Comments on: The Omni Restaurant Survival Guide

By: April

April — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:56:15 +0000

For me, this is more difficult because I am allegic to diary and tomatoes. I find it difficult to order things from resturant, but at this point I am currently eating fish and salmon.

I am planning on going vegan wants I cook the fish and salmon I have at home. I know its going to be extremely hard being a vegan and being allegic to diary and tomatoes.

With the right attitude I know it will work out.

By: jb

jb — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:16:09 +0000

Agreed. I get a liitle nervous when I declare my veganism to the wait-staff….if they look annoyed, I will usually return the stink-eye then eat my lettuce. But the look in this man’s eyes was one of excitement, like he finally didn’t have to make more cheese enchiladas or what have you.
I also do the old “I’m violently allergic to dairy and/or egg” not as a cop out but I feel it gives me a leg up.

By: Steve Wood

Steve Wood — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:20:38 +0000

Just a word of caution. If you make sure that the order is understood to be vegan i.e. no dairy, and it is served with dairy then be very cautious about sending it back. I made the mistake of sending my food back too many times and wound up spending thousands of dollars in medical bills because the cook either whiped his ass on the veggie burger (or had some culture ready just for vegans) which caused me to have an anal itch which I have not been able to get proper diagnosis or treatment because the labs say the worms I send in for analysis is “fiber”. Just keep that in mind…some carnivors are resorting to bio-terrorism and police turn a blind eye and may even try to quiet the incident. From now on if I’m served something with dairy on it after explicitly saying I’m vegan then I just leave…not gonna care who I’m with or where I am…if they want to stay then that’s their business, but I’m out.

By: jb

jb — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:54:54 +0000

I live in Nashville Tn, and I love it but it is not very vegan friendly. We have one restaurant that’s officially vegan. I was recently invited out of my vegan isolation chamber and we went to a run of the mill Mexican restaurant…..well when I explained to the gentleman taking my order he saw it as a challenge, sauteeing all sorts of veggies not on the menu for me…..I think sometimes we just gotta ask?

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:20:26 +0000

Thanks Patricia, glad we could help! If there’s anything you’re having trouble figuring out, be sure to send a note via the contact form – others are probably in the same boat!

By: Patricia Williams

Patricia Williams — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:33:15 +0000

I’m a new vegan. Ate fish before, but also eggs and diary. Now I’ve found the way my body and soul want me to eat. Grew up on a farm and never liked eating animals…even as a child. Eating vegan just feels right. Makes me feel kinder and more satisfied. I’ve always cooked fresh and organic. Now I am using my considerable experience to create amazing vegan dishes. Thank you for the dining out tips. The restaurants we frequent offer vegan dishes, I’ve discovered. Your tips make me more comfortable venturing out.

By: Lenni

Lenni — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:03:33 +0000

I’ve pulled the allergy card a few times and always feel guilty, like I should represent, but usually only do when staff isn’t being helpful. I’ve also used the more cryptic “I *can’t* have xyz.”

Milwaukee (who’d think it, in Wisconsin USA) is actually great for vegan stuff though. At Mayura, an Indian place the other day I asked the host (owner?) what didn’t have eggs or dairy and he actually asked “so are you vegan?” and walked to the buffet (it was lunchtime) and showed me everything that was vegan.

My vegan coworker and I (work with kids with disabilities, sort of aides) had to go to a wedding with the family we’re with to keep track of the kids. Our boss called the venue ahead of time (keeping in mind we’re there as employees, not even “real” guests) and they prepared amazing and beautiful meals for us-pyramids of couscous with veggies and even morels…and the omnis at our table were all jealous! So it happens…

But there’s nothing I hate more than being the freakshow topic of conversation at a table of (likely non-intimate and therefore less understanding) omnivores. So I think it’s a good suggestion to decline to discuss it in detail at a meal.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:46:48 +0000

It’s pretty cool when the chef comes to the table to talk about what he or she has done – a great reminder that the kitchen is often a friend, not your nemesis!

By: Nichole

Nichole — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:29:14 +0000

I usually check out yelp to get good ideas of where is safe/unsafe to visit for dinner. Lots of times even non-vegetarians will make mention if there are veg/vegan items on the menu!

The best “off-menu” meal I’ve ever had was at California Grill at Walt Disney World. They have world-class chefs there and they used all fresh (menu changes daily) ingredients to make me a special dish: “vegan unplugged” which consisted of 4 mini plates and ended up cheaper than anything else on the menu! The chef even came over to say hi and tell me what everything was!

By: Sami

Sami — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:41:13 +0000

I’m totally against the allergy thing, although my friend/family at one point preferred to say I’m intolerant to eggs/milk, which is true since I wont tolerate them in my food!

I rarely have problems picking something (A few side dishes on one plate, please – usually ends up with fewer plates than side dishes ordered!). I have only twice (in three years) left a place because there was literally nothing (not even the always-safe-chips-and-salad).

Phoning ahead is also a good way to guage whether or not they know what a vegan is, but its much harder to get them to talk on the phone – I recently phoned ahead to an Indian place who wouldn’t talk menu with me because they had 200 dishes! But knowing roughly which dishes I like let me ask direct questions like “Does the Naan bread have milk in?” rather than “What bread doesn’t have milk/eggs etc”.

Don’t forget to check the drinks menu too!