. A baked potato with a side of cooked spinach and garlic sauce plus an order of roasted mushrooms and onions (that they would normally serve on a burger) makes a pretty great loaded potato! Is this the most elegant option? No, not particularly, but it can still be super tasty, with no much effort, and even better, is easy on the kitchen.
Note: I know I'm talking a lot about making things easier on the staff and you may be thinking..."Why do I care about that? I'm the customer. I'm paying...I should be able to get what I want!" Well...no, not necessarily! Restaurant owners are already working on pretty thin margins and their menu items are often calculated down to the penny! They have carefully crafted, what they believe to be, delicious dishes, that their staff can execute perfectly...and then YOU walk in, wanting to change it all. All I'm saying is that, if you decide to go dine at a restaurant that doesn't boast a veggie-based menu, try to be kind. Most staff and cooks want to serve you good food that you will enjoy, but it won't hurt anyone if you take it a little easy on them!
Tip #4: Ask to Customize Your Salad!
Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know I said no salads but hear me out. One of my favorite tricks, especially if I'm at a more casual place, that serves sandwiches and wraps, is to ask if I can have a salad they have on the menu turned into a wrap. Do they have a summer garden salad with avocado, onion, tomato, mushrooms, carrots, and sunflower seeds? Sounds like a veggie wrap to me! Ordering a specific thing that they actually have on the menu, like a salad, and then asking to make it a wrap with some vinaigrette on the side and a cup of fruit is way easier than asking to order a "veggie wrap" to which the server is going to have to ask, "What do you want in the wrap" and then write down every single ingredient you list! This way, the kitchen won't be confused. They know how to make this particular salad and they know how to make wraps! Easy!
Tip #5: Be Open To International Foods…
Let's face it, the American food culture is built on meat, but many other ethnic diets simply are not, or not to the degree that we see here in the States. The idea that the meat must be the mean dish is something that you are less likely to find in Asian, Greek, or Indian cuisine. I have found that it's almost always easier to find good plant-based dishes at restaurants that are not "American Style" eateries. Try talking your crew into trying that new Poke place or a traditional Thai restaurant. Indian food, in particular, tends to be very veggie friendly, and the flavor profiles are something that you may not even know you love, if you only stick to American "sports bar" or "steak-house" type establishments. Restaurants like this are great because they will almost always have some-kind of steak or chicken dish for your meat eating friends, as well.
So, that's it! My 5 tips to help you go green at your favorite restaurant...without driving the kitchen crazy! Sadly, there can often be a reputation, within the veggie community, of judgement, high maintenance, demanding, personalities and while, no, it's not fair for you, as an individual, to be responsible to represent an entire community when you just want to grab dinner and drinks with friends, the reality is that your kindness and grace may have a very real impact on the staff of a restaurant who has, sadly, had bad experiences with plant-based eaters in the past! Above all, remember that, kindness is king in situations like this!
Bon Appetite, friends!
Sarah Seeds, CNHP and UNOS Ambassador
Sarah, aka: The Plant Based Ginger, has been in the plant-based community for 20 years and has worked in natural skincare as well as the health and wellness sector. Over the years her love of holistic wellness, essential oils, and plant-based cooking has merged to create the PBG website and social brand. Sarah is currently living back in Central Florida, where she was raised, after spending over a decade up in Ohio’s Amish Country! She is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, UNOS Ambassador, Homecook, Coffee Lover, and Fur Mom!