I’ll have all the vegetables on the menu please. (Picture: Getty Images)

Eating nice food is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Eating out in a restaurant is even better as it involves no effort on your part apart from choosing from a menu full of delicious options for you to munch on.

However the story is slightly different when you’re vegetarian…

1. Restaurant invite = internal panic

As soon as you receive the initial invite your palms get slightly clammy as the same question begins exploding in your head: Will there be decent vegetarian options?


2. So many places you can’t go

Why no dear friend, I must politely decline your invitation to the Brazilian steak house.



3. Extensive research

Your decision to attend a restaurant involves a lot of research. This ranges from staking out the menu, looking at possible items that could be made vegetarian, reading Trip Advisor reviews, checking Facebook and Twitter, and then finally calling the establishment.

4. The dilemma of if you need to eat beforehand

Typically you either risk hunger by not eating beforehand, or instead you eat beforehand and regret it because the vegetarian option turned out to be delicious.

5. Sharing platters? Not applicable

It’s always nice when the gang order a sharing platter and all you can eat is the celery that accompanies all of the meat. Or suck on the lemon wedge.

6. Salad as a main? LOL

Nothing else kills your mood quicker when you realise that you’ll be having a salad as your main. Salad accompanied by a sad plate of slightly soggy fries.

7. Ordering a burger without the burger

The moment of great sadness when there are no vegetarian burger options so you are forced to engage in the act of eating a bap with salad and despairing internally.

8. Never trying any delicacy

Quite often the special of the day, or a signature dish is missed out on by you. Obvs because of all the meat involved.

9. Low expectations

You’re totally prepared to order all of the vegetarian sides available on the menu and make a meal out of house salad and green beans.

10. Judgement and questions

You are always quite painfully aware of the fact that you’re being judged for being a vegetarian by the restaurant staff and fellow diners. This is soon followed by questions as to exactly why you’re a vegetarian and then some looks of pity.

11. Being mistaken as vegan

You’re often asked by restaurant staff if you’re vegan. Your standard response is usually along the lines of ‘No, because I love the cheese.’

Erm, I guess I’ll have the plate of cheese.

12. Seeing everyone else’s amazing food

Nothing like seeing everyone else’s food coming out looking totally worthy of an Instagram post. Yet you have a plate full of broccoli instead.

13. Splitting the bill for your £7 salad

When the bill comes and everyone decides to split it. Why of course I’ll pay £40 for my £7 salad and tap water.



MORE: 11 utterly delicious vegetarian and vegan BBQ ideas that will make carnivores jealous

MORE: 10 vegetarian foods that shouldn’t really exist

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